Grace and Truth

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

In one sense, grace and truth are sometimes set against one another. (Isn't it interesting that both came through Jesus Christ?) As we try to show grace and acceptance toward others, we find that it doesn't take long before we find ourselves "rubbing up against" (the one) truth. If we communicate that (one) truth, it can seem to others that we no longer possess grace and acceptance.

Everyone wants to be accepted as they are- everyone wants to receive grace. But we often want to have our own truth, not the (one) truth. Why is this so? Why is it so difficult to receive and accept the truth? I believe that the fact that we don't accept truth very well is pretty good evidence that the (one) truth of God is in fact the truth.

Something's broken in us; something's lacking. We want our way and we want everyone to bend to us, including God. And this is exactly what God says about us: we are self-centered; we are rebellious; we don't like to be told anything. God calls this sin- whenever we find ourselves being just who we are, we confirm God's description of us- as well as the fact that we need someone outside of ourselves to save ourselves from ourselves.

Jesus Christ: Grace and truth. Not one- not the other- both.

Believers and Disciples 8

Jesus said some things that many of us just don't deal with- probably because so much of what he said just turns our thinking on its head. We have all been taught that our salvation is by faith, not by works. Many of us feel that we "prayed the sinners prayer" at some point in the past and therefore we are born again and therefore we are forgiven and are assured of going to heaven.

Some say that they "have turned their lives over to Jesus," some say they "have dedicated their life to Christ," and some others say that they responded to an "altar call" or perhaps had an emotional experience in a church gathering of some kind. Any and all of these things are often taken as confirming our surety of heaven and eternal life.

But is it that simple? Does Jesus simply just allow our thinking to go the way we would have it go? If you've been paying attention to postings 1-7, you know the answer is going to be "No, Jesus does not just leave it there." He wants more from us. One thing he wants is for us to forgive.

Have you said the Lord's Prayer lately? Have you read the sixth chapter of Matthew lately?

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

"But," someone may say, "I asked God to forgive me! So, I must be forgiven and I know I'm going to heaven. How can Jesus say that if I am unwilling to forgive others then I will not be forgiven? Doesn't he know how hard it is to forgive that person who did something awful to me? Jesus really can't expect me to forgive that person, can he"?

The problem is that some of the people who have decided what the Bible says and what we need to believe have not presented the whole picture. Here's what I mean- if the teaching of a Bible "truth" requires that we ignore something Jesus said, because Jesus' teaching doesn't fit the "truth," then we have a problem.

And Jesus knew we would have problems like this- that's why he said, Why do you call me Lord and not do what I say?

Believers and Disciples 7

Here is another command of Jesus:

If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.

So, let's say that I consider myself a "Bible-believing" Christian. And let's say I come home to find someone pinching my lawn mower. What is my response? What do I say? What do I do?

What would you do?

But...now consider- what did Jesus say to do?

At this point, your thought might be, "Are you kidding, are you saying that when I catch someone stealing my lawn mower, I should say to him, "Go ahead and take my spreader while you're at it"? Maybe you're thinking, "That would be crazy because people just don't DO THAT!"

But maybe that's the point- maybe Jesus wants us to show the world that our treasure is not in this world, that we won't be owned by material possessions. And maybe Jesus wants us to see the reasons why this would be so difficult to do- because we're more worried about what other people think of us than we should be- and we are more attached to our toys than we think we are.

If you mind isn't being blown at this point, you're probably not listening. Jesus is the most radical teacher who ever walked the earth and he wants us to reflect his teachings, not the world's teachings.

Maybe you're thinking, "I can't (won't) do this." If so, consider something else the Master said:

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching...He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.