Bible Basics: Grace (part 2)

            In my last article, I made the point that grace is a way of relating to God.  Perhaps the most critical way one needs to relate to God is regarding salvation.  We have already established that we are all sinners.  As sinners, how can we relate to God?  How can we ever hope to approach our Creator and Maker when we are lawbreakers?  We all know that a criminal does not want to be found by the police, appear before the court, and pay the price for their crimes. With this in mind, how we dare to come into God’s presence is a critical issue. 

            There are two basic ways to approach God.  When we examine all the religions that exist in our world, we see that there are only two ways of salvation and access to God.  The first way is when one tries to be saved and safely approach God by law.  The system of law is a simple concept.  We live by laws every day.  The Law System has two primary rules:  Obey the law and escape the penalty; break the law and suffer the penalty.  For example, if you run a stop sign while a police officer is watching, you will get a ticket, and the ticket will levy a fine or punishment.  However, if you stop at the stop sign, there is nothing to worry about from the police officer who might be watching.  Keep the law (whatever laws there are) and you have nothing to worry about.  Break the law and you have to start looking over your shoulder.

            As a system of salvation, the Law System is inadequate.  Why is this?  We are lawbreakers.  We are not perfect.  We cannot come to God and state that we have done everything perfectly.  Not only do we know this when we are being honest with ourselves, but God’s Word clearly tells us that we are sinners and lawbreakers.  Romans 3:23 says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (NIV) The sad reality is that nearly all world religions attempt to approach God using the Law System.  Do enough good deeds, keep the “holy days,” and help the poor — this is the prescription for salvation.  Every religion that says we can approach God based on trying to keep the law is short-sighted.  Consider this - What fair judge would let a murderer walk free even if that individual had kept all the other laws perfectly?  While it is commendable that someone was not a “jaywalker” and was kind to his neighbors, the penalty for murder must still be paid.  Any judge who lets a criminal go free has miscarried the law and justice.

            If we cannot keep the law, if we cannot hope to impress God that way, what are we to do?  We must approach God through the system of grace.  As flawed people, we must avoid the Law System and embrace the Grace System.  Join me next week as we further this discussion of grace.  In the meantime, let us thank God that He is a merciful Creator who chooses to offer us the option of grace and mercy.  Keep looking up!