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Purity Spotlight
What if Grace is True?
by Jonathan Daugherty (jonathan@bebroken.com)
I read a book lately that has really solidified my faith. The book is Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges (click here for more info). It's not the first book I have ever read on the topic of grace. In fact, I have read many books on the subject. But this is the first that really makes no apologies for God's grace. Most books on grace, even from solid evangelical Christian authors, attempt to include "disclaimers" on grace, making the reader beleive that it is grace that saves us but our own good works that keep us in such a state.
I have to admit that it is tempting for me to buy into the line of thinking that says God's grace simply makes up what I am lacking. In other words, His grace "fills in the gaps" so that I can live a life that is pleasing to him. It's tempting to think this way, but it is a lie. God doesn't fill in the gaps. He fills me up completely - top to bottom. I don't have anything to offer to God that he needs. If he had needs he wouldn't be God. So, God's grace is based on his merit, not mine. And this grace is the same grace that brings what we like to call in the evangelical world justification (or salvation), sanctification, and glorification.
Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Period. It really is that simple. No work. No toil. No offering. God saves based on the sacrifice Jesus made, not any attempt you or I my make to sacrifice ourselves. Grace is a FREE gift.
Many understand this "saving grace," but are quick to leave the entirety of grace in that state. It saves, but that is all it does. This leads many Christians to a works-based system of living. Every day is filled with "service to God" that is performed out of duty and obligation, primarily because it is thought that this is the way to "hold on" to salvation. But since you didn't earn your salvation, what makes you think you can lose it? How can you lose something that wasn't yours to begin with and wasn't given based on your ability to keep it?
Grace saves, but it also sanctifies. Sanctify is one of those "Christianese" words that sounds real fancy, but it really just means "to set apart." So, a believer in Jesus is set apart to God through faith. This is the process of transformation that takes a lifetime to work out. Many amazing things happen to us at the moment we believe in Jesus (too many for me to go into in this short article), but we also begin a process from that point of surrendering our desires and decision-making processes to God. This process is often called sanctification. And it is also where many get hung up on the works-based means of thinking that is opposed to God's grace.
In your personal pursuit of purity, try to think about God's grace not in terms of what it "allows" you to do (such as 'getting away with sin'), but rather what his grace "affords" you to accomplish (i.e. honesty, purity, gentleness, self-control, peace, love, joy, etc.). When you begin to see grace as the fuel behind the supernatural changes that God works into your mind and behaviors it takes on a different hue. It is by grace you have been saved. Grace is powerful stuff! It isn't some weak, passive characteristic of God. It is the avenue to discovering the immeasurable riches of the Almighty.
So, what if this is really true about grace? I'd say it could change your life...
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Real Answers to Real Questions
Real Question: I have a question regarding the replacement principle spoken of in Scripture (Eph. 4). The passage mentions that those who lied should lie no more, but tell the truth, and those who stole should steal no more, but rather labor working to provide for those in need. My question is, based on the pattern here regarding the replacement of sin with truth, what is the replacement for sexual lust?
Real Answer: Thanks for writing and asking such a great question.
My first thought that came after reading your question was a passage out of Philippians chapter 4. Verse 8 encourages us, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." So, the opposite (or replacement) of sexual lust is to fill our mind with truth, nobility, righteousness, purity, loveliness, etc. In other words, fight lust with truth.
We are also encouraged in Galatians to walk in the Spirit, and in so doing we will not gratify the desires (or lusts) of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). And we are told of this war going on inside of us between God's Spirit and our sinful nature (v. 17). But if we surrender to the Spirit of God it produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self control (that last one, self control, really addresses the issue of sexual lust well).
If you get to thinking about sexual lust it really is a form of lying and stealing. You are lying about God's design for sexuality by believing that sex was created for selfish indulgence. And you are stealing by capturing images in your mind to use for self-centered gratification. So, in essence, you could take the same directives given in Ephesians 4 for dealing with lying and stealing and apply them to sexual lust. When lies about sexuality come to your mind you combat them with the truth. When tempted to steal images for selfish gratification you instead work to offer a blessing to others in need.
I don't know if this answers your question, but I hope it at least provides good food for thought. I am glad you wrote. You are in our thoughts and prayers today...
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Do you have a real question you need answered? If so, email it to us at questions@bebroken.com.
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Featured Resource
The Shadow Christian: A Parable about Men, God, and Sexual Temptation
By Al Cole
In this inspiring true story, a husband struggles to resist sexual temptation and regain his soul, while his wife must cope with the pain of betrayal and try to forgive. It is an intimate look at the challenges a couple faces when forced to reexamine their relationship with each other and with God.
The Shadow Christian takes the reader inside the minds and hearts of an ordinary man and woman searching for hope in the midst of despair. It is a tender account of a soul-searching journey through the wilderness of sexual sin.
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