Grace Dismantles Both Pride and Despair

Keller presents grace as Christianity's unique solution to humanity's dual problem of pride and despair. Unlike religion (which says 'I obey; therefore I am accepted') or irreligion (which rejects moral standards altogether), the gospel declares: 'I am accepted by God through what Christ has done—therefore I obey.' This reversal transforms human motivation from fear or self-righteousness to grateful love. The key insight is that 'God's grace does not come to people who morally outperform others, but to those who admit their failure to perform.' Keller illustrates this with the story of the tax collector and Pharisee praying in the temple—the humble sinner goes home justified while the religious performer doesn't. This grace-based identity uniquely prevents both the superiority complex of the religious and the nihilism of the irreligious.