I’ve read a couple of pieces this week – one is a transcript of part of Mark Driscoll’s sermon series on Ruth (I’ll call it “Religion vs. Redemption” , the other is piece by Tim Keller, “All of Life is Repentence”.
There is a tension between what Driscoll referred to as “redemption” (and Keller referred to as “Religion vs. the Gospel”
We like “religion”; it has rules and regulations and there’s a lot of exterior involvement. Do this, don’t do that.
In religion, if we repent and follow the rules, then we will be “good enough” and God will love us and be our Father. But I’m not good enough and I can’t be. I’m called to be perfect, but that only shows me (like the Law in the Old Testament) how far short I fall.
Here is the way that Driscoll describes the difference:
First, religion says this: “If I obey, God will love me.†Some of you have heard that. If you will stop drinking, sleeping around, if you will stop doing this, that, or the other thing and start doing these other things, then God will love you. Redemption says: “God does love you. God has loved you in the life death burial resurrection of Jesus.†God demonstrates his love for us in this while we were yet sinners—still totally jacked up in every way — Christ died for us. And the redemption of the Gospel of Jesus says: “God loves you. God loves you. And because God loves you, you can love God and you can obey him. Because he will change your heart, and he will change your mind, and he will change your life.†Like Romans says, his kindness will lead you to repentance.
That false gospel of religion is so subtle; it is so disgusting. It’s akin to me look at my three-year old daughter Alexi and saying, “Sweetheart here is a list of things. If you do them I will be your daddy and I will love you. And if you don’t do them I won’t love you and I won’t be your daddy.” It’s the most disgusting false gospel in the world. God is a father, looks at his kids and says, “I love you. Therefore, love me and obey me. I’m your daddy. My commands are good I’m here to protect and defend you”. I do this all the time with my kids. I look them right in the eye — they are all rebellious, sinning, whatever they’re doing, wanting to light off fireworks in the house or swimming in the toilet, whatever’s going on — and I look him right in the eye, I say, “Who am I?” They say, “You’re my daddy.” “And how do I feel about you?” “You love me.” “What are you going to do?” “I’ll obey you.” That’s totally different than religion. That’s totally different than religion.
In our minds, religion gets between us and the Gospel. We must transform our lives before God can bless us. We are concerned about sin because of the consequences of it (whether the consequences are physical or spiritual). So we “repent”. This is like a parent telling a very unrepentant child, “Tell your sister sorry”. Not only is this not real repentance, that “sorry” is bitter and it’s selfish (done to get out of further punishment).
In the Gospel, we love God because He first loved us! While we were yet sinners, dead in our sin, Christ died for us. Through His Holy Spirit, we are enabled to have a true, Gospel-driven repentance. A transforming repentance.
I am not good enough – Christ is good enough to cover me.
I can never be good enough! But Christ has always been good enough!
Once we realize that we cannot attain that perfection that will earn us salvation, that is the moment we become free to step in Christ’s perfection, resting in His goodness.
I invite you to step there today.
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