What has set the church apart from the world since its beginning, is not that it is filled with righteous men and women.  No it is the exceeding great joy we share in the forgiveness of Christ.  We believe while the world denies.

Look at what the power of true forgiveness can do.  Mary Magdalene shed exquisite tears of love and felt absolutely no sense of shame before the Lord as she openly love him in return.  On the other hand, Judas went out and hanged himself.

If you need more proof that the forgiveness of Christ is the difference between the church and the world, I set you ablaze with challenge.  Go out into the world and show me a forgiveness that is not filled with expectation.  Every time the world forgives it is conditional, not so with Christ Jesus.

We serve a Holy God.  And we cannot take away the call to holiness.  Neither should we remove the demand for righteous behavior.  But it is found in the motivation, this difference between the church and the world.

By His Grace