I read a story once about a teenage boy who had just passed his driving test and inquired of his father as to when they could discuss his use of the car. The father said that he’d make a deal with his son:
“You bring up your grades from a C to a B average, start studying your Bible, and get your hair cut and then we’ll talk about your use of the car,” the father said.
The young man thought about this proposition and decided that it was a fair offer. Thus, the deal was made.
After about six weeks had gone by, the father came to his son and said “Son, I’ve observed that you’ve successfully brought your grades up and have been studying your Bible every night. I’m disappointed, though, that you have yet to cut your hair.”
The boy replied “You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair, and lots of people even think that Jesus Himself had long hair.”
The father smiled slightly and asked “Did you also notice that all of those individuals walked everywhere they went?”
This rather humorous story illustrates a very important spiritual truth. Just as the son in the story above had no chance of getting to drive the car until he decided to cut his hair, we cannot experience the grace of God (i.e. the forgiveness of our sins) until we meet all the conditions that our Heavenly Father has set forth.
We should clarify that there is a difference between the love of God and the grace of God. Certainly the love of God encompasses all mankind. This is made evident in various passages such as John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
It was God’s love (which summarizes His very nature (1 John 4:8)) that motivated Him to bestow grace (defined as a free gift) upon us. You’ll notice, however, that those who, through Christ, inherit everlasting life are those who believe in Him. Notice verse 36 of John 3:
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (NASV)
While some translations render the word “obey” in verse 36 as “believe,” the Greek word “apeitheó,” while encompassing belief, is literally defined as disobedience, rebellion, or disloyalty. Thus we see, as we do throughout the Word of God, that faith is more than belief alone. It is belief-based action!
Matt. 7:21 – Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
We must render obedience if we are to accept the grace that God has made available and our obedience must be complete. In other words, we must follow all of His commandments, not just a few. While it was good that the son in our story brought up his grades and started studying his Bible, he had still left undone one of the conditions necessary for being able to use the car. Likewise, if we believe that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, (Acts 8:36-37) but fail to repent and be baptized, (Acts 2:38) we will find ourselves yet lost in our sins.
Mark 16:16 – He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Have you accepted the gift of God today? If not, why not? What do you hope, dear friend, to gain by a further delay? “Behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2)!” There’s no one to save you but Jesus. There’s no other way but His (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
Rom. 5:1-2 – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.