Grace, Favor and Our Response

“Grace, Favor and Our Response”
1st Sunday in Lent 2012
Rev. Stephen E. Stults
St. Barnabas Anglican Church

From the Epistle selection for the day from the Holy Communion lectionary, we read in 2 Corinthians 6:1: “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”

Permit me to read this section of Scripture to you, from 2 Corinthians 6:1-10:
“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

With this scripture in mind, what is grace? It is something all of us speak of, maybe without grasping the whole meaning of it, if that is possible. In my own case, the term came up one year at the family dinner table, as my parents debated its meaning. At the time, being young and rebellious, I thought it complete nonsense. That is, why should anyone spend valuable time discussing such a nebulous thing? Grace? What is grace?

Well, looking back on that conversation, now many, many years in the past, I am struck by my foolishness and what’s more, my sheer spiritual deadness at the time. In simple terms, I just didn’t “get it” then. In fact, my obstinacy really had the savor of death about it, rather than the sweet-smelling, life giving savor of Christ. As I look back on it, I have to say that there are some benefits of age. One of them is to marvel how much of a fool one was when young.

What then, is grace? One source gives us these definitions:
• Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.
• The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.
• An excellence or power granted by God.

Another source says that “Grace in this (Christian) context is something that is God-given, made possible only by Jesus Christ and none other. It is God's gift of salvation granted to sinners for their salvation”, and “The Christian teaching is that grace is unmerited mercy that God gave to us by sending his son to die on a cross to give us eternal salvation.”

Grace is certainly all of these things. It seems that St. Paul has a particular concern that this excellence, this power, and this favor granted by God is not received in vain, or said another way, wasted. To emphasize his point, the apostle Paul paraphrases a line from the 48th chapter of Isaiah when he says,” I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” In Isaiah we actually read, Isaiah 49:8 “Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;”. The concept of grace is clear in both passages, as they speak about the help, succor, and salvation of God extended to His people. Thus, we might learn from this that God has helped us, loved us and cares deeply for us. How should we respond?

We actually have two examples of our response to grace in the Holy Scriptures presented to us today. First, in the Epistle selection appointed for this Sunday, St. Paul speaks of his positive response to grace. This can be summarized in his toleration of sufferings, stripes, imprisonments, tumults, and labors. In a less violent way, he has fasted, been pure, taken knowledge by the Holy Ghost, expressed genuine love, and has spoken the word of truth. Also, he has known the power of God, has taken up the armor of righteousness, has had both honor and dishonor given to him, and has even been accused of being a deceiver. Finally, although chastened, he still lives and though he experiences sorrow, he can always rejoice. He is poor, yet he dispenses riches to many. He has nothing, yet he possesses all things.

If this is not a complete response to grace, then what is? He has seen and felt the worst the world put upon him, yet he is joyful. Paul has allowed grace to fill him completely, even to the point that he withstands all of these things.

On the other hand, we also have a negative example of the response to grace given us from the lesson written in Isaiah. Here, we may see the concern of St. Paul coming to light. Isaiah 58 clearly shows us how the favored people of God have responded to grace. Here we have the Chosen People of God, who are the very ones who received the Law and Prophets, acting in a way that does not bring them favor in the eyes of God. Isaiah speaks of a people who act as if they truly delight in knowing God and following his laws. The people act as if they want to approach God and be his people. Evidently, they work very hard at it by fasting, worshipping and sacrificing. Yet they wonder why God seems to take no notice of all their religiosity. All of their effort in looking holy seems to be for nothing.

Indeed. The prophet tells us the whole affair is a sham. They fast, not to heard by God or to be acknowledged by Him, but for contention and strife. Fasting actually gives them pleasure because they can feel holy and self-righteous while doing it. All of their religion is to look good before God, while they do what they want to do. The New American Standard translation makes this very clear as it says: “ Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers.” They are tough, demanding employers who ask too much of their employees. Also, keep in mind that many Israelites also prayed to pagan gods and goddesses while they were performing Temple worship.

To top it off, this is not the fast God had in mind. Outward manifestations of holiness and self-imposed physical afflictions are not what God wanted from his people. Instead, he wanted a fast from unrighteousness and from wickedness. He wanted his people to be truly righteous, fair, and just to all. They should not oppress those who work for them, nor should they deceive those with whom they do business. They should be true and generous to those who need help and should freely give to those in need. If they do these things, the Israelites would be the people in whom God delights.

On this first Sunday in Lent, we can take a lesson from both these passages. They can help shape our Lenten experience and help us determine our own response to grace. Will we have the positive response to grace like St. Paul's? Will our response to God’s call be one of joy unfeigned and of the knowledge of God’s ever-present help? Will we take this Lent to use God’s grace in a constructive and edifying manner? That is, will we be better for it after this Lenten season? Or, will we in some way emulate the ancient Jews, by engaging in outward worship while resisting real, inward change? God forbid.

God forbid that this Lent be anything else but a time of somber spiritual refreshment. Let our souls and being be flooded with our positive response to grace, so much so that we are the better people for having gone through it. Unlike the sinners of old, let us use our worship time together to build each other up, while experiencing great spiritual refreshment ourselves. There is no better time, and there certainly is no better place to do this.

In Christ, we are the new chosen people of God. Let our response to His grace be always praiseworthy to Him, and edifying to us in this blessed and holy season of Lent.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2: “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”


Glory be to God the Father, and to God the Son and to God the Holy Ghost, now and forever. AMEN