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Purity Spotlight
What If Grace Is True?
I was encouraged to 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 believe that it is grace that saves us but our own good works that keeps 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 may 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, or consecrate." (consecrate - set apart as sacred) 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.
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...
For similar articles, visit www.jonathandaugherty.com.
Real Answers to Real Questions
Real Question: I know there are consequences to sin, but does God punish his children? My preacher recently said something to the effect of "if you aren't walking obediently, good things won't happen to you" almost as if to say that "if you aren't doing what God wants you to, he can't help you." This creates a lot of fear in me, because I have done some bad things and wonder if this means I only have disaster to look forward to?
Real Answer: I'm sure your preacher has good intentions, he just happens to be totally wrong. You can't escape the love of God. You can't do such bad things that somehow God's love doesn't reach you. And God isn't like a vending machine (do good = blessing; do bad = curse). There are a million examples that prove that God does what He does for His own pleasure and in the context of His sovereignty.
Take Job, for example. This was a man that God said was righteous, the most righteous in the world. Yet, God allowed his children to be killed, his wealth to be depleted, and even his body to be ravaged with disease. Did Job do evil that caused such affliction? No! "Bad things happen to good people." Job was faithful, yet he suffered. But even in that suffering, God's grace prevailed in his life.
Then look at Solomon. He had 700 wives and 300 prostitutes. He was selfish (read Ecclesiastes sometime). Yet, in all his self-centered living, God still blessed his kingdom more than any previous kingdom. God does what He does for His own pleasure and out of His sovereignty and grace.
Grace is the key. Look at my life (read my story). Should thousands be blessed by all the horrible acts I have done? No. But God's grace extends beyond our faults and accomplishes His purposes; mostly in spite of us. Do I have my life all together now? No! Do I still stumble and fall? Sure, just like everyone else. According to the "good=blessing, bad=curse" should our ministry be as effective as it is? Absolutely not, because a very imperfect man (me) is at the helm. But God doesn't accomplish His purposes based on our goodness (or 'badness'). It's all by His grace.
This applies to your life too. God has a purpose for your life, and even your mistakes cannot thwart that purpose. Obviously, we experience more joy and peace on the journey when we walk in step with the truth, but even when we stray it doesn't somehow kick us outside the realm of God's ability to bless us, or minister through us. He blesses based on HIS grace, not our worthiness or goodness. Grace saves us, grace keeps us, and grace changes us... all to the glory of God.
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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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