I hope you know the only thing that matters in this world and the one to come is whether or not you know Jesus. In Matthew 7 Jesus said, “Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Think about it this way… If I had Uber drop me off by the front door of a club owned by Andre 3000 - approach security and tell them to let me in because I’m with Andre when I’m not actually with Andre isn’t going to work!

Furthermore, explaining that Andre and I are tight because I hang around a lot of people who know him, give money, am a member of the Outkast fan club, faithfully attend his concerts every Sunday morning and Wednesday nights, and know all the words to “Bombs Over Bagdad” will also prove pointless as none of these things are evidence of a personal relationship. I can even demand security call Andre, but all he’s going to say upon hearing my name is “I don’t know him!”

This is why the Gospel of Grace is really nothing more than the position that all you need for atonement, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, and to be declared righteous with God is an active relationship with Jesus.

Because salvation is not something you have but instead Someone you know, any focus on what you do or don’t do reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the Gospel! Knowing Jesus is why grace really changes everything.