The Mercy and Grace of God

The greatest theological error among men is that of “works salvation.”  Works salvation is the idea that my relationship with God and His blessings can be obtained by my good deeds and right living.  This error permeates every major religion and philosophical system. 

When Job’s second friend Bildad responds to Job’s continued defense of innocence, Bildad is quick to remind Job that “God does not pervert justice.” (Job 8:3)  He tells Job that one of the reasons Job was suffering was that his children “sinned against God.”  Bildad argues that If Job would “seek God” and live “pure and upright,” then God would “restore Job’s rightful habitation.”  (Job 8:6-7)

Hinduism teaches that man suffers because he is either paying off bad karmic debt from a previous life or bad deeds in this life.  If man wants God’s blessing than he is to live “pure and upright.”  Islam teaches a similar principle, if a man does good works, mainly following the 5 pillars of Islam, than God would be merciful and bless.  Various forms of deviant Christianity teach the same thing, if we do good God saves and blesses.

Marxism eliminates God and puts the onus on government to rectify the injustices caused by the inequality of wealth.   By changing the system, man in his goodness through government can address injustice and bring about a utopian society.  Critical race theory has a similar thought, address the racial injustices in the institutions of business and government, then racial equality will abound.

But the Bible teaches that while we can often improve things by living “pure and upright,” man needs a total new makeover.  Man needs a new nature.  According to God's word our standing before Him is what matters and that standing is dependent on God’s mercy and grace.  Man as sinner deserves judgment.  The world is suffering with injustice because of sin and the devil’s work.  Nature is cruel because when sin entered the world, God “subjected creation to futility.” (Romans 8:18)   But the goodnews in all of this is that God intervenes through Jesus and extends to us mercy and grace.

While God brought judgment to this world because of sin, the greater story is one of God’s mercy and redemption through Christ.  Though man deserves judgment and a life of suffering without hope, God extends to us grace, mercy, love and hope in Jesus Christ.  While we deserve judgment and condemnation for sin, God sent Jesus “not to condemn this world, but that the world would be saved through Him.” (John 3:17)

And God invites to understand that we “are saved not by works, but by grace through faith.”  This is God’s love that through Christ.  Instead of us bearing the penalty for our sin, God forgives, gives us new life and a hope for eternity.  And while we may suffer in this world, our hope in Christ is greater than our present circumstances, for “the dwelling place of God will be with men…  He will wipe away every tear, and death will be no more…. Neither crying, mourning nor pain, for former things have passed away.”  (Rev 21:4)