A Second Chance or Nothing Left to Chance?

James 3:2 tells us, "We all stumble in many ways." Our experience bears this out. Whether in our thoughts, words, or actions, we know the sting of falling short—of others' standards, our own, and most grievously, God's (Romans 3:23). But what does this stumbling say about the authenticity of our faith and security of our salvation?

Is the gospel just a second chance?

When we first trusted Christ, many took comfort in believing that what Jesus offered was a fresh start—a second chance to get things right. We looked to verses like 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says, "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" That initial sense of a clean slate and resulting freedom was exhilarating. We felt forgiven, unburdened by the weight of past regrets, and filled with hope for a better future. Our devotion was genuine; we sought to honor God in everything we did. "We'd get it right this time!" or so we thought.

For a while, we saw real growth—spiritually alive. We improved our daily lives and found some measure of assurance in our performance. But inevitably, we stumbled. We fell short again. And with that, surprise, sadness, and even disillusionment crept in. We wondered: What if we're not who we thought we were? What if we've already ruined the "second chance" God gave us?

No, the gospel means nothing is left to chance.

Thankfully, God never intended the gospel to be a second chance for us to get things right. Why? Because even if we were given countless chances, we could never get it perfectly right.

The good news of the gospel is that God didn't leave our salvation to chance. He made things right for us through His Son once and for all (Hebrews 10:10). Our salvation is not based on our ability to perform well for God, but on Christ's perfect work for us, to God's glory (John 19:30; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Moreover, we don't stand confidently before God because we've done everything right—partially or fully - for God. Instead, we stand confidently because Jesus has done everything right for us (Isaiah 59:14-20; 1 John 2:1-2). This truth frees us to acknowledge our struggles and failures, knowing they don't ultimately define or defeat us (Hebrews 4:15-16).

Sure, our growth in grace and obedience, while imperfect, is still vitally important. It’s the fruit of the Spirit’s work in us, glorifying God, blessing others, and benefiting us (Galatians 5:22-24). True believers will grow in grateful and loving obedience to God, working out their salvation with reverence and awe (Philippians 2:12). However, this growth never earns God’s love (Romans 8:38-39; Galatians 2:16; Hebrews 13:8). Instead, obedience is the fruit of God’s love and grace in our lives, not the cause of it (1 John 4:19; John 14:15).

The Example of Peter and John Mark.

Consider Peter, who denied Christ not once but three times. Peter's failures could have marked the end, but Jesus restored him through repentance (John 21:15-17), even calling Peter to "feed His sheep" as a shepherd. And note how Jesus did this all the while knowing Peter would stumble again, withdrawing from Gentile believers out of fear (Galatians 2:11-14). Far from being surprised by Peter's stumbles, Jesus refined Peter through them for even more effective ministry.

Then there's John Mark, who abandoned Paul on a missionary journey, causing a severe rift between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39). But later, Paul recognized how the Spirit moved John Mark in and through his failures to more complete repentance. Toward the end of his life, Paul called for John Mark, warmly describing him as "helpful to me in my ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11). Like Peter, John Mark grew through his failures by God's grace.

The Westminster Confession of Faith

The Westminster Confession of Faith, one of the premiere confessions flowing from the Protestant Reformation, echoes this comforting truth: 

"Nevertheless, since...believers are accepted through Christ, their good works in this life are also accepted in him. It is not as though they were perfect in God's sight but that God, looking on them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward what is sincerely done, even though accompanied by much weakness and imperfection" (16:6).

What incredible grace! Despite its weakness and accompanying failures, God accepts our obedience through Jesus. God looks upon us and our works through the lens of Christ's righteousness. He remains faithful even when we fail.

God's Children, Loved and Secure

No, God doesn't leave us or our salvation to chance. Forgiven in Christ, we are His children, fully secure in His love (Romans 8:38-39). He doesn't cast us aside when we fail; instead, He uses our failures to grow us in humility, gratitude, love, and repentance. Our deepening struggle and awareness of our sin are not evidence of saving faith's absence but the Spirit's presence. They are signs that the Holy Spirit is at work, convicting and transforming us.

Conclusion

So, saints and strugglers, take heart. You've been given more than a second chance. You have a Savior who left nothing to chance. Your stumbles are not the end of the story. Christ holds you fast and promises to complete His work in you (Philippians 1:6). Keep pressing on, not as a requirement to earn God's love but in response to it. Even your best performances for God will fall short, but Christ's for you never will.