“The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God.” – Martyn Lloyd Jones
Monergism.com wriites:
The more clearly a person understands God, sin, Christ’s cross, and salvation, the more astonishing grace becomes. Spiritual maturity does not produce the thought, “God was wise to save me.” It produces: “Why would God show mercy to someone like me?”
Why amazement is such an important test:
– It reveals whether we understand the holiness of God. If God is infinitely holy, His willingness to receive guilty sinners is astonishing.
– It reveals whether we understand our sin. Grace seems ordinary only when sin seems small.
– It destroys spiritual entitlement. The self-righteous person thinks he deserves God’s favor; the Christian knows that salvation is entirely undeserved.
– It magnifies Christ’s cross. Grace is free to us, but it was purchased through the blood of the Son of God.
– It produces humility, gratitude, worship, and obedience rather than pride and self-congratulation.
Someone responded: No, the ultimate test is living a faithful life.
Monergism’s reply: A faithful life is not an alternative to amazement at grace, because there is no genuinely Christian obedience apart from grace, apart from union with Christ. Without it, outward obedience easily becomes self-righteousness or moralism. Amazement at grace is the root; faithful living is the fruit.
They replied: I understand the root and fruit, but far too many are nominal antinomians.
Monergism: I agree that nominal antinomianism is a serious problem. But legalism is not the cure (to obey without being amazed at grace); union with Christ answers both errors. We do not forsake sin to qualify ourselves to come to Christ; we come helplessly to Christ, who rescues us from both sin’s guilt and its power. We do not say, “Lord, I have conquered these sins; now accept me.” We say, “Lord, I cannot save or sanctify myself; save me wholly.” The grace that justifies also unites us to Christ and necessarily produces holiness.