(Pastor Chen)
We have been looking at the subject of faith and its relationship to grace. We pointed out that faith is simply a means to access what God has willingly provided for us by grace. Without grace, faith makes no sense. So many of us have tried to operate in faith without the proper understanding of grace and have unknowingly entered into a system of works. When we are into works, we are no longer under grace because grace cannot be merited. Rom
11:6 tells us, "And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." We do not receive from God based on works. As we pointed out last time, the only work that God accepts is the finished work of Christ. This is why many Christians who are involved in works are frustrated and confused even though they seem to have pulled all the right levers and pushed all the right buttons.
So often I have heard people pray, "Lord, heal so and so because he is a good Christian and he did such and such." Perhaps all of us have prayed this way one time or the other. But if we analyze this, what is this prayer based on? It is based on the performance or work of the person. But the problem is how good is good enough? We need to realize that no matter how good we are as a Christian, how much good works we have done, or even how much we love God, it is not the basis to receive from Him. Our faith cannot be placed on anything but the finished work of Christ. In Luke 18, Jesus spoke of a parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess." And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" Jesus stated that the tax collector is justified rather than the Pharisee. We are not justified by works but by His grace.
The classic illustration of grace verses works is found in the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son asked the father, who is a type of God, to give him his portion of the estate. I want you to note in Luke 15:12 that the father divided the estate between his two sons. Another word, the father is no respecter of persons. The elder son has just as much
as the younger son. This is a type of God's grace because it is not based on merit. The younger son left the house and wasted all his money on prodigal living. About the time his money was gone a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He ended up in pigs' pen. While in his miserable state, he repented and headed toward home. It is interesting to note that the younger son no longer feels like he deserves anything. I believe this is the state that we must come to before we can truly receive from God.
While he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. He put the best robe on him, a ring on his hand, sandals on his feet, and threw a big party for him. This is a type of God's mercy and grace. It is interesting to note that the elder son was in the field working at the time. He was angry when he found out what had happened. He says to the father, "Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might make merry with my friends." His life was wrapped up in the system of works. But notice what the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours." Another word, the elder son could have the same as the prodigal son at anytime. What the elder son failed to realize is that it was not based on work. The younger son did not do anything to deserve the party because it was based on grace. It was quite obvious that the elder son was trying to "earn his portion" by the anger and frustration that he showed. I wonder how many Christians are like the elder son who is upset over their fellow brother's blessings not knowing that they can have the same. The question we need to ask ourselves is, "Are we working because we love the Lord, or are we working to court His favors." More to come in the next lesson.