The Perfect Escape

The very essence of Christianity is the idea that God steps down to earth and takes our sins upon Himself, making us righteous and holy. It is what sets Christianity apart from other religions, and it is the very basis of faith. Interestingly enough, this basic doctrine of grace and salvation has caused great division, yes; the largest schisma in all of Christianity. Even the reformation itself was tinged with soldiers shouting «sola gratia» and smoke from villages being destroyed. For thirty years a war raged and the world would never be the same. From 1517 until this very day, no other idea is as responsible for the gaping cleft carved between Protestants and Catholics. Even among Protestants, grace and the meaning of the cross are much debated ideas, with more or less orthodox doctrines leaping out of the big and colourful box that is theology. We must ask ourselves how such a central doctrine can create so much disunity.

This disagreement is not unpredictable, nor is it a coincidence. Without grace Christianity is worthless, without the cross Christ is not needed and without Christ there can be no Christianity. The cross is the single most important factor in Christianity. Without the cross there could be no hope of atonement, without Christ there could be no chance of humanity restored. Obviously, the devil takes particular interest in destroying and spreading confusion about the cross. No other event in history poses as great a risk to his reign and no other act in all the human race has taken so much ground from him. The cross is the perfect escape car for any and all who want to escape the devil's luring traps. The devil suffered immense defeat on the cross, and to think he would not try to deny it is unusually naive. This is why the topic is so important and needs clarity.

It needs to be made clear that salvation is entirely a result of grace. It is impossible to attain to such a high moral standard, to have such an extreme lifestyle, that we could ever be righteous by our own effort. No amount of helping elderly ladies cross roads or giving food to hungry Asian kids can repair the gash that exists between man and God. But this is where God Himself offers a perfect sacrifice; He offers to bridge the gap we could never cross in our own might. Christ died for our transgressions, and those who accept it are made perfectly clean. No human act, no good nor bad deeds, can change that. When we choose to receive God’s exceptional grace, nothing can make us holier and nothing can make us more righteous in the eyes of God. 

However, something is wrong if those who follow Christ do not experience a change in behaviour. We are saved by grace and called to a life in an intimate relationship with Christ our Saviour. That alone should create a desire to do His will and seek His instructions for our lives. That is not to say God does not lay out a foundation for His bride. He gives instructions for what we should do, what we should think about, what our attitude should be like and what we should say. He calls us to be constant in patience, active in encouragement, consistent in generosity and lingering in love. But it does not stop there: God offers His help, God Himself steps down from the Heavens. God is the God who says, «my, it seems you got yourself in a mess there son, allow me to help you out». He then points in a different direction, and says, «this is the way to go from here. Let me walk it with you, so that next time you fall I can help you up». Christians still commit sinful acts after God has saved them, and those who claim not to sin by lying about it. It is God who works in us to fulfill His purpose. (Phil 2:13) If salvation was to be achieved by works, even in addition to grace or after accepting God’s salvation; none could be saved. Even though a change in behaviour should be a natural side-effect of a living relationship with Christ, it does not affect our salvation.

This is not to say that God chooses everything and individuals have no choice regarding the state of their soul and their final predicament. Those kinds of theology make God a monster and mankind a puppet show. They imply that all worldly experience is mere illusion. This is where most untraditional (and a couple traditional) doctrines fail. God has given man independent will, and grace is an offer to be accepted or denied. Grace forced upon others is a paradox just as grace without repentance is an illusion and predestined fate is an impossibility; there can be no such thing. Those who simply do not want forgiveness, or are unaware they want it, cannot accept forgiveness. Salvation requires one act alone; choosing to embrace it.

A final problem with salvation by works is it gives no glory to God. In fact, it deprives Him of glory: If our own deeds and actions grant us salvation, we are glorified by our sufficience. If God’s grace and mercy grant us salvation, God is glorified by our insufficience. How can we defend a doctrine that so fundamentally deprives God of His glory?

Some times I find myself wondering why God’s grace so difficult for people to comprehend, but then I look at myself. Without Christ I am the most wretched sinner and the most miserable of beings, and I cannot come close to changing that by my own capacity. I cannot save myself any more than a sparrow can lift a boulder, yet Christ rolled the stone away. How amazing the work of God; how marvelous the blood of Christ. When my efforts cease, God may be glorified. What a mighty God we serve.