This title is really a revelation. Thanks to Clyde Pilkington's epic mistake, we see even deeper into the nature of grace.
Why is it that we always apply grace to
bad people? Well, because bad people highlight it so well. Grace is the favor of God not based upon merit that really shines when held up against those who REALLY don't merit it. But what happens when we apply grace to the perfect human being, namely, Jesus Christ?
Mr. Pilkington saw God's grace being applied to Christ in Luke 2:40 and lost his balance.
In a phrase, Clyde freaked out. He couldn't see how the definition of grace (favor not based upon merit) could apply to the Man Who would indeed merit everything: Christ.
So, based on a knee-jerk reaction, Clyde changed the definition of grace to align with the word's English element: joy. BIG MISTAKE.
Because when we leave grace to be what it is (that which God contrasts with works), and when we see it coming upon Christ, we realize just HOW NOT BASED UPON MERIT IT REALLY IS. Grace is SO not based upon merit that not even the most perfect Person who ever lived merited it.
Doesn't this make us give up in new and refreshing ways?
Doesn't this tell us just HOW impossible it would be to EVER merit God's favor when not even the Son of God gets it because He merits it?
The title of this show came to me spontaneously DURING the show.
More on this amazing theme on Monday.
Somebody tell Clyde!