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What is the Difference Between Mercy and Grace?

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What is the difference between mercy and grace

What is mercy and how does it relate to grace? Is mercy the same as grace, or is it something different?

Some people miss grace because they think it grace = mercy. They don’t understand the difference.

“I need mercy.

“Thank you, Lord, for your mercy.

“Now that I have mercy, I’m satisfied.”

And they miss out on the full riches of God’s grace.

What is grace? Grace is the full expression of God’s love for us, but for the sake of keeping things simple, let’s say grace is God’s undeserved favor.

And what is mercy? Mercy is showing compassion towards those in need. Mercy is Jesus healing the blind and delivering the oppressed. Mercy is God forgiving our debts. Mercy is God responding to our cries of distress:

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. (Ps. 30:10)

If you are in trouble, mercy is what you need. The good news is that God is as rich in mercy as he is in grace. He freely offers his mercy to all for he is the God of all grace and the Father of all mercies (2 Cor. 1:3, 1 Pet. 5:10).

Are mercy and grace the same?

There are some interesting comparisons between mercy and grace in scripture:

  • We are saved by grace (Eph. 2:5), and we are saved by mercy (Tit. 3:5)
  • We are forgiven by grace (Eph. 1:7), and we are forgiven by mercy (Ex. 34:6-7, Ps. 86:5, Matt. 18:33, Luke 1:77-78, Heb. 2:17, 8:12)
  • Just as we receive grace (Rom. 5:17), we receive mercy (2 Cor. 4:1, 1 Pet. 2:10)
  • Just as God’s grace is greater than our sin (Rom. 5:20), his mercy triumphs over judgment (Jas. 2:13)

These similarities lead some to conclude that mercy is synonymous with grace. Yet mercy can be distinguished from grace.

How does grace differ from mercy?

Mercy is not reaping what you have sown; grace is reaping what Jesus has sown.

Mercy takes you out of Egypt; grace takes you into the Promised Land.

Mercy forgave the prodigal son; grace threw him a party.

Mercy fed Ruth the refugee; grace gave her a husband.

Mercy forgave the penitent tax collector; grace sent him home justified before God.

Mercy forgave the thief on the cross; grace took him to paradise.

Mercy is not getting what you deserve, while grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

See the difference? Mercy is great – thank God for mercy! – but grace is even better.

Two angels: Mercy and Grace

Where do we find mercy? In the same place we find grace:

Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16)

Mercy and grace are like two mighty angels bringing the lost to the Father’s house. They’re a tag team. Mercy goes into the darkest places of the world searching for the broken and the downcast. Mercy gathers the lost in his arms and carries them home to the Father.

At the gate stands the other mighty angel. Grace heals the broken, cleanses the sinner, and clothes the naked, making them fit for the Father’s feast. Thanks to Mercy and Grace, even the worst of us are welcome at the Father’s table.

A bit far-fetched, you say? Well think back to what happened to you.

You came to God on account of some need. Maybe you were sick, lost, hurting, or in despair. Maybe you were fed up or worn out, but Mercy found you and all was well.

But wait, who was standing behind Mercy? There was Grace holding your new robes of righteousness, offering you your Father’s ring, and inviting you to come to the table.

Mercy is what you wanted; Grace is what you got. Never forget that.

Mercy vs grace

God’s goodness is revealed in his great mercy. Whatever your need today, come to his throne and receive mercy.

But don’t stop there, for God’s goodness is greater than you know. Receive his mercy and see what else he offers besides – his grace!

Mercy pays the bills; grace blesses us with an abundance.

Mercy delivers you from servitude; grace adopts you as a son.

Mercy clears your debts; grace makes you a co-heir with Christ.

If you have a great need today, thank God for his abundant grace and mercy!

—–

If you liked this, you will love Paul’s new Grace Glossary. Learn the language of the new covenant by discovering the treasures hidden within words like grace, faith, and forgiveness.

What Does 1 Peter 3:7 Mean?

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Loveless marriage

A man recently asked me about a troubling verse. “My wife says my prayers are hindered because I don’t respect her enough.” He was referring to this verse:

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7)

What does it mean to hinder your prayers? Here is the wrong answer: “God doesn’t listen to jerks.”

The good news is that God does hear the honest prayers of jerks and crooks and thieves and sinners (see Luke 18:14). If you see yourself as a bad husband or a bad wife, rest assured your heavenly Father hears you when you call to him. Our sin does not hinder our prayers.

How do we hinder our prayers?

When I was asked that question, I was stumped. It wasn’t a question I had thought about, but I probably should have since I am a husband.

What can I do to my wife that might hinder my prayers?

Immediately, the Lord brought a picture to my mind that helped me understand this verse. His revelation showed me exactly how husbands (or wives or anyone) can hinder their prayers.

But before I took it any further, I wanted to check what other commentators said about hindered prayers to confirm that I was on the right track. Guess what – they said nothing. I went to all my favorite guys and found they were silent on the subject of hindered prayers.

So I feel very blessed to give you what the Lord has given me, a little insight you will not find anywhere else. (Of course I could be wrong and this verse is so obvious that you already know what I’m going to say about hindered prayers. If so, come back next week. It’ll be better, I promise.)

The weaker partner

In this egalitarian age you won’t hear many men describe their wives as “the weaker partner.” But to the religious mind of the first century, women were considered weaker or inferior in many ways, and this mindset was reflected in the limited participation of women in the Temple and synagogue.

Then Jesus came and made friends with all kinds of women – not just the nice sort of women that you’d take home to meet your mother, but the sort of women that God-fearing men should never talk to.

Jesus taught women (Luke 10:39). He took women with him on ministry trips (Luke 8:1-3). He reached out to women with bad reputations, like the woman at the well (John 4:7). In contrast with the prevailing attitudes of the day Jesus empowered women, and this had a profound effect on the early church:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:28)

When we go to church today we think nothing of women and children participating in the service, but in the first century this would have been offensive to the religious mind. And this brings us to the bit about hindered prayers.

How do we hinder our prayers?

Paul said husbands and wives are co-heirs with Christ, and Peter says the same thing here: “Treat them with respect… as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life.”

Do you see your spouse as a co-heir of grace? Or do you see them as inferior? What about your children and neighbors? What about the person of another race or culture? Are they equal in grace or are they inferior?

If you see others as equal in grace, then you are walking in grace. However, if you see yourself as superior in some way, then you are not walking in grace and your prayers will be hindered. This brings me to the picture that I mentioned earlier:

Before_and_after

Before he met the Lord of grace, the apostle Paul was a Pharisee and he would’ve prayed the prayer on the left (source: Encyclopedia Talmudit, Vol.4, Jerusalem 1956, p.371). This is a prideful prayer. Pray like this and you will hinder your prayers.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5)

Whose prayers are hindered? It is those who boast, “Thank you God that I am not like other people” (Luke 18:11). It is those who see themselves as better than others. It is those who sacrifice people on the altar of their convictions. Such people have trouble receiving grace because they don’t see their need for it. Their pride hinders their prayers.

Religion kills grace and hinders prayers. Performance-based religion says if you deliver the goods – if you avoid sin and behave yourself – you’ll get a direct line to God. It’s not true! All you’ll get is a mirror for admiring yourself. “I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get” (Luke 18:12).

Do you really think God is impressed with your sacrifice when you are not impressed with his?

God doesn’t bless us in accordance with our output but in accordance with the riches of his grace. This is why religious superstars are often further from God’s grace than tax collectors and prostitutes (Matt 21:31).

How do we un-hinder our prayers?

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. (1 Pet 3:8)

It’s easy to be humble with the Lord, but Peter exhorts us to be humble with each other: wives to husbands, husbands to wives. To quote CS Lewis, humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. It is having a Biblical view of women and being compassionate and loving one another. This is a key for receiving God’s grace, because grace flows to us through people.

Want more grace in your marriage? Thank God that he has blessed you with a partner in grace.

Want more grace in your family? Thank him for your kids who are co-heirs in Christ.

Want more grace in your church? Then “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,” and praise him for surrounding you with such towering testimonies of grace.

Who are you thanking God for today?

___________

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What Does 1 Peter 3:7 Mean?

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Loveless marriage

A man recently asked me about a troubling verse. “My wife says my prayers are hindered because I don’t respect her enough.” He was referring to this verse:

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7)

What does it mean to hinder your prayers? Here is the wrong answer: “God doesn’t listen to jerks.”

The good news is that God does hear the honest prayers of jerks and crooks and thieves and sinners (see Luke 18:14). If you see yourself as a bad husband or a bad wife, rest assured your heavenly Father hears you when you call to him. Our sin does not hinder our prayers.

How do we hinder our prayers?

When I was asked that question, I was stumped. It wasn’t a question I had thought about, but I probably should have since I am a husband.

What can I do to my wife that might hinder my prayers?

Immediately, the Lord brought a picture to my mind that helped me understand this verse. His revelation showed me exactly how husbands (or wives or anyone) can hinder their prayers.

But before I took it any further, I wanted to check what other commentators said about hindered prayers to confirm that I was on the right track. Guess what – they said nothing. I went to all my favorite guys and found they were silent on the subject of hindered prayers.

So I feel very blessed to give you what the Lord has given me, a little insight you will not find anywhere else. (Of course I could be wrong and this verse is so obvious that you already know what I’m going to say about hindered prayers. If so, come back next week. It’ll be better, I promise.)

The weaker partner

In this egalitarian age you won’t hear many men describe their wives as “the weaker partner.” But to the religious mind of the first century, women were considered weaker or inferior in many ways, and this mindset was reflected in the limited participation of women in the Temple and synagogue.

Then Jesus came and made friends with all kinds of women – not just the nice sort of women that you’d take home to meet your mother, but the sort of women that God-fearing men should never talk to.

Jesus taught women (Luke 10:39). He took women with him on ministry trips (Luke 8:1-3). He reached out to women with bad reputations, like the woman at the well (John 4:7). In contrast with the prevailing attitudes of the day Jesus empowered women, and this had a profound effect on the early church:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:28)

When we go to church today we think nothing of women and children participating in the service, but in the first century this would have been offensive to the religious mind. And this brings us to the bit about hindered prayers.

How do we hinder our prayers?

Paul said husbands and wives are co-heirs with Christ, and Peter says the same thing here: “Treat them with respect… as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life.”

Do you see your spouse as a co-heir of grace? Or do you see them as inferior? What about your children and neighbors? What about the person of another race or culture? Are they equal in grace or are they inferior?

If you see others as equal in grace, then you are walking in grace. However, if you see yourself as superior in some way, then you are not walking in grace and your prayers will be hindered. This brings me to the picture that I mentioned earlier:

Before_and_after

Before he met the Lord of grace, the apostle Paul was a Pharisee and he would’ve prayed the prayer on the left (source: Encyclopedia Talmudit, Vol.4, Jerusalem 1956, p.371). This is a prideful prayer. Pray like this and you will hinder your prayers.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5)

Whose prayers are hindered? It is those who boast, “Thank you God that I am not like other people” (Luke 18:11). It is those who see themselves as better than others. It is those who sacrifice people on the altar of their convictions. Such people have trouble receiving grace because they don’t see their need for it. Their pride hinders their prayers.

Religion kills grace and hinders prayers. Performance-based religion says if you deliver the goods – if you avoid sin and behave yourself – you’ll get a direct line to God. It’s not true! All you’ll get is a mirror for admiring yourself. “I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get” (Luke 18:12).

Do you really think God is impressed with your sacrifice when you are not impressed with his?

God doesn’t bless us in accordance with our output but in accordance with the riches of his grace. This is why religious superstars are often further from God’s grace than tax collectors and prostitutes (Matt 21:31).

How do we un-hinder our prayers?

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. (1 Pet 3:8)

It’s easy to be humble with the Lord, but Peter exhorts us to be humble with each other: wives to husbands, husbands to wives. To quote CS Lewis, humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. It is having a Biblical view of women and being compassionate and loving one another. This is a key for receiving God’s grace, because grace flows to us through people.

Want more grace in your marriage? Thank God that he has blessed you with a partner in grace.

Want more grace in your family? Thank him for your kids who are co-heirs in Christ.

Want more grace in your church? Then “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,” and praise him for surrounding you with such towering testimonies of grace.

Who are you thanking God for today?

___________

Enjoy this article? Sign up to our free email list and we’ll notify you about new articles as soon they come out.

Escape to Reality is proclaiming the good news everywhere thanks to the support of readers:

What is Grace?

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What does grace mean to you?

As C.S. Lewis famously observed, grace is the one thing that makes Christianity unique. Grace is what makes the new covenant new and the good news good news. But what is grace?

Do you know what it means?

I read a lot of grace books and I have found that very few define grace. They tell you what grace isn’t. Grace isn’t works. Grace isn’t law. Grace isn’t religion. But they don’t tell you what grace is.

Don’t you find it strange that we who have been apprehended by the grace of God don’t have good definitions of grace? It’s like being French and not being able to explain what it means to be French.

What is grace? What does grace mean to me?

What is the grace of God?

It is common to hear grace defined as the kindness of God, or his undeserved mercy or unmerited favor. These are fine definitions, but brief. Max Lucado said “Grace is God’s best idea.” Of all his works, it is his magnum opus. And a magnum opus deserves a magnum definition.

Since I have been writing about grace for some time, I thought it might be fun to put all my grace definitions in one place.

I am not claiming to have a handle on God’s amazing grace. Far from it. All I want to do is start a conversation. I hope you will weigh in with your own thoughts about God’s grace.

A biblical definition of grace

What is grace? Grace captures the goodwill, lovingkindness, and favor of God that is freely given to us so that we may partake in his divine life. Grace is God’s divine aid that supernaturally empowers you to be who he made you to be.

The Biblical noun for grace (charis) means favor or kindness, and is related to a word (chairo) which means to rejoice, be cheerful and well off. The grace of God leaves us cheerful and rejoicing. It leaves us better than it found us.

Grace is…

Grace is what the unconditional love of God looks like from our side. God is love and love that stoops is called grace. Grace is the love of God reaching down and gathering you in his arms.

Grace is God’s loving-kindness towards you. Grace is God blessing you with himself for no other reason than it pleases Him to do so.

Grace is the confident assurance that with God on your side, you can’t lose. Grace is his strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

Grace is freedom from sin, guilt, and condemnation. Grace is freedom from the need to prove yourself. Grace is divine permission to be who God made you to be.

Grace is heaven’s cure for the world’s woes. Grace is the power of God that turns sinners into saints, haters into lovers, and orphans into sons.

Grace is being adopted into the family of God. Grace is realizing you are a dearly-loved child, the apple of your Father’s eye, and a co-heir with Christ.

Grace is God honoring us with his presence. Grace is God with us. Grace is the adventure of life shared with Christ.

Flavors of grace

Grace is favor, freedom, forgiveness and a million other blessings besides. Grace is God’s divine acceptance, his salvation and sanctification.

Grace is power, healing and prosperity. (What do you think the word blessing means?)

Grace is God blessing you for no other reason than he loves you. Grace is divine power to live abundantly in union with the One who loves you and calls you by name.

What does God’s grace really mean?

Grace isn’t a doctrine, or bunch of rules for you to keep, and grace is not God’s lubricant for greasing the cogs of self-effort. Grace is a Person living his life through you. Living under grace is like being married, only more so.

In a word, grace is Jesus. Grace is not one of God’s blessings but all of them wrapped up together in the One who is full of grace. Grace is the Gift of all gifts from the Giver of all givers.

Those are some of my thoughts. I would love to hear yours. What does the grace of God mean to you? In the comments below, complete this statement: “Grace is…”

—–

I have given you my definitions of grace. In the Bonus Content that accompanies this article, I look at some outstanding definitions of grace provided by notable authors past and present. Check it out now on Patreon.

How to Get to the Front of the E2R Queue

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“What do you do all day, Paul?”

You’d be surprised how often I am asked this question. It’s usually easier to tell people what I don’t do. I’m a writer, but I don’t set daily writing targets and I don’t do book tours.

So what do I do?

Every day I go digging in the treasure rooms of God’s word. When I discover diamonds and gems I share them with you.

I don’t see myself as a writer trying to find readers for my writing, but a treasure hunter finding treasure for my readers.

“Look what I found? Do you want it? It’s yours!”

As you may know, last year I started a side project called The Grace Commentary. You may be wondering how that project relates to Escape to Reality. I feel it’s as if God has handed me the keys to the biggest treasure room yet.

While writing the commentary I have been in the Bible for about five hours a day, and I have found more treasure than ever before. Ton’s of treasure!

The easy part is finding the treasure; the hard part is packaging it and making it presentable.

“Look at this mountain of treasure. There’s a whole book in here!” says one part of my brain.

“Not another book,” groans the other part of my brain.

These days I am trying to write fewer books and better articles. In fact, that’s one of my goals for 2022 – get back to basics by writing terrific articles about grace.

And this brings me to you.

If you like what I write and want to be at the front of queue for all the good stuff that’s coming down the line, why not sign up as an email subscriber here on Escape to Reality? It’s totally free.

If you’re on Facebook or Twitter, you may have noticed that some of my social media posts get recycled. “Didn’t I see this one last year?” That doesn’t happen on E2R. Like first-class passengers on an airplane, email subscribers get only the fresh stuff.

Email subscribers have put themselves at the front of the queue, so why not become one? I won’t send you more than two to three emails a month and I promise that each one will be worth reading (I hope).

Don’t know what email is? Ask your parents. It’s like 1970’s rock music – old but still better than anything that’s come since.

One last thing, sign up as an email subscriber and receive four free ebooks! These excellent books will help you grow in grace.

The sign up form is below. Can’t see the box where you enter your email address? Log out of WordPress first.

Already a subscriber? Why not leave a comment and say hi? I’d love to hear from you. Tell us why you are a subscriber and what you get out of these emails.

In the coming season I expect Escape to Reality to go from strength to strength. I’m thrilled that you’re here to share the journey.

Grace and peace,

Paul

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Why did God Hate Esau and Love Jacob?

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God loves the whole world. He loves everyone – you, me, your neighbor. He loves presidents and prime ministers. He loves scandal-plagued clerics and drug-ridden athletes. He loves runaway dads and negligent mothers.

God loves everyone… except Esau.

As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Romans 9:13)

Why did God hate Esau?

He didn’t. God loved Esau. You may recall that Esau and Jacob were the grandsons of Abraham. Esau was a man’s man; Jacob was a mummy’s boy. Esau was the first born, but through deception, Jacob inherited his brother’s birthright.

In the passage above Paul is quoting an old prophecy (Mal. 1:2–3) to show how God chose one of the twins (Jacob) but not the other (Esau).

The descendants of Jacob (the Israelites) received the favor of God but the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) did not.

God might just as easily have chosen Esau in which case Malachi would have said that God hated Jacob. But God chose the deceiver. He chose the second-born, the supplanter, the sinner to be the beneficiary of his grace.

Why?

We look at Jacob and ask, “Why him? What made him special?” And we miss the point. Jacob was not chosen because he was special; he was special because he was chosen.

God was looking to display the riches of his glory so he chose Israel. He blessed one nation so that they might reveal his goodness to the others.

Sadly, they failed.

The Israelites were not good ambassadors of God’s favor, but God’s plan was not thwarted. From among their number came Jesus who died for the whole world – including the descendants of Esau.

Why does God choose some?

The wrong way to read this verse is to say that God chooses some and rejects others.

“God chose Isaac over Ishmael. God chose Jacob over Esau. God might not choose me.”

Nope. It can’t happen.

Through the cross God declares his love for everyone of us. He calls you and me and Esau to come home.

If it seems that God chooses some, it’s because he is looking for prophetic people who will serve as signposts to the One who died for all.

In the end, it’s not about Isaac and Jacob who were elevated. And it’s not about whichever celebrity minister or prophet or artist who seems to be flavor of the month. It’s about Jesus who was lifted up so that he might draw all to himself.

Through the cross, God declares, “I love you and I have chosen you.”

Grace welcomes all to the table of his abundance.

—–

Got questions about a particular scripture? Check out The Grace Commentary.

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A Christmas Message from Paul

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A year ago I asked a question. “Lord, I’ve been writing E2R for years. What’s next?”

It’s not that I was tired of telling people about grace; far from it. It’s just that blogging wasn’t as challenging as it used to be. I wanted to try something new.

The Lord answered my prayer with three new challenges.

The Grace Commentary was launched in March 2021. In hindsight, it was a no-brainer. I had been working on a commentary for years, I just didn’t realize it.

Building the commentary has been a ton of work but a lot of fun. My goal for the year was to upload content for 1000 verses and by the grace of God we’ve done nearly double that. We still have a long way to go, but we’ve made a good start.

The Grace Glossary was a bit of a surprise. We launched in August 2021 and it has proven more popular than I expected. Like the commentary, it’s pretty rough, and I’m not sure where it’s headed. (A book? A sonnet?) It will be fun to see what happens next.

I started writing Jesus Scripts for my family at the beginning of the year. I had no plans to share these with anyone, but that changed in October 2021 when we launched the website. The jury is still out on this one, but if your kids enjoy the scripts as much as ours do, I will be delighted.

Reading about these ventures, you may think they are all part of some master plan. There is no plan. My only plan is to tell people the good news of Jesus any way I can. I am not a preacher or a poet so I write. And I am very thankful that I can do that.

That I get to give away thousands of books while writing full-time about the love of God on these various platforms would not possible without the generosity of my supporters on Patreon and Donorbox.

If you have been blessed by what I write, these are the amazing people you can thank:

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I would also like to acknowledge those readers who give anonymously. You know who you are. Your generosity is changing lives, and I am truly grateful to partner with you.

I have some exciting projects planned for 2022 which patrons will hear about first. Until then, thank you for sharing the journey. If you have read, shared, or commented on my work, I appreciate it.

May your family enjoy the peace and favor of God as we celebrate the birth of our King and Savior.

Merry Christmas!

Paul

Why did Mary Find Favor with God?

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Imagine God asked you to recruit the mother of the Messiah. Two women have been shortlisted, and you have been asked to pick the best one.

The first woman has an impeccable pedigree being descended from Aaron the high priest; the other is a nobody from the no-name town of Nazareth.

The first one is married to a highly-regarded priest; the other is a teenager engaged to a tradesman.

The first one will go down in history as “righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord” (Luke 1:6); the second has done nothing worth writing about.

Which one is the more suitable candidate? I suspect many people would choose the first woman (her name was Elizabeth), but God chose the latter (Mary).

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30)

How did Mary find favor with God?

Who is favored by God?

I’ve been thinking about this question because it comes up in the discussion guide I just wrote for my latest script. Why did God choose Mary? What made her special?

Some say God chose Mary because “she must have been of high character.” In other words, Mary was a moral woman.

Others say Mary was pious, meaning she was blameless in terms of the law. Just like Elizabeth.

Then there are those who believe that Mary was sinless.

These explanations appeal to our religious sensibilities, but none of them is Biblical. If God was looking for a moral woman with the right pedigree and performance, he would have chosen Elizabeth. But he chose Mary, a young girl with little to commend her.

So here’s a question to discuss at the Christmas table: Why did Mary find favor with God? And here’s a follow-up question: How do we find favor with God?

Mary was not favored on account of anything she had done; she was favored because God was with her.

Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. (Luke 1:28)

It’s the same with us.

You may be the youngest and the most insignificant believer in the kingdom, but you are as favored as Mary, because the Lord is with you (see Eph. 1:6).

I’m not joking.

Whether you lead a ministry of millions or live on a rock tending toadstools, if the Lord is with you, you are as favored as the mother of the Messiah.

But why Mary?

If God’s favor is unmerited, why did he pick Mary? Why not pick some other girl? Why not pick Elizabeth?

God could not just choose anyone. To fulfill the prophecies, the mother of the Messiah had to be a humble Jewish virgin living in Nazareth. She had to be ready to give birth in Bethlehem and then go live in Egypt for a while (see Is. 7:14, Mic. 5:2, Hos. 11:1, Matt, 2:23, 4:15). She had to be descended from the royal line of David or marry someone who was (Matt. 1:1, 20, Luke 1:32, 2:4).

At the time of Jesus’ birth, there were about half a million people living in Israel. Of this number, only a small proportion would have been unwed teenaged virgins. And of this group, only one woman ticked all the prophetic boxes. Her name was Mary.

But even that answer doesn’t quite capture why God chose Mary.

The God who sees the end from the beginning picked Mary long before those prophecies were given. God picked Mary because she had the one thing that matters when it comes to finding favor: faith.

And Mary said, “Behold the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38)

Highlight these words of Mary, for this is the language of faith. These are the words of someone who knows how to find the favor of God.

Faith attracts favor

God is good to all of us. His favor shines on everyone indiscriminately. But God only dwells with those who open the doors of their hearts. It is through faith that we find favor.

Cast your mind back to the beginning of the human story. God is in the Garden of Eden rebuking the serpent. He declares that the Seed of Eve will crush the devil’s head. As he is saying this he is scanning the future, looking for a mother. His gaze stretches past the law and the prophets and into the New Testament.

As the entirety of human history unfolds before him, God sees millions of suitable women with faith. So God decides to shorten the list.

“To demonstrate my glory I will choose a woman with no name from a town of no significance in a country of no consequence.”

So God whittles down his list and lands on Mary. In God’s eyes, she is the right person at the right time.

And so are you.

You are not going to give birth to a Messiah, but if you have faith, God will bear his fruit in your life. You don’t need to do a thing to make this happen. You don’t need to acquire a reputation and a track record. You don’t need to be blameless in the eyes of the law.

You just need to be like Mary, and believe.

A Mary Christmas

When God speaks into your life, you need to say, “may it be done to me according to your word.” God speaks, you obey, and your ordinary no-account life turns into Christmas.

Christmas is special, because God is with you. It is not the banquet or the tree that makes Christmas special. Christmas is special because it’s the day we remember God with us.

After Christmas the dirty dishes will be in the sink and the tree will be headed for the curbside, but God will still be with us. He’ll never leave us nor forsake us. And if you believe that – if you get up every morning with the same faithful attitude as Mary – you’ll continue to enjoy his favor on Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, and every other day.

Happy Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Day.

Image: “Maryiam” by Holly Schapker

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For more info, visit JesusScripts.com

Are you Complementarian, Egalitarian, or Something Else?

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Hi friends,

This week marks the first anniversary of the release of my book The Silent Queen: Why the Church Needs Women to Find their Voice. I just checked and I am surprised to find it is my highest-rated book on Amazon. Thank you!

To mark the anniversary, below is an extract from the book. Here I identify three views on women that you encounter in the church. Which one is yours? Tell me in the comments below.

One last thing: At the bottom of this article, you will find a world exclusive – the cover of my latest Jesus Script – plus a special Christmas offer.

Happy Christmas!

Paul

Are you complementarian, egalitarian, or something else?

Every one of us holds a view about the role of women. What can they do; what can’t they do? Your answers to these questions defines your bias.

“Wait, I’m not biased!”

Relax. We are all biased, and the sooner we acknowledge our biases, the sooner we can have a meaningful discussion.

“My views come straight out of scripture!”

That’s what everyone says.

We may think that our biases are informed by scripture, but often it is the other way around. We come to the Bible wearing certain lenses, and what we look through determines what we see.

What is your bias? Here are three lenses or perspectives the church has towards women:

  1. The traditional hierarchical view
  2. The complementarian view
  3. The egalitarian view

The traditional or hierarchical view says women are inferior to men. This was the line taken by theologians who said women were created in the image of men rather than God. Since she is inferior by design, they said, a woman’s role is to serve her husband, and she can never lead. “A woman, however learned and holy, may not take upon herself to teach in an assembly of men,” said the men of the Fourth Synod of Carthage.

Then there is the complementarian view that says women are equal in value but unequal in role. In the same way a child is equal but subordinate to a parent, a wife is subordinate to her husband or church leaders.

The complementarian view differs from the traditional perspective in that it affirms the equality of women, while reinforcing stereotypes about men being natural-born leaders. “Some governing and teaching roles within the church are restricted to men,” says one complementarian website. In the home as in the church, men lead and women follow.

Finally, there is the egalitarian view that says God made men and women equal in every way—they are equal in value and equal in role.

Since men and women were given joint responsibility to rule over creation, both can lead. This is not to deny the differences between the genders or to suggest those differences are unimportant. But to quote the Christians for Biblical Equality, the egalitarian view recognizes that “God calls women and men of all cultures, races, and classes to share authority equally in service and leadership in the home, church, and world.”

Name your bias

Are you a traditionalist, a complementarian, or an egalitarian?

What we label, we diminish, but if I had to choose between these perspectives, I would be unashamedly egalitarian. I’m a Kiwi married to a Dane; how could I not be?

But I am not a rabid egalitarian. On the one hand, I am convinced that equality protects us from the abuses of hierarchy and the misuse of authority. But on the other, I fear the dogged pursuit of equality can hinder authentic relationships.

Like a referee, equality is essential, but it’s not the game. It is not the ultimate goal. For the Christian, the higher goal is love.

Jesus never said his disciples would be known for their equality and sense of fair play. We are to be known for the way we serve, respect, and prefer one another. If we settle for equality, there’s a danger we will fall short of all that God has in store for us, particularly in our marriages.

Equality is not the end game in the war on gender discrimination; it’s the starting point for the new creation.

Equality is a good thing, but what we do with it is far more important. I look forward to the day when my daughters have the same opportunities as my son, but I’m much more interested in what they will do with those opportunities.

Imagine a church where women get the same respect and take on the same roles as men. Actually, you don’t need to imagine such a church at all. Just read the Book of Acts, and you will see that a church where all are valued can change the world.

It happened before, and it can happen again.

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For more info, visit JesusScripts.com


Making Church Skits Cool Again

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As a teenager, I was in the church drama team. It was cool.

On Fridays we’d rehearse, and on Sunday’s we’d perform. We were so good that we were invited to perform in other churches.

But were we that good?

In hindsight, I wonder if we were. I wonder if the invites came because the bar was low and because pastors were keen to have a drama team perform.

“Here’s 10 minutes of good Christian entertainment to keep the folks amused.”

I don’t mean to sound like a cynical ol’ coot, but let’s be honest. A lot of what passes for church drama is downright cringey.

If you’ve ever had to listen to shouty thespians hammering you over the head with some moralizing melodrama, you will know what I’m talking about.

I remember one play we did. It was about a man who had died and found himself waiting outside the Pearly Gates. The man was quizzed by St. Peter to see if he was good enough for heaven. Was he a regular church attender? Did he read his Bible daily? That sort of thing. Sadly, the man didn’t pass the test and St. Peter sent him off to eternal damnation.

What fun!

Can’t wait for the sequel.

I’ve seen a lot of church skits and many of them either make no point at all, or they use fear to promote dead works.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

I am convinced church skits could be great if we packed them full of good news instead of bad news. With that in mind, here are three ideas to make church skits cool:

  1. Ditch the moralizing, and put Jesus front and center.
  2. Instead of telling people how bad they are, tell them how good God is.
  3. Instead of telling people what they need to do, tell them what Jesus has done and what they can do because of what he has done.

These are some of the things I have tried to do with the Jesus Scripts.

The Jesus Scripts are 100 percent grace-based, and you don’t have to go to church to see them. Like the name says, the Jesus Scripts are all about Jesus.

Who are they for? The Jesus Scripts are NOT just for church drama teams. They are for;

  • parents wanting to connect with their teens and tweens
  • youth leaders looking to engage with a device-obsessed generation
  • pastors searching for innovative ways to convey the gospel
  • drama folk who are tired of hammy scripts that leave the heart untouched

This week is Giving Tuesday, and in honor of the occasion, I want to give you a FREE SCRIPT. It is called “The Good Father,” and it’s the perfect script for discovering the Father’s heart. (See a preview here.)

Grab your free script now and have some fun with your family or small group. Not into dramatic storytelling? Grab a copy for your pastor, Sunday School teacher, or youth leader. Tell your friends.

This giveaway ends late Tuesday (PST), so don’t miss out.

Filed Under: Art

Does Sin Hinder our Prayers?

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Ever heard this one: “God is holy. If you have unconfessed sin in your life, he will not hear your prayers.”

It’s. Not. True.

If sin made God deaf, no sinner could be saved. They would pray the sinner’s prayer, but God wouldn’t hear them.

Pray all you like, but I’m not listening. Lalalala. I’ve got fingers in my ears.

Imagine if you had to confess all your sins before God would listen. Most people would die of old age before they were done! And there would be no guarantee you got them all.

Sorry, kiddo. You forgot a sin from the summer of ’82. You’re toast.

“Confess your sins so that God will hear you.” What a stupid theology. Forgive me for getting agitated, but this sort of nonsense leaves people crippled with guilt and condemnation. It causes them to hide from their Father in fear.

Imagine if Jesus had not listened to sinners.

“Sorry, woman-with-a-hemorrhage, I can’t heal you because there’s unconfessed sin in your life.”

“Sorry, woman-caught-in-the-wrong-bed, I can’t stop these men from stoning you.”

“Peter, James, John, I can’t hear a word you’re saying. What’s that, Judas? I see your lips moving but I can’t hear you.”

Jesus is the exact representation of God the Father. If the Son listened to sinners, it’s because the Father listens to sinners. He hears our prayers. Every single one.

God hears us because he loves us

But didn’t David say, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Ps. 66:18)? Keep reading:

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications! Answer me in your faithfulness, in your righteousness! And do not enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no one living is righteous. (Ps. 143:1-2)

David, knowing that he was not righteous, asked God to hear him on account of his righteousness, and God did. Your heavenly Father hears your prayers not because you are good but because he is good and he loves you.

But what about that verse that says, “God does not hear sinners” (John 9:31)? The Jews believed that, but Jesus didn’t. He said things like “When you pray” as if we are to pray all the time, and he told stories to encourage us to pray (Matt. 6:7, Luke 18:1, 10-14).

The Bible never discourages prayer. Instead it says things like “devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2), and “pray continually” (1 Th. 5:17). Only one person is looking for excuses to get you not to pray, and it’s not the Lord.

Okay, what about John. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Keep reading:

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for his name’s sake. (1 John 2:12)

In the new covenant you are not forgiven because you confess; you are forgiven on account of Jesus’ name.

This idea that we have to confess or cleanse ourselves before God will hear us, forgive us, or receive us comes straight out of the old covenant. See the cross. Your sins are there, every last one of them, including all the sins you confessed and all the sins you didn’t.

What really hinders prayer

Jesus said, “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matt. 21:22).

The number one hindrance to prayer is not sin but unbelief, and notice that unbelief is not a hindrance to God hearing us but us receiving from him.

We need to pray with faith. We need to pray believing that God hears our prayers no matter who we are or what we’ve done because of who Jesus is and what he has done.

When John says confess he means “agree with God.” Agree that Jesus has dealt with all your sins once and for all. Agree that God is good and he longs to be good to you. Agree that your Father loves you and cares for you and he hears your prayers.

You may say, “But I don’t know how to pray. I’m afraid I will pray wrong.” Here’s Brennan Manning writing in The Ragamuffin Gospel:

There is no such thing as bad prayer…. A little child cannot do a bad coloring; nor can a child of God do bad prayer.

Your heavenly Father loves it when you talk to him. Whatever is on your mind, you can tell him all about it.

Talk to him about your hurts and worries, your hopes and dreams.

Tell him about your secret fears and struggles.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from him. (1 John 5:14-15)

The key word in that passage is confidence. You can be confident of your Father’s goodness, and you can be confident when you pray.

Whatever your need today, ask your heavenly Father for help. Ask with the confidence that he hears your prayers and rides across the heavens to help you (Deu. 33:26).

—

Escape to Reality is entirely free thanks to the support of our readers. Patrons gets bonus articles like these:

Beware the muckraker

Who promped David to count the Israelites?

We’re not playing tiddlywinks

You have a sword

What is the hour of testing coming on the whole world?

Sowing in a time of famine

Should we thank God for our suffering?

Who overcomes and gets to eat from the Tree of Life?

Why Aren’t All Healed? (And Other Questions I’ve Been Asked)

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I love a good question.

I love questions so much, I wrote a book full of them. What’s so great about questions? As I say in that book,

Questions are stepping stones to revelation and doorways to discovery. A good question can take you places. It can free you from unhealthy mindsets and set you on the path to wholeness and abundant living. A good question can change your life.

Sometimes my kids will ask a question that makes me marvel. I think, how did they come up with that?

I get asked more questions than I can answer. Which is fine. The act of asking is itself a healthy exercise, and I feel no pressure to position myself as the Answer Guy. I’m not the Holy Spirit.

Besides, a true teacher doesn’t dish out model answers like a penguin regurgitating food. A true teacher teaches others how to learn for themselves. They point people to Jesus in whom are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3).

Sometimes when someone asks me a question, I will say in all sincerity, “That’s a great question. I have no idea. Please tell me what the Holy Spirit shares with you.”

That may look like I’m giving the brush off, but I am encouraging the seeker to bring their question to the greatest Teacher of all.

Want to know which question I get asked the most? “Paul, have you written anything on this tough scripture?” My response used to be, “Check the Archives > Scripture Index.” But now I would say, “Check the Grace Commentary.”

The next-most asked question is, “Have you written anything on this subject?” Check out the Subject Index.

People often ask me for tips writing or publishing. Since I get asked that question a lot, I have compiled some practical and easy-to-follow guidelines.

Sometimes I get asked ambush questions. An ambush question is like a box of chocolates with a rat trap inside. Ambush questions make me feel special because Jesus got them too.

Occasionally I get asked questions that are interesting or inspire me to pray for wisdom. Below are four questions I’ve been asked in the past few weeks. If these are questions you’ve been asking, I hope my responses encourage you and strengthen your faith.

How to wait for revelation?

“It takes a revelation from God to open the eyes of our heart to truth. What can one do while ‘waiting’ for this awakening?” ~Randall

I wouldn’t wait in a passive sense. I would find something God has said on the subject, ruminate on it, and declare his word over myself. Do it as an act of faith. Every time doubt creeps in, kick it out and call to mind what God said.

God’s word is creative. It changes us. Soon you will find your reality realigning to his word.

Being drunk in the spirit

“_____ people are known for being drunk in the spirit. Just curious what your thoughts on this state are? Is it a kundalini demon like many evangelical charismatic types say it is?” ~Jason

There are two ways to get this wrong: (1) attribute to the devil that which is of the Holy Spirit, and (2) attribute to the Holy Spirit that which is of the devil. Both errors are serious, but the first one is more serious than the other.

I would be hesitant to go around saying “that’s a demon.” Over the years I have encountered many people who have been drunk in the Spirit and the fruit has usually been joy, peace and sometimes healing. Draw your own conclusions.

Why aren’t all healed?

“Isn’t laying hands on the sick and confessing our healing and continually thanking God and all that still just the same old works – a mixed law and grace message? The ‘you are blessed but here is what you need to do to be blessed’ message that is preached in faith circles. I feel like we are just following a formula all over again when we are saying this is what we must do to receive healing.” ~JM

Sadly, it is possible to turn healing into a works-thing and nullify grace. The intellect craves a magic formula, but if there is one I haven’t found it. And blaming sick people for their lack of faith is unkind and unhelpful.

Why do people remain sick if we pray for them? I don’t know. I don’t know why some of the people I pray for are healed while others aren’t.

I don’t know why Jesus healed 100% of those who came to him, but I hit less than 100%. But I do know that more people are healed when I pray than when I stay silent. Love compels me to pray.

In my own life I have experienced instant healings, but not always. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure this out, but so far I don’t have any good answers. (I have some answers.) In the meantime, I’m going to run with the revelation I’ve got and keep praying for whoever asks for prayer.

How do we know which bits of the Bible to trust?

“If God does not give and take away like it says in Job 1, how can we know which bits of the Bible are true and which aren’t?” ~Matilda

That is a great question. There are many verses in the Bible that should not be read out of context. For instance, Solomon said, “Money is the answer to everything” (Ecc 10:19), but it isn’t.

David prayed that bad things would happen to his enemies, which is inconsistent with what Jesus said about loving our enemies.

And there are many strange sayings in the law. For example: “You may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you” (Lev. 25:44, NLT)

In some of these examples, we are hearing from men (like Job) who were in great pain. If you have been in pain, you may have said things you did not mean or which proved to be untrue (like Job). I am glad these statements are in the Bible because that’s how real people talk.

But how do we know which verses are good for us?

It’s all good provided we read everything through Son-glasses.

The whole Bible is useful for training in righteousness, even the bits that sound unrighteous, as long as we filter everything through Jesus the Righteous One.

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Bonus materials: More questions I’ve been asked (Patreon)

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