Each weekend the CCRussell blog brings you an excerpt from one of Pastor Chuck Smith’s many books. Pastor Chuck is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. This weekend’s excerpt is from chapter one of Why Grace Changes Everything.

You have a choice. You can strive to make it to heaven by your own efforts and try to be as good as Christ, or you can place your faith in Jesus and receive your right standing with God as a gift of His grace.

For me, this is no choice at all. I know there is no way that I, in my good works, would ever make it to heaven. I stand hopelessly condemned on the basis of my past sin. I have no chance of being received by God apart from His mercy.

The good news is, God has provided a way of acceptance before Him. God, who is absolutely holy and pure and so righteous that no sin can dwell in His presence, has made a way for people like us to have fellowship with Him. When we believe in this sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us – even though we didn’t deserve it – the Father grants us perfect forgiveness.

That’s the gospel of grace. Each one of us can relate to God, even though we are far from perfect. We can still have a beautiful relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

When we relate to the Father by faith through His Son, we have a solid relationship. We are now sons of God. Because He is our Father, we don’t have to wonder if we are worthy to come to Him. We do not come on the basis of our worthiness, but on the basis of our relationship with Him.

That is what the gospel of grace is all about. God looks at us as though we never committed a single trespass against Him. Now, I have trouble looking at myself like that. I look at myself in the mirror and say, “Chuck, you are a sinner. You can’t control your appetite; you have so many flaws.” And yet God looks at me and says, “Forgiven.” He loves me and accepts me as I am because I am in Jesus Christ. Even as He has accepted His own Son, so now He accepts me. Paul tells us that we have been accepted “in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). The Beloved one is Christ; and you, being in Christ, are accepted by God just as Christ is accepted.

That is why the gospel of grace is the best news I have ever heard. God forgives us because we believe in His Son, whom He sent to die for our sins. All our sins have been blotted out. There is no accounting of guilt. As Paul tells us, “Oh, how happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Oh, how happy is the man to whom the Lord does not impute sin” (see Romans 4:7,8).

As sons of God, we have every right to come to our Father to ask Him for anything that we might need. We have every right to trust the wisdom of our Father to either grant or deny the request, according to His knowledge of what is best for us. We can commit ourselves to our heavenly Father, who loves us so very much. He will give us only what is best.

What a joy it is to know that God desires to bestow upon us the richness and the fullness of His love – not because we deserve it, but because He loves us. This is the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ!

From “Why Grace Changes Everything” by Pastor Chuck Smith.

Mark 10:14-16

This week I began looking over the curriculum for this coming school year. I have a hard time getting my mind around to it. With each and every year, new challenges arise spiritually and academically. We want to be like Jesus in the verse above. Each child needs the love that we can give. They need the hugs, the positive feedback, the ear for listening.

I always look forward to a new year. What will the Lord have for me this year in the class? I know this group of kids well. I have had them the last couple of years in first and second grades, so I know a little of what to expect. Even given that new adventures will certainly arise. The seeds were planted last year. This year we have a chance to work the soil a little more, water those seeds a little more, and cultivate the ground again.

It is neat to see growth in these students from year to year. It is a great responsibility for us to help these students grow in the Lord. We also want to be excellent in teaching the students academically as well. John 6:51 says “I am the living bread which comes down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” Jesus says in John 8, “I am the light of the world.” We won’t walk in darkness, but have the light of life. This my hope for each and every student we have the privilege to disciple; that they would come to a saving faith in Christ and that they would be bold and share His love with others.

Please pray for our school, staff, and students during this upcoming school year.

Jim Hunt

Each weekend the CCRussell blog brings you an excerpt from one of Pastor Chuck Smith’s many books. Pastor Chuck is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. This weekend’s excerpt is from chapter one of Why Grace Changes Everything.

When God laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all, Christ received the judgment due us for our sins. He received our deserved punishment, which the Bible declares is death (see Romans 6:23). God has declared that if we will believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will be forgiven of every wrong thing we have ever done. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin,” says I John 1:7. This cleansing is something the law could never do; it is a provision of grace.

We can strive to make it to heaven on our own efforts or we can place our faith in Jesus.

The fact is, faith is our only hope. Our good deeds or efforts or works can never earn us forgiveness from God. Paul declared in strong words, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). To him who is not working, but simply believing, God imputes righteousness. God gives us this forgiveness because of our faith in the finished work that Jesus Christ has done for us.

From “Why Grace Changes Everything” by Pastor Chuck Smith.

Psalm 61:3

As I was looking over this Psalm, it reminded me of a song I heard many years ago. I was probably 12 or 13 when I was listening to an 8 track tape in my future brother-in-law’s car. I had never heard this kind of Christian music before. The singing was incredible; two sisters and a brother singing three part harmony. The guitar player was fantastic! I had never heard sounds like that before. At first I was just listening to the music. Later I went back and concentrated on the lyrics. The tape was, “How the West was One” with the 2nd Chapter of Acts and Phil Keaggy.

Hearing Phil play made me want to learn to play guitar. I also wanted to sound like Matthew Ward singing. (Dream On!) Matthew sang a beautiful worship song called Psalm 61. Verse three stuck out for me. “Hear my cry O God, and heed to my prayer from the end of the earth I will cry to thee.” How God is our shelter from the enemy. He is our shelter through life’s road.

I’m a very anxious person. I worry about things that I can’t control. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you and not as the world gives.” Jesus give us His peace, not as Oprah or Dr. Phil give, or as the world gives. I constantly go back and reread this verse many times. I need assurance of God’s peace and protection. We all struggle with various areas of our lives. But it is great to know that we can take shelter under the wings of our Lord. Don’t we have an awesome God? Find peace and enter his shelter today.

Jim Hunt

John 8:31-32

Sorry for the extra long posting this week, but I’m a little wound up.  See, I’m pretty sure someone is yanking my chain.

The other day I found a book anonymously left outside my office. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love books. First I checked the authors’ names. They were familiar, but I couldn’t remember reading anything by them or about them. Next, I turned to the back cover to see which “famous people” were endorsing the book. This usually gives you a pretty good idea of the book’s theology. When I saw that both Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Community Church) and Robert Schuller (Crystal Cathedral) both had nice things to say about this book my initial thought was, “more seeker-friendly, purpose-driven, feel-good, consumer-minded Christianity”. Just what we need… not!

I’m only two chapters into the book and I’m already a little disturbed.

The authors ask what comes to mind when you think about the following list: (1) go to church, (2) study the Bible, (3) pray, (4) give money to the church, and (5) avoid worldly pleasure. They say,

“Did you think ‘Christian’? Not so exciting. If that’s what being a Christian is about, then a lot of other options will seem more appealing.”

Do they mean to imply that not going to church, not studying the Bible, not praying, not giving money to the church, and not avoiding worldly pleasure should somehow be appealing to Christians? I certainly hope not! I’d like to give the authors the benefit of the doubt, but they go on to imply that the above list actually describes a disciple – but not as Jesus would describe a disciple, but rather as the Pharisees would describe one.

Let’s be clear. To be a “Christian” means to be a follower (or disciple) of Christ. “Disciple” (’mathetes’ in Greek) literally means “learner”, but not in the sense of someone who just learns facts. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testaments states that, “a ‘disciple’ was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher.” Jesus Himself confirms this view in John 8:31-32. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” I might learn the facts of Algebra, but they won’t change the way I live my everyday life. However, I have learned some simple facts about gravity. (1) It hurts when I fall down. (2) It hurts every time. (3) The further I fall, the more it hurts. These facts have changed the way I live my life. In a real way I “hold” to the teaching of gravity more intensely than I “hold” to the teaching of Algebra and people can see the difference in the way I live my life (by not jumping off tall buildings).

So, according to Jesus, a ‘true’ disciple is one that holds to his teaching (i.e. follows it in such a way that it changes the way they live their life). It would seem logical that a true disciple of Jesus would live a life consistent with the teachings of Jesus and the men He specifically commissioned as His Apostles. Let’s see what they have to say about the items in the authors’ list.

Going to Church?

He [Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. (Luke 4:14, emphasis mine)

As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2, emphasis mine)

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

Studying the Bible?

Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? (Mark 12:24)

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

Pray?

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matt 5:44, emphasis mine)

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6:6, emphasis mine)

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16, emphasis mine)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18, emphasis mine)

Give Money to the Church?

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)

“But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. (Luke 11:42)

The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. (Acts 11:29)

After an absence of several years, I [Paul] came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. (Acts 24:17)

Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. ?On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (1 Cor 16:1-2)

Avoid Worldly Pleasure

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (Luke 8:14)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. (Phillipians 3:17-19)

Obviously, just because someone does these things does not mean that they are a Christian. However, it is irresponsible for any teacher (or author) to imply that Jesus is not concerned with our behavior. Jesus wants us to be holy, just as He is holy. We desire to live holy lives not because we’re trying to earn our salvation with good deeds, but because we love Jesus and want to be just like Him.

Let’s live our lives according to the scriptures and according to the example of our Master.

Pastor Jim Stowe

Each weekend the CCRussell blog brings you an excerpt from one of Pastor Chuck Smith’s many books. Pastor Chuck is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. This weekend’s excerpt is from chapter one of Why Grace Changes Everything.

Let’s change the illustration. Suppose that I robbed a bank willfully and deliberately. The law condemns me because I can’t say I didn’t do it or prove that I didn’t do it. The video camera caught me. I can’t say I had a right to do it because robbery is not included in the First Amendment. Therefore, there is no way I can be forgiven within the law.

During the trial, I might try to say, “I promise I won’t rob any more banks as long as I live. I will live a good, clean life from now on. I will never take anything from anybody wrongfully again.” That still doesn’t justify me from what I have already done. I might try to say that I should be forgiven because I did so much good with the money. I gave some to the church and I fed my family. But my “righteous” deeds cannot counterbalance or absolve my guilt.

The judge may order that I pay back to the bank all the money that I took. As part of my sentence, he may order me to pick up tin cans along the freeway to help keep America beautiful. I may spend the rest of my life doing good things, but still I will not be absolved of what I have done. All the works of the law cannot erase my guilt. My past wrongdoings still exist. I am a robber and the verdict is clear.

Why is it, then, that in spiritual matters so many people seek to plead innocent before God by virtue of all their good works?

There are many of us who respond to our sin, guilt, and unrighteousness with regret and new resolutions. We want to make amends and turn over a new leaf. But those efforts can’t win our forgiveness. Even our best efforts cannot take away the guilt of what we have already done. We can never be justified by good works. Even a whole life of good works cannot atone for a single sin.

God’s basis of forgiveness is the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. All of our guilt – all of our past and future wrongdoings – have been laid to the charge of Jesus Christ, the innocent Lamb, the perfect one who knew no sin. He died for us. He bore our guilt; He suffered and died for our sins. Paul wrote, “For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21). Jesus became sin for us that we might be pardoned through Him. In other words, He switched places with us. “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9). He has taken our sin and forgiven us through our simple faith and trust in Him.

From “Why Grace Changes Everything” by Pastor Chuck Smith.

Romans 12:2

Hot, hazy, and humid – a typical August day and perfect for our annual inner tube float down the beautiful Allegheny River. Close to eighty of us shoved off from the Buckaloons campground in the early afternoon. The next few hours promised to be filled with laughter, fun, and a lot of horsing around. One highlight of the float was a particular place in the river where the current picked up and rushed by the bank of one of the islands we would pass. After being pulled through by the current, we would stop and enjoy swinging and dropping into the river from a rope swing.

As we approached the spot where the current picked up, I moved my inner tube over to get into the current. My wife followed on her tube and my three children followed in a small rubber raft. Very quickly, without warning, our afternoon fun turned life-threatening. The river had changed from the year before! Halfway through the area where the current picked up, a tree had fallen into the river. The current was pulling us into the tree. The water was pulling down and rushing under the tree. We tried to paddle out but could not. I reached the tree first. It was all I could do to stay on top of the water. My wife was next and her tube went under. She managed to grab my arm and a limb of the tree. She clung to that limb. My kids were already crying as they rushed toward us. I managed to kick their raft away from the tree. They floated to safety. Some twenty minutes later, a number of men from the church were able to reach Kim and me. We were all safe.

In the day and age we live in, it is easy to get caught in the current of what is popular. Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

The current of the world says, “do for yourself”, “get ahead”, “be first”. Jesus said, “If you want to be first, be last. If you want to be on top, be the servant of all.” The world says, “If it feels good, do it.” Being caught by a ‘current’ like that can be deadly.

As the church, we are the ‘called out ones’ (‘ekklesia’ in Greek). We are to be in the world but not of the world. We don’t follow the flow, current, or pattern of the world. We follow Jesus.

I encourage you to be different, love, be radical, forgive, be transformed, forget about yourself and serve others.

Pastor Jeff York

James 1:2-4

I’m sure we’ve all read this verse many times. How many of us really consider it “joy” when we face a trial? I realize we are all going to face them but I don’t enjoy them. My wife reminded me of this verse Monday morning. I got up to go golfing with a friend at 6:00 a.m. Thunder was rumbling so we decided we would not be golfing. The rains kept coming. The stream behind our house was already high from the day before. In the back of my mind I thought, “Just don’t let the power go out.”

The water was rising quickly and the garden was soon under water. It didn’t take long for the whole house to be surrounded by water. My two youngest were very frightened (especially when the swing set started to float away!). We eventually had to move the car to higher ground and also needed to move things off the shed floor because water was up to the door of the shed. My wife said, “consider it joy” reminding me of James, chapter one. “Yes, dear, I’m so happy we got flooded and lost the garden, your flowers. The basement was flooded because the sump pump got plugged and we lost our hot water tank. The smell also leaves a bit to be desired.”

The whole time (and even today) in my mind I was thinking, “Lord what am I learning from this? Why did you allow this to happen?” I know there are always lessons to learn. It reminded me of the disciples in the boat when the storm came. They became frightened like my kids. They awoke Jesus and he calmed the storm. I know I’m like the disciples a lot when things like this happen.

Tuesday morning, my wife shared with me Psalm 29:3, “The Lord is over many waters.” The Lord is in control of everything. We spend so much time in our lifestyles, cutting the lawn, working in the garden, keeping things nice and in a second or a minute it’s gone. Maybe my time should be spent in other things that glorify Him. These possessions that we spend so much time on are all going to burn in the end (Rev 21:1).

Jim Hunt

Each weekend the CCRussell blog brings you an excerpt from one of Pastor Chuck Smith’s many books. Pastor Chuck is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. This weekend’s excerpt is from chapter one of Why Grace Changes Everything.

The root meaning of the word grace is “beauty.” In the New Testament, grace means “God’s unmerited favor.” Grace is God giving to me something that I cannot obtain on my own. Grace is being accepted by God even though I do not deserve it, even though I am not worthy of it.

The Bible teaches that I receive grace on the basis of my belief and trust in God. Hebrews 11:6 declares that without faith it is impossible to please God. We are forgiven by a holy God simply by believing in Jesus Christ and in His death on our behalf. When we place our trust in Him, our slate is wiped clean.

It is not possible for us to be forgiven by complying with any law or religious system. It was necessary that Christ go to the cross in order that He might establish the basis whereby I can approach God.

When Jesus was praying in the garden, He said, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). He was saying, “If it is possible that men can be saved by any other means than My death – if they can be saved by being religious, by somehow gaining their own righteousness – then I do not want to go to the cross. Please don’t put Me through this horrible ordeal.” But it was not possible, and so He went to the cross, died, was buried, and rose again. His death made it possible for God to extend His grace to you and me.

Perhaps an illustration will help to make this clear. Imagine that you were charged with a crime. You are accused of trespassing on a neighbor’s property. As any defense attorney knows, there are two possible ways for you to be cleared of the charge. You may seek to prove that you didn’t trespass on his property, or you may seek to prove that you had every right to be there.

Now apply this logic to our spiritual situation. God has charged us with being sinners – for rebelling against His law and His will. He has charged us with unrighteousness.

How can we be justified from those charges? We can’t say that we are innocent, for we are guilty. All of us have sinned. Nor can we say that we had a right to do what we did because we had no such right. Our actions were clearly wrong. How, then, can the law be of value to us in our desire to be forgiven? The answer is, it can’t. The case is open and shut. We didn’t have a right to do it, we did it anyway, and thus we stand guilty.

From “Why Grace Changes Everything” by Pastor Chuck Smith.

Our family has taken several trips to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania over the last several years. As my oldest son has grown, he has taken many hikes with me along the battlefields. There were regiments that would sustain 80% casualties. Men would walk a mile over open fields to a point in the middle of the Union line. Men would climb a rocky slope to try to take the high ground. My son’s question would always be, “Why would men do that?”

My dad has shared with me his experience on June 6, 1944. As a 16 or 17 year old boy driving an LCD transporting infantry on the beaches of Normandy. I asked if he was afraid. His response was, “You didn’t have time to think about it.” These men paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for each and every one of us. John 10:11 says, “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” Mark 15:17 & 19 says He had a crown of thorns on His head; they beat Him and spit on Him; they mocked Him; they would take Him to the cross and crucify Him. Jesus would take on the sins of the world and take our punishment for us. Why? as my son would ask. Because He loves each and every one of us. He wants us to spend eternity with Him.

Jim Hunt