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For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. - 1 Peter 3:18 

In our Small Group, we are going through 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders. Day 28 is on salvation and starts with a fascinating story. 

During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C.S. Lewis wandered into the room. 

“What’s the rumpus about?” he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among the world’s religions. Lewis responded, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” 

After some discussion, the conferees had to agree. The notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eightfold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, the Muslim code of law – each of these offers a way of approval. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional. (30 Days to Understanding the Bible, 252) 

Grace. Unconditional love. Jesus – His coming to the world. His death on the cross. The offer of salvation, not to be earned but to be received by faith. No way to earn His love. The righteous for the unrighteous.

The message of Easter, the resurrection, is that God is good, and merciful, and kind, filled with grace and renewal and new life.

Our very instinct is to try to earn His love, His favor. Isn’t that the way the world works? We are unworthy of love, until we prove it, or so we think.

Grace. Amazing grace.

It’s Friday, March 15. Perhaps, you are feeling unworthy of love. You’re working hard to earn God’s favor. You’re looking to find ways to get Him to like you, come through for you, make things better, answer a prayer, for something good to happen; you’re trying hard without result.

Well, stop. (trying hard that is – not hoping.)

Grace doesn’t work that way. Grace is grace; it arrives when it does without cause and effect. It arrives in God’s perfect timing. It arrives because God loves unconditionally and fully.

Today, it may be tough, confusing, frustrating, difficult. You may be needing to see something happen. Well, expect grace to come, not because you deserve it, but because God is good, because grace happens. Ask for grace. Look for grace. Be thankful for grace. Receive God’s grace.

Easter came as promised after the cross. Easter is grace in an empty tomb. Easter is more than a single date on a calendar. It is a reminder that grace is available to all, all the time.

Today is March 15. It’s Friday, but Easter is coming.

Good Friday Service – Friday, March 29 – 7pm

Easter Services – Sunday, March 31 – 9 & 11am (bring a friend who needs to experience some grace in life)