A volunteer disc jockey on an indie station I listen to once said, “There won’t be any peace until all the religions of the world are one.” That’s a nice, inclusive expression of our longing for peace, love, and unity. However. . .
When we look to Jesus, there’s one undeniable aspect of His teachings that we can have a hard time grasping. Grace! As U2 front man Bono told journalist Michka Assayas: “Grace defies reason and logic.” But why do we need grace? We need it because Jesus made some exclusive claims.
Religion can be an attempt to impress or to placate a higher power with the “fact” that we really aren’t so bad. Human history indicates otherwise. That’s why Jesus is so vital to all of us. When He came to earth, He was “full of grace and truth,” as John phrased it (John 1:14 niv). And He made some pretty bold claims about Himself. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” He said. “No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). That’s an exclusive claim, yet it’s drenched in hope and love.
“Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed,” said Bono. His statement is only partly true. Love doesn’t eliminate all the consequences. (I can easily recall the consequences of my own sinful choices.) But the forgiveness of Jesus restores our relationship with God. That’s grace! That’s love!
The platitude that “it doesn’t matter how you come to God” is worse than a pleasant lie; it’s damning. It will keep us lost and separated from God. “The law [which damns us] was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). That isn’t arrogant or exclusive. It’s grace and truth.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 4:5-22
More:
There will be a day when we all agree. Romans 14:11 and Isaiah 45:23 tell us all about it.
Next:
What does God’s grace mean to you? How might you tell others about the exclusive claims of Jesus?
Gary Shultz on October 11, 2016 at 5:57 am
Tim what a thought, to consider “grace”. It’s like any other attribute of God we can’t fully understand it. Can we grasp it, completely, I don’t know, probably not. I guess I view it more like water, it is continually poured over us, we can not really grasp it, but it has amazing cleansing results. As we draw close to God (the light) we begin to see how spotted we really are, we catch a glimmer of what God is really doing and what He has already done for us. The closer we get the more sin is reveled, the more we see grace is needed. We do grasp some of the concept and in that we need to replicate that, grace. As you point out it is more than being polite it is placing behind us what we see for what is unseen, a move toward undeserved love. It is not a natural substance found in this world, God had to reinstall it. Thanks Tim and thank you for responding to your articles, responses are such a thing of value.
gagirllive on October 11, 2016 at 8:13 am
Gary, the analogy of water—“continually poured over us, we can not really grasp it, but it has amazing cleansing results” —I ♡ that, dear brother! So very true.
sandy229 on October 11, 2016 at 10:30 am
I like that analogy also! Amazing cleansing results…….sounds so refreshing as God’s grace is so refreshing in deed!! ♡
tim gustafson on October 11, 2016 at 6:42 am
“God had to reinstall it.” I really like that, Gary. And yeah, I have noticed that drawing close to God will reveal sin I didn’t even know existed (like the sneakier forms of pride). I don’t think we can ever fully grasp it, not even in the next life. Who knows, perhaps we can, but it seems to me that God will always have more and more and more. As my friend said yesterday, “We never get to the end of the blessing.” So true.
gagirllive on October 11, 2016 at 8:01 am
Preach on, brother! There’s nothing like proclaiming the grace of God’s gospel to get me fired up, and you done it this morning, Tim! 🙂 That is the very thing that sets our faith apart from all others—GRACE—God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Can we fully grasp it? No, but we fully know that we have no life with God without it. We were indebted and totally bankrupt before God. The penalty: DEATH. But Jesus paid it ALL for us! Through His substitutionary death, the Father’s justice and love were satisfied, and we were made right with God . “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor.5: 21) This exchanged life is based solely upon grace, and therefore, can never be reconciled to any other religion. They only have dead teachers and prophets to show them a “better way to live” in futility. We have a LIVING SAVIOR Who IS the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE! Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between us and God. He alone has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. We can bow to Him now or as you stated in the MORE section, later, but either way we’re all going down on our knees before the One and Only King of kings and Lord of lords! One day the whole world will know the reality of Jesus Christ and the incomprehensible gift of grace that was offered through Him. The question is will we know ABOUT Him on that great and glorious day of His revealing, or will we know Him and be known by Him as one of His own? I pray that today someone would fall into the Arms of grace—either for the very first time, or to take hold again of the One who holds you and will never let you go. Tim, thanks for this good word. I do believe you started a praise-fest…at least for me. 🙂 A blessed day to all!
tim gustafson on October 11, 2016 at 8:29 am
Well, let’s have church then!! 🙂 Love this contribution to the community, GG. We are SO prone to take God’s grace for granted, but it is the most amazing thing I can think of! So grateful I know Him, and I want everyone to know Him — not just know OF Him.
sandy229 on October 11, 2016 at 10:57 am
Yes, everyone needs to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him, not just know of Him, there is such a difference. We were made for His glory and not for ourselves. We are nothing without Him!! Thank you Tim for your words today!! I really appreciate your devotions and the time you spend on them! I am forever grateful that you let God use you this way!!
Shalom
tim gustafson on October 11, 2016 at 12:41 pm
Thank, Sandy. You might well say that I’m forever grateful that God works on me day by day!
sandy229 on October 11, 2016 at 10:42 am
Oh I love a Praise-fest, I am totally in. Thank you Tim for your devotion today! God’s Grace is greater than our sin. It’s Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I so like the part where it says He has one for us what we could never do for ourselves.
minkjh on October 11, 2016 at 10:33 am
Tim, thanks for standing firm for THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life. That is an exclusive claim that unfortunately has become a stumbling block for many Christians not wishing to offend others and a call to arms by all those who strive to eliminate the name and work of Christ from our growing neo-pagan culture. I’m reminded of one of the mainstream talking head’s jargon ‘the no spin zone’. Well, Jesus doesn’t mince words either and no matter how desperate things seem to get, we have the promise of receiving grace upon grace. We very well may be entering a time in history not unlike the one faced by first century believers. All the more reason to hold fast to His promises and leave no doubt about the significance of Philippians 2:9-11.
sandy229 on October 11, 2016 at 10:55 am
Yes, His grace is never ending……just as His love is never ending!!
tim gustafson on October 11, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Yes, we have to remember that real love must sometimes be tough love. But we also have to keep in mind what it might cost us. (I don’t necessarily like that part. But it is worth it.) Stay strong in Christ!
sandy229 on October 11, 2016 at 10:53 am
When Christ became human, He showed us all the Glory from the Father. Made His home, literally means”tabernacled”. The analogy is that of the Tabernacle in the wilderness when God pitched His tent among those of the Hebrews and manifested His Glory there so Jesus identified Himself with humanity by becoming human…….and we have seen His glory (John 1:14). The fact that John states in John 1:16 that each gracious blessing comes from His abundance teaches that grace is more than God’s disposition or impersonal favor. It is God meeting us at our point of need in the Person of Jesus Christ, including His power and provision.
envirotact on October 11, 2016 at 11:05 am
Imagine….John Lennon was wrong.
tim gustafson on October 11, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Ah yes, the “atheist hymn.” Lennon’s platitudes may have a certain appeal, but as Paul said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all people to be most pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19). It sounds good to wish for “nothing to kill for,” but what good is it to live if there is nothing to die for either? Christ freely gives us something to live and die for … and live again. Thanks for weighing in today!
youssef1777 on October 11, 2016 at 2:26 pm
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SUFFER THE GREAT PAIN FOR OUR SALVATION . THIS IS GREAT GRACE WE, ARE NOT DESERVE IT . THANK YOU LORD AND PRAISE HIS NAME .
tim gustafson on October 11, 2016 at 2:48 pm
Amen, Youssef! Grace is an amazing gift, but it cost Jesus so much to redeem us!
sim jing ying on October 11, 2016 at 4:15 pm
God’s grace is the reason why God still give time to those who are doubting and whether they accept Him or not God loves them and no harm is given to him who accepts but an extraordinary rest and peace when found in Him. I would tell that it’s up to you to believe but miracles will keep on happening in people’s lives as Jesus Christ has now have authority in everything.
gagirllive on October 11, 2016 at 4:27 pm
AMEN! That’s good preaching, sim jing ying! 🙂
sim jing ying on October 12, 2016 at 10:31 am
Amen! Praise God the Almighty, God can use anyone to spread the Word although I’m a student. 🙂
gagirllive on October 12, 2016 at 1:12 pm
Yes, sim jing ying! God can certainly use a student like you—in mighty ways! Love your passion for Christ and your insightful contributions on this forum. Keep spreading the Truth, dear one!
sim jing ying on October 12, 2016 at 2:20 pm
Sure 🙂