| Warning: Grace Has A Dangerous Side |
| Written by David Zook |
| Sunday, 23 August 2009 22:02 |
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God did not choose the Israelites because they earned it by being the greatest civilization or the hardest workers. Rather, he chose them because he loved them and made a promise to them. The same is true today: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) You see, it's up to God to decide. There is absolutely nothing any of us can do to earn our way into heaven. Axe murders and rapists are lumped in with those who “do good.” Both the good and the bad are eligible for God’s gift of grace. He will be gracious to who he wants, when he wants. This cuts against the grain of how we are raised in the U.S. For many of us, a large portion of our self-worth is tied to what we accomplish. The more you accomplish, the more respect you receive, and generally the more money you earn. You are in control of your destiny. In terms of living with God, he takes that control away. He strips us of our work. He tells us that even our best work is like a bunch of filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) Because it’s not about what you do. It’s about what God does...by giving us something we don’t deserve, simply because he loves us.
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This may seem like a harsh statement, but it gets to the heart of what grace is and isn't. Grace is not an obligation, but a free gift that is simply given from someone’s good pleasure. In the Bible, God freely gives his favor out of his good pleasure and according to his will. He is not obligated to extend it to anyone, let alone everyone. This is the dangerous side of grace. Add your comment
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