日期 :   11/01/09

經文 :    以弗所書 2:8-10

題目 :    恩典何價

以弗所書二章八至十節

8 你們得救是靠著恩典，藉著信心。這不是出於自己，而是神所
賜的；

          9 這也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇。

10 我們原是神所作成的，是在基督耶穌裡創造的，為的是要我們行各樣的善事，就是　神預先所安排的。

   無論你在世界那一角落都會看見可口可樂的廣告。在十九世紀的末期，可口可樂是一種喝的藥水，後來被一位商人 Candler 所購買下來，因著他公司的推銷技巧，可口可樂就成為全球性的飲料。到那一個國家都有人喜歡喝這飲料，但是沒有一個人可以複製這個飲料，原因在那裡？有許多的傳說：就是可口可樂這個秘方是在亞特蘭市某一個地方在那保存著。從十九世紀一直傳到今天，只有幾個人可以知道它的內容，可以調整它的成份，這個公司用盡了各樣方式，來保護這個秘方。

這像十月份的經文：「我寫信勸勉你們， 要竭力維護從前一次就全交給了聖徒的信仰 。」神將一個完整的真理，一個完整的信仰內容交給了人，一代代相傳，每一代的人都有這個責任要好好保護這個真理，不能偏差、不可遠離這真理、不能更改、也不可將它的成份沖淡。這個真理、信仰的內容包括了神向我們啟示有關人的罪惡、有關祂的救恩、有關在祂回來之前我們如何的生活。今日我們一起來探討在這真理裡有關神的恩典。我們要看一個簡單又深奧的真理 : 是神白白所賜的恩典，將我們帶到祂的面前。但是當我們要活出這個信仰，這個恩典的時候，往往會要付出很高的代價。

I.    我們得救是靠著恩典 .

讓我們來複習這個很熟悉的真理：那就是我們是憑著神的恩典才能與神和好！以弗所書的第二章八至九節：「你們得救是靠著恩典，藉著信心。這不是出於自己，而是神所賜的；這也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇。」聖經說，我們與神和好，我的罪得到赦免，我們從罪的權勢之下被拯救出來，在神的忿怒之下被救出來，這就是我們得救的意義。我與神這一個新的關係，是與自己的功德與好行為完全沒有關係，因為我們沒有任何的功德，都是靠著神的恩典透過對祂的信心。在整本的聖經充滿了這樣的教導，除了直接的教導，也有許的記載和故事，來示範這個真理。

我們來看一個舊約的故事，當大衛成為以色列王之後，他就在那裡問：「掃羅之家還有沒有任何的人存活，有沒有任何人我可以向他施憐憫？向他施恩？」我們很多人都知道，多年以前與約拿單﹙掃羅的兒子﹚曾經立了約，大衛給了他一個承諾。約拿單說：「當你有一天做王了之後，你要答應我，不將掃羅全家滅盡。」所以大衛就答應了他。現在大衛做了王，掃羅家許多人都已經死了，所以大衛就問：「掃羅之家還有沒有任何的人存留下來？」所以他們就到處的去尋找，結果找到了約拿單的一個兒子米非波設，並把他帶到大衛的面前。在這一段故事裡，有二次提到米非波設是瘸腿的，在那些日子，一個瘸腿的人是沒有人會邀請他去赴宴席的，更不會把他帶到皇帝的面前。在米非波設被帶到大衛王之前面，米非波設又這樣的稱呼、形容自己：「我在你的面前，就像死狗一條。」他表示他在王面前沒有任何的價值，不配站在王的面前，但是大衛卻繼續堅持要向他施恩典，並且邀請米非波設來跟他一起吃飯，經常來到大衛的家，與大衛的孩子一起吃飯，大衛把他當作自己的兒子看待。對米非波設來說，這就是恩典，與他的好行為、功德完全沒有關係。

這就是保羅在以弗所書所說的，我們是靠著神的恩典，被帶到神的面前。或者我們換個角度來看同樣的事 : 大概在兩個多月前，我們當中有許多的父母，把孩子送他們到大學去，如果第一次到外城市的學校，我想問一下，您到那裡之後，第一件事做什麼？你會找一間銀行替孩子開一個戶口，你開戶口的時候，還要放些錢進去，然後您教孩子每個月怎樣將錢取出來用。我想做父母的一定會這樣吩咐，不是拿錢去吃匹薩或做其他什麼事，這一個戶口對您的孩子來說，完全是恩典，他一分代價都不要出的，到時後，他就可以去拿錢，白白的，是恩典。我們也是如此，都是神的恩典將我們帶到神的面前，與神和好。與神和好了，我們得救了，那又怎麼樣？

II. 靠恩得救導致善工。

接著我們來看，這靠著恩典得救，會導致我們的善行。往往我們在讀以弗所書這段經文的時候，我們就會停在第九節，包括我自己在內。多年來教人背誦以弗所書二章八至九節，到第九節就停了。但是第十節也是八、九節的一部份，在這裡說：我們原是神所做成的，這是在基督耶穌裡創造的，為的是要我們行各樣的善事。我們為麼被救出來呢？是為了作善工。這是在耶穌的教導裡，重複的出現的主旨，接著使徒們也擴大的教導，譬如在提多書第三章第一節在那裡說，你要提醒他們服從執政的和掌權的，聽從他們，隨時準備作各種善工。第八節說，這話是可信的，我願你確實地強調這些事，使信神的人常常留心作善工。第十四節，我們自己的人也應當學習作善工，」善工在這裡重複的出現，被神拯救了，不是單單享受那平安和弟兄姊妹的來往，更重要的我們被拯救，為的是我們要能做善工。在聖經裡，聖工的意思是餵飽飢餓的人，照顧有病痛的人，關心在養老院、住在監獄裡那些被忘記的人。在糖城監獄裡每個禮拜二、和四晚上，有四十多位基督徒進到監獄裡去探訪囚犯，一個禮拜有二天，至少有八十多位的信徒在關懷他們。在紐約的曼漢頓有一建築物叫「 Rivington House 」，這是美國收留愛滋病的最大的一個收留所。每個禮拜一的晚上，有一個群體叫做「恩賜的手」是一批的義工，去那收留所，透過手工藝與這些病患者談話，鼓勵他們發揮他們生命裡的創造力。上禮拜我在紐約時，我遇到一位年輕的律師，他是在一個非營利的公司裡工作，他們的那個組織是一個幫助全球性愛滋病、貧窮的人。我想在我們的當中也有義工，到曉士頓市一些的診所在那裡幫助貧窮的人。也有的一些人在臨終的醫院照顧患者。在阿特蘭大有一年輕的父親，有一位七歲的孩子患了精神障礙者，他每一年都組織一個步行，來提醒阿特蘭大的居民，這些有精神障礙的孩子們，他們可以把莫大的喜樂帶給家人，也同時鼓勵有精神障礙的孩子的父母們。我們也想到在曉士頓及其他地方、無論在北美、亞洲也有義工在那裡幫助危機懷孕中心服事、亞裔反暴力組織裡做義工，為了幫助那些沒有聲音的人、那些弱小的人，這些都是一些善工的榜樣。

神拯救了我們，我們得救了，不是單單為了要有一個很順利、愉快的生命，不是您信了耶穌就什麼都好了，聖經很清楚的告訴我們，當我們蒙恩得救後，這個恩典也在推動我們去做善工。

III.    靠恩得救導致高昂代價

另外一方面，當我們蒙恩得救後，往往也會導致我們要付出代價的。這是我們經常遺忘的。在彼得前書第一章第六節：「因此，你們要喜樂。然而，你們現今在各種試煉中或許暫時會難過，是要叫你們的信心經過試驗，就比那被火煉過，仍會朽壞的金子更寶貴，可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候，得著稱讚、榮耀和尊貴。」在雅各書大家所熟悉的經文，「我的弟兄們！你們遭遇各種試煉的時候，都要看為喜樂。」這二段經文都在告訴我們什麼？當我們跟隨耶穌的時候，會有試煉的、痛苦，而且這一些的試煉、痛苦，也會帶給我們但莫大的憂傷。有時候有人在試煉當中，基督徒來跟他說，您信了耶穌就什麼都好了！這些痛苦都沒了，耶穌會把這些苦難都拿掉了。當您在這樣的情況之下信了耶穌，之後，您會何等的失望。因為，試煉是我們生命的一部份，往往也透過試煉，在考驗我們信心的真實性。我們被神的恩典所拯救，不是說就再沒有試煉了。不錯，來到耶穌的面前，完全是恩典。耶穌為我們死，我們只要來到祂面前就可以，但是，來到祂面前時，我們不會被免除生命裡的試煉與困難。

當我們跟隨耶穌的時候，我們會遇到那一些的試煉？那一些的苦難？如果您在工作的地方、學校，您跟別人談起您是基督徒，人家都能接受，很好，您信耶穌。如果您再下去說，我相信耶穌是去天父那裡的唯一條路﹙耶穌是唯一能帶我們去天父那裡去﹚，人就會很好奇的眼光來看您，好像在那裡說，這年代您還相信這些嗎？這些是軟性，輕微的仇視。

在最近這幾年，羅馬天主教會開始了一個過程，要封特利莎修女為聖徒。但是在封她之前，要做一些的調查，在調查的過程，發現特利莎修女在很早前，在她的日記簿裡記載了她的情緒的沮喪，當這個消息被新聞傳播出來後，很多人就懷疑特利莎姊妹的信心，開始批評她是否在過雙重標準的生活。像她這樣的一個人，怎麼能對神有懷疑？怎麼能夠經歷這個沮喪？但是您想一下，這並不是不可能的事！當她每日都要面對這些貧窮中最貧窮的人，又在印度那階層社會最低的那些人時，每一天都有人因著營養不良、病痛在她眼前死亡。她又因著世界各地被墮胎的孩子難過，如果不沮喪的話，那才是怪事、才奇怪了！但在那些的沮喪的當中，她絕沒有放棄，她堅持的在那裡服事印度貧窮的人。

我曾經與大家分享過，當我們調查一些牧師們，有關他們講道的準備，有這樣結論：很多傳道人，也包括另一個時代，大家所熟悉的一些牧者，好像英國的司布真，他們都承認，準備講道的過程，是件十分消耗精力的一件事，有時令人疲倦、痛苦，也有一些經歷到在講道的前後沮喪及極端的頭痛。但是，他們仍然不停的在傳講神的話語。因為我們知道這些的試煉、痛苦，都是我們跟隨耶穌基督所付出的一個代價。

今日我們在曉士頓這個地方，我們牧師們、信徒們，可以很安心的來這個教會、另外的教會聚會。牧師們也可以安心、專心的講道。但是在有些地方的家庭教會，每一次當信徒來聚會的時候，或我在他們當中講道時，都是有一點的焦慮，今天公安局的人會不會來？會不會像去年一樣，進來了就將會場封鎖了。很多教會的領袖，用手機打電話的時候，也非常的小心，很可能有人在監聽。今年五月，有一位牧師，他坐火車到另一個城市，他下了火車第一件事就是被警察逮捕，帶到警察局。當天晚上不讓他睡覺，重複的問：「你來這裡做什麼？在這裡的聯絡人是誰？」廿四小時之後就被釋放，當我遇見他的時候，他有沒有埋怨？從來都沒有埋怨。他反而帶著非常高興的心情，其他信徒和神學生也高興，高興什麼？神給他們有機會向警察來解釋他們所相信的那一位神！在一個鄉村，他們蓋了一個很大的帳幕，晚上有聚會。聚會時公安局的人來了，問他們：「你們在幹什麼？」然後有一位傳道人出來，就跟他們解釋，將福音解釋給他聽，大概廿分鐘後，公安局的人就在那裡點頭：「很好！很好！」然後就走了。他們以這個做傳福音的機會，對他們來說，為信仰受苦是理所當然的。甚至在今天有許多的討論，如果有一天在他們的社會裡沒有逼迫的話，那教會能不能夠做適當的調整？不錯！我們的救恩是白白的，但是，當我們要活出這個信仰的時候，有時候要付出相當高的代價！

IV.    靠恩得救導致饒恕與和好

最後，我們來看一下蒙恩得救導致饒恕和和好。我們還記得上個主日潘牧師講解約瑟的故事，因著哥哥們的忌妒，約瑟被賣到埃及，然後在這個故事的結束，約瑟遇見了他十一個兄弟，他饒恕他們，然後兄弟之間再一次的合睦。一個很好的故事，是好的結束。但是，您知道知道？在同一個時代、在四千多里外的中國 ---- 商朝，有另外一個價值觀的出現 : 當有人得罪皇帝的時候，有兩族的人被滅亡。然後隨著歷史的發展，從二族變成多少？誅滅九族。然後在明朝的時候，朱棣王﹙在中國歷史唯一一次﹚滅了一個書生的十族，包括了他的學生。沒有所謂的饒恕。得罪皇帝嗎？不但是您死，家人也死。

在幾個禮拜前的一份週刊，有篇文章講到在十九世紀英國在菲洲某一個地方，與伊斯蘭教極端份子的戰爭。極端份子的領袖對英國人說：「我們喜愛戰爭，你們喜愛和平，所以我們一定贏。」您喜愛戰爭嗎？沒有饒恕？您喜愛和平嗎？您就要講饒恕、您就要講和好，所以，你會輸。有時候歷史就在重演，是不是？在許多的宗教和文化裡，沒饒恕跟和好的空間。我們中國人讀金庸小說就知道，每一部小說都是在講報仇。同時，年輕的一代，恩恩相報何時了，不錯！文化裡是這麼講「有仇必報」，但內心知道這不是最好的，但是，只有在基督教的信仰裡，我們被吩咐要愛我們的仇敵、我們要為逼迫我們的人禱告，要為仇敵，為逼迫您的人禱告。不錯，我們從神那裡白白的得到恩典，現在我們要饒恕他們、並與他們和好。

南非洲在一九四八至一九九零年時代，在白種人執政的時候，有許多的黑人被虐待、被關到監獄裡。當白人政府下台後，督督主教，沒有強調要報仇，他組織了「真理和平」的運動，要饒恕、要和好。一九九四年魯汪達，在一百天之內，一百萬的人被殺，這是歷史上一次最大滅種族的大屠殺。在二零零零年，在 Kagame 總統帶領之下，他將各部落帶來，要饒恕、和好。這個舉動、運動，在非洲被稱為最成功的一個故事，成為其他國家種族和好的榜樣。

我們也記得幾年前在東岸的一個學院裡，一位韓國學生被槍殺，沒有多久之後，他的母親從韓國來美，到監獄裡去探望這位兇手，在那裡饒恕他。只有基督教的信仰，要我們去愛我們的仇敵、饒恕我們的仇敵、為他們禱告。這一個信仰，要求我們去愛那些深深傷害了我們的人、為他們禱告。

剛才我們領了聖餐，每一次我們領聖餐的時候，都被提醒我們的救恩是白白領受的，與神和好，是和我們的功德毫無關係，因為在這位聖潔的神面前，我們毫無功德。但是，聖餐之後，又怎麼樣？每個月您都領聖餐，那時您心中或有感動，但是領了聖餐之後呢？當您知道這是恩典，然後呢？

結論 :

在一九三零年，德國有一位牧師，神學家，他的中文名字：「潘霍華」。因為他對希特勒的抵抗，就被免了他在柏林大學的職位，也不允許他在公眾場所演講。在一九三九年的三月，他收到政府的通知，要他從軍，在當時來說，當然在任何一個國家都是一樣的，從軍的話你就要對這個政府效忠，他的許多朋友為了他的安全擔心，所以就在六月以前將他帶到了美國，雖然他在紐約的協合神學學院生活是相當的舒服，但是，內心有一個非常嚴厲的掙扎。有一天晚上，他在紐約的一個教會聽到一篇信息，然後他體會到，他不能避免的一件事，他的呼召就是催使他要與他在德國同胞一起分擔他們的重擔。這個重擔就是在納粹斜邪惡政權下生活。他體會到沒有辦法逃避這一個現實，所以那天晚上決定回德國，回到德國後，很快就加入了地下的抵抗希特勒的運動，一九四四年的七月被逮捕，在柏林被解放的三個禮拜他被處死。在他寫的一本書：「作門徒的代價」，他提及作門徒的恩典是免費的，神將恩典白白的給了人。是從潘霍華的筆下出了這一個名詞「廉價的恩典」。對潘霍華來說神的恩典總是免費的，總是白白的，但是絕不是廉價的恩典。

當我們嘗試將這恩典活在我們的生活裡的時候，會讓導致我們做善事、饒恕、與別人合好。也有時候，遭別人嘲笑、誤會、錯待。有時這個代價是相當高。對潘霍華來說，跟隨基督最終他要付出他的生命來，恩典是白白的，但是，恩典不是廉價的。這就是那從前一直交給聖徒的真道，讓我們不要偏離、也不要歪曲這個真道。好像猶大所說的，我們切立的保護從前一直教給聖徒的真道。

Date:   11/01/09

Text:   Ephesians 2:8-10

Title:   Free But Costly

Theme: God's grace is free yet there is high cost when His followers live out their faith.

Introduction:

  Wherever you go in the world, you spot Coca Cola signs. During the late 19 th century it was patented as a medicine, and was later brought out by businessman Asa Griggs Candler . The company's marketing tactic converted it into an international drink. It is welcome by many yet no one could reproduce it. Why? It is said that the company keeps its recipe as top secret and is securely put away somewhere in Atlanta . It is a recipe passed down from the 19 th century to the present. No one, except for a few, have access to it to modify its ingredients or change its taste.

  This is like our scripture verse for October, Jude 3b, “ I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. ” This is about a body of truth that God has revealed and given to his people. It has been passed down to us. Jude urged us to take good care of this body of truth, not to be distracted from it, alter or dilute it. This body of truth includes God's revelation about human sinfulness, about salvation, and how we are to live on earth while waiting for his return. We had learned how sin has affected every aspect of our being. This morning we'll explore God's grace, to study the profound truth that God's free grace has brought us to him, yet there is a high cost when we live out this faith.

I •  We are reconciled to God by His grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is a very familiar passage to most of us, “ 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast .” It tells us about how we are at peace with God, our sins forgiven and being saved from the power and dominion from Sin. The new relationship with God has nothing to do with our merits or good conduct, for we have none. It is all because of God's grace and through our faith in him. The entire Bible is full of this teaching and illustrations. I want to take you to an OT narrative. After David became king of Israel , he asked if there was anyone in Saul's household that he could show mercy and kindness. You see, David had a covenant with Saul's son, Jonathan, that when David became king, he would not kill off all of Saul's descendents. David's servant eventually found Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth , and was brought to David. Twice in the narrative, Mephibosheth was referred to as a cripple. In those days, cripples did not get invited to feasts, let alone show up in the king's presence. Mephibosheth also referred to himself as a dead dog, to underscore his unworthiness before the king. But David insisted on showing mercy and kindness, graciousness. Moreover, asked Mephibosheth to eat with him and his other sons. David treated him as a member of the family. To Mephibosheth , this was grace, it had nothing to do with his merit or good conduct.

This is what Paul wrote in the Ephesians. We are brought into God's presence because of His grace. Or look at it from another perspective. About 2 months ago, Some parents took their children to colleges out of Houston . Most likely the first thing we did was to open a bank account for them. To start with, we may have put in a minimum amount. What did our kids have to do? Most likely, nothing. All they had to do was to start drawing money for their school expense. This account is grace to our children.

We are saved by grace, then what?

II •  Salvation by grace leads to good works.

Very often when we memorize the Ephesians passage, we stop at vs.9. But take note of vs. 10, “ 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ” What are we saved for? For good works. This is a repeated theme in Jesus' teachings and further expanded by the apostles. For example, in the book of Titus 3:1,8,14, “ 1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, ….. so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works… ….. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, …” We are saved, not that we will enjoy peace and fellowship with others. But even more so, we are to do good works. Good works means to feed the hungry, care for the sick and the forgotten ones in nursing homes and prisons.

As we go to various prisons in this and many other countries, we'll notice how the local Christians visit and care for the prisoners. Rivington House, located in Manhattan 's Lower East Side is America 's largest HIV/AIDS residential healthcare facility. Every Monday evening, Gifted Hands volunteers would go there, using crafts to encourage creativity and conversation with the residents there. Last week I met a young lawyer working for a non-profit organization to help solve the global AIDS/Poverty issues. There are those among us volunteering in some Houston city clinics to provide medical care for the poor. Others volunteer their time and energy in hospices, providing comfort and encouragement to the terminally ill. In Chuck Colson's DVD on Faith, Garry Poole the narrator, has a 7 year old child with Down's syndrome. He would organize an annual walk in Atlanta to remind people of the joy these children can bring to families. It is also meant to encourage and support families with Down's syndrome children. There are those who work and volunteer at Crisis Pregnancy Centers or Asian Against Domestic Abuse, helping the voiceless and the weak. These are some examples of good work.

We are saved not just so we can have a smooth and happy life. The scripture clearly teach us that as we are saved by grace, it is also this grace that will drive us to do good works.

III •  Salvation by grace is costly.

There is another aspect of grace that we often overlook. In 1Pet 1:6-7, “ 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ” James 1:2, “ 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, …..” What do these two passages tell us? When we follow Christ, there will be trials and sufferings. And often such trials will bring us grief. It is part of life, but in trials, the genuineness of our faith will be manifested. Surprise, isn't it? Having been saved by grace does not mean no more trials or suffering. Yes, it costs us nothing to come to Christ, it is grace. However, having come to him, we are not exempted from the trials in life. What are some trials and hardship we may face as a result of being saved?

When we mention our faith at work, when we tell others that Jesus is the only way to the heavenly father, people at work and school will give us that funny look. As if they are saying, “you still believe in this stuff?”. It is called soft hostility. In recent years, the Catholic church started the process of making Mother Teresa a saint. During the investigation, it was noted that in her diary, were records of her bouts with depression. The critics expressed their skepticism of her faith. How could someone like her have doubts about God and feeling depressed? However, come to think of it, it is quite understandable, right? When Mother Teresa, on a daily basis, faced the poorest of the poor, the lowest of the caste system, many of them dying from malnutrition and illness before her eyes, plus her grief for the babies aborted worldwide, it would have been impossible not to feel depressed. Yet, in the midst of depression, mother Teresa kept on serving the poor. When we survey different pastors about their weekly sermon preparations, this is what we generally find. Most would acknowledge the preparation process as energy draining, exhausting and often painful. Many experienced depression either prior to or after their preaching. Yet, they kept on preaching. For we understand, trials, and difficulties are part of the price one must pay to follow Christ.

Here in Houston , we pastors and Christians can preach and worship without any fear or anxiety. But in many house churches in china, whenever the believers come to worship, when I was preaching among them, there was anxiety, wondering if the Government Security officers would come and interrupt their gatherings. Many church leaders would be careful with what they said on their cell phones, for it could easily be monitored. This year in May, the moment one pastor got off the train in one city, he was brought to the police station. They would not let him sleep but kept asking him questions. He was eventually released 24 hours later. Did he or other believers complain? No, they were grateful for the opportunity that they could explain their faith to the officials. To many believers, suffering and trials for their faith is a given. Some of them are even discussing whether their churches or congregation can adapt to a society without persecution. Yes, our salvation is free. However, when we live out this faith, it can be costly.

IV •  Salvation by grace leads to forgiveness and reconciliation.

Many of us are familiar with the story of Joseph in Genesis. Out of jealousy, his brothers sold him to Egypt . The story ends with Joseph meeting his 11 brothers, offering his forgiveness, and the siblings being reconciled. At the same time; about 4433 miles away in China , a different value system began to emerge. When someone offended the king, his two generations would be executed. Later, it developed into 9 generations. And then there was one time in China's history, during the Ming dynasty, King Zhudi ordered 10 generations of a scholar to be executed, including his students. In an article about Britain 's war with the Islamic extremists in Africa in the 19 th century, a leader said to the British, “We love wars and you love peace, therefore we will win.” In many cultures and religions, there was simply no room for forgiveness and reconciliation.

However, it is the Christian faith that we are told to love our enemies and pray for those who persecuted you. Yes, we have freely received God's grace, and now we are told to love and be reconciled with our enemies. In S. Africa , during the apartheid rule from 1948 to the 1990's, many injustices were done to the non-white majority in that land. They were often tortured and imprisoned. After the collapse of the Apartheid government, instead of revenge, Bishop Tutu organized the “Truth and Peace” movement to bring forgiveness and reconciliation to that land.

In Rwanda 1994, within 100 days, 1 million people were killed in genocide. In 2000, Paul Kagame became the president. Under his leadership, he brought about forgiveness and reconciliation between the various tribes. This was known as the Greatest Success Story in Africa , and a model for racial reconciliation. We also remember an incident that happened several years ago on a college campus in the East coast. A Korean student was killed on a campus. Sometime later, the mother of the victim went to the prison to visit the killer and offered him her forgiveness. Christian faith alone calls for forgiving our enemies and praying for them. Our faith calls us to forgive those who have offended us and to be reconciled to them.

Conclusion:

  Whenever we take part in the communion, we are reminded that it is by grace that we are saved, we are being reconciled to God. It has nothing to do with our merits, for we have none before this holy God. But what comes next after the communion, after the acknowledgement of grace?

In the 1930's Dietrich Bonheoffer was a young pastor and theologian in Germany . Because of his resistance to Hitler, he was dismissed from teaching at the U of Berlin, and banned from speaking in public. In March of 1939, he received notice of being called to serve in the armed forces. Many of his friends were concerned for his safety, so they helped him to come to the States in June, 1939. Even though his life in NY's Union Theological Seminary was very comfortable, yet a war raged within him. One night after listening to a sermon in NY, he realized that he could not escape the conclusion that his vocation compelled him to share in his countrymen's fate as they suffered the Nazi's evil. That evening, he decided to return to Germany, and may be the cross. Back in Germany, he joined the resistance movement but was arrested in July of 1944. He was put in prison and executed three weeks before Berlin's liberation. In his book, “The cost of discipleship”, he wrote about the free grace from God. Bonheoffer was the person who coined the phrase, ‘cheap grace'. To him, God's grace is always free, but never cheap. When we attempt to live out this grace, it will lead to good work, forgiveness and reconciliation with those who have deeply hurt us. At times, it could also be costly, being ridiculed, misunderstood and mistreated. For Bonheoffer, to follow Christ, eventually cost him his life.

This is the faith that was given once, for all. May we not be distracted from it nor distort the truth therein.