Below is a theoretical conversation between someone who is trusting for salvation in grace alone (GA) and someone who professes to be a believer but is ultimately trusting in their own works’ righteousness (WR) to get them into heaven. This conversation is based on the teaching of the Heidelberg Catechim, Lord’s Day 24.
GA: “Why do you think that God will let you into heaven”
WR: “Well, I do try to do the right thing and in the end I think I’m a pretty good person.”
GA: “But do you know that God does not use “pretty good” as his standard; he uses perfection. Jesus himself says, ‘Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect’ (Matt. 5:48).”
WR: “Well, nobody’s perfect!”
GA: “That’s not true. There is one who is perfect, Jesus Christ. The only way to achieve God’s holy standard of perfection is to receive the perfect righteousness of Christ by trusting him alone.”
WR: “Okay, well I already do trust in Christ.”
GA: “That’s not what you said earlier. You said that you were trusting in being pretty good to get into heaven. If you are trusting in yourself then you are not trusting in Christ. Saving trust in Christ is absolutely exclusive!
The Gospel works to undo us so that we give ourselves up into the grace of God and find comfort, not in our achievements but in God’s reward of pure grace!
Feedback Friday: Three Portraits of Leadership
In Mark 15:1-15 three portraits of leadership emerge. The gist of the passage is that Jesus is standing trial before Pilate while the Sanhedrin, or Jewish leaders accuse him of many things and eventually rile up the crowd enough to sway Pilate away from his conviction of Jesus’ innocence.
1. The leadership of the Chief Priests. The members of the Sanhedrin provide a portrait of abusive, authoritarian leadership. They strong-arm their people into making a 180 degree turn from the position they held a week before at Jesus’ triumphant entry. Strong leaders can be very persuasive. The chief priests were able to turn this crowd against Jesus who only a few days earlier received him as their king. The danger in overly-strong leadership is that sometimes you might be wrong and if you manipulate your people to follow you your guilt will be double.
2. The leadership of the Pilate. Pilate provides a portrait of abdicating, people-pleasing leadership. At Jesus’ trial, Pilate repeatedly tests the waters of popular opinion. He bases his decisions not on the moral absolutes which steer his convictions but on poll numbers. Sometimes it is prudent, as a leader, to test the waters; especially when the issue is divisive and not absolutely black and white morally. But not when the answer is so obvious, as it is here.
3. The leadership of Christ. In the face of this failed leadership we see Christ quietly, faithfully, lovingly doing what needs to be done. That’s real leadership. He doesn’t defend himself in the face of accusations. He doesn’t lash out erratically when his subjects cross him. He doesn’t quit his call when his mission becomes unpopular.
In the darkest night light shines the more clearly!
How do you struggle with leadership?