I have been blogging this week about the wonderful grace of God in the life of the Christian.
Yesterday I made some statements that a few have questioned about our freedom because of the grace of God in our lives. The question is, “Well, if all is forgiven and nothing is counted against me can’t I just live however I please?” The answer to that is an emphatic “NO!”
I want to be clear when I say that a person who is saved by grace and in indwelt by the Holy Spirit will not carelessly sin or live as they please thinking that God’s grace will take care of them. Because there will be no desire to live that way!
Our desires will be conformed to His desires and more and more we will want to do what is right- because it glorifies Him! Once we realize the cost of the grace extended to us, and the generous sacrifice made on our behalf how could we possibly choose to abuse it? Each day becomes a “Thank You” to God as we desire to bring Him glory as a response to what He has done for us.
It truly is in Christ alone my friends. Rejoice in this truth, stop striving, stop fearing, and stop trying to earn God’s favor. He loves you ~ always.
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. Romans 5:15 (NKJV)
It is a testimony to our sinful condition without Christ that it is so very glorifying to Him to be our savior.
Grace is given to us because it glorifies God to do so, not because we are deserving or special or worthy.
It is a marvelous thing it is that God chooses to bring Himself glory by saving horrible sinners. Our unholiness demanded a stiff redemption price- the blood of Christ. Our unholiness is the reason we need grace unto salvation. We are completely and totally unworthy of what we have received.
It is in seeing our unworthiness that we can begin to have a glimpse of just exactly why we are to demonstrate grace to those who have hurt us so deeply. In those painful relationships – when grace is displayed to one who is undeserving- it may not make one bit of difference in how we are treated.
What we will experience is freedom.