Let The Champagne Celebration Begin

 Trust defines the meaning of living by grace rather than works…

The trusting disciple has this childlike confidence in a loving Father.  Trust says, in effect, “Abba, just on the basis of what You have shown me in Your Son, Jesus, I believe You love me.  You have forgiven me.  You will hold me and never let me go.  Therefore, I trust You with my life.”
    
Donald McCullough puts it this way:

“Grace means that in the middle of our struggle the referee blows the whistle and announces the end of the game.  We are declared winners and sent to the showers.  It’s over for all huffing, puffing piety to earn God’s favor; it’s finished for all sweat-soaked straining to secure self-worth; it’s the end of all competitive scrambling to get ahead of others in the game.  Grace means that God is on our side and thus we are victors regardless of how well we have played the game.  We might as well head for the showers and the champagne celebration.”

The Gospel declares that no matter how dutiful or prayerful we are, we can’t save ourselves.  What Jesus did was sufficient.

 Brennan Manning (The Ragamuffin Gospel)