Romans 11.5-6 5 So
too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace,
then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
– St. Paul
For me, sometimes reading Romans is a bit of a chore: is Paul asking and answering all the
questions, or is there really a dialogue going on? Or because of the
culture of the day, did they just talk differently than we do today?
I think Paul was both introducing himself to the Roman
church, and explaining his ministry to them as well. I think also he was giving
them his view of the gospel and his thoughts about grace, works, and relationship
with God. Do we work our way into the good graces of God, or does He just give
them to us? And if He just gives them, why? Don’t we have to make amends?
Since the fall, I think, man in his weaker moments has
tried to appease God for his awful mistake. Adam lived, according to Scripture:
930 years, that’s a long time to influence. Adam, I believe, tried his darned-est
to right the wrongs of his moments in the Garden. He tried over and over, and
taught others as well, to appease God in his own strength, and he failed over
and over. Man has been trying to do so from then on.
Now, when God led His chosen people out of Egypt He gave
them a law to abide by – a law that they could never keep. It wasn’t God’s
intent to rub their noses in their incapacity, but God attempted to help them
to understand that friendship is not about keeping the rules, it’s about love
and the heart. They could not understand – the self -help of Adam was far too ingrained into them.
It appears, in Paul’s writing, that some of the ancients
were more attuned to grace than we might give them credit for; God told Elijah
the prophet (in the turbulent unbelieving days of Ahab the king) that He had
reserved seven thousand who had not bowed their knee to Baal: the pagan god of
Feel Good. (Cf. Romans 11.2-4) Some actually doubted Adam, and the ways of
mankind, and believed God. And as Paul wrote in the 1st century,
there were still some then, who understood the true nature of friendship with
God.
Grace, said Paul, cannot be grace if it is earned by works. Once works are introduced, grace dissipates. The efforts of Adam to appease God cannot be accepted because they are offered in his own effort and strength. God asks man to love Him just because, not as a party favor or to earn His love back.
So much of religion is the works of Adam: If I can just show God how good I am, He’ll
accept me. And if He doesn’t, I’ll be justified in my own efforts that I showed Him,
He’s wrong. Utter nonsense. But sadly, lived out every day, in just about
every way. Man is guilty and he knows it, but he won’t accept God on God’s
terms. Man is somehow going to make things better…
As I read today,
Lord, and struggle with what I think Paul was saying, I get this: Your grace is
truly a free and unearned gift. I don’t need to impress You, I simply need to
listen to You. Forgiven me my Adamic weakness in trying to earn Your favor, and
may I simply let go, and let You be You to me, in all of Your marvelous mystery.
Amen
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