The Grammar of Grace

"All are under sin; there is no one righteous, not even one." Romans 3:9-10 (NIV)

One of my all time favorite movies is the 1992 film A Few Good Men starring Tom Cruise.  The actor portrays Navy Lieutenant Daniel Caffey, a young Harvard trained lawyer who has yet to experience an actual courtroom trial. Lt. Caffey avoids the courtroom by excelling in the art of arbitration, negotiating lesser charges and lighter sentences for his clients. Caffey’s first actual courtroom trial involves murder charges against two young Marines. Entering the courtroom on the first day of the murder trial, Caffey looks around the room and exclaims, “So this is what a courtroom looks like.”

 In Romans 1-3, we find ourselves inside God’s courtroom. God is the presiding Judge and the Apostle Paul is the prosecutor. The case being tried is the condition of man. The charge is that every man without Christ stands unrighteous before God. Readers of Paul's letter to the Romans comprise the jury. The defendants are accused of cosmic treason against God himself. In Romans chapter 1, Gentiles are declared guilty because they had the light of creation and conscience, yet failed to give God either the glory due His name or gratitude for His gifts of grace. Romans 2 presents Paul's case first against critical moralizers or self righteous men and then against proud, privileged and prejudiced Jews. In Paul's closing arguments he calls seven Old Testament witnesses to the stand to testify against the defendants. Paul finishes his prosecution with these words, "Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his (God's) sight." (Romans 3:20) The verdict is rendered: we are all Guilty as charged.

To be honest, the first 2.5 chapters of Romans are pretty depressing. None of us like to be accused, much less found guilty of crimes. But God doesn't leave us in our guilt & sin and neither does the Apostle Paul. Romans 3:21 begins with two of the most important words in the Bible: "but now." Author Paige Benton Brown calls the words "but" and "yet" the "grammar of grace." Brown describes the grammar of grace principles saying, "The gospel is never causative; it is always contradictory. The gospel is never "therefore or so that; never "because of," but always "in spite of." All other religions have a causative relationship and are merit based."  The gospel is never based on our merit, but solely on Christ's merit and his finished work on the cross. We could never earn our salvation with good works or by keeping the law, but the good news of the gospel is that we don't have to. Christ has paid the price of our redemption for all who put their faith and trust in Him. The result is that we are no longer declared "Guilty!" but are now, by God's grace, declared righteous.

Read the Bible and look for the grammar of grace, not just in the Pauline epistles, but throughout scripture:

Moses speaking to Israel- "The Lord didn't choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples; You were puny!" - Deuteronomy 7:7-8

David -  I have sinned greatly, but Lord save me anyway - Psalm 51

Jonah - I am driven away from your sight ....BUT you have brought me up from the pit- Jonah 2

Prodigal son - I'm not worthy to be called your son, BUT the father says, "Bring the robe"- Luke 15

Paul - the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord- Romans 6:23

Paul - But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. Romans 5:20

Thank God for His grammar- and gift- of grace.

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight without blemish and free from accusation." Colossians 1:21-22