Grace And My Sermon

MON., OCT. 31, 1983, 5:36 AM
FARM, STUDY

Yes, I, as Jesus, did talk to the people on a number of occasions, and whether I said all that is in what is called the Sermon on the Mount (or on the Plain, in Luke) at one time is not important. What is important is that I asked the people to behave in ways that are impossible except for those of high spiritual development. It isn’t, as you said in the class yesterday and as Paul said, that no one can meet the standards, but that only a few can, and these, certainly, already have availed themselves of My Grace, even if they do not call it so by name.

I did not speak of the grace that was to come after My death and resurrection. That is the means by which anyone can measure up to the requirements of My Sermon. It isn’t that you meet each difficult standard, but that you apply this standard to your life and actions, and you accept that I accept you as perfect, even as you objectively fail. You see, when you are accepted your motivations to continue to live as close as possible to My way are strongest. Conversely, if you are condemned for your inadequacies your motivations to continue trying to meet My standards tend to be weak and vacillating, and your performance… likewise.

And yes, you did discern that these are both truths that conflict, but are not in conflict. It is another example of the yin and yang principle in Christian perspective… opposite truths that are both true and both necessary, but which do not logically agree.

I spoke as Jesus and hence as the Lord Almighty. What I said about how to live must have been true… and was true… and is true. Yet I also knew, even then, that My disciples, even those good men who followed Me and heard most of what I preached, could not live perfect lives. And, with such standards, trying harder brings more frustration and guilt, which is not the best mixture for having you try harder.

So We raised up Paul to put the message which I, the Holy Spirit, had the privilege of bringing… in his heart as it is in yours… that Grace abounds and is acceptance and at-onement, whatever your objective performance against My wonderful standards. And because you are accepted and know that you are, and feel the love which is the essence of that acceptance, your tendencies in living, even without trying, are more like those I preached.

In a sense, grace is the means by which these seem possible ways of behaving, grace is the means by which you are truly motivated to incorporate these, and grace says, “When you are in Me you are living successfully, no matter what the objective evidence.” And step by step you come closer, not because of your efforts, but because of My Grace, accepted by you.

This is an interpretation, but it is all pretty orthodox theology (if you soft pedal the yin and yang, of course). Why don’t all Christians hear and respond, then? Because even Christians represent a wide range of spiritual development. Why is this so? I’ll stick with orthodoxy for as long as possible and say that some have had more Christian education, of high quality, and some have really learned more about their faith than others. True, but why? Because some are more motivated and more dedicated. But is there any correlation between time and service in the Church and this true acceptance? Not necessarily