Understanding Grace is crucial because it’s the foundation of our Salvation, Freedom and Peace but a misunderstanding of it sends people straight to hell.
Grace is: The undeserved and unmerited favor of God. Grace takes you out of God’s judgment and condemnation into His mercy. The blood of Jesus provides a free pardon and exemption of your sin. Freedom from the payment of sin does not come from ‘earning’ or doing good works.
“And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.” Romans 3:24-25
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
If you are saved, it’s because God by His grace, wooed you into His presence.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:44
Example:
It’s like a man in prison has been given a pardon by the governor of his state. The only condition is that the criminal is truly repentant. The man expresses his sorrow, and the judge sets him free. As soon as he leaves the prison, he walks into a bar. Runs into an old friend who hooks him up with his choice addiction. Spends his last dollar on a lotto ticket to gamble. He may be ‘free’ but not really. Imagine saying to that man, “Once pardoned, always pardoned.” He knows if he robs, murders or commits another crime, he will have to pay for it.
Jesus died so we can have eternal life and also the power to live it out…here! The grace of God not only forgives you, but it provides the empowerment to overcome sin…now! Not just pardoned. Not just forgiven. But FREE! Grace is unmerited power over sin.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36
“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?
By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” John 6:14-23
“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” Romans 5:20
Why does God give us grace? Is it so we can tell everyone, “I’m free I can do as I please?”
God gave us undeserved Grace to bring us out of prison and back to Himself. Grace is God calling us to come to Him and to keep us from going back into captivity (sin).
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18-20
God did not pay such a high price simply to forgive you and give you temporary relief from the clutches of the devil. Do you think He suffered all that to just give you a better day? He gave His all so we could be kept for a full lifetime from the power of sin. If He made provision to save you, He made provision to keep you.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24
Many times, when I’ve fallen, I’ve felt Grace did NOT keep me. But that was just a feeling. The reality is: When I fell into sin, I lost peace. I lost joy. I yearned for re-connection to my Lord. And this, is Grace keeping me. Grief for my sin is evidence of Grace working in my life. We need to see it that way for the enemy wants us to focus on perfection—which will never happen!
If we have guilt, shame and a loss of peace, all we need to do is come back to God and repent. Sincerely turn away from our sin once again. Receive His grace. Bask in His patience and love; reconnect to The One who has kept you.
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
“The Lord disciplines the one he loves and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:6
I’m in relationship with a friend who has openly embraced a lifestyle of rebellion. He claims to be saved and loves Jesus and says God has Grace for him. He prays every night, thanking God for giving him grace. He does whatever he wants during the day and right before he goes to bed, he says: “I’m sorry. Forgive me. Thank you for your grace.” This is NOT genuine repentance because he is not sorry for his sinful lifestyle. In fact, he plans to live the same tomorrow as he did today.
What many fail to understand is that the Grace of God is available for those who have TRUE repentance, which is indicated by a turning away from wickedness (which separates us from God).
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:11-12
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” Isaiah 61:3
What Grace does:
Grace pardons.
Grace delivers us from captivity.
Grace empowers us over sin.
Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live holy. (Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, which we can quench by ignoring Him.)
Grace provides an atmosphere for us to grow without fear!
If we try to earn the grace of God, we are devaluing the gift of it and all Christ did.
“I do not get rid of the grace of God. What if a person could become right with God by obeying the law? Then Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:21
Jesus already did it ALL for us. What we must do is draw from His strength and sufficiency. This is the key! God commanded us to walk in holiness and righteousness not for His sake, but for ours! He knows living righteously produces joy, peace, freedom and connection with God. Not living in holiness and righteousness will bring despair and bondage. God commands us this because He is trying to protect and bless us. Jesus is the Grace we need and the strength we draw from…not our own! Abide in Him by faith.
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8
A Prayer for repeated sin:
“Heavenly Father,
I have no power or strength to combat my own flesh.
Lord, I hate my sin, but I cannot seem to help myself! I feel enslaved.
You saved me because you loved me…and you still do.
Lord, let your strength fill my weakness. Loosen sin’s grip on me.
I cannot trust my flesh or even my own promises. For I’ve lied to you and myself a million times.
This deep sorrow and regret have led me back to you. This is proof of your Grace keeping me!
Infuse me with your Power to overcome this affliction.
Jesus, I cling to you.
Deliver me from the grip of despair and destruction.
In Jesus’ name, I trust in you, not my own strength to lead me through. Amen.”
*Thank you to David Wilkerson for his preaching on Grace which inspired this teaching.
