We just finished a series on grace being greater ... greater than my sin, the circumstances I face, my deepest hurts, my worst failures and even some religious acts of beliefs I bring.
Let me say one last thing that never made it into a sermon.
Every week, I get an email from Reliant Energy to tell me my electricity usage and how much that computes into money that I will owe them. It goes up and down each week dependent on the season we are in and the weather outside, especially in the summer. It’s one of Reliant’s ways to try and keep me happy as a customer.
That makes sense.
Of course Reliant wants to keep me happy as a customer ... or do they?
See, in the 16 years we've been here, we have had several different energy companies, each one for about two years usually. Reliant, TXU, Direct Energy, Champion, you name it. We’ve even gone back with some of them a few times over the years, but we’ve never stayed. And you know the reason why.
It’s because energy companies offer the best deals for new customers, but when those deals expire, they don’t offer any incentive to stay. So, you just slide over to the next company with the best deal for awhile only to move to another and another. We all do this, but have you ever wondered why things are set up like this? It doesn’t make sense. You would think that the companies that spend so much time and effort to win you would spend at least a little bit more time and effort to keep you.
In one of the best summaries of the Gospel, Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (
Ephesians 2:8-10) We have to do everything necessary to not lose sight of that order.
How were you saved? By grace alone and through faith alone in Christ alone. This is so important because it wasn’t a trick to get you in. It’s not a cheap introductory offer that will soon turn into something you want to get rid of later. If it’s all by grace and all dependent on what Jesus has done, then the Gospel is good news. If it’s about me and what I have to do, it’s not good news at all. But thanks be to God that it is about Jesus and it’s
always about Jesus!
Why were you saved? Because even before the world began God loved you and desired you to be a masterpiece of His workmanship for His glory. When you know what He did for you, you naturally live to please Him. You do good out of love, not fear. It’s your natural response to the good news of Jesus. It’s all by grace from beginning, middle and end.
I’m so thankful that the Gospel is not an introductory offer - a trick just to get me in the door.
I’m so thankful that the terms of this agreement have
never changed and
never will.
I’m so thankful that I never have to look for a better deal. In Jesus, I have the best deal in town!
The Gospel of grace never changes! Never! And that is good news!
Pastor Jim
