Spiritually Speaking

One of the problems with being a Bible Thumper is having to watch TV commercials that unwittingly push your “that ain’t right” button. The other day, I was triggered by the tag line on the new Honda commercial – mind you, I drive a Honda and love my comfortable car. The commercial in question boldly claims, “Sometimes a present must be earned.” Paul, who admittedly never drove a Honda, would disagree.

Though it is a bit difficult to trace the ministry of Paul to exact dates and times, it seems likely that he, along with Barnabas, visited the cities near the northeastern edge of the Mediterranean in the late 40s of the first century. Gentiles (non Jews) in places like Iconium, Derbe, Lystra and Antioch were treated to the Gospel via one of the most prolific preachers in history. In a matter of months, several fledgling congregations were established and leadership for each group put in place. The message they received was a message of grace.

However, by the early 50s, these same “Galatian” Christians were being told that their conversion, their self-sacrifice, and their hope were all at risk unless they allowed themselves to be circumcised (initiated into keeping the Law of Moses). The ultra-conservative Jewish teachers were convinced that Jesus was strictly a Jewish Messiah. As a result, they believed that only those who were bound to the Jewish law were suitable subjects for the Kingdom. Paul refers to this teaching as a message of bondage.

If you’d like to see more on Paul’s warnings to these churches, I recommend a re-reading of Paul’s letter to the Galatians (perhaps one of the earliest letters of the New Testament). But let me throw in a piece of the letter to the Romans, just for emphasis. Here, Paul is arguing that, perhaps, God could save some law-keeping Jews if they follow the lead of those non-law-keeping Gentiles and sought salvation by grace. You see ...

“So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

Sorry, Honda, a gift once earned is not a gift. See you Sunday.