The Doctrine of Grace

In his discussion on 1 Corinthians 3:1-23, Craig Blomberg writes:

"The doctrine of grace is arguably the watershed that separates Christianity from all other world religions. It should cause no surprise, then that the church has a difficult time warding off the persistent intrusion of works-righteousness. It is central to fallen, human nature to say that grace is unfair and we should get what we deserve. But no one honest about his or her own sinfulness could ever really want that. What makes God’s grace filled gospel ‘good news’ is that we don’t have to get what we deserve. Verses 12-15 remind a society preoccupied with statistics that God desires quality as well as quantity as his church grows. But true progress occurs when believers obey him in joyful response to the salvation Christ has already provided, rather than in the hopes gaining greater reward (cf. Luke 14:12, 17:7-10)."

Craig Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, NIVAC (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), 86.