The Last Word is Grace

Eden Mill Worship/Communion/Picnic                                              06/02/19—Highland—Meute

“The Last Word is Grace”

Revelation 22: 12-21; John 17: 20-26

Pearl: Grace relieves unbearable tension.

Function: To behold the deep reality of the grace of God which overlays all things.

Last week I finally got the rear brakes on my car replaced. I was driving around for some weeks with them rubbing and vibrating. I tried to use them as little as possible and was tired of dragging my foot out the door to slow down. So when I went to pick up my car I said to the mechanic “I’m sure these new brakes will feel like heaven!” He smiled and said, “Well, maybe not heaven, but you will like them!”

1. Of course, he was right. I often exaggerate. But when we say something will be like heaven, are we even close?
   1. This is not a sermon on heaven but at the end of the bible in the book of Revelation we do have “return of Christ” scenarios. At the time of his return it seems as though there will be some kind of judgment and there will be some kind of salvation as well.
   2. So we imagine what that time will be like. We imagine what heaven will be like. We are a frightened about what hell or separation from God will be like.
   3. We try to understand all that we can about the end of the world as we know it.
      1. We are urged by scripture to pray that it comes. We are encouraged to want the Lord to return and make all things new.
   4. These words in the last chapter of the last book of the bible seem like an ancient liturgy of some kind:
      1. “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.”
      2. Followers of Christ want him to come again as promised and as expected.
      3. At the end of the bible we read of that expectation.

How do we speak, how do I speak with any authority on such a mysterious concept?

1. The ultimate end of life as we know it is a question that does come up around those who are dying. As loved ones near the end of their lives we reflect upon what will come next.
2. Beyond our own short lives we also reflect upon this time someday when Christ returns to commence some kind of judgment and destruction of evil once and for all. After that then it is expected that a new earth and a new heaven will be established as true and ultimate paradises where there will be perfect harmony and good will. Evil, decay, corruption, and death will all be no more.
3. That is my simple overall description of what will commence upon the return of Christ.
   1. Speaking on these concepts, though, challenge our best minds. What can we really know about such a time?
   2. Revelation makes some comments about it with which to derive some conclusions.
   3. What we find here at the end of Revelation is really a tension. We have frightening descriptions as well as comforting descriptions.
   4. The best we can really do is maintain a healthy tension due to the fact that the bible contains competing claims about the extent of the salvation of creation.
      1. There are indications in scripture suggesting that all will be saved.
      2. There are also indications that salvation will be limited.

• Clarifying these competing claims is really impossible so tension should be maintained. Not only a tension but humility since such realities go beyond limited, human reckoning.

Nonetheless, the last word of the bible is GRACE. Perhaps, grace relieves the unbearable tension. This tension need not be unbearable. Because the last word is grace. God’s grace overlays all things.

1. “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.”
   1. It is noteworthy to point out that the last sentence of the bible is different in various versions.
      1. Some say, leaning on the limited side of salvation, “grace…be with all the saints,” that is, to all of the people of God.
      2. Some say, leaning on the universal side of salvation, “grace…be with all,” that is, to all with no limitations.
   2. To me the larger word to focus on is grace. This, according to my theology, overlays all things. Grace overlays all things and it is the last word in the bible. Reflect with me on grace.
      1. Grace is difficult to define and put into words but we know it very well.
         1. We find that it is grace that we need to endure the most difficult things and the most difficult people.
            1. This is why Jesus prayed that his people would be one as he and the Father are one. He knew that for us to be united, one, we would need lots and lots of grace.
            2. Some of the most difficult people for you to be with are other believers who hold different understandings and theologies and practices.
               1. It is understandable that we would have differing views, as for instance how the bible supports differing views of ultimate salvation.
            3. For those we would consider as enemies, grace is needed. At a seminar yesterday this quote of Longfellow describes a gracious attitude: “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we would find in each person’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” So grace is known through compassionate understanding.
         2. Grace is not cheap. We are indebted to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who distinguished between “cheap grace” and “costly grace” in his classic book, The Cost of Discipleship.
            1. Grace is profound and huge. It may be helpful to personalize grace. Think of grace as embodied in Jesus Christ. We would not make light of Christ. We would not belittle Christ and all that he did and all that he stood for and all that he gave. His love is for all and his will is to save all but to force it on those who would trample upon it cheapens Christ.
               1. Cheap grace verses costly grace.
               2. We hold Christ in highest reverence. We hold God in highest reverence.
            2. Cheap grace is unappreciated grace. It is possible to not appreciate Christ. When one appreciates the grace of God in Christ then one understands the cost of grace. One understands its tremendous value.
         3. Grace is not separate from justice. God is gracious and God is also just. God is exceedingly fair. God will right everything that is wrong. God will do this by grace! God’s steadfast love toward everything created demands justice and the reconciliation of all things. My understanding is that God’s justice will be worked out by grace.
      2. It is a mistake to oversimplify the grace of God. It is profound and over-our-heads.
         1. But at the same time we know it very well.
         2. It is as difficult to explain and define as it is to explain and define the profound love that you have for another person. You know you have it. But it is very difficult to explain.
            1. It is like coming up with words to say at the memorial of someone that you knew and loved for a very long time. What do you say? How do you choose to portray this loved one? What appropriate comments should be made to memorialize this person? You could talk for hours.
            2. Such is the case with GRACE.

Yesterday another pastor made a comment about grace, describing it as seeing a “Christ-saturated” world. I love that. He said you can find Christ everywhere you look.

The last word of the bible is a word of grace; “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen.”

There is one place and one time where we are exceedingly aware of the grace of God which relieves unbearable tension: the Table of the Lord.

1. No matter what difficulties you are having with anyone, it is the one place where you understand that you belong side by side with that other person with whom you are at odds.
2. It is the one place where everyone belongs and where all competing voices are silenced.
3. It is a place of quiet calm because Christ, the Prince of Peace, presides.
4. And this One who presides is the One in whom there is living water available for the taking by anyone and everyone.
5. And this living water is in abundant supply.

On that final Day when Christ returns to the earth there will be a quiet which falls across the span of the earth at the amazing physical presence of the living Christ who is Lord of all.

That same quiet falls upon us and makes us one as we gather at the Table of Grace. Just as the Lord Jesus prayed would happen when he lived in the flesh on this earth.