God’s Grace — Hidden but Evident
It’s October, that Reformation time of year, and it seemed an appropriate, seasonal thing to do was to read about Martin Luther and his “Reformation breakthrough.” The Lutheran Study Bible has an introductory section about Luther, who as a Biblical scholar, was deeply engaged with Scripture, seeking to understand the righteousness or justice of God. While meditating on Romans 1:17, “The one who is righteous will live by faith,” he came to realize “a totally other face of the entire Scripture.” He no longer saw God’s righteousness as a means of judgement, but rather as the way God justifies us, that is, puts us in right relationship with God.
Continuing his “breakthrough” Luther came to recognize that the power of God, with which he makes us strong, and the wisdom of God, with which he makes us wise, was how God acted in the gospel to give away his righteousness. Luther then further recognized and taught that both the law and the gospel were God’s good ways of working in the lives of humans.
The grace of God is frequently mentioned in the Bible, and most people probably think of grace as the generosity, kindness and forgiving nature of our Father in heaven. But Luther never downplayed the power of God and how he sends his people into the world to accomplish his purposes, as is expressed so eloquently in this quote:
“The grace of God is a very great, strong, mighty and active thing. It does not lie asleep in the soul. Grace hears, leads, drives, draws, changes, works in all people, and lets itself be distinctly felt and experienced. It is hidden, but its works are evident.”
These few sentences give us a great deal to consider, particularly because, as Lutherans, we believe that through God’s grace we receive the gifts of faith, salvation, and forgiveness. Just don’t ask us to explain or define grace — it’s kind of like the Trinity — we believe in it, but we find it to be pretty challenging to come up with a satisfactory description.
Luther speaks of grace as a powerful force of God, working in people, rather than passively sleeping in the soul. When you think of grace in these terms, the concept of receiving the gift of faith by the grace of God has a different tone. Rather than a gentle, grace-filled experience of belief and love, this grace grabs onto us and leads, drives, and works in us. It changes us, and we will feel a difference.
God’s power is, in many ways, beyond human definition. We’re awed and overwhelmed at the concept of the all-powerful God, creator and ruler of the universe. But to think in terms of power and grace combined — no wonder Luther speaks of it as strong, mighty and active. We no longer need to wonder how and why the hungry are fed, the sick are cared for, the Good News is proclaimed, and the world is made a better place, because it’s that power and grace at work through God’s people.
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers