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This strange kind of Grace

There is this frivolous Grace being actively spread around the world today. It is such that idly erodes the responsibility of the Grace recipient. It often lazily says, “We cannot do it by ourselves,” without a sense of responsibility. Let us consider the passage below:

Grace, the teacher

I reckon that Grace is essentially a teacher. Grace is that inward tutor and that projects the recipient as a student. Being a student confers on one some responsibilities. The least of which is being lesson-ready at the stipulated time, turning in completed assignments at designated time points and being ready for exam at any time. Granted, Grace is a free gift of God, in that we cannot afford His services, God is the one who remunerates Him.

The teacher and His Student

If Grace brings salvation by teaching self-denial, then the verse, saying, work out your salvation with “fear and trembling¹” is connected to Mr Grace.

Who is the teacher who does not test the knowledge of his/her students through exercises? Is it not when these exercises have been “worked out” and turned in that the student’s level of understanding of the so-taught lesson or topic ascertained?

Has Grace taught you? He will test you to see how sedimented his lessons have been in you. What supposes that you “need do nothing” as is often said? Grace is the teacher, and being sure of what He has taught you, He provides an environment for trials to know if you should be promoted or made to seek more of His teaching, that is, more Grace.

In these trying circumstances, the work of Grace is this, that we should work out our salvation in it with fear and trembling, that is, with the consciousness that without Grace we would fail. Not work out your forgiveness. As far as Jesus' coming to the world in the flesh is concerned, forgiveness is older than His appearance on the face of the earth. God has forgiven man, and man has forgiven one another. It was the salvation of souls that Christ brought or brought Christ.

Salvation means to save from, save a part of a condemnable or decaying whole. Salvation thinks of how much to rescue from perishing material(s). Salvation never says, “destroy the whole.” Hence, we read about the Savior Himself: Because “A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning candle He will not extinguish².” But would rather make a straight path for His own feet. So, that the lame may see it and not be discouraged, but rather, follow Him and by following get his healing³.

For an algebraic equation, an accepted solution procedure, amongst others, is the BODMAS rule. And as such, one can expect to be correct if it is correctly applied. The BODMAS correspondence of Grace is the denial of worldly lust and ungodliness. Of course, this automatically associates a sense of inferiority, misuse and persecution of such student. But if lessons from Grace are well-learned, a student will accept resultant living conditions with soberness - not with a short-lived sort of peace and justice that the world offers. With a calm disposition comes the enlarged capacity for sincere reflection and, by so doing, develops the tendencies to make wrongs right, which is righteousness. And crowning it all by godliness - living as Jesus lived - since righteousness can be counterfeited and are in levels (e.g. righteousness by the law, of the Pharisees, and self).

Grace, a teacher like a Father

Imagine a father taking a walk with his one-year-old son, Jack. The father knowing the child’s ability to walk will tailor his steps to fit the boy’s pace. But I suppose that that does not reduce the dad’s ability to walk fast. Nor does it erode the father’s expectation of the boy someday walking briskly and at the same pace with him, if not faster.

Thus, that grace bears your infirmity does not mean there aren’t higher expectations set for you - known or unknown to you. That you rise and fall does not conclude your journey in such precarious circumstances. It is not for you to accept failing ways that cunningly excuses spiritual laziness. The sort that uses the “We cannot do it alone” cliché, without the least effort to be better; no attempt at spiritual growth. Like little Jack, you are expected to stretch out your finger to Mr Grace, your teacher. Yes, our effort is small when compared to the enormous efforts Grace brings to bear. Yet, those little efforts - culminating in the working out of our salvation - He will not neglect.

An appraisal

For the Christian

Would you see trying circumstances henceforth as an exercise of and by Mr Grace? And that by working out your salvation, that is, putting efforts to bare - resisting sin and Satan where necessary, insisting on righteousness where required, stumping out ungodliness related to you, wherever you are found, with a confidence not in yourself but in God, you may grow in the teachings of Mr Grace? Would you know going forward that sobering situations should not be quenched by a sensual search for or sight of worldly fun and care? But that this sobriety attracts a pious inclination towards self-evaluation, the hinges on which the doors of righteous living and godliness turns?

For the Unbeliever

Grace’s initial effort, if you will consider it carefully, is to bring you to salvation. That entry point of enrolment in His elementary class. The teacher responsible for your enrollment into a class can not only teach in one class. But also advance courses in higher classes. A life without Grace as a teacher is like the life of a 21st generation child lacking access to explorable opportunities for education. He will lack light and exposure and, before long, would be understanding his lack of competitive advantage. It is like the world in the beginning. Full of darkness, void, empty. Your last failure or undeserved favour was the Spirit of Grace hovering over your dark world. Would you let Grace teach you some quietness as you listen out for God’s “Let there be light.”? So that you can let the light be by confessing your sins and running to God for forgiveness and pardon?

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