Grace. Hope. Love.

Hey folks-

Many have struggled over the years. Fear and dread fills their heart as yet another friend passes from this existence without coming to know the Lord in the same manner as they have come to know through study of the Holy Scriptures.
Many times the scripture quoted to support their opinion is Matt 7:21-23.
For those not familiar with the passage, Jesus is concluding His "Sermon on the Mount". In it Jesus states that not everyone will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, even though the seekers profess to have done many great works in the name of the Lord. Jesus warns us that the reward of heaven will only be for those who "do the will of His Father who is in Heaven.
The argument goes that only those who "do" Christianity right will be the recipients of the reward of a home in heaven.
Oddly enough, the proponents of this message are exactly right. Jesus said it plainly.
So where's the dispute? It is regarding what the "will of my Father" is that Jesus referred to in His closing statements.
Many would say "it is to hear the word, believe, repent, and confess your sins, then be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins." "Only those who do that for those reasons are obedient and fulfilling the true Will of God."

To those who hold that position I would say - thank you for your opinion - and then offer my own.

In context, Jesus is presenting a summation of all that he had just spoken to the crowd who had so diligently listened to what he had been saying. Furthermore, Jesus follows his closing statements with the a simple illustration showing who was wise and who was not.
Jesus said the wise person is the one who put into daily practice the things he had just spoken to them. That is to whom Jesus was referring while addressing who was faithful in doing God's will and who was not.

So what had Jesus told the people that He so desperately wanted them to put into practice? Was it Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, & be Baptized? NO!
It was:
Love the Lord your God and love one another. Be true to your commitments. Treat your fellow man with dignity and respect. Love all mankind. Not just those that love you, but those who mistreat you as well. Ask God to bless your life and then be ready to share His blessings with others who are in need. Put your trust in the Lord God our creator who is faithful to provide. Live peaceful lives, not demanding from others that which you do not do yourself. Be on guard against those who would encourage you to do otherwise. Be salt and light to the world. Encourage others to follow your example be living a life of love.

Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of scripture to support the need to put our hope in Jesus and to be buried with Him in baptism that we might arise from our watery grave a "new creature". For those of you reading this - that is how scripture reveals that we come into relationship with Christ.

So where is the Grace that this article is titled for?

Try as I might to do all that Jesus suggests, I fail. I get back on the horse and try again, but sooner or later, I fall off again. Our Lord is faithful and keeps lifting me up, for it is not my flawed actions that he sees, instead, he sees my desire to serve Him - He sees my heart. It is the grace of God that heals my flaws, and makes whole my awkward ways.

I believe that a great many souls will find salvation in the Day of Judgement because though their actions may not have been completely perfect, their heart was pursing that which was right. Those whose heart is set on serving the Lord will find salvation. God is faithful to preserve them.

So where is my scriptural foundation for such a stance? Read 2 Chronicles 30.
Hezekiah had become king of Israel. He was preparing to observe the Passover Feast and sent messengers throughout Israel and Judah that the people should submit to the Lord and come worship the Lord their God.
Not all that heard responded, but many did and so gathered to observe the Passover feast.
Focus on the record beginning at verse 18.
18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary." 20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

The people had not ceremonially cleansed themselves as prescribed in the law, yet they actively worshipped him. And the Lord, who looks at the heart of man, overlooked their uncleanliness and healed them.


Would I ever suggest that anyone actively and deliberately not do what has been described in scripture? No.

Do I believe there is hope for the one who desires to serve the Lord, but doesn't get it all exactly right? Yes.
We will all stand before the same God and be required to give an account for what we did with what we were given. Praise be to our great God who takes our broken attempts to serve Him rather than ourselves ...and makes them perfect.


Well, anyways, I just wanted you to know there is hope.

Hope's name is Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:1)
Put your faith in Him and you will never be the same again.


Blessings to you in Christ our Lord.