So Much Grace, It's Not Fair

GRACE:

The last time we were together we talked about a social engineering project in China, that some have compared to  Orwell's 1984 or Huxley's Brave New World.  In case you forgot your high school literature, neither of those dystopian novels presented a very pleasant scene. Here is the question that concerns us: What if there were a system that would reward each of us with exactly what deserved? Really, it's not a matter of if; the fact is there is such a system and it presents a far more alarming scene than any fictional account.  We tend to think in terms of more-or-less.  God is perfect; His standards are likewise perfect.  These words from our Lord's earthly brother are one example of what the Bible has to say on the subject:  "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:10).  The question is not, "Am I better--or less bad--than others around me?" but, "Do I measure up to God's standard?" The answer is, "NO!" “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”  (Romans 3:23)   We don't need justice.  We need grace.  Grace of such a quality that when we examine it we'll be tempted to say, "That's not fair!"  Take the case of the Apostle Paul.  He was a legalistic leader of a warped brand of Judaism.  He felt driven to, and totally righteous about, persecuting followers of Christ.  He was involved in the stoning of Stephen, and proceeded to wreak havoc in the church.  See here, and here.  Yet this former one man wrecking crew, came to be a recipient of God's grace.  He, himself, was amazed at the scope of this grace.  Paul called himself the "foremost of sinners."  Yet he saw God's grace as sufficient to deal with any quantity of sin.       "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,           so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21 Yes, God is righteous, but, without any compromise to either, He is also gracious.  That is why the Apostle Paul puts both concepts in one brief statement.   "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. . . ." (Romans 6:23) We are right to respect God's justice.  That should not be the end, however.  A knowledge of God's absolutely holy standard ought to drive us to God's grace.  What John Newton called God's "amazing grace." That great grace is captured in a verse that is likely the best known passage of scripture in all the Bible. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16, KJV) I encourage you to find out more here.   A good place to start is to scroll down to the "The Good News About Jesus."   It's STTA.