Karma vs Grace

“You see, at the centre of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics; in physical laws every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that "as you reap, so you will sow" stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity.”

― Bono

The gospel, rightly understood, teaches that we can’t earn forgiveness. We just simply can never be good enough. Even our best deeds are tainted by wrong motivations, and even our best intentions result in imperfect obedience. We cannot bring our own ‘righteousness’ to the negotiating table with God. Like Bono says, if all we had was ‘Karma’, it would be game over for all of us.

But thanks be to God there is a Grace to be held onto and that holds onto us!

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you…. So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Romans 11:5-6

We are chosen by grace, saved by grace and sustained by grace. The gospel of grace is power for our conversion (“you received”), the ongoing declaration of our unshakable right standing with God (“in which you stand”), and the daily sanctifying work we are undergoing until the future glorification (“by which you are being saved”).

While every other way says that change comes from within and we are ‘saved’ by our right actions, the way of the grace of God shows us that true change comes from outside of ourselves and that salvation is based purely on Jesus’ behaviour. Then, and only then, does this grace begin a work in us that starts to shape us more and more like Jesus as we grow in our obedience to the Spirit.

The law itself is never able to supply what it demands. The law will never cure the idolatry at the root of every disobedience. But through the grace of God, Jesus is able to supply what the law demands and cure the idolatry through replacing our hearts of stone with that of flesh. Then the good works we do are done in delightful response to the finished work of Jesus Christ. It’s not about earning or payback, but about honour and praise.