Apart from Grace

3/18/25 Bible Thought (Luke 13)

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

One of the sad realities of a fallen world is tragedies where many are killed at once. These spark all manner of interpretations and responses. When it’s seemingly unjust, many will fight for justice. However, when it’s an accident or some natural disaster, there’s not much you can do about it. Some conclude in these situations that it’s an act of judgment by God. God is judging those people for their sins. Thus, He has brought a hurricane, a tsunami, a plane crash or what have you.

The Lord Jesus offers a very interesting response to these ideas in Luke 13. He cites two tragedies that his audience would’ve been very familiar with. In the first instance, Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, had a group of Galileans killed while offering sacrifices. As a result, their own blood was mingled together with the sacrificial blood (see Lk. 13:1). An unjust action, but one that Jews without any political power could hardly do anything about. Secondly, Jesus tells of a tower that fell, killing 18 people. This was a tragedy you couldn’t find justice for because it was merely an accidental or natural thing.

In response to each tragedy Jesus offers a very similar question. To paraphrase, He says, “Do you think that those who suffered were worse sinners than those around them?” (Lk. 13:2, 4). Many probably thought, “Well, obviously. Look what happened to them!” Jesus then responds to His own questions, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3, 5).

When others suffer, either with sudden death, or present maladies that make life miserable, some people will conclude it’s the judgment of God upon them. Perhaps it is, but what’s most important for us is to avoid justifying ourselves by looking at the sins and sufferings of others.

Jesus makes it so clear; those who suffer tragically aren’t worse sinners than us. Put differently, we aren’t better than them.

Truly, all of us apart from grace are without hope. The apostle Paul states so clearly, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) and again, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).

Death, in no uncertain terms, is what we deserve for our sins. We’re all guilty. We might not have committed the most grievous sins in our understanding or terms, but to fail at one point of the law is to fail entirely (see Jas. 2:10). We’re all lawbreakers. These things should humble us incredibly.

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (Jas. 2:10).

We can’t look at the sins of others or the sufferings of others in judgment, for truly we’re no better than them. If it weren’t for the grace of God, I’d be in the same suffering and in the same sins. I’m a sinner who’s been saved by God’s amazing grace. A grace I didn’t deserve. A grace that I could never earn. A grace that is apart from works (see Eph. 2:8-9). A grace that is freely given by a gracious God.

If we don’t turn to Christ in a repentant-faith, we’re without hope, no matter how seemingly good we are. Just because we haven’t suffered tragedy doesn’t mean that we’re good to go and have a ticket to heaven. The only One who can punch our ticket is Jesus Christ with His atoning death for sins that is received through repentance and faith. Repentance is coming to terms with God concerning our sins. We see our sins as He does, that they are in fact sinful and in need of forgiveness.

Without this change of mind there can’t be salvation, because there would be no belief that we would need to be saved! There’s no reason to trust in Christ for salvation if you have no understanding that you’re lost. Repentance is more than feeling sorry for doing something wrong, but it’s truly a change of mind. This change of mind then results in a change of action.

As John the Baptist himself powerfully preached, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matt. 3:8). Jesus illustrates this point Himself with a parable following His comments on repentance (Lk. 13:6-9). A man had a barren fig tree for three years, so he commands the vinedresser to cut it down. It had been a waste of space in his vineyard for three years! But the vinedresser effectively says, “Give it one more chance.” He offered to dig around it, to put manure on it, fertilizing it. Give it one more chance to bear fruit, and if it doesn’t in the upcoming year, then we’ll tear it out.

Like the owner of the vineyard, God looks to us for fruit, and fruit that comes from repentance. Not just saying we’re sorry for our sins but showing that we’re sorry by changing our minds and our ways. Now, it isn’t the change of behavior that saves, for we aren’t saved by works. But this is a necessary byproduct from those who have truly trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior. He offers grace and mercy to all who will come. Grace and mercy that we all need. I’m thankful that God gives us another chance.

So, let us then not look shamefully at others in judgment. No matter how horribly sinful they may be, apart from the grace of God we’d be in the same spot. Apart from grace we’d be without hope. We ought not to boast in ourselves, but only in the cross where Jesus gave His life for sinners like me (see Rom. 5:8). I’m thankful that while I’m a sinner, I’m a sinner that’s been saved by grace.