Finding a way in via ‘amazing grace’

A man dies and finds himself at the pearly gates. St. Peter is there to meet him and says, “Listen up. Here’s how this works. You need 100 points to get into this place. You tell me all the good things that you’ve done. I’ll award you a certain number of points for each item. When you reach 100 points, you’re in.”

“OK,” says the man. “Well, I was married to the same woman for 43 years and never once cheated on her. Not even in my mind.”

“That’s very good,” says St. Peter. “That’s worth three points.”

“Only three points?” the man says. “That doesn’t seem like much.” But he goes on: “I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithes and service.”

“Great,” says Peter. “That’s certainly worth a point.”

“What? Just one point? Well, now, how about this? I used to run a soup kitchen in my city. And I also worked for 20 years in a shelter for homeless veterans.”

“Excellent. Nice,” says Peter. “That’s definitely good for two more points.”

The man shouts, “TWO POINTS! Only two points for all that? Listen, at this rate the only way I’m ever going to get into this place is by the grace of God!”

Peter smiles warmly, slaps the man on the back, and says, “Friend, come on in.”

The doctrine of salvation by grace through faith is unique to Christianity. In the marketplace of worldviews, it is one of a number of commending distinctions.

For much of my life I’ve studied religions and worldviews. There are the Five Pillars of Faith and there is the Eightfold Path. There’s law-keeping, ritual sacrifice and sacramental observance. Others insist that the only way to please God, or to appease the gods, is through rigorous self-abasement.

In stark contrast to approaches like that, Christianity teaches that the infinite-personal God of the universe comes to humanity with the gift of grace. Instead of our striving upward to merit God’s acceptance, God reaches down to make us acceptable. Instead of depending on our own performance, there is an invitation to relax in God’s provision. God has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

But wait. What about the Golden Rule? Didn’t Jesus also demand obedience? Well, yes, as a goal. But not as a requirement for salvation. Which is the whole point of grace. Grace is the amazing solution to man’s repeated failures.

Often, when a person begins to comprehend the grace of God, an overwhelming sense of relief sweeps in. No more impossible standard. No more doomed endeavor. No more guilt.

That is exactly what happened to a blasphemous, cursing, old sailor by the name of John Newton. In April 1748, barely having escaped shipwreck, he stumbled into a little church in an Irish harbor town. Desperately broken, he cried out, “Cleanse Thou my vile heart.” Immediately Newton encountered the grace of God. Later, he wrote these words: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.”

Martin Luther said that when he came to understand God’s grace it was “as if all of heaven suddenly opened.” He said, “whereas before the justice of God had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet. … Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise.”

Consider the dramatic account of a rabbi who once approached Jesus by night. Some folks think that rabbis should have all the answers. But this rabbi came with a question. Perhaps he was lonely. Perhaps he was spiritually empty. Certainly he was seeking.

The rabbi’s name was Nicodemus. He evidently came to Jesus under the cover of darkness in order not to draw a lot of attention. But Jesus’ words to Nicodemus that night have now been read by millions: “… unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

For the first time in history, Jesus used the term “born again.” Those two words have since been twisted into near meaninglessness. But what Jesus originally meant was that before anyone can experience salvation and real wholeness in life, he must be renewed from above by God’s spirit.

Accepting God’s forgiveness and grace activates one’s relationship with God – a dynamic personal relationship, not just religious ritual and creed.

Is this another attractive Christian distinction? I think so. What do you think?

The Rev. Daryl E. Witmer is founder and director of the AIIA Institute, a national apologetics ministry, and associate pastor of the Monson Community Church. He may be reached at AIIAInstitute@aol.com or through ChristianAnswers.Net/AIIA. Voices is a weekly commentary by five Maine columnists who explore issues affecting spirituality and religious life.