Surprised by Grace (17): Safe space

This will be a difficult read.

Let’s say we classify the world’s humans into two: us and them.
Who are “they”?
They don’t belong, don’t behave and don’t believe.
Ample proofs, no argument.
Case closed.

At least that’s how the argument goes for much of chapter one. (Rom 1:18-31)

The expected or preferred follow-up should be:
We belong; they don’t.
We behave; they don’t.
We believe; they don’t.
In the end, we are blessed; they are doomed.
It’s then easier to grasp.

The surprising thing is what’s seen now in Chapter two and part of chapter three.
For there, “we” too are blasted.

The bad news is this: even “us” is evil and doomed.
More than that: we are worse precisely because we have started from the position of being blessed, gifted, and commissioned.
The failures are more catastrophic.

At least that’s how the argument goes for the entire Romans Chapter two.

Firstly, they are bad.
They don’t believe in God.
They behaved abhorrently.
They deserve death and judgment.

But then we too.

Protests on the basis of genes, tradition, track records are all overruled.
There’s no more safe space.
100% of humanity is covered.
The privileged, religious, knowledgeable?
Worse!

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are (Rom 3:20 NLT).

Staring at the dark abyss is a feeling of hopelessness, accompanied by a visible shivering.
How is 100% of humanity to live on, in face of a doomed hopelessness?

There would have been no way to carry on.
Unless there’s a surprise outcome.
Unless there is another way to be put right with God, completely independent on what humanity can do.
More honestly framed it in our terms is: unless it comes free!

That would be more than a surprise.
It is real good news.

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law . . . .
That’s indeed what’s said in Romans 3:21 (NLT).

But is it for everybody? Or just the Jews, the rich, the knowledgeable, the powerful, or privileged? Is it equally handed out like what they do often at the entrance of SOGO, or at the exit at Macau Pier?

And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are (Rom 3:22, NLT).

The emphasis on “all, everyone”being on the same level is clear.
Them and us.
No difference.
Grace freely grants a different status!
No matter who: them and us.
Everybody.

All very good.
Sounds fair.
But . . . will it cost? Is it free?
We in HK always have to ask this: is it free?

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight (Rom 3:24, NLT).

There you go: Grace!

Grace always surprises.
Grace must be given freely though it is costly.
Grace opens up a way out for all who are boxed in—a light at the end of the tunnel.
Grace can be spurned upon, refused, ignored.
Grace though is unrelenting, always offered, always there.

What if someone rejects Grace? Rejects God? Rejects Salvation?
It would have been human response to respond, “so be it, time’s up, bye bye!”
But Grace needs no spokesperson for Grace will speak for herself.
Grace continues to surprise.


Note: for easy reference, the passage of St Paul’s letter to the Romans is reproduced below:
But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law . . . We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins (Rom 3: 21-24, NLT).