Grace Has A "Look"

Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. [Psalm 24.3-6] 

Who is "God our savior"? He is Jesus.

So, who will have a right relationship with God our savior (Jesus)? The Bible says, Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.

This does not change the message of grace. However, grace definitely has a "look"... pure hands and hearts, no idol worship, and never telling lies. This should come as no surprise though because Jesus excluded anything of our ways (impure hands and hearts, idolatry and lying) in what it looks like to follow Him.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

So, do we look like Jesus said His followers would look? If not, then we have not in fact followed Jesus, but have instead followed someone or something else. This is what the Bible says. This is what Jesus says.

Following someone or something else is idolatry. Following is trusting. Trusting someone or something else is idolatry. Making excuses for trusting someone or something else (because someone is allegedly sent by God, or something is allegedly given by God) is idolatry.

Indeed grace has a "look" and most "Christians" today do not look like grace. We have some turning to do - turning away from idols and turning to God alone. Turning is repenting therefore, repenting is not a feeling, but an action. Repentance is the resolute action of re-directing our pure-hearted trust to Jesus alone - no excuses - no reservation. So resolute is our trust in Jesus to be that death itself cannot deter us - so resolute is our commitment to follow Jesus that we wholly embrace our cross. This is what grace looks like.

Indeed, grace has a "look."

Father, the deceptive and therefore demonic portrayal of sloppy grace in "the Church" today must be uncovered for what it is - a teaching of Satan. May Your true Church receive the truth of Your Word (as it has always been), giving up their own impure, lying ways of idolatry, and take up their cross identifying with, and looking like Jesus as they follow Him in true grace. So be it.