Over the years, as Christians, we've been on two different sides on what Grace is about; on one side— we see it as a license to sin, on the other side we've become Legalistic about it, we see it as something we can put in our back pocket while we focus more on what we are doing right, our relationship with God, our salvation and tend to take pride in these things. But is this how the gospel should lead us to live?
Let's talk about Legalism first...
It's very wrong when we think we are more saved when we we do right; when our good deeds exceeds our bad works.. You can't be more saved!!!
Romans 3:20 gives us a clear view of what we're talking about, it says
"By the deeds of the law there shall no man be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin"
No one will be declared righteous by God by the works of the law but rather the law came to shows us our own sin... No one is justified by the law but we are justified by Faith apart from the law. We can never live up to the standards and requirements of the law so we desperately need Christ(Grace).
Even when we do so many things right, like:
1. We go to Church every single Sunday
2. Never miss Bible study classes for once.
3. Give our tithes & offerings, even giving more than 10%.
4. Praying long prayers everyday.
5. Never curse, never drink, never smoke and never have sex.
6. Memorize all chapters of the book of Psalms.
We can do all these things because they are all good deeds but when we start taking pride and start boasting in these things, then we fall into self-righteousness and self-righteousness is no-righteousness.
We still need Grace and we still need Christ.. Should we now continue to live the way we like all because we've gotten Grace?
No, never. Paul in Romans 6:1 said; "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound?" Going to the next verse "God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein"
"Let not sin rule or reign in your mortal bodies to make you obey its passion"— Romans 6:12.
It's true that when we sin grace would surely abound for .....but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound— Romans 5:20 but 1st John 3:6 made us known that whosoever perpetually commits sin has not seen Him neither known Him. To add to this, James 2:26 says "Faith without works is dead"
Are we then saved by Grace through faith or by our works?
Ephesians 2:8 "For by Grace you have been saved through faith...."
We are saved by Grace through faith but our actions are the proof of our faith.
It's wrong to say: "I do good things; therefore I'm saved but rather I'm saved; therefore I do good things". Grace is simply the expression of God's love towards us and it shouldn't be taken for granted.
In Luke 6:44, Jesus said "A tree is known by its fruit"..
Salvation is the seed that Christ has planted in us(Believers), the proof of it, is the fruit that we bear;our works..
Peace and Grace.
Words from Joe Solomon.
0 comments:
Post a Comment