How to become a Christian is an equally important question. One of humanity's greatest problems rests with the deeply rooted notion that if we work hard enough at being good and religious we can impress God. This emphasis on performance is the ongoing story of religion which suggests it is indeed possible to perform well enough to merit God’s eternal favor. This high opinion of our ability is a trait of human nature and explains why works oriented religion is so readily promoted and accepted worldwide. It crosses centuries, continents and cultures. Every religious system, at its core, asserts that faith alone is not enough. If you want to get to heaven, paradise, nirvana, you’ve got to do something to earn your way. Some moral, ceremonial, religious act is necessary to please and appease God. This performance narrative is present in every religion of the world with the exception of biblical Christianity. Why? Because every other religious system is the invention of inflated egos. But Christianity is unique. It stands alone because its core assertion is that humanity is sinfully flawed to such a degree we cannot be "good enough" to earn the favor of a holy, righteous and just God. There is no ladder to climb, no prayer to chant, no ceremony to do, no candle to light, no fee to pay, no ritual to keep. What we need is forgiveness of and a rescue from sin - something we can not earn, buy or bargain for. Therefore, GRACE – the unmerited favor of God is our only hope.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast." [Ephesians 2:5]
Jesus did not come to tell us how to live and what religious rituals and customs to keep so we can earn eternal life – rather Jesus comes to forgive our sin and rescue us through his life and his death in our place. God’s grace does not come to people who morally outperform others, but to those who humbly admit their failure and inability to perform and acknowledge their need of a rescuer…their need of divine grace.
GRACE, not guilt. RELATIONSHIP, not religion.