Today's Devotional

August 7, 2002

Subject:  What's Grace About Then?

Romans 11:6  - "And if by grace it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.  But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

John 6:29 - "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

cliché - "God helps those who help themselves."

The defining difference between all of the other world religions and Christianity is illustrated in the scriptural passages above.  In every other belief, from Hinduism to Buddhism, from Muslim to Jehovah's Witness, the central belief is that you have to work to attain God's favor and to be acceptable for "heaven."  Therefore many people bring the best of themselves and offer it up to God as though it were acceptable in His sight simply because we offered it.  The reality is none of us are good enough and nothing that we've done is good enough to meet the bar that has been set which is that of absolute perfection and holiness.  If Adam hadn't messed up, it would've been the second man and if not him the third man and if they would've made it then perhaps it could've gotten down to me and for sure it would've been clear than that we all are unrighteous without the atoning death of Christ, and so it is a must that we simply "believe."  This is the work of God.

I must clarify because this may at first appear to be in stark contrast to the principle that we must not only believe but "work" as our faith produces.  The key to understanding the whole faith versus works debate is about timing.  First, it is simply an act of believing in His son Jesus Christ that makes us acceptable in His sight and then worthy to be called his children.  Then, after we are His children or "in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:10), we are able to carry out the works which He has planned for us to do.  All of the "hard work will get you ahead" seminars in the world won't do you a bit of good if you haven't first accepted Jesus Christ.  Then as a believer, all of the works in the world won't amount to a hill of beans if you're not doing them through Jesus Christ.  Here's my "the reality" statement for the day.  I notice that I say that a lot.  The reality is that God doesn't necessarily help those who help themselves.  He helps those who die to themselves to live the life that He has ordained (Eph 2:10).

Carlen