I am what I am by the GRACE of God

Posted on May 3, 2009
Filed Under Religion | 6 Comments

One of the most dazzling things that I have learnt in my entire Christian life is about GRACE and the unfathomable meaning of this term. It has made all the difference in establishing my faith from a hibernating stage to a more GRACEFUL one.

I have come across so many Christian terminologies; some even sounding cryptic like koinonia and ichthys. However, there has nothing come so deep and intriguing like the word Grace. The day I realised its meaning, the foundation of my Christian faith crumbled. It triturated and dissolved my spirit only to be regenerated to a new form – like the Jesus citation of ‘house built on solid rock’.

I was ruminating on the same, last Wednesday attending our church services, listening to the beloved preacher speak. The passage was from Mathew 21:32 -  Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you…..

Now, you should have really wondered why my faith disintegrated the day I realised the meaning of GRACE. When I recall the journey of my so-called ‘faith’, I now have so many regrets. I always believed a ‘Christian’, and me in particular was better than others, and all non-believers are ‘uncalled’ and are out of the circle of salvation, or eternal life. I thought myself to be super-special and distinguished, because I believe in God or I live piously; I follow the laws and I maintain my Christian morals.

This belief of mine, which can be partly due to my vague understanding of the Scriptures, or the poor construing of the Bible by my earlier preachers, really got this downfall or disgrace in my life – which even God might have chided.

So when did I finally come out of my topsy-turvy Christian foundation? It is the day I realised, every man, or every ‘Christian’ can be saved or can be held guilt-free by the GRACE OF GOD. What in fact do I have to boast about for receiving the special attention, and VVIP access to God? Is it my deeds? my pious belief? or my regular Sunday lip-service? Frankly, none of these…

Dictionary explains the meaning of the term Grace as ‘A favor rendered by one who need not do so’; ‘Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people’; ‘An excellence or power granted by God’. Grace apparently is nothing less than the unlimited love of God expressing itself in measureless grace.

The English non-conformist clergyman Mathew Henry once said, those that have long served God, and been kept from gross sins, have a great deal to be humbly thankful for, but nothing proudly to boast of. Today’s, Christians in particular, specifically those who claim to be spiritual and holy are the ones who have lost the true meaning of Grace in their lives. Grace makes a man humble, breaks him down, makes him realise, he is who he is not by what he is or his ‘pious’ deeds but by the Grace of God. Really, the impulsive grace reveals that God has come to me to draw me to him. :)

I finally realised that day that salvation is a free gift. I never can be called righteous because I strongly held to God all my life but rather it is because God held on to me, and offered the free gift to clean my murkiness. I stopped complaining, I stopped thinking others as different and ‘uncalled’. My arrogant spirit was defeated and then came in me the spirit of humbleness. The day you realise that something has been given to you for free, your attitude changes. If you received something cause you worked for it, you have your own reasons to lift your chin. But when you realise, you dont deserve it and still it is offered free, you know the value.

Now the passage, which my preacher was talking about, is a fine example of Gods calling. As a ‘good’ believer or good ‘Christian’ you are fit and others like tax collectors, prostitutes, who have committed gross crimes, deserves punishment, eh? I frankly can’t predict Gods judgment on people, but am firm it might be surely contradicting to your existing belief. If you realize that grace is God’s unmerited favor, you might also have a different perspective on people around you and even yourself.

Ephesians 2:8-10. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

“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.” (Romans 11:6). You cant earn Grace. It is not received by your deeds; you should get this straight.

Cant say, Like Jesus warned us – tax collectors, and prostitutes might be with God in heaven, even before an arrogant, duplicitous, inept, pseudo-Christian with feelings of ‘impeccability’ inherit. Among Christians I have seen, I would consider Mother Teresa the greatest. I consider her an icon because her practices were truly Christian. She knew the meaning of grace, and the importance of the same in others lives. Her actions were outright different from her thoughts. We need a practitioner like Mother Teresa in this chaotic world, instead of a flawless ‘Christian’ like you who do nothing other than think of self.

There are countless number of ‘Christians’ with this ‘holy’ mentality that they are chosen while others around them will burn in hell for all their sins and doings. Bible sometimes is really scary, and can come contradictory to many of your fundamental beliefs. Bible also says, ‘Not all who call Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven’. Isnt that verse a little bit scary?

So if you are one like Apostle Paul who failed to know the meaning of grace and persecuted the people around you, you got to change like he changed. The meaning of Grace totally transformed him to a flawless man, when he realised amidst all his sins and wrong-doings, God has humbly called him by his name, and showed him the power of Cross – which gives birth to humbleness, love, sacrifice, unity.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

I surely feel pity for people like me, who are actually the ones who need salvation, who need to really break down and accept their ‘smallness’ before God. We really have nothing to boast about. The meaning of Grace, truly led me to consider and love my Hindu, Muslim friends. It led me to embrace the sinful, because I am just like them, and the only difference would be the free gift I have received, which they are yet to receive, and which they can receive if I can be their chandelier of light.

You must and must someday realise the power of charis (greek word for Grace) and I bet it will crumble your existing foundation and construct a really strong and beautiful one. I hope we can now “grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. . . ” (2Peter 3:18) forever and ever. Amen.

Adios ~ SAM

Comments

6 Responses to “I am what I am by the GRACE of God”

  1. JJ on May 3rd, 2009 2:26 pm

    What a really well written article!

  2. Mark on May 3rd, 2009 4:53 pm

    I too see that Christians have lost the basic fundamentals of our religion. Good article.

  3. Michael on May 3rd, 2009 6:20 pm

    thanks for sharing Sam

  4. Christian on May 4th, 2009 3:44 am

    yes we really have nothing to boast about and it is by grace we are called. nice article brother.

  5. Mr on May 4th, 2009 5:18 am

    amen

  6. Kiran on May 4th, 2009 11:27 am

    I recently was touched by Jesus and the Bible. I have however not taken a step. Can somebody tell me what I should do to become a good Christian?

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