Continuing our “review in quotes” of The Great Work of the Gospel: How We Experience God’s Grace, John Ensor examines how an active, true work of the Gospel in a person’s soul will evidence itself beyond the borders of our inner being and suffuse the world with God’s glory. “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14)
The outworking of God’s grace does not reach its end in our private reformation. It works outward toward the public good. It is the law of love at work in us for the sake of others. The law of love picks a fight with poverty and oppression and darkness. It produces entrepreneurs of grace and virtue capitalists. It fights a war of love against all things that destroy body and soul. In the process, some are able to shut the mouths of lions while others are sawn in two (Hebrews 11:32-37). The law of love risks and sacrifices and suffers and weeps and yet rejoices. The law of love obeyed leads to radical joy in God and a muscular Christianity in the world. Where the law of love is obeyed, Matthew 25:35-36 says, the sick are cared for, not euthanized. The imprisoned are visited, not left to despair in their guilt. The immigrant is assisted, not despised. The thirsty are given a glass of water. Is it not amazing that fetching water can be one of the good works God has prepared in advance that we should do?
The Great Work of the Gospel, p. 167
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