Grace Continuously Triumphs over Judgement

John Davidson

To set the scene, I am going to begin with some very simple definitions.  They may not be theologically precise definitions; however, I wanted them to be nice and easy to remember.

Judgement: Is when the evidence against me is considered, I am found guilty, and am sentenced.

Mercy: Is when I am being sentenced, and the one I have wronged says “You know what, I am going to let you go free without suffering any consequences.”

Forgiveness: Is when the one I have wronged says “You know what, I am going to totally forget the things you did and the way you behaved ever happened.”

Grace: Is when the one I have wronged says “You know what, I am going to adopt you into my family and give you my inheritance”

They are all interrelated. Without guilt and judgement there is no need for mercy.  Mercy and forgiveness make grace possible.  Mercy takes away the consequences.  Grace completes by providing a new and better way.  There is really only two states, living in judgement, or living in grace.  I used to think that the Christian walk involved us making a journey from judgement into grace over a period of time.  That transition happened in a moment when I accepted Christ into my life.  The work of the cross is complete.  Each of us is living in grace and has full access to all of the inheritance we have been given.  It’s revelation that determines how fully we live in grace.

Our degree of revelation affects the way we live and the way we behave, especially towards those around us.  Let’s turn to Isaiah 58 so I can show you what I mean.

Isaiah 58:2-4 (NIV)

For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.

So we can see that this is at a time when God’s people are seeking him, eager to know Him and His ways, wanting Him to draw near to them and that they desire His justice.

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,‘ and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’  

At the same time, His people complain that they have humbled themselves and fasted, and that God doesn’t notice or see.  Why is that?

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.

We have God’s people who, at initial glance appear to be doing all the right things, however, oppression, strife, quarreling, and anger is rampant among them.  It’s no wonder they were seeking God’s justice.

Now, let’s look at verses 6 and 7 of Isaiah 58, to see a complete contrast to this.  God is outlining what he expects to see in His people. 

Isaiah 58:6:7

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of burdens, to set the oppressed free, and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Two extremes of behaviour.  One that leads to oppression and strife, and one that leads to freedom and care.  There is no middle ground described here, only two extremes.  Let’s see what happens when we are living like this. 

Isaiah 58:8:9

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Let’s look at that again in the Amplified.

Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, Here I am.

Sounds pretty awesome doesn’t it.  Who wouldn’t want to experiencing life on that level.

We have seen these two extremes of  behaviour described in Isaiah.  Now for an illustration.  I thought of so many illustrations that highlight these extreme differences. However, I ended up settling on a very simple one:

A colleague and I were waiting in the foyer of our building recently for some business guests.  One of the cleaners was walking past and stopped to talk with me for a few moments.  After she had gone my colleague turned to me and said “Do you know her?  She cleans toilets” to which I replied “Yes, we are becoming friends.”  My colleague repeated “But she cleans toilets”, to which I pointed out “She has only been living in New Zealand a few months, and is a solo mother with an 18 year old son.  Her son was diagnosed with cancer after they arrived and had his visa revoked and been deported.  She cries herself to sleep every night”.  My colleague repeated again “But she cleans toilets”.  I said, “Yes, but she also needs to know someone cares”

I picked that illustration for two reasons, because one of us was:

1. •Looking on in judgement, only seeing the external, and putting her in a box.
   

2. •Seeing a heart that was crying out for comfort
   

An acquaintance once said “As soon as you start to complain about another person, you have already made them prisoner in your mind”.  I will take this a step further.  As soon as we put someone in a box (like cleaner), or put a label on them (like “she cleans toilets”), we are making them a prisoner.  I was quite shocked when I reflected on this.  How often through a day do you hear judgements being announced.  I can think of several from my Friday, at work.  “He’s a waste of space”  “He’s unreliable”  “I would go round him if you want to get any results”

What makes the difference.  Making our own choices is actually living in a place of judgement. We decide what a person’s situation is, and therefore how we should respond to them. Leads to creating prisoners, oppression, strife…..  Or, we live in a place of grace and out of our inheritance, seeing what God sees – the heart, which leads to freedom and comfort.  Two extremes.  No middle ground.  So, how do we ensure this is the extreme we are living from?  Let me finish by reading from The Message

So, how do we achieve living like this?  .

Matthew 11:27-30

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."