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When I first heard this song, I really felt I could identify with it and that its message might be legitimate. But as I listened more closely, I began to feel somewhat uncomfortable with its content. There have been any number of secular and inspirational songs lately that strongly emphasize the grace and mercy of God, which is great and certainly a primary focus of scripture. What’s not so great is that they stop right there – it’s all about grace. It’s all about mercy. To the exclusion of the rest of the gospel; which speaks to the reality of a changed heart and mind experienced by those needing and seeking grace and mercy.

Hebrews speaks to the issue of God’s intervention in our lives, in one particular case through discipline, instilling in us a recognition of His holiness and a desire to have us share in it; reminding us that, “…without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:5 – 11 & 14And while there is a holiness we achieve outside of any merit or effort on our part, this and other scripture seems to call for an acknowledgement of righteousness and an attempt at living it. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitudes of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24For, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 And this is accomplished by, “…seek(ing) first His kingdom and His righteousness,…” Matt6:33; John defining righteousness as “doing right” according to God’s definition of right and Jesus’ example of it. (1 John 3:7, see also Matthew 5:6)

Again, righteousness is a character trait instilled in us by virtue of God’s holiness and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; but we can quench that spirit (KJ) or put out its fire (NIV) – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, ignoring its influence to our regret and sorrow. There is an expectation of a change in behavior as a result of our acceptance of God’s grace, “Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to (or as instruments of) righteousness leading to holiness.” Romans 6:13 & 19

Peter, in discussing the probability of suffering as a result of a Christian lifestyle, none-the-less listed a number of behavioral traits we should embody as a result of an encounter with Christ; harmonious living, sympathy, love, compassion and humility; a forgiving non-vengeful attitude toward those who harm and persecute us, “…because to this you were called. For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12

I am not espousing a salvation by works theology, realizing the Bible’s assertion that, “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17 & 3:21,22But in contemplating the value of faith without deeds, James uses Abraham, as does Paul (Romans 4), in his consideration of true righteousness. “Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” James 2:21,22 The call for works of affirmation and appreciation are not a contradiction but a genuine response to faith and belief; Paul asserting that, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6 (Consider also James 4:17, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”)

Some seem to think the offer of grace and mercy frees them from the consequences of sin as well as the responsibility of intentionally refraining from committing it. They express a sincere appreciation of the idea of grace and the hope of escaping the penalty associated with sin, even as they display a callous and cavalier attitude for the price paid for that freedom and a devil-may-care approach to their lifestyle. Yet scripture never promotes such a belief nor allows for many of the actions some believe to be covered by grace. In fact, Paul addresses this very issue in Romans 5 & 6, reiterating that we are not under the Law of Do’s and Don’ts; the law actually identifying sin and convincing us of our inability to keep it – thus sin increases in its power to condemn even as grace increases all-the-more. “What shall I say then? Shall we go on sinning? By no means! (NIV) God forbid! (KJ) We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” Romans 6:1,2 (see also 6:15) In fact, Paul goes on to warn that, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment…” Hebrews 10:26,27 We cannot continue to intentionally or ignorantly sin, making no effort to understand and live the way God would have us to, and then expect to be able to effortlessly fall back on God’s mercy, becoming like those Paul described as, “…claim(ing) to know God, but by their actions they deny him.” Titus 1:16 John declaring, “The man who says, I know him,’ but who does not do what he commands, is a liar,…” 1 John 2:4 Jesus assuring us that, “Wisdom is proved right by her actions.” Matthew 11:19

Bob Beltz recently revised and updated William Wilberforce’s classic call to “Real Christianity”, first published in 1797. It is startling in its relevance to the quest for authentic Christianity today as well as the 18th century. (Evidently the mind of man hasn’t changed that much over the past couple hundred years.) Check back next week for Mr. Wilberforce’s assessment of the state of Real Christianity.

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

The Importance of Prayer