Tim Keller writes, “you cannot combine merit and grace.”  As soon as you add anything to the gospel of grace you destroy it.  It’s like taking pure water and one drop of food dye changes it completely.  For preachers or fellow-Christians to say, “you are saved by grace…and”:

a) building a habitat house

b) be good to your wife

c) tithe

d) have a quiet time

So are we free to do nothing?  Absolutely not.  But if our lives aren’t changed by the gospel, Keller says, “it proves that this person never really grasped the gospel, [but claims to be a Christian and] was just looking for an excuse to live in disobedience to God.”

In other words the acceptance of God means we are able to accept his demanding challenge to “follow him.”

Do you feel like you have to earn God’s acceptance?  Why is grace too easy to accept and too demanding to obey?