Do we really want fair?

Last night we began our men's study in the book of Romans. I have been looking forward to this for a while now and the others seem to be excited about the study also. Something came up in our discussion that really impacted me. Someone mentioned how in discussing grace and how it relates with law, works, etc. that some people can't make sense of it because it seems to go against God's "fairness." It hit me because I can remember being one of those who would have said something like this at one time. My rationale would have been something to this effect, "Well 'grace only' salvation doesn't seem to make sense because that means God allows those to be saved who don't deserve it or who have not been righteous followers." Well of course! Isn't that the whole point of grace? I have to admit that I am somewhat embarrassed that I spent a number of years ignoring or shying away from this reality, thinking it was the only way to protect my belief that we must obey God.

Here is a profound thought: Grace is not fair! Grace completely stands against everything that "fairness" is supposed to mean. I think it all makes sense when we understand that Paul's whole point of this law-grace distinction in Romans was to reveal the means or process by which we are saved. His point was not that we don't have to set out to be a holy and righteous people before God who seek to obey Him, but rather it was to inform us that grace sets us free from the necessity of trying to get to Heaven by and through our own means. Our adherence to a law is not the source of our salvation.

Dr. Jack Cottrell, writer of a great book entitled, The Faith Once for All does a superb job in explaining this:

Do I really want God to be fair with me on the day of judgment? Before answering we should remind ourselves that the only fair (just, deserved) treatment for sinners of any kind is hell!

Does this mean that grace is not fair? Of course it does! That is the very point of grace, i.e., that under grace God does not treat us in terms of fairness or justice: he does not pay us the wages our works have earned or deserved. For those who break the commandments, hell is fair. But grace is entirely different; it has nothing to do with fairness.......It is in fact the exact opposite of fairness; it is antifair. It is grace. Such grace is not just "unmerited favor"; it is "favor bestowed when wrath is owed" (pp. 312-313).

The truth of the matter is that if I am saved by law, then that means I must obey all the commandments for my entire life, and I must keep every element of that law perfectly. In other words, I must be totally sinless if it is law that saves me.

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by ALL things written in the Book of the Law, and do them (Galatians 3:10).

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it (James 2:10).

There was only one person who was able to accomplish this. That was Jesus Christ.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

And so while theoretically, one can be saved by keeping law only in that it was possible for Jesus, the feasibility of us doing it is 0%. We cannot do it.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).

We all sin. Not one of us are perfect. Hence, our need for God's saving grace:

For we maintain that one was justified by faith apart from the works of the law (Romans 3:28).

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14).

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose (Galatians 2:21).

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Paul also seems to suggest in his letter to Titus that it is God's grace to begin with, that even gives us a means to be righteous servants.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age (Titus 2:11-12).

And finally, may we never forget that this saving grace comes to us through none other than the One who was designated from the beginning to be our Savior. Jesus lived a perfect life and set for us the perfect example of how to live in the kingdom. And then He died so that those who belong to Him might have the full benefit of life in the kingdom here on earth and in Heaven. Regardless of how great our citizenship in His kingdom is, it is not because of our doing. We will forever be in debt to God. It is only through Christ and the grace He brought to us, that we even stand a chance, with any hope at all.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Thank you Father God for your grace! I know I am undeserving of it. Through your Son Jesus, I bow before your throne recognizing my unworthiness. May I never take advantage of it and make a mockery of your loving grace. But may I never nullify it either. And may my actions toward others continuously reflect your love and grace that you have so extended to the world. Thank you for loving me in spite of my shortcomings. Help me to love others in spite of their shortcomings. Your grace extends to my neighbor as much as it does me. And please, help me to love you, who has no shortcomings, more and more as each day passes. Thank you, Father. Thank you! Amen!