So Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were in a major dispute with the sons of Ammon; and I did call you, but you did not save me from their hand. When I saw that you were no deliverer, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the Lord handed them over to me. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?” Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim; and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, “You are survivors of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and in the midst of Manasseh.” (vv. 2-4)

This chapter describes the civil conflict between Jephthah and the tribe of Ephraim, as well as the judges who followed Jephthah after his death. All the judges are shadows of the true Messiah, who will reign forever and ever. Although Jesus came to earth and lived as a human being, He is the Son of God. When He bore the burden of our sins, He did so alone, as ordained by God the Father.

Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like one who treads in the wine press?
“I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no one with Me.
I also trod them in My anger
And trampled them in My wrath;
And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I stained all My clothes.
For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
I looked, but there was no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
I trampled down the peoples in My anger
And made them drunk with My wrath,
And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.” (Isaiah 63:2-6)

Our salvation and the destruction of unbelievers are accomplished by God alone. No one can claim to have done something for God or contributed to His work of salvation. Yet many Christians seem to believe that they are doing something for God. This is what happens when deeds and human merit take the place of absolute grace. Instead of proclaiming grace, many churches focus on good deeds, as though these deeds could earn salvation or make people worthy of it.

Human beings continually seek another human king: someone who thinks and suffers as we do, someone who shares our human weaknesses and imperfections. When God sent His own Son, they rejected Him. Jesus did not fit their expectations. This desire for a human king will become even clearer in the First Book of Samuel. The judges whom God raised up were temporary deliverers, serving as shadows that pointed towards the true King who would reign forever. However, the Israelites, like humanity in general, did not entrust themselves fully to God. They continued to worship idols and seek a human king.

Throughout history, human kings have risen and fallen, yet none has been able to put an end to human misery. We have developed advanced technology and enjoy an abundance of food, yet we remain miserable and sick. We live longer, but mental illness and suffering persist. Despite all our achievements, suffering never seems to come to an end. Nevertheless, humanity continues to seek a human king, hoping that another human being will accomplish what no human being can achieve.

Like the Ephraimites, we argue as though we could have helped God accomplish His work. We act as though we deserve recognition for what God has done. But God accomplished our salvation alone. We are in no position to assist Him in any way that would make His work more complete. We are the recipients of His absolute grace, with nothing to boast about. Our response should be to thank and praise Him.

Yet we refuse to be satisfied with this position. We want recognition. We want our deeds to be acknowledged, and we want to take credit for what has been accomplished. We struggle to accept that we have nothing to boast about when we cannot even save ourselves. Instead of rejoicing in God’s grace, we seek to make ourselves worthy of praise.

It is not surprising that people, including ministers and theologians, are drawn to Greek gods and Greek philosophies. It is part of our corrupt human nature to worship gods who resemble us and to praise human wisdom. And yet, we do not seem to feel ashamed of it.

“Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done? They were not ashamed at all, Nor did they know even how to be ashamed. Therefore they will fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They will collapse,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 6:15)

Churches must stop this unfaithful practice of glorifying human beings. They must return to Sola Gratia—grace alone. Yet many have shifted their emphasis away from God’s absolute grace towards the law, human merit, and good deeds. Should God be pleased when His work is overshadowed by human achievements and His glory is shared with those who cannot save themselves?

The Reformation took place to recover the truth of the gospel, including the principle of Sola Gratia. Yet if churches once again place human merit alongside God’s grace as a basis for salvation, how different have they become from the very system the Reformation sought to reform? Have they not returned to the same old tendency to glorify human beings rather than God alone? How are we different from the Roman Catholic?

My soul waits in silence for God alone;
From Him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)