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A Different Gospel: A Grace That Removes Choice

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In a previous post, I wrote about the danger of believing or holding onto a different gospel. While there may be many ways to distort the gospel, I believe that every distortion stems from two main ideas. The first of these ideas will be my focus in this post.

One of the main distortions of the gospel is based on the idea that God’s love and grace is so great that everyone, regardless of their relationship with Him, will be saved. It is probably best known through the concept of Universalism. The main argument of this “gospel” is that a good and loving God would never condemn people to eternal torment in hell. Therefore, it is concluded that, in the end, everyone will receive eternal life in Heaven. Some suggest that this reconciliation will only occur after a certain cleansing period in hell. Others say that people will have the opportunity to choose God after death (of course, this leaves the choice to the person who could still turn it down). 

Photo by Davide Ragusa

Biblical Support?

One could easily see how this would be attractive. I would imagine that most God-fearing Christians would love for everyone to be ultimately reconciled to God. Even early Christian leaders are quoted as embracing this concept, hoping for a great reconciliation of God with His creation.

It doesn’t hurt that there are also some texts that appear to support this view. 1 Corinthians 15:22 says, “As all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.” Even stronger is the passage in Lamentations 3:31–33 which states, “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” 1 Timothy 4:10 and Colossians 1:17–20 are also texts used in support. Nevertheless, while these passages (and a few others like them) may seem to imply a universal reconciliation, they neglect many other passages that talk about God’s judgment and justice.

Its Danger and True Source

The advocates of this concept claim that the idea of a punishment of sin only reveals the inability of God to save. Thus, in their eyes, if God is truly able to save everyone, He has to save everyone. Herein lies the danger of this “gospel.” While it embraces God’s amazing mercy and grace, it ignores His (also amazing) justice and holiness. In addition, with this view, God’s statements about the severity and ultimate consequence of sin can only be viewed as empty threats—not anything that will actually be carried out. Yet, if sin is not bad enough for actual consequences, why is God’s grace necessary? This attempt to force God’s grace on everyone (especially those who do not desire it), undermines the principle of His grace for everyone. With this idea, sin is trivialized and God’s grace is diluted.

Of course, this isn’t a new concept. We can see the beginning of this distortion back in the Garden of Eden. As the serpent successfully sowed seeds of doubt into Eve’s mind, he offered one of the greatest lies still believed by mankind: “you shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Much like what this “gospel” suggests, Satan claimed that God was overly exaggerating the results of sin. Did God make too much of sin to Adam and Eve? Has He changed His minds since?

The Truth About Sin

No, God hasn’t changed His mind. His proclamation against sin remains constant throughout scriptures. Not once does God lessen the severity or result of sin. In fact, scripture is consistent that the consequence of sin is real. We are told in Ezekiel 18:19, 20 that the soul who sins will die. Not eventually be reconciled. Die. Because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Not just death on this earth either: “Those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus, they will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might” (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9). Jesus reiterates this idea in the illustration of the wide and narrow gates (see Matthew 7:13, 14 and Luke 13:23, 24), mentioning two results in the end: life and destruction. He also said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36). This is the Biblical truth: death is the result of sin.

The Truth About Choice

Since sin is a broken relationship with God, then those who choose to remain in a broken relationship will not receive eternal life. Of course, this is why this distortion is not the gospel: If you don’t love God, why would you want to spend eternity with Him anyway? The true Gospel does not diminish the problem of sin, but reveals how God’s grace allows us to be rescued from sin and be brought back into a personal relationship with Him.  

You see, this is why grace is necessary. Grace is undeserved favor. God is giving us something we do not deserve: another chance. But the final choice is on us. We have the freedom to say no. A powerful warning about this choice is found in Ezekiel 33:11–16. I encourage you to read it. It shows the truth about God’s grace and our relationship with Him. Yes, sin has separated us from God, but He is doing everything He can to woo us back to Him. The Good News is that grace gives us the opportunity to say yes.

Finish the Race!

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I stood there on the starting blocks ready for the sound of the starter’s pistol. Glancing to either side, I found myself in the company of other boys my age, all eager for the race to begin. I was representing my school’s team in a track-and-field event. My first event of the day was the 800-yard dash.

Photo by Tirza van Dijk

The pistol shot rang and I took off. I quickly broke off from the pack and took an early lead. By the time I finished my first lap, I was more than a quarter of a lap ahead.

Before you think I was just that awesome, I should back up a bit. I hadn’t originally trained for the 800-yard dash. At the beginning of the school year, I was actually placed in the 200-yard dash. I was a good sprinter. Then, just three weeks before the event, I was moved into the 800-yard category because our original runner was injured. So, while I had trained to do one 200 yard lap as fast as I could, in the 800 yard dash I would have four laps. I didn’t have long to train for the extra laps. Therefore, my early lead would not last long. And it didn’t.

As I neared the finish of my second lap I was more than a half a lap ahead, but I was really tired. My lungs were burning and my legs felt like rubber. I tried to keep my pace, but my energy was spent. It wasn’t long before the rest of the pack caught up… and passed. By that point, I’m not even sure you could call what I was doing a jog, it was barely a fast walk, but I pressed on.

Rounding the turn to finish my third lap, I looked up at the crowd, hoping to find some encouragement. Instead, I found many of the spectators laughing and pointing—at me. Even my coach was laughing. He was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes. I was devastated.

Ready to Quit

I began to wonder why I should keep running. I didn’t ask for the 800; I wasn’t prepared for the 800. It seemed unfair. As I fast-walked my way pass the starting line, finishing my third lap, I longingly looked at the benches on the inside of the track. I wanted to quit.

Then I heard a familiar voice yelling from the infield. It wasn’t my coach, it was my best friend. He was cheering me on. Oh, to have a friend cheering you on! I did my best to ignore the laughter from the crowd and focused on his encouragement.

I would love to tell you that I got a second wind, charged off, overtaking my competitors, and won the race. But I didn’t. No, I was so far behind that I was only 50 yards into my last lap when everyone else was crossing the finish line. For several minutes it was only me on that track. There was nothing graceful about my efforts anymore, I just wanted to finish.

Completely exhausted, I finally crossed the finish line. My friend, and a few other teammates, ran up to congratulate me. I didn’t place—not even close—but I finished. I finished a race that was much larger than I was prepared for. I may not have won a medal that day, but I did not give up. And as I’ve learned, for much of life it is winning just to finish.

Running the Race Set Before Us

This is even more true when it comes to our spiritual life. Our journey with Jesus is like a race. It’s not one we are necessarily prepared for though. Hebrews 12:1–3 gives us great advice on how to finish the race.

Let go of what entangles you. How well could you race with your legs tangled in rope? Not at all. Just like any other area of life we must see what might get in the way of reaching our goal, and let go of it. Want to be successful at that amazing job that starts early in the morning? Then you might need to let go of your strong desire to sleep in. Want to be successful in losing weight? Then you may need to let go of the donuts. Want to have eternal life? Then you will have to get rid of the things that get in the way of your relationship with Jesus.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Jesus is the reason we start the race and He’s also the reason we will finish. You must not listen to any who might mock you or try to discourage—keep your eyes on Jesus. Fortunately, when we choose to follow Christ, we run the race with a compassionate Coach and a faithful cheering section. So tune out the naysayers and listen to His encouragement: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Don’t give up! The race may be harder than you originally thought it would be, but keep going. It is worth it to finish. In case we might be tempted to quit, Paul reminds us what is waiting at the finish line: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7).

You may be tired and ready to quit, but do not give up! In this race, finishing is winning. You started with Jesus, stay with Jesus!

Revisiting Ancient Stones: The Conqueror

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Leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross, the disciples became more convinced that He was the Messiah—He was the One who would save them. Then, the impossible happened. Something more horrible than they could ever have imagined: their Savior died. [see previous blog] Contrary to what some might think, the cross was not a symbol of power at first. To the disciples, the cross was a symbol of the end—the end of Jesus’ life, the end of their ministries, the end of their hopes.

In this moment of defeat, all He had taught them was pushed from their memories. If they had remembered, they would have been encouraging the people that Jesus would rise again—He told them plenty of times before (See Luke 9:22, 18:31–33; Matthew 20:17–19). But they weren’t doing that. Instead, they were huddled in a secret room afraid that they, His followers, would be next.

However, very early on Sunday morning, a memorial was established that would bring more joy than any could imagine. That morning, a few women made their way to the tomb. They went to anoint Jesus’ body with the traditional burial spices, since they didn’t the day before (Luke 23:56–24:1). Imagine them walking quietly together, tears in their eyes—they needed to do this, even if it brought back all the pain from Friday.

No matter what they thought they’d see when they arrived, they weren’t expecting what they actually saw: the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. But they didn’t rejoice—they didn’t start a praise service. Luke 24:4 says they were perplexed about it. It means that they were at a loss for what happened. In the original Greek, it carries with it the implication of serious anxiety. Seeing the empty tomb didn’t make them excited, it made them scared!

While they were trying to figure out what happened, two men appeared by them in bright clothing. Of course, when you are already anxious about one thing, the sudden appearance of another unexplainable thing can be terrifying, and it was. But they were angels coming to comfort them. They told the women that Jesus wasn’t there because He had risen—just as He said He would.

They quickly went and told the disciples what had happened. As soon as they explained, the room broke out with praise and thanksgiving, right? Nope. They thought it was nonsense—it couldn’t be possible! That kind of thing didn’t happen. Unable to resist though, Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty just as the women had said.

I’m not sure we could begin to understand what was going through their minds. A glimmer of hope? A moment of fear? How would you react if you went to visit a loved one’s tomb, only to find it empty? Do you think you would believe it if someone told you that a loved one who had passed away was now alive? I doubt it. Yet, there they stood, inside an empty grave.

Later, back in Jerusalem, the completely unbelievable happened: Jesus appeared to them. How could it be? But yes, there was no doubt, it was definitely Jesus. Besides this time, He had appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34), Mary (John 20:11–17), and the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–31). He even made a special appearance later for Thomas, so he would believe as well (John 20:26–28). Tears of sorrow were replaced with tears of joy. If the cross revealed sacrifice and pain, the empty tomb revealed joy and victory. Of course, just before He died, Jesus told them it would happen: “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).

He is Risen!

Now the words of Jesus returned with great power: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Him, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). They had hope of the resurrection already, but before Jesus that’s all it was: hope. Now, the resurrection was more than hope, it was a reality.

The power of the resurrection would also empower the people of God. As Paul said, “we were buried therefore with him by baptism unto death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The power that raised Jesus from the day is the same power that can live in our lives. That same power will make us victorious as well.

Because Christ raising from the dead was only the beginning. According to Paul, Jesus was the first-fruits of all who would be resurrected—there will be more. And it gets better: Christ conquered death and the grave! No longer would death be able to hold anyone who trusts in Him (see 1 Corinthians 15:20–22 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14–19)

This is one of those memorials that we must not forget. This should be the testimony that is constantly on our lips: Jesus is risen from the dead! Yes, we serve a risen Savior. Because He lives, reuniting with our loved ones and having eternal life are no longer simply a hope, they can be a reality. Power in this life and life eternal can be ours, because our Savior lives. As the song says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.”