The Psychology of Grace

When we read the Reformation-era critiques of Roman Catholicism, there is regular mention of the relief the Lord gives to trembling consciences when we believe the true gospel. Sin imposes a real and debilitating sense of guilt upon the human soul. It must, for we are created in God’s image. The conscience is an inner judge of our actions. When our conscience is guilty, it is filled with anxiety, like an inner, turbulent sea.

                Roman Catholicism’s system of penance makes the storm worse. Christ may merit some grace for us, but this is so that our works will be accepted by God. We must do penance. Rome’s gospel was a money-making, pyramid scheme with the Pope the chief CEO of the entire Ponzi scheme.

                First, the sinner must make confession to the priest. Then, the priest prescribes works of penance: Ave Maria’s, Paternoster’s, burning tapers, etc. Wealthier confessors would be told to make pilgrimages or contributions to St. Peter’s. Since the worshipper had no way to know if he had ever done enough, and continued sinning while he was making his penance, he must either secure indulgences (extra good works done by the saints that could be purchased) or spend time in purgatory. Never has a greater evil been imposed upon sinners in the name of Christ than this system of penance.

                The true gospel is that God the Father in his love sent the Son of his love to die in love for unworthy sinners. He did not die on the cross to merit grace for the sinner’s works. Jesus Christ is the merit. He is the sinner’s righteousness. Jeremiah had a very special name for our Lord in this aspect of his saving work: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. His obedience is our righteousness before God. It is imputed to us, credited to us, given to us freely by God’s grace, when we believe upon his name.

                What of our sins before and after we believe? Freely, fully forgiven. How is this possible? “The Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all.” “By his stripes we are healed.” “By one sacrifice he has perfected forever those who are being made holy.” “Whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood.” The Reformation recovered the power of this gospel by rejecting entirely the Romanist system of penance and grounding grace and forgiveness solely upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. Said simply, there is nothing left to pay. This is not arbitrary forgiveness. It is redemption by the payment of a price – the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

                When the Reformers recovered the true gospel from Scripture, consciences were healed from Romanist butchery by the blood and righteousness of Christ. What heals the conscience? The blood of Christ applied to our consciences by the Holy Spirit through faith. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God” (Heb. 9:14).

                When the righteous God is satisfied with us by the ransom price paid by his Son, then the conscience can be at peace. Our consciences reflect in some measure God’s stance toward us – condemned or righteous, alienated or friendly, at war or at peace. Jesus Christ settles our consciences. He has paid it all. He bore our judgment upon the tree. “Not guilty” in Christ before the Judge frees the conscience from guilt.

                How then do we live? Lazy and careless? This is what Rome thought would happen. Exactly the opposite is the case. God’s grace in Christ fills us with thankfulness. We are humbled. Amazed. Bold. Obedient. Loving. Joyful. Psychologically healthy. Willing to resist man’s tyranny and false religions that impose upon us the “doctrines and commandments of men.”  Everything Rome could never produce by its false gospel that bred a graveyard of hypocrisy, the merciful God of the Reformation brought forth by his sheer grace alone.

                Celebrate the Reformation! Never forget God’s goodness in recovering for his church the true gospel of his grace and mercy. By faith in Christ, we will have boldness in the day of judgment. Our gracious Savior has given us his own obedience and cleansed us by his blood!