Thirty Shades of Grace

By Alfred Chapman

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. This book of short sermons is grounded in that belief. It is also grounded in the advice my father gave me, Son, dont make them happy twice. Happy when you get up and happy when you sit down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781973607694

Alfred Chapman

Alfred Chapman has a unique and simplified writing style which makes for easy reading and understanding of scripture. He has been called the Love Preacher by some and love permeates his writing. He was raised up in the Church of God in Christ and attended Charles H. Mason Seminary. Later on he attended Johnson C. Smith and Columbia Seminary where he studied Presbyterian Polity and Greek. His Fundamentalist and Reformed training have had a strong influence in his writing.

Book preview

1

WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. Good teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’

Teacher, he declared, all these I have kept since I was a boy.

Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, he said. Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, Who then can be saved?

Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.

—Mark 10:17–27

In this text, Jesus has scolded the Pharisees for their callous and insensitive treatment of women. He then scolds his disciples for their callous treatment of children. And then, one who seemingly has it all together approaches Jesus and asks, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? When I say he seemingly has it all together, first, I mean he’s a man in a male-dominated society. Second, he’s young. Third, he’s rich. Fourth, he’s powerful. And he’s been in church since he was a child.

He’s the perfect man by Jewish standards, and if he were living today, he would be the perfect man by many of our standards. If this man lived today, many of us would love him because of his youthful appearance, and some because of his financial well-being. Others would love him because of his prominence in the community. And some would love him because of his church affiliation and yes, because Jesus, the good Teacher, loved him. Not like us, not because of but in spite of. Beholding him, Jesus loved him.

But there is one thing he lacks; Jesus shows us what that is by telling him to sell all he has and give it to the poor; Jesus tells him to take up the cross and follow him. The man lacks compassion; he lacks the ability to share God’s goodness and some of life’s pains with those less fortunate.

Jesus tells his disciples, How hardy shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The text says the disciples were astonished out of measure. Here is an individual who has it all together physically, socially, and religiously. It appears to the disciples that Jesus has all but closed the door on this rich, young, and powerful church boy. The disciples—like the Pharisees and like so many of us—believe we are saved because of. Many of us believe we are saved because of right knowledge or orthodoxy. We believe salvation consists of having the right answer or knowing the right formulas. We’re Christianized Jews, and we’ve exchanged one set of rules and regulations for another; we too exclude some from and include others in salvation. We’re not much different from the Pharisees and the disciples in that respect; we believe salvation is in denominations or rites, and we close the door on all who don’t fit our bill.

Our chances of agreeing on just the issue of water baptism are troubling. First of all, is water baptism necessary? Is it for children? Is it by sprinkling or immersion? Is it in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, or is it in the name of Jesus? I thank God salvation is not because of right answers; it’s impossible for humans to have all the right answers.

Some believe as this rich, young, and powerful church boy did that we are saved because of right actions, orthopraxis. Actions become more important than people. Jesus sees through the man’s self-righteousness immediately and tells him and many of us, There is none good but one, that is God.

Right actions will fail. Right knowledge will fail. So who can be saved? With God, all things are possible. With love, all things are possible because love never fails. In our text, Jesus loved him not because of but in spite of his unwillingness to share with others. Who then can be saved? With people, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. It was possible for a wife stealer and murderer named David. It was possible for a harlot named Rehab. It was possible for a mass murderer named Paul. It was possible for one of unclean lips named Isaiah. It was possible for a thief hanging on a cross, and it is possible for you and me.

In spite of all the wrong we’ve done, in spite of the sin that so easily besets us, and in spite of the sins we will commit, God loves us. Yesterday, today, and forever. We have been saved by grace through faith, and it is a gift of God—not of our works lest any should boast. Not because of but in spite of. That is, not because of what we have done or who we are but because of who he is. God commended his love toward us while we were sinners. Christ died for us. Beholding us, God loved us. Amazing grace will always be my song of praise, for it was grace that brought my liberty. I do not know how he came to love me so. He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.

Because God has loved us in spite of, ought not we to love others in spite of? In spite of physical appearances, age, sex, or color? Yes. In spite of prominence or social status, we ought to love others—rich or poor, teacher, cook, or street hooker. In spite of religious affiliations, we ought to love others—Jew or Gentile. In spite of the wrongs others do, we ought to love them. Jesus said, But I say unto you which hear love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. Bless them that curse you and pray for them that despitefully use you. Brother John had this to say.

Beloved … let us love one another for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Here in is love not that we loved God but He loved us … Beloved if God so loved us we ought to love one another.

What I’ve been trying to say—and what Jesus is saying to his disciples—is that we need to be very careful about making assessments about where others are. Many we believe are first shall be last, and many we believe last will be first. We need to develop compassion; that’s what it means to be holy.

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of love. That’s what a holy walk is about—walking in love. That’s what God is about—God is love. Not actions, not knowledge, but seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness; all these things shall be added to us. When we love, we’ll act and think right. When we love, we’ll be right. Who then can be saved? With people, it’s impossible. Nothing we say, do, or think can save us—but with God, all things are possible for us all.

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all will see Jesus! We will sing and shout victory not because of but in spite of. To God be the glory for the things he has done. With his love, he has saved us. With his power, he has reached down and raised us. To God be the glory for the things he has done. Your grace and mercy brought us through. We’re living this moment because of you. We want to thank you and praise you too. Your grace and mercy brought us through, amen!

2

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

—John 1:1–14

Most of us here are familiar with the lines O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent Stars go by. Or maybe you know the lines The First Noel the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay. In fields where they lay keeping their sheep. On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Or maybe you know the lines Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. These are the opening lines to well-known Christmas hymns.

John 1:1–14 is a hymn of praise celebrating the birth of Christ. However, unlike many Christmas hymns, John is not concerned about the facts surrounding Jesus’s birth—if there were shepherds or wise men, if he was born in a manger, if it was winter or fall. John is concerned about the difference Christ’s birth makes in our lives. Most people aren’t concerned about the facts surrounding our births; what concerns them is what our lives have meant to them. So John says, In him was life and that life was the light of men. What a wonderful testimony. He made life brighter for all. In him was life that preached good news to the poor; in him was life that comforted those who mourned; in him was life that healed the brokenhearted; in him was life that set at liberty those who were oppressed. In him was life, and that life was the light of all humanity.

In Jesus was life that gave sight to the blind, made the lame walk, and made the dumb speak. In him was life that fed five thousand. In him was life that healed ten lepers. In him was life that clothed naked Legion. In him was life that raised Jairus’s