"Just Deserts"

An Evangelistic Talk

The other day we were watching a tennis match at home on the TV – it was the final of the French Open at Roland Garros between the top two players in the world. We wanted Roger Federer to win but he didn't play well and didn't DESERVE to win.

I guess as the Euro 2008 football tournament continues plenty of supporters will be convinced that their team didn't DESERVE to lose.

And as the Olympics draw ever closer we'll doubtless be told that a particular athlete has trained so hard and is such a nice person to boot that he/she surely DESERVES to win a medal.

***

We sometimes hear sad stories of an employee being callously laid off having worked for the same company for years. They didn't DESERVE to be treated like that we say.

***

Or again, we've been informed by the media of members of the armed forces returning from Afghanistan and Iraq to be greeted by indifference if not open hostility. This is not what our forces DESERVE, we're told.

***

We live in a world where "getting our just deserts" is very common – at least if viewed positively. And many of us enjoy hearing about others getting their "come-uppance"!

And if we turn to the realm of religion the idea is also very common too. The muslim fundamentalist dreams of a martyrs death as this will guarantee him an entry into paradise – his "just deserts".

Eastern religions too have the idea expressed through the concept of karma – basically your next reincarnation state will depend directly upon what you do in this present one.

In fact this idea of getting what you DESERVE is so widespread that we are naturally tempted even in places where we shouldn't! And Christianity is just such an area where we shouldn't!!

Indeed if we were to "get our just deserts" in the spiritual realm the Bible has a depressingly clear message – we DESERVE only the wrath of God!! And this is so because we never have nor ever can match up to God's own exacting standards – this is what the Bible refers to as sin.

But… and what a tremendous BUT it is… the Christian gospel or good news is not about what we DESERVE but about what God freely offers to the UNDESERVING!

To many the Christian faith is not really very appealing because they understand only as about adopting a particular lifestyle of personal morality. I guess that the understanding of Christianity for many boils down to "try a bit harder" or "do your best".

Now let's be clear Christianity is not fundamentally about morality! Jesus spoke of personal relationship with God the Father and with Himself something that has been made possible because "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners" 1Tim.1:15. And Paul added that this saying was exceedingly trustworthy!!

There is an important word used in the Bible to describe this generosity on God's part where He freely offers to give us what we could never have earned. It is the word "grace" and it is used on more than 120+ occasions. To properly understand what the Christian faith is all about then it is essential to understand this little word.

Grace means "the unmerited favour of God" or if you like acronyms you can "God's riches at Christ's expense."

Grace doesn't cost us anything but it cost God everything! For the just and holy God to deliver sinners from His wrath meant that He had to send His Son Jesus Christ to die a substitutionary death on their behalf.

Now wonder that when Paul speaks of grace he frequently does so in glowing terms. He describes it as glorious grace; it is grace that has been lavished upon us; it is grace that is immeasurable in its riches. And this grace comes to us only by Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It is there in Him in all His fullness and can be yours even tonight!

Let me close by asking you a simple question:

Have you received such grace for yourself?

To do so you need to exercise the faith that God Himself gives – all you need to do is trust Jesus Christ.

Once this grace has been received our lives are transformed never to be quite the same again – and it's all God's doing and all to His glory!

Will you not receive God's free grace as Christ is offered to you this evening?

2Tim.1:8-10

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,"

Amen.