The Gospel Game #2

I haven't yet figured out why the Lord likes to teach me while I'm doing obscure things, like bathing  or boiling eggs. It does fit my sense of humor fairly well, so maybe he's just trying to make me laugh. Plus, could you imagine if he only taught me while at coffee shops? Heaven knows I'm way too addicted to espresso as it is.

This time, I was sweeping my bathroom floor. (So exciting, right?) Before I go any further, I should let you know that I have very long hair...
And that hair is near black...
And the tile in our bathroom is white...
Do you know where I'm heading yet?
That's right. Due to my profound ability to shed, our bathroom floor could easily turn into a 70's shag rug without a proper cleaning routine.

I'm very sorry if you just ate lunch.

So while I'm sweeping up all the weak-link hairs that couldn't withstand this week's brushing, thinking about how gross it was (and why I wasn't bald yet), the gospel game came along.

How does shedding relate to the gospel?
(And how in the world do I still have people reading this blog?)

I began contemplating good works versus grace. The Bible clearly states that by grace and grace alone we have been saved, not because of anything we did (Ephesians 2:8-9). We can't earn salvation. We can't be good enough or do enough nice things. It just won't cover our debt caused by sin. Period.

So how do we reconcile James 2? (I'm chopping this down a little)

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?...So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone... For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."


Sure makes it sound like we need works to receive salvation. But this isn't what James is saying. The word "justified" can mean "to demonstrate or prove to be just". James isn't saying Abraham was righteous because of his works, but that he works proved the sincerity of his salvation and righteousness. It's not the reason but the results.

John 15 reads, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." If our hearts are truly transformed by the saving power of grace, we will bear fruit! And not because of our own power or will. By his grace alone.

The Gospel Game:

You do not have hair on your head because you shed. In fact, you can't really shed without hair on your head. But if you truly have hair, you will shed. It's inevitable.
=
You do not earn grace because you bear fruit. In fact, you can't really bear fruit without God's grace. But if your heart is truly regenerate, you will bear fruit. It's inevitable.

Is that terribly gross? I'm sorry. But maybe the next time you pick a hair off your shirt, you'll be reminded of God's amazing grace and how it's given to us.

Freely.

...until then, keep conditioning! :)

Agape,
CC