A Place of Grace
Pastor Tom Millner
April 13, 2008

John 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 8:38-39

Many attended the annual South Florida Pride event this past weekend. An event named Pride in a desire to demonstrate equality with majority of folks who do not experience orientation in the same way. The need for the name, however, betrays the reality of a population of folks who still need to heal from years of believing they are “less than,” simply because of who they are. I want to address the issue of who we are in Christ, so that as we go into a gathering of often hurting folks, we can go with the solid foundation that is built on our faith in His promise. 1 Corinthians 14:8 states; “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?” We have been called as witnesses to His love and grace, for such a time as this. Now is the time to stand firm in the faith that has been granted us by the grace of God.

One of the most quoted verses in the Bible is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Yet, so many Christians navigate this world as though this verse has no meaning. If God loves this world so much that He would sacrifice His own so that we would not have to be sacrificed, and if that act and our act of faith that these words are true, then we have a place of grace for eternity … and, if Jesus came to this earth that we might have life to its fullest… why don’t we act like we have a corner on eternal security and a full life here and now?

When the Apostle Paul was writing to the Church in Ephesus, he was emphatic in his instruction to them about their state as the “body of Christ.” Not just they, but each of us who by the grace of God is joined together as one body in Spirit… and as the virtual Body of Christ, we who believe are all ONE in that body. In Paul’s day, the major issue he was addressing for the Church at Ephesus was Jew versus Gentile. Modern society has perfected the art of differentiation into so many splinters it’s hard to keep track. There are the Baptists, the Pentecostals, the fundamentalists, the evangelicals, the liberals, the independents, the sprinklers, the dunkers, the heavenly minded, and the flat headed… Each believing that their particular brand of interpretation is the true revelation … misses the point in Paul’s writing … oneness in the body of believers, and kinship to the King and creator of all. That which unifies us as the Body of Christ is the central truth of the Gospel … “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son… so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Christ died once for all… Has anyone here noticed any exclusion clause in this Gospel truth? Does it say anything about being circumcised or uncircumcised… fundamentalist or liberal… sprinkled or dunked… charismatic or traditional… or anything about orientation? NO! So – back to the question previously posed…Why don’t we act like we have a corner on eternal security and a full life here and now?

Because we find it hard to believe that God’s love and grace is unconditional! After all, we’re smart people – we know there’s no free lunch in this world! Because we find it so hard to believe, we experience a crisis of faith virtually every day. Want to know what you believe? Look at how you behave… not just in public or in front of friends and family, but even in your quiet place. Listen to the thoughts we give ourselves … I must do this, I must accomplish that – I should do this, I should do that. I’m not worthy – I’m not smart enough – I’m not pretty enough – I’m not pure enough – I’m not educated enough! On the flip side (which is really an expression of the same thing) are those of us who look to one another and say – tell me I’m good enough, smart enough, worthy enough, loyal enough , loving enough … to get whatever attention I can that will somehow affirm me as worthy and measured up in your eyes. In our complex social structures we seek positions within those structures which we believe affirm us a valid and valuable. When we don’t receive the feedback that affirms what we hold to be proof of our worth, we begin to either push harder at what we’ve already done, or begin to experiment with behaviors we’ve seen others exhibit that we perceive gets them affirmation. Either misses the mark. The amount of time we waste (as though it’s ours to waste) is phenomenal. All that time to attempt to measure up to be acceptable when the measuring up and acceptance has already been accomplished!

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” How can we be doing the good works which God prepared in advance for us to do if we ignore that it is by the grace of God that we are made complete already and continue to go about “EARNING” our way to acceptance. Notice in our scripture that it is grace and faith that are the facilitating actions that account for the full measure! It is not faith or works, faith and works, but faith that works! That in which we place our faith will be the end to which we work. The Biblical evidence is strong – place your faith in Him who has given His all so that we don’t have to pay the price for believing that it’s all up to us – and be freed to do the things He’s called us to do – Love Him and Love each other… Or, place your faith in a social and cultural norm that changes over time and never quite satisfies – and experience the natural outcome of discontent and sense of alienation from the source of our creation. We are given the free will to choose. If we choose the former, we can be assured “that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Now – the choice is yours – believe we’re already measured up by the act of Jesus Christ, by the Grace of God… or believe that we have a lifetime of measuring up to do in order to be acceptable to an ungraceful god…

As you leave here today, may you be certain of the belief that gives you freedom, full of the knowledge that it is by grace you walk, and that there is no other measure required in order to receive that grace.