Grace for the Race

The dictionary defines “reckless” as utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless.  Some antonyms for reckless are prudent, cautious, and calculating.  Which group of definition best describes your Christian life right now?  Are you reckless for your Redeemer . . . or calculating?

Many Christians today are far from living recklessly for their Redeemer.  They like to play it safe and live inside well-established zones of comfort.  They play it safe with their time, talent, and treasure, living only a portion of the life God is calling them to live.  They are sold-out for comfort rather than Christ. 

Those who are redeemed and reckless are easy to spot, because their lives don’t seem to make sense—not just to unbelievers but to Christians also.  They do things for Jesus that most can’t even imagine doing.  They worship openly.  They serve whole-heartedly.  They give generously.  And they do all this without any thought of what they will receive in return.  That’s because they don’t do what they do for a return; they are living out their unqualified, unquestioning love for their Redeemer.  This is reckless living, and it is the life Christ has called each of us to live!  Asked what is the most important commandment of all, Jesus replied:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  (Mark 12:28-30)

Let me make something perfectly clear.  The reckless Christians I am speaking about—at least those who live in the United States—are not likely to rise to the level of commitment evidenced by the early Christians, or those today around the world, many of whom live in Muslim or Communist countries and are beaten, imprisoned, tortured, separated from their families—even killed for their faith.  Scripture commends the tenacious faith of such as these:

They were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.  Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.  They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword.  They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

(Hebrews 11:35-38)

However, if our reckless living for the Redeemer never rises to this level, may we who are living in relative comfort for Christ begin making decisions that will cause the watching world to sit up and take notice of our commitment.  Let them see us as the world once saw Abraham, Noah, Esther, John the Baptist, and countless others: as recklessly, incautiously committed to our Redeemer!  This kind of full-throttle Christian living puts us in good company . . . and puts our great and glorious God on display for all-the world to see.

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

Then [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”  (Luke 9:23)

There is a great deal of confusion today about sort of cross it is that disciples of Christ have been instructed to carry.  Many Christians have turned the cross of Christ into something it was never meant to be.  You’ll hear them say, “That’s my cross to bear.”  They seem to believe that some unpleasant situation or disagreeable person is a burden they must learn to live with . . . to “grin and bear it.” 

Our Lord, however, was laying emphasis to His teaching that the cross He was calling His disciples to take up is a cross of self-denial, self-sacrifice, and ultimately self-death.  In taking up the cross of Christ, we die to self and live for the glory of God and the good of others. 

Here are two examples of what this cross we should carry is not. It is not:

THE COMFORTABLE CROSS, which is really no burden to bear at all, because we are actively pursuing the good life rather than the godly life.  Our shoulders are so thickly padded with the stuff of life and the things of this world that we can barely feel this cross.  David Goetz offered this sharp admonition: “Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually.”  Those who carry the comfortable cross attend church regularly and even offer their time, talent, and treasure . . . just as long as it doesn’t take them out of their comfort zones.   

THE CONVENIENT CROSS is carried only when it is convenient.  As long as carrying our cross does not disturb our comfortable and convenient lives, we are perfectly willing to carry it.  But as soon as the cross interferes with our agenda, we put it down.  When the cross disrupts our plans, we put it down.   

The apostle Paul wanted nothing to do with a comfortable or convenient cross.  He knew who he was and where he came from.  He knew what Jesus had redeemed him from, and his only desire in this life was to be like His Savior. 

I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death . . .  (Philippians 3:8-10)

When you know who you are (a great sinner) and where you came from (the pit of hell), you can begin to understand what Jesus has redeemed you from.  At this level of living, you desire above all else to please and glorify your Savior by carrying a Christ-centered cross.  This cross looks like death to the watching world, but it is actually the only way to real life on both sides of the grave. 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

How would you define the word “grace”?  For most Americans, grace is synonymous with words like kindness, goodness, charm, good manners, or some other attractive characteristic.  Some people might call to mind a picture of a Southern belle with flawless social skills; others might think of an accomplished dancer or figure skater.  These are perfectly good definitions of grace for those who are not Christians . . . but what about those of us who have been saved by grace?

A Christian child might connect the word “grace” to the short prayer said at mealtime, giving thanks and asking for God’s blessings upon the meal.  Their parents would likely recall the acronym G.R.A.C.E.—God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.  This last phrase comes very close to a workable, textbook definition of grace: the unmerited favor of God lavished on undeserving sinners, thanks to Christ’s suffering and death.

But we can’t stop there.  The truths of the Gospel demand we go further.  Any definition of grace that does not include the Gospel-truth of what we actually deserved is little more than a quick sketch, rather than a portrait of what our loving Lord has done for us.  Let’s make a brief study of what we HAVE earned from God.

[B]ut you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.  (Genesis 2:17)

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.  (Romans 5:12)

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)

For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me.  The soul who sins is the one who will die.  (Ezekiel 18:4)

The wages of sin is death.  (Romans 6:23)

 “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense” is a good beginning to defining grace, but to this we must add: “freely offered to those who deserved only death, hell and the eternal wrath of Almighty God.”  Martyn Lloyd-Jones summarized it powerfully: “Grace is favor shown to people who do not deserve any favor at all.  We deserve nothing but hell.  If you think you deserve heaven, take it from me, you are not a Christian.”  WOW!  Now that is an accurate picture of who we are and what we deserve apart from the grace of the Gospel.

My beloved pastor, Tullian Tchividjian, beautifully paraphrased Romans 5:8 in his “Pictures of Grace” sermon series: “When we were at our most appalling, Christ died for us.”  When we hold the truth about grace up to the light of who we really are and what we thoroughly deserve, it truly is spectacular! 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

What encourages you to live for the glory of God and the good of others?  If your answer is anything less than the encouragement of eternity, you are settling for less than God’s best for you.

C. S. Lewis rightly observed, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.  It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” 

The apostle Paul flatly stated:

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

(1 Corinthians 15:19)

Make no mistake: Paul was NOT implying that non-Christians enjoy a better life on this side of heaven than Christian believers.  Even a believer who is passing through the fiery furnace of affliction always has Christ walking by his or her side, no matter how hot the fire gets (see Hebrews 13:5).  That sweet presence of the Friend who sticks closer than a brother is what makes the believer’s existence on earth infinitely more rich and full than that of the unbeliever.

Paul’s stark statement in 1 Corinthians 15:9 emphasizes the truth that the best is yet to come.  What good is life on this earth without an eternity with Christ attached to the end of it?  Paul concisely captured the folly of living for the world instead of the Word: “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’ (1 Corinthians 15:32).  We are broken people living in a broken world; without the encouragement of eternity, we might well live in utter despair . . . for tomorrow we die and return to the dust.

Only the encouragement of eternity will empower us to keep on keeping on when we would rather not.  Scripture commends the faith of Abraham, who, though living in a tent in a land far from his home, “was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10-11).

The letter to the Hebrews exhorts us to think in the same way as our spiritual father Abraham: “Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14).

God has promised an eternity where there will be no more tears, no pain or sin or death.  Every time you recall a portion of your life with pain or regret, it is the promise of eternity you are longing for.  When you grieve the loss of a loved one, it is the promise of eternity you are yearning for.  When you are disgusted by your own propensity to sin, it is the promise of eternity you are aching for.  Every time you lay down your own needs for another—every time you take up your cross and follow Christ, it is the promise of eternity you are banking on.

Even now, God is preparing a special place for just for you.  Our Lord has promised it (John 14:2-3).  Lay hold of that promise!  Look forward to it . . . long for it . . . live your life in the light of it every day!  When you do, the encouragement of eternity is powerful enough to rescue you—not only from broken people, places, and things; it will rescue you from you!

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

I recently preached a sermon on the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, which provides a wonderful picture of God’s amazing, unconditional grace.  After the sermon, someone asked, “Is it possible to take this grace message a bit too far?”  This was not an accusation coming from a cold legalist; it was a sincere question from a concerned, mature Christian. 

I understand this well meaning-man’s concern.  The Apostle Paul was anticipating that very objection when he wrote, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means!”  (Romans 6:1-2 NIV).  To be sure, there are those in the church today who abuse grace in order to excuse their sin and cold refusal to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  But just because grace is abused doesn’t mean we should shroud it with half-truths in order to coerce others into obedience and holiness through guilt and fear.  This is not the Gospel. 

Grace is not opposed to obedience.  Grace produces obedience!  Grace is the fountain from which obedience flows.  Grace is the fuel that ignites the fire of our obedience and keeps it burning brightly, albeit imperfectly.  Preaching the grace of God and His unconditional love in spite of our sin might lead some to think lightly of sin and to misuse and even abuse grace.  But that is only because their understanding of the Gospel is immature and incomplete.  And that is why we must clearly, concisely, and continually preach the Gospel in all of its glory.

God does not make our obedience a condition for His acceptance.  His amazing grace frees us from trying to obey our way into God’s acceptance.  But grace does NOT free us from the demands of obedience. 

Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

 

(Romans 6:12-14 NIV)

God wants us to be holy because He is holy, and if we desire to accurately reflect Him to a watching world, we must strive to reflect His holiness.  And that desire is driven by the grace of the Gospel.  Our obedience, therefore, is a result of our relationship with Jesus, not a requirement for our relationship with Jesus. 

So is it possible to take this grace message a bit too far?  No, no, a thousand times no!  We cannot take it far enough! 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

One of the beloved chapters of Scripture for many Christians is Psalm 51, which relates King David’s confession after his sinful encounter with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah.  Verse 7 contains a statement that rings somewhat strange to our 21^st Century ears:

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Having been confronted by the prophet Nathan, David was filled with an overwhelming godly sorrow for having sinned against Bathsheba, Uriah, all of Israel . . . but most importantly, against God.  With a broken and contrite heart David cried, “Purge me with hyssop.”

So . . . what in the world is hyssop and why did David want to be purged with it?

The dictionary defines hyssop as a small, perennial garden herb of the mint family, with small, violet-blue or sometimes pink or white flowers.  The hyssop of the Scriptures (also in 1 Kings 4:33 and John 19:29) may have been a similar plant.  But knowing about the hyssop plant will not provide insight into David’s heartfelt confession.  Knowing Old Testament history will.   

David’s prayer recalls the time of the Passover, when the angel of death struck down the firstborn of Egypt while God protected His people. 

Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb.  Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin.  None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.  For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.  (Exodus 12:21-23)

David was undoubtedly remembering God’s instruction to “take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood [of the lamb].”  The bloody doorposts were a sign for the angel of death to pass over the homes containing the firstborn of Israel.  Frankly acknowledging the reality of the depravity of his own heart, David cried out to the only One who could help him—God.  David needed protection.  David needed forgiveness.  David needed cleansing.  David needed what only God can provide. 

We, too, need protection and forgiveness and cleansing, and we have it in the once-for-all shed blood of the Lamb of God.  The first Passover was but a shadow of that great Passover, when Jesus Christ would lay down His life for sinners.  Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we can cry out with David, “Purge me with hyssop,” knowing that our protection is promised, our forgiveness is freely given, and our cleansing is continual.

David had the promise.  We have the Person, and His name is Jesus Christ.  Because of His saving blood, we are finally and fully clean from all our sin in the sight of God . . . He sees us as whiter than snow! 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

We are all experts at finding the speck in our brother’s eye while ignoring the log jutting out of our own eye.  It’s simply in our DNA.  The more we direct a spotlight on the sin in the life of another, we imagine that our own sins will retreat into the darkness.  Our Lord did not mince words on this subject:

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  (Matthew 7:3-5)

Jesus used the image of specks and logs to let us know just how messed up we really are.  Imaging for a moment a log protruding from your own eye; now imagine your careful inspection of someone else, indignantly pointing out the speck lodged in the corner of their eye.

Me: “I’m shocked—shocked—to see you have a speck in your eye!”

You:  “Uh, Tommy, thanks for pointing out the speck in my eye, but that log in your eye! Man, that looks nasty! Have you had that for a long time?”

Seems absurd doesn’t it?  And that’s exactly the point Jesus was making.  It is absolutely preposterous to be pointing out the sin the life of another when we haven’t yet addressed our own sin.  Scripture commands us to “Work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), not to work out on others for their sin!

And yet, the more we peer at the speck in our brother’s eye, the more we convince ourselves that our greatest problem lies outside of us.  And as long as we see our problems as “out there,” we will never deal with what is going on “in here.” We’ll continue living lives of overwhelming hypocrisy. 

Our Lord’s use of the “log” metaphor impales us on the truth of just how bad our “inside” problem really is.  Our sin problem is not only obvious to us, it is conspicuous to everyone we meet—as obtrusive as a log sticking out of our eye!  And the closer we get to them to point at their speck, the more we poke them with our protruding log, irritating them and causing them pain. 

The Gospel gives us permission to acknowledge our log, because our Lord paid the price for it—no matter how large our log, or how sharp.  We don’t have to try to hide it with a few pitiful fig leaves of self-righteousness.  We can squarely face our sin problem by the grace of the Gospel and begin seeing clearly all that Jesus has done for us.  When we receive and respond to the truth of just how bad we really are, we begin to see more clearly just how good Jesus really is.  

One of the Puritans penned this magnificent prayer:

Yet still I live, and fly repenting to thy outstretched arms;

Thou will not cast me off, for Jesus brings me near,

Thou wilt not condemn me, for he died in my stead,

Thou wilt not mark my mountain of sin, for he leveled all,

And his beauty covers my deformities.

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

If that statement is true, then why work?  Why should we attempt to do any good deeds, from serving in the church nursery to teaching Sunday school to feeding the hungry to building and orphanage or a hospital?  The answer is really simple.  God doesn’t need your good works; your neighbor does.  Let’s unpack this idea.

First, we need to see that our good works just aren’t all that good.  They are stained with mixed motives, selfish ambition, and our sin-stained hearts.

We have all become like one who is unclean and all our good works are like filthy rags.  (Isaiah 64:6)

Second, we need to see living the Christian faith as an outward expression of an inward reality.  Because God in Christ has reached down to us, we are to respond by reaching up to God and out to others. 

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you.  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heart from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.  These things I command you, so that you will love one another.  (John 15:12-17)

Thirdly, we need to see our good works as an opportunity to put on display the glory of the Gospel by reflecting the character of the One who saved us. 

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.  He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)

Our neighbors need to see an accurate picture of the God whom we love and serve.  This is best done when our faith has hands and feet.  The more we are conformed into the image of our Lord, the more we will look like Him.  When we deliver good works for the glory of God and the good of others, we make our God attractive to the watching world.  He went about doing good; we, too, must go about doing good.

One final point: we don’t perform good works in order to gain our acceptance from God.  “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).  We go about doing good because we are already accepted; and in our completely unconditional acceptance, our good works become the fruit of our faith.  

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

Don’t let the title of today’s message fool you into thinking that I wrote this for the students at Knox Seminary; I wrote it for you!  Once we get a handle on the two “big” words, you’ll see just how simple and practical this message is for all of us.

Doxology is derived from two Greek words: doxa, meaning “praise,” and logos, meaning “word.”  Doxology is an expression of our love and thanksgiving for God as a response to His mercy, love, and grace toward us, poured out through His beloved Son.  Theology is the field of study of God, His attributes, and how He relates to the world around us.

Based on these definitions, can you see how doxology is the fruit of theology?  What you believe about God (theology) determines, to a much greater extent than you might think, your response (doxology) back to Him.

If you believe your acceptance by God is based on your working for God, then you will praise Him on your good days and dread Him on your bad days.  Far too many Christians have a watered-down doxology because they have accepted a watered-down version of the Gospel.  They are plagued by faulty theology, which posits that their working for God proves their worth to God.

Nothing could be further from the truth!  Christianity is not about doing; it is about being who you are because of what Jesus has already done for you.  It is living out practically what you are positionally, because of the finished work of Jesus.  

Christians are called to be a doxological people—living out of the truths of the Gospel with a heart that is overflowing with gratitude and thanksgiving for all that Jesus has accomplished.  In Christ, God reached down to us because we couldn’t reach up to Him.  Jesus willingly entered into this world, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, rose from the grave on the third day, and ascended into heaven . . . from whence He will come again to judge the living and the dead.  He chose suffering so we could be comforted.  He chose injustice that we would be justified.  He chose to be forsaken so we would be forgiven.  He chose death so we would have life everlasting.  And He did all this while were still sinners (Romans 3:23) . . . while we hated Him! 

This is the Gospel, to which the cross is central.  Jesus nailed every one of our sins—past, present, and future to that dirty tree.  He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.  This means that God is no longer our Judge.  He is our Abba Father, who loves us unconditionally.  It is with these truths in mind that we live a life marked by overwhelming gratitude and continual thanksgiving.  It is in view of God’s mercy to us in Christ (Romans 12:1) that we sing His praises both day and night.  This is the fuel that ignites the fire of our faith, whether we are in sickness or in health, in plenty or in want.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

One of the contemporary praise writers, Billy James Foote crystallized this idea of solid theology producing heartfelt doxology with his lovely anthem, “You are My King (Amazing Love).”

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor You
In all I do, to honor You

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

Today’s message is not rooted in the best-selling Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, which present the Christian dispensationalist view of the end times.  Nor is it about all of us who were “left behind” after the unfortunate “prediction” made by Harold Camping about the end of the world occurring on May 21, which caused scorn to be heaped upon Christians and the Christian faith.

Today I’d like to discuss what you will have left behind when you are transported into eternity.

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.  (Pericles, 495-425 BC)

So . . . what have you been weaving into the lives of the people God has called you to serve?  Make no mistake; you are weaving something into the lives of everyone you meet.  What that something is depends on whom you are weaving it for.  Are you weaving for the good of yourself?  Or for the glory of your Savior? 

Jesus spent a little over three years weaving the truths of the Gospel into the lives of His disciples, who then went on to turn the world upside down.  Why?  Because they spent their time weaving the truths of the Gospel into the lives of everyone they came in contact with.  Only the Gospel, illumined within us by the Holy Spirit, has the power to change hearts.  Only the Gospel has the power to transform lives.  Only the Gospel has the power to bring life where there is only death.  The Gospel is the power to slay sin, cultivate contentment, and produce peace.  So if you are weaving the Gospel into the lives of those you serve, you can be assured that what you are doing will live on in eternity. 

Those who weave the Gospel into the hearts and minds of those they serve are leaving behind a lasting legacy under the lordship of Jesus Christ.  At this level of living, life really matters.  Purpose is productive.  Significance is satisfying.  Meaning is magnified.  So what have you been weaving into the lives of others?  What would those closest to you say?  Remember, weaving the Christian witness must be done with both our lips and our lives—our practice and our profession. 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!