Word of Salvation – Vol.40 No.05 – February 1995

 

Answering Grace With Grace

 

Sermon by Rev. D. J. L. Groenenboom on Luke 17:15-19

Scripture Readings: Acts 8:26-39 and Luke 17:11-19

Suggested Hymns: BoW 95; 443; 247; 440; 407; 531

 

Dear Congregation.

We have all seen the masses of hopeless Rwandan forms on our TVs.  Millions of people, homeless, powerless, near lifeless, appearing helpless.  We look at these people and then we think about how good we have it.  We have nice homes, three meals a day; most of us have jobs and a fair degree of satisfaction in life.  We have all that, and yet we feel helpless to do anything that will really change that situation.

Or think of the inability to find a peaceful solution to the Balkan crisis.  The pages of our newspapers tell us of murder, injustice, evil and disaster.  No one needs convincing that many parts of our world are suffering greatly.

But we don’t only find that in things far removed from us.  We feel frustration at work.  We fear sometimes for our relationships.  We worry about our kids.  We see struggles in the Church.  We have disagreements in our families.

1.  What can I do that will make a difference?

And so whether we look at the world, our homes, or into our own hearts, we find ourselves asking a question: “What can I do that will make any difference?”

It’s frustrating!  I can’t change people.  I can’t change governments.  I can’t change my boss, my wife, or the decisions my kids have made.  So what can I do?

I wonder whether these ten lepers had that sense of resignation before they met with Jesus, as they shuffled their numbed and damaged limbs along the road to Jerusalem.  We know nothing of their faith; nothing of their past; nothing of their life.  All we know is that they are lepers; outcasts.  But Jesus showed them incredible grace.

[Read Luke 17:12-14

“As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him.  They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.”

They asked for pity.  Jesus gave compassion.  They were hoping for an emotion.  The Lord blessed them with action!  They were in great need!  Not only physically, but socially and spiritually they were lepers.

But they called out to Jesus, and He did not cast them away.  He did more than they asked or imagined, and in the power of His grace He healed them.  That’s what made the difference in the lives of these men.

Grace!  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Full.  Free.  No strings attached.  Grace in full measure!

Sometimes we play around with passages like this one and make them sound as if the ten somehow deserved attention.  “After all” we think, “they must have had some faith to even call out to Jesus.”  It seems strange that Jesus would just heal these lepers with no thought to who they were, or what was in their hearts, or even how they would respond later.  It’s as if faith is needed to get Jesus’ response.

After all, what would you do?  If someone came to you and asked for some food, wouldn’t you want to have some idea about why they were poor?  Wouldn’t you want to know they would make some changes to avoid being without food in the future?  Wouldn’t you want to know that they weren’t taking you for a ride?

But the remarkable thing about Jesus Christ is that He would have known that of these ten, only one would return and thank Him.  No thanks from the other nine, yet He healed them anyway.  This picture of grace tells a thousand words about the character of the Saviour who has called us to himself.  It reminds us that the mercy of the Lord in our lives is given unconditionally – no strings attached.  It reminds us that grace is the goodness and love of God given freely despite the cost to the giver and the response of the receiver.  Jesus healed in grace.  Freely.  Despite the cost.  Despite the response.

Today, all over the world, people of faith gather to celebrate the grace of the Gospel.  God’s love in Christ, given freely, despite the cost of the cross; despite the response of those who receive it.  As much as these lepers, and little more than them, we too have received grace like that.

The Lord has not saved you because you have faith.  The Lord has not saved you because you’re such a fantastic person to be with, or because you have good morals.  The Lord saves by grace.  Despite the cost to Christ and despite the response of the saved.

Some of you will wonder whether that’s really true.  Would the Lord really shower his grace on a person without a thought to the way they respond?  Shouldn’t we say that unless we respond in the right way, we’ll never get grace?  Or if we don’t respond the right way we’re in danger of losing the grace we’ve got?  Let me answer this way.  If we have to respond in a certain way to receive grace, or to keep grace, it is grace no longer.

But there’s another reason why grace comes with no thought to the response, and it’s this: the grace Christ Jesus gives is so powerful, so overwhelming, so limitless that it cannot fail to bring change in those who receive it.  Who puts a new motor in their car and expects it to run the same?  Who fills the tank up and expects the car to still run out of petrol?

Likewise, when God pours his grace into the hearts of people like you and me, He doesn’t have to wonder about whether we will change or respond.  He just knows we will.  And He knows that change will be good!  The Heidelberg Catechism says:

“It is impossible for those grafted into Christ by true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude” (Question & Answer 64).

Jesus shows us in this healing, in his death and resurrection, in His presence with us today, that from beginning to end, salvation is of grace.  Jesus loves me despite the cost, the cross, and the pain my sins still causes Him.  He keeps on loving me despite the failing, the shallowness of my faith, and the dullness of my vision.  He keeps on loving me and living in me even though I am often more negative than grateful for His wonderful love.  Grace is love and acceptance despite the cost and irrespective of the response.

2.  The power of grace in the lives of others

The grace that Jesus showed to these ten lepers was not shown because they were different.  Jesus showed them His grace to make them different.  They were not healed because they were men of faith.  Jesus’ grace was shown to them so they might be men of faith in the future.  We do not know what became of the other nine.  What we do see is the response of the one healed leper who returned.

Imagine him, walking along to the priest.  Feeling the sensation return.  Seeing the rash disappear.  Feeling his heart beat quicken with the excitement of knowing a great miracle had been done in his life.  And then the tears, the laughter, and the desire to burst with rejoicing as he raced back to Jesus.

Picture him, running along, cloak gathered up around his knees, urgent, undignified.  Searching for Jesus, looking everywhere, and upon finding Him, he falls at His feet, weeping tears of joy, face beaming with life, with wonder, unable to speak, full of hope!  The grace of Jesus Christ had cleansed him, inwardly and outwardly.  The one to whom such grace has been given will now become one who brings grace to others.

Brothers and sisters, it is bringing grace, living grace, and responding in grace which will make a difference.  It will make a difference in your family.  It will make a difference in the church.  It will change our world.  The Scriptures are chock full of proof.

Think of that wonderful picture of grace with the Ethiopian eunuch.  There he was reading the Old Testament in his chariot.  Philip overhears him reading about the Servant, and tells him about the grace of Jesus.  The universe changes for that eunuch right at that moment.  He believes and is baptised, and goes on his way rejoicing!  Early accounts have it that he went back to Ethiopia and started a grace community there.

A similar motivation drives those who dedicate their lives to the hard slog of overseas mission.  Why is it that Pieter Tuit and his family continue to serve overseas?  Grace!  What Jesus has done in their lives motivates them to serve in this way.

Or think of Oscar Romero.  He was unexpectedly elected Archbishop of El Salvador, and while at first not being too concerned about the corruption and persecution, in the end had to speak up.  He called people, businessmen, politicians, powerful people to task.  In the end he paid with his life, shot through the head as he celebrated the Supper in worship.

What enabled these people to make a difference?  It was the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives.  That same grace will enable us to do the same.  We may not be chosen for overseas mission.  We may not face the same struggles as Romero.  But whatever it is we face, whatever form the Lord’s call takes in our lives, we have His promise that His grace will supply all we need!

We cannot heal our friends of cancer.  We cannot bring a loved one back from death.  We cannot save the marriage of our friends.  But when we bring grace, we will make a difference.

Grace is the one means by which we can do something that matters in our world.  And like this one brother of ours who returned, this leper, this foreigner, we bring grace and set out to make a difference because of what Jesus has done for us.  Sins forgiven.  Guilt removed.  Hearts smiling with hope.

Think for a moment of how you can bring grace.  Think of what you can do out of thankfulness for Jesus, despite the cost to yourself, with no thought to the response of those who will receive from you.

In bringing grace I will show love to my partner, even though that love may not be returned.  I will show kindness and humility and demand no return payment.  That’s grace.  I can do it because Jesus has done that for me.

I will seek to speak with that sister who so often misunderstands me, even though I may be hurt again.  I will seek to end her loneliness.  It may have no effect, but it might just show her there is one person who cares.  What more could I do?  That’s what Jesus has done for me!

I will stop being negative about the church, and seek to do more, to pray more, to contribute more.  Maybe some things will still sadden me, but who am I to withdraw my support when I wish?  I’ll stick with it, despite the cost, despite the response.  That’s grace.  That’s what God has given me.

And those poor people down the road, I’ll cook a meal for them, and ask hubby to cut the grass for them.  Sure, they drink a bit, and their language is not good sometimes.  But maybe the grace I bring will be a window to the goodness of the Lord for them.  That’s what Jesus did for me.  That’s grace.

People, grace is the very essence of the character of Jesus.  It is the length, width and breadth of the Gospel.  It is the very thing the Lord has given you to make a real difference in His world.

Let Him be seen in the grace you bring.  And may Jesus be praised through us all.

Amen.