How Great It Is to Be Saved By Grace, Not Works!

I just came across this story of A.J. Jacobs, an agnostic, who did the crazy thing of trying to follow all of the rules set out in the Bible in a single year.

Did you know that there are, apparently, more than 700 rules ranging from the familiar “Love thy neighbor as thyself” to the more obscure part about not trimming one’s beard?

Jacobs’ experience will be published in a book titled The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, which will be in bookstores Oct 9, 2007.

According to him, the two most difficult laws to follow were “the sins we commit every day like lying, gossiping and coveting”, but he admits that Biblical laws have a place in modern society, and there’s something “attractive” about Biblical living.

Personally, I would love to read the book and find out how he managed to stay sane following all those Laws!

I mean, I cannot imagine trying to keep track of whether I have sinned or fallen short of a Law if I do this or that. And it is most probable that I’d love to be able to live my life in this case as like in a video game.

You know, those games where there are meters that help you measure how you are doing in terms of certain statistics? I will need one for “How much sin today”, “How closely I am following a Law” and other graphs, charts and so on just to make it through a day, much less 365 of them!

If there’s one thing to be thankful for today, it’s the assurance that we are saved by grace, and not works through our Lord Jesus Christ!

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Yet, we need be mindful that there are still Laws by which we need to follow and observe, for faith without works is dead.

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

James 2:17-20

The works James touched on are not just good deeds, but living a life where we obey, observe and put into practice all that Christ Jesus taught. Read James 2 for a better understanding of what he taught as works.

For it is only by our observance and practice of these Laws and commandments that we justify our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and become as followers of Him who was crucified for our transgressions, and is now resurrected and sits on the right-hand side of God the Father.

Remember what our Lord Jesus Christ teaches:

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:15

Shabbat Shalom.

Source: “One Man’s Experiment to Obey Every Rule in the Bible“, published September 25 2007 at Christianpost.com. Picture featured is taken from the same article.

Footnote: I apologize for the lack of updates and responses lately due to a heavy workload this week. Please also bear with me a little on the themes as I am having some issues with them, but will soon be able to stabilize and use one on a more permanent basis.