Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland

4:15. Many Evangelicals frankly admit that the
only motivation they know that can work is that of
fear of this "wrath." An example is an African
Evangelical theologian who says that "only the
presupposition of eternal torment in fire ... will
keep the fervor of evangelism burning."—Byang
H. Cato, Theological Pitfalls in Africa, (Kismu,
Kenya: Evangel Publishing House, 1975), p. 149.
This is an admission of gospel bankruptcy.
But to be under grace is to sense the constraint
of a new motivation, a sense of soul-consuming
gratitude for redemption, an awesome appreciation
of a love that has infinite dimensions of length,
breadth, depth, and height, measured by the arms
of Christ's cross.
Obedience, loyalty, purity, devotion—these are
not goals we work toward; they are gifts we
discover in our response to His open arms of love
and forgiveness. "Sin shall not have dominion over
you." In this new captivity to grace we discover
freedom at last.
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