Dear Church Family,
Terry Johnson closes his book with a chapter titled, “A Faith for Living.” The previous chapters that I have condensed have had the overarching theme of “practical piety” which is the application of the doctrines of grace as taught in the Bible. Now he ends with the goal “to summarize our findings and drive these truths into our hearts and consciousness.” Note four words to describe living by grace.
The first is “Comprehensive.” All of life is Christian and Christ-centered. As renowned Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not an inch in the whole area of human existence of which Christ, the sovereign of all, does not cry, ‘It is Mine.’” In other words, “Everything is for God and everything is through God. First, all I do, and all everyone does, is to be for His glory and according to His command. Second, all I do is to be through the strength He gives…God’s control of my life is comprehensive.”
Next, living by grace makes us “Hopeful.” It almost seems to just be ‘common sense’ that a life centered on the glory of God would give one hope. Yet we live in a world that is heavily influenced by culture trends, the latest news (pandemic, riots, economic data, etc.) and belief in evolution. Holding to any of these worldly ways of thinking will drain one of hope quickly. Most non-Christian worldviews are deterministic. Environment and genes set us on the path we are programmed to live. “You are like one of Pavlov’s dogs. The bell rings and you salivate.” Yet by grace the Christian lives a transformed life. Therefore, “I am made in the image of God with the power to choose. There is always hope, with the power that God gives, that I will begin to make right choices.”
Thankfully the theology of grace is “Realistic.” It takes an honest view of like in a fallen world. We understand that by faith in Jesus we are justified – a one-time act that “frees us from the enslaving power of sin.” Yet we still must be sanctified as we face “the ongoing need of mortifying the sin that remains.” We rest confidently in God’s grace since we will still face suffering as God so wills and as He uses it to grow us deeper in grace. By grace we understand that sin will remain in us until Jesus returns or God calls us home to heaven. Therefore, we value the role of God’s Law to convict us of sin and guide us in holy living.
Last, grace gives us a “Balanced” life. “It strikes the right balance between God’s part and our part…We avoid the fatalism of those who say it is all up to God and manipulative practices of those who say it is all up to us. We pray, preach the gospel, and wait for God to work.” We have a high view of God and understand that man, though made in the image of God, has sinned and must be subject to the Holy God. We look for truth to live by in the inspired Word of God guided by His Holy Spirit.
Terry distills the book into these choice words. Living by grace “gives us a framework within which to understand our identity as humble sinners saved by grace; our experiences in a fallen world – of suffering, struggle, doubt, duty, and guidance; and our duties of worship, prayer, and witness. It is the religion of the Bible in its pure, practical, and stable form.”
With great hope in His grace,
Pastor Gillikin