Grace
Faith Development
Saving Grace
Another Look At The Word And The Sacraments
Grace is freely given to us when we don't deserve it. Grace comes to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Grace is communicated to us through word and sacraments. Grace is God's way of changing us from enemies to friends. We are saved by grace.
Faith is our response to the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Faith is not a super good work by which we earn heaven. Faith is created in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. As Luther says in The Small Catechism:
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord....
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as he calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith....23
Forgiveness comes to us by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. We pass that forgiveness on to others, not because they deserve it, but because we have received it from God when we did not deserve it and he wants us to pass on what we have received. Some people have hurt us so badly that from a human point of view it's impossible for us to forgive them. Every attempt to offer forgiveness to those who don't deserve it based solely on human effort will fail. We are called to let Christ love those who have hurt us. Christ loves people, even our enemies, through us.
Actually, we can only offer forgiveness. The person who has hurt us must accept that offer before he or she will be forgiven. Often our problem is that we are afraid to offer forgiveness. From a human point of view, those who have hurt us don't deserve forgiveness. We don't want to be open to being hurt again. We don't want to give up our resentments. But as long as we hold on to our resentments, we turn other people's problems into our problems.
Grace, when the benefits are appropriated by faith, changes our attitudes. As Ephesians 2:6 says, we get transferred to heavenly places where values are turned upside down. Revenge turns to relief. Resentments turn to healing. Grace received becomes forgiveness offered, even to our enemies. Everything is transformed when we realize we are saved by grace.
"Have you read Pastor Jeff's article in the newsletter about grace, faith, and forgiveness?" Grace Livingstone asked Mary. "It sounds like 'pie in the sky by and by' to me."
"Yes, I saw it. It may be a little idealistic, but there's a lot of truth in it, Grace. What is it that bothers you about it?"
"Mary, I've never told you before; I've never told anyone. When I was twelve, my father came home drunk and raped me. He doesn't believe it. I tried to talk to him about it once, but he wouldn't listen. He said it was just a bad dream I had. But I know it's true. It really happened. Am I supposed to forgive him for that?" She was crying uncontrollably.
"I'll come right over. This is important. We've got to talk." Mary set the phone down gently and prayed, "What do you want me to say to her?"
Thomas Livingstone had changed his mind. He decided to let the pastor stop by his house for a short talk. "This is Tom Livingstone, Grace's father," he said when he telephoned the pastor. "She said that maybe I should talk to you. I've been very sick lately. Grace said not to postpone talking to you too long because my health is so poor."
"I'll be over this afternoon at 2 p.m., if that time is okay with you," Pastor Jeff said.
"That's fine."
When the pastor sat down with Tom, he asked, "Can you tell me anything about yourself?"
"It's a bad liver problem," Tom said. "I've been a drinker all of my adult life. I've been in and out of Alcoholics Anonymous over the years. It's really a good organization. Good people who really try to help you. I've been dry for a couple of years now, but I guess all that drinking has finally caught up with me. Grace speaks so highly of you I thought it might help her if I talked to you for a little while."
"Sure, Tom. I'm glad to talk to you."
"My biggest concern is Grace. I know I don't have long to live, and there's no hope for me, but Grace is a good person. You know that bum she's been livin' with? She threw him out last week. He was just using her. She can be strong when she has to be. She's like her mother. Strong. Good and strong, like, I mean, inside.
"Grace has always been good, even when I was less than a good father. I wasn't a good husband to her mom either. I wasn't around much. Now that I'm sober, I've tried to apologize, but I don't think she has accepted it.
"There's something eating at her. She won't talk to me about it. Deep down inside, I feel she really resents me. Would you to try to talk to her and see if she can get it out? Before I die, I mean. I don't expect any miracles, but it won't be good for her if she doesn't release whatever is bothering her before I die."
"Tom, I appreciate your concern for Grace. She's been coming to church quite a bit lately, and she has completed the Pastor's class, but has said she isn't ready to join the church yet. We aren't rushing her, but there does seem to be something on her mind. Can you share anything about the family's religious background?"
"When Grace was little, we used to go to church. We never had her baptized, but she went to a Lutheran Sunday School. That was a time when I was drinkin' heavy and Marion, that's Grace's mother, had to work a lot of extra hours to keep the family together. We just drifted away from church."
"Tom, you said something when I first came in that I'd like to have you clarify if you would. You said, 'There's no hope for me.' "
"Yeah. That's true. No use trying to save a bum like me. If there's an afterlife, I'll get what I deserve, and it won't be heaven."
"All of us are sinners, Tom. Christ came to save all of us, including you."
"Sure. Sure. But you are wasting your time on me. I'm pretty set in my ways. I'm a lost cause. Let's get back to Grace. Will you try to help her?"
"Of course, Tom. I'll try."
"I hate to rush you, Pastor, but I have an AA friend comin' over in a short time, so I guess you should be on your way."
"It was good to meet you, Tom. You aren't a lost cause. There are no lost causes with God. Would you let me have a prayer with you?"
"Maybe later. Maybe another time. This religion stuff kinda' bothers me. Just try to help Grace if you can."
"It was good meeting you. Let's talk again."
"Sure. Later. Sometime later."
"Mary, thanks for coming," Grace said. "That article really upset me. I just can't forgive my father for what he did to my mother. He ruined her life. I just can't forgive him for raping me. He ruined my life, too."
Mary listened. She didn't offer advice, just listened. Grace poured out her soul, crying one minute, angry the next. After an hour of expressing hurt, rage, and bitterness at her father's behavior, she calmed down.
"It's good you got all these feelings out, Grace. I hope you are at peace now."
"But I still hate my father for what he did."
"When you are ready, we can talk about forgiveness."
"Forgiveness? I don't think so! Even if he repents, I don't think I can forgive him for what he did! And he won't repent! He never says he's sorry for anything! The only thing he's ever sorry for is that he got caught! He always blames someone else for what goes wrong. He never accepts responsibility. What makes you think he will repent now?"
"God help me," Mary prayed. "Even if he never repents, you can offer forgiveness to him in your heart. That way you won't make his problem your problem. You have no control over whether or not he will be forgiven. That's up to him and God. The only thing you have control over is the offer of forgiveness. Until you offer forgiveness, you will continue to be troubled."
"You sound like Pastor Jeff. Even if you're right, I can't do it. It's too hard after what he's done."
"Try to think about what Christ has done for you."
"I'll try, but I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive him."
After 45 minutes, John, Tom's AA friend said, "Tom, you don't look so good. You're pale. You look sick."
"Maybe I should take a nap."
"Maybe you should see a doctor."
"Maybe later."
As the friend started to let himself out, he heard a thud. Tom was on the floor. John called 911. The ambulance took Tom to the emergency ward. John phoned Grace from the hospital. "Your dad is in the hospital," he said. "He fell to the floor as I was leaving. His stomach is hard and swollen. They say he's in a coma. You'd better come right up."
"Dad," Grace whispered in Tom's ear, "can you hear me?"
Tom didn't respond. He died three days later.
At the funeral, Pastor Jeff talked about his visit at Tom's home the day he was taken to the hospital. He shared Tom's concern for his daughter without going into the details of what worried Tom. He also talked about the fact that Christ died for all sinners and that we never know when a person repents for his sins. He tried to comfort Grace in every way he could.
After the graveside service, Grace told the pastor, "I just can't believe it. He was fine the morning I saw him. I never got another chance to talk to him. Now it's too late."
When nearly everyone had left the graveyard, Grace stood staring at the grave, thinking: Too late to tell him I loved him in spite of all his faults. Too late to tell him I was willing to forgive him for what he did to Mom and me. Too late to show him that my life is changing for the better. Too late to tell him that God has come into my life. Too late to tell him Jesus died for his sins. Too late. Too late.
As if reading Grace's mind, Mary who was standing nearby said, "You are probably thinking it's too late to get reconciled with your dad. It isn't. If you mean it, you can still tell God that you are willing to forgive your dad. He will take care of the rest." Later that day, Mary phoned Grace and read some Bible verses to her.
That night, Grace prayed into her tear-soaked pillow, Dear Father, I'm new at this stuff, but I can't handle the resentment and hatred anymore. It's too much for me to carry. I give it up to you. I believe; help my unbelief.
Questions For Personal Consideration
And/Or Group Discussion
1.
Re-read Ephesians 2:4-10. What does it mean?
2.
If you read Pastor Jeff's article in your church newsletter, what would you think of it?
3.
What does it mean to appropriate what has already been accomplished by Christ?
4.
How would you try to comfort and help a woman who was raped by her father?
5.
Do you see any signs of repentance in Tom's conversation with the pastor?
6.
How would you address Tom's statement that he was a bum not worth trying to save?
7.
What can Pastor Jeff or Mary do to try to help Grace?
8.
Comment on the statement, "God allows U-turns."
Digging Deeper
1.
Forgiveness is the one thing needful and the hardest thing of all. It is needful because without it we remain un-reconciled to others. It is the hardest thing of all because we don't want to expose ourselves to getting hurt again by those who hurt us. When others who have hurt us don't repent for what they have done, that adds coals to the burning fire of resentments in our hearts. Even if they repent, it seems too easy for them to get by with just saying, "I'm sorry."
2.
Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48).
3.
"Perfect" in Matthew 5:48 doesn't mean without error. The Greek word behind our English translation is telos which means "whole, mature or complete." What Jesus is saying here is that we can't love our enemies unless we are whole like our heavenly Father is whole, not getting trapped in demonic fragmentation. Receiving Holy Communion is one of God's ways to make us whole, helping us get a heavenly picture of what is happening on earth. We can offer forgiveness even to those who don't deserve it only when we realize we have been forgiven by God when we didn't deserve it.
4.
Romans 12:17-21 says: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Faith is our response to the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Faith is not a super good work by which we earn heaven. Faith is created in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. As Luther says in The Small Catechism:
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord....
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as he calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith....23
Forgiveness comes to us by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. We pass that forgiveness on to others, not because they deserve it, but because we have received it from God when we did not deserve it and he wants us to pass on what we have received. Some people have hurt us so badly that from a human point of view it's impossible for us to forgive them. Every attempt to offer forgiveness to those who don't deserve it based solely on human effort will fail. We are called to let Christ love those who have hurt us. Christ loves people, even our enemies, through us.
Actually, we can only offer forgiveness. The person who has hurt us must accept that offer before he or she will be forgiven. Often our problem is that we are afraid to offer forgiveness. From a human point of view, those who have hurt us don't deserve forgiveness. We don't want to be open to being hurt again. We don't want to give up our resentments. But as long as we hold on to our resentments, we turn other people's problems into our problems.
Grace, when the benefits are appropriated by faith, changes our attitudes. As Ephesians 2:6 says, we get transferred to heavenly places where values are turned upside down. Revenge turns to relief. Resentments turn to healing. Grace received becomes forgiveness offered, even to our enemies. Everything is transformed when we realize we are saved by grace.
"Have you read Pastor Jeff's article in the newsletter about grace, faith, and forgiveness?" Grace Livingstone asked Mary. "It sounds like 'pie in the sky by and by' to me."
"Yes, I saw it. It may be a little idealistic, but there's a lot of truth in it, Grace. What is it that bothers you about it?"
"Mary, I've never told you before; I've never told anyone. When I was twelve, my father came home drunk and raped me. He doesn't believe it. I tried to talk to him about it once, but he wouldn't listen. He said it was just a bad dream I had. But I know it's true. It really happened. Am I supposed to forgive him for that?" She was crying uncontrollably.
"I'll come right over. This is important. We've got to talk." Mary set the phone down gently and prayed, "What do you want me to say to her?"
Thomas Livingstone had changed his mind. He decided to let the pastor stop by his house for a short talk. "This is Tom Livingstone, Grace's father," he said when he telephoned the pastor. "She said that maybe I should talk to you. I've been very sick lately. Grace said not to postpone talking to you too long because my health is so poor."
"I'll be over this afternoon at 2 p.m., if that time is okay with you," Pastor Jeff said.
"That's fine."
When the pastor sat down with Tom, he asked, "Can you tell me anything about yourself?"
"It's a bad liver problem," Tom said. "I've been a drinker all of my adult life. I've been in and out of Alcoholics Anonymous over the years. It's really a good organization. Good people who really try to help you. I've been dry for a couple of years now, but I guess all that drinking has finally caught up with me. Grace speaks so highly of you I thought it might help her if I talked to you for a little while."
"Sure, Tom. I'm glad to talk to you."
"My biggest concern is Grace. I know I don't have long to live, and there's no hope for me, but Grace is a good person. You know that bum she's been livin' with? She threw him out last week. He was just using her. She can be strong when she has to be. She's like her mother. Strong. Good and strong, like, I mean, inside.
"Grace has always been good, even when I was less than a good father. I wasn't a good husband to her mom either. I wasn't around much. Now that I'm sober, I've tried to apologize, but I don't think she has accepted it.
"There's something eating at her. She won't talk to me about it. Deep down inside, I feel she really resents me. Would you to try to talk to her and see if she can get it out? Before I die, I mean. I don't expect any miracles, but it won't be good for her if she doesn't release whatever is bothering her before I die."
"Tom, I appreciate your concern for Grace. She's been coming to church quite a bit lately, and she has completed the Pastor's class, but has said she isn't ready to join the church yet. We aren't rushing her, but there does seem to be something on her mind. Can you share anything about the family's religious background?"
"When Grace was little, we used to go to church. We never had her baptized, but she went to a Lutheran Sunday School. That was a time when I was drinkin' heavy and Marion, that's Grace's mother, had to work a lot of extra hours to keep the family together. We just drifted away from church."
"Tom, you said something when I first came in that I'd like to have you clarify if you would. You said, 'There's no hope for me.' "
"Yeah. That's true. No use trying to save a bum like me. If there's an afterlife, I'll get what I deserve, and it won't be heaven."
"All of us are sinners, Tom. Christ came to save all of us, including you."
"Sure. Sure. But you are wasting your time on me. I'm pretty set in my ways. I'm a lost cause. Let's get back to Grace. Will you try to help her?"
"Of course, Tom. I'll try."
"I hate to rush you, Pastor, but I have an AA friend comin' over in a short time, so I guess you should be on your way."
"It was good to meet you, Tom. You aren't a lost cause. There are no lost causes with God. Would you let me have a prayer with you?"
"Maybe later. Maybe another time. This religion stuff kinda' bothers me. Just try to help Grace if you can."
"It was good meeting you. Let's talk again."
"Sure. Later. Sometime later."
"Mary, thanks for coming," Grace said. "That article really upset me. I just can't forgive my father for what he did to my mother. He ruined her life. I just can't forgive him for raping me. He ruined my life, too."
Mary listened. She didn't offer advice, just listened. Grace poured out her soul, crying one minute, angry the next. After an hour of expressing hurt, rage, and bitterness at her father's behavior, she calmed down.
"It's good you got all these feelings out, Grace. I hope you are at peace now."
"But I still hate my father for what he did."
"When you are ready, we can talk about forgiveness."
"Forgiveness? I don't think so! Even if he repents, I don't think I can forgive him for what he did! And he won't repent! He never says he's sorry for anything! The only thing he's ever sorry for is that he got caught! He always blames someone else for what goes wrong. He never accepts responsibility. What makes you think he will repent now?"
"God help me," Mary prayed. "Even if he never repents, you can offer forgiveness to him in your heart. That way you won't make his problem your problem. You have no control over whether or not he will be forgiven. That's up to him and God. The only thing you have control over is the offer of forgiveness. Until you offer forgiveness, you will continue to be troubled."
"You sound like Pastor Jeff. Even if you're right, I can't do it. It's too hard after what he's done."
"Try to think about what Christ has done for you."
"I'll try, but I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive him."
After 45 minutes, John, Tom's AA friend said, "Tom, you don't look so good. You're pale. You look sick."
"Maybe I should take a nap."
"Maybe you should see a doctor."
"Maybe later."
As the friend started to let himself out, he heard a thud. Tom was on the floor. John called 911. The ambulance took Tom to the emergency ward. John phoned Grace from the hospital. "Your dad is in the hospital," he said. "He fell to the floor as I was leaving. His stomach is hard and swollen. They say he's in a coma. You'd better come right up."
"Dad," Grace whispered in Tom's ear, "can you hear me?"
Tom didn't respond. He died three days later.
At the funeral, Pastor Jeff talked about his visit at Tom's home the day he was taken to the hospital. He shared Tom's concern for his daughter without going into the details of what worried Tom. He also talked about the fact that Christ died for all sinners and that we never know when a person repents for his sins. He tried to comfort Grace in every way he could.
After the graveside service, Grace told the pastor, "I just can't believe it. He was fine the morning I saw him. I never got another chance to talk to him. Now it's too late."
When nearly everyone had left the graveyard, Grace stood staring at the grave, thinking: Too late to tell him I loved him in spite of all his faults. Too late to tell him I was willing to forgive him for what he did to Mom and me. Too late to show him that my life is changing for the better. Too late to tell him that God has come into my life. Too late to tell him Jesus died for his sins. Too late. Too late.
As if reading Grace's mind, Mary who was standing nearby said, "You are probably thinking it's too late to get reconciled with your dad. It isn't. If you mean it, you can still tell God that you are willing to forgive your dad. He will take care of the rest." Later that day, Mary phoned Grace and read some Bible verses to her.
That night, Grace prayed into her tear-soaked pillow, Dear Father, I'm new at this stuff, but I can't handle the resentment and hatred anymore. It's too much for me to carry. I give it up to you. I believe; help my unbelief.
Questions For Personal Consideration
And/Or Group Discussion
1.
Re-read Ephesians 2:4-10. What does it mean?
2.
If you read Pastor Jeff's article in your church newsletter, what would you think of it?
3.
What does it mean to appropriate what has already been accomplished by Christ?
4.
How would you try to comfort and help a woman who was raped by her father?
5.
Do you see any signs of repentance in Tom's conversation with the pastor?
6.
How would you address Tom's statement that he was a bum not worth trying to save?
7.
What can Pastor Jeff or Mary do to try to help Grace?
8.
Comment on the statement, "God allows U-turns."
Digging Deeper
1.
Forgiveness is the one thing needful and the hardest thing of all. It is needful because without it we remain un-reconciled to others. It is the hardest thing of all because we don't want to expose ourselves to getting hurt again by those who hurt us. When others who have hurt us don't repent for what they have done, that adds coals to the burning fire of resentments in our hearts. Even if they repent, it seems too easy for them to get by with just saying, "I'm sorry."
2.
Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48).
3.
"Perfect" in Matthew 5:48 doesn't mean without error. The Greek word behind our English translation is telos which means "whole, mature or complete." What Jesus is saying here is that we can't love our enemies unless we are whole like our heavenly Father is whole, not getting trapped in demonic fragmentation. Receiving Holy Communion is one of God's ways to make us whole, helping us get a heavenly picture of what is happening on earth. We can offer forgiveness even to those who don't deserve it only when we realize we have been forgiven by God when we didn't deserve it.
4.
Romans 12:17-21 says: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
