God's Love and Grace

To live solely by the law is to nullify Christ death on the cross.  This in essence, rejects the grace given by God which according to scripture, explains how we are undeserving of salvation because of our sins.  God’s grace is forgiving and loving.  Our works does not make God forgive us or love us more or less, it is by his grace alone.  God loved us so much that he gave his only begotten son, and what did his son do?  He gave us eternal life through his death, in other words salvation.  Think of what it means to salvage something.  A quick web search turned up the following results: to save goods from damage or destruction; removing something from danger, harm or ruin.  This is exactly what Christ did, he saved us from the damage and destruction that we were subjected to because of the temptations we face on a daily, hourly, even on a minute-by-minute basis.  We are not deserving of life, but God breathes air into our lungs and gives us life freely. 

So why do people walk in fear believing that their works, if bad, will send them straight to hell or loosen the yolk that connects them to God?  This is nothing but the works of the devil working in the mind, which is his playground.  Satan knows that we are weak in the mind, so this is where temptation creeps in.  However, if we know the word of God and the truth, we know how to overcome Satan and his wicked tactics.  Romans 12:2 states, “and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  If we take a moment, reflect on this scripture and give it some deep thought, who conforms us to this world…? Satan (Read Ephesians 2:2).  Therefore we can do nothing in this world to make God love us more or less.  God already know what we are up against this is why Christ was sent.  If we only had to live by the law, which is impossible for us to do in our own strength (need evidence, read the entire 1st testament of the bible), no one could save themselves, no matter how hard they tried.  There were many noble men and great kings alike, NONE could resist the temptations of the flesh and all faced death. 

We obtain grace by trusting and believing in Christ.  John 1:17 reads, “For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.”  Let’s look a deeper into this scripture.

THE LAW

-          What was the law given to Moses? The 10 commandments and a set of detailed rules and regulations.  The book of Exodus explains the covenant between God and the Israelites.  Basically, it outlined their obligations to God’s laws in order for them to receive protection.  This is a form of conditional love.  So, if these conditions were not met there was a separation between you and God until you repented and offered up a sacrifice (burnt offering).  Remember you could not just offer up/sacrifice anything it had to be choice meat, pure, prime, clean.

-          What are the 10 commandments/moral laws (Read Exodus 20:2-17 and 34:11-26, then read Deuteronomy 5:6-21). After reading these verses, do you see why Jesus had to come rescue us?  Can you comply with everything according to the law?

UNFAILING LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS – CHRIST DEATH

-          God realizes that we cannot live up to his commandments and is on the verge of giving up on his children completely.  Christ steps up to the plate and says I will do it; I will be their sacrificial lamb.  Take my life in place of theirs.  They cannot do it but I will fulfill it (Read Matthew 5:17- fulfillment of the law).

-          No man can boast about their doings, behaviors, or actions bringing them closer to God.  (Read Ephesians 2:8-9).  Imagine if this were the case, people would think…

o “I am going to heaven because I only stole 2 things today and you took 5,” or.

o “I only cheated on my wife one time, but my exes, I cheated on constantly, I know I’m going to heaven because I changed,”

Not so fast, it does not work that way.  Sin is sin, and one is not better than the next. It is through Christ that we can lay down and pick up our life again. 

So what does this mean, do we just keep sinning, knowing that Christ saved us? No, remember what Christ did on the cross saves us but we will all have to face judgement. What it does mean, is that we do not mope around dwelling in the past and feeling sorry for ourselves because of sin.  We pray, repent, ask for forgiveness, know where our salvation lies in Christ, and keep it moving. If we cannot move forward, then that means we do not believe in Christ, thus, nullifying the death of our savior Jesus.  This is a clear indication of non-belief in Christ, but in salvation by satisfying the law.

There are many scriptures in the bible that speaks of our forward motion and daily approach to tackling temptation/sin:

-          1 Corinthians 15:31- Face death daily

-          John 10:17-18- Laying down your life and picking it up again (Resurrection)

-          Matthew 6:11 and 6:34- Daily bread, living for today

-          Luke 9:62- Look back and you are not fit for God’s kingdom

-          Isaiah 43:18-19- Do not dwell in the past

-          Genesis 19:26 – Lot’s wife turns into a pillar of salt after looking back

Being fit for God's kingdom is not for the faint at heart.  It takes a desire to defy the norms and go against the grains on the earth (which are many).  To progress forward in a world that constantly points out your flaws and inadequacies.  To lay down your life (to die in sin), and pick it back up (to believe in salvation through Christ).  To fail over and over yet know that you will continue to win as long as you keep moving forward in faith!  Sounds like a lot, right?  Wrong!  All it takes is true faith and belief in all that Christ did and know that you are covered by his blood, your debt has been paid IN FULL! As it is written, “Death where is your sting?!?”

Overall, belief alone in Christ and what he did for us is all we need.  If it were not true and not that simple, then that would be like saying the following scripture is a lie.

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” -This is straight facts!

Put on The Grace of God