You saw what we’d become
You loved us Lord
You sent your only Son
You loved us Lord
We nailed You to a cross
You loved us Lord
Not that we loved you first
You Loved us Lord
– Leeland, Perfect Love
The last several weeks (coincidentally as Easter has been approaching) I’ve been meditating on the cross and God’s grace. Simply defined by Google, grace is the free and unmerited favor of God. God’s grace has always been something I’ve known in my head. But as I began to meditate on it I realized that it was something I needed to know in my heart as well.
I’m beginning to realize the complexity of the tension between grace and works. I’m not a theologian so I may not accurately or fully capture this tension in the following paragraphs. But at the very least, these are thoughts that I believe the Spirit has prompted in me. They have refocused my gaze on the holiness of God and how amazing it is to have a relationship with Him.
GRACE
Many passages of scripture talk about living holy and blameless lives because of what Christ has done. These have led me to believe that I have a sort of duty to be holy. Believers are described as soldiers for Christ after all; we are told to be always vigilant and ready to resist the enemy. It is a fitting analogy in ways; but I don’t think duty is what God wants me to feel for Him. Duty underscores His grace. God is not frustrated with me when I sin. He is saddened by it because I am choosing death over life. However, I cannot let God down; He loves me with an infinite love even in my sin. I am not duty bound to love Him back; He doesn’t want me to feel this way either. He wants me to accept His grace for what it is: a freely given gift.
Duty comes from a desire to get even; to become equal with someone who has put me in his debt. But I could never lessen my debt to God; no amount of work could even make a dent in the debt I owe. Romans 3:23-28 says that the wage of sin is death but that God’s grace and our faith (not our works) grants salvation. Thinking I could pay it off is sheer pridefulness. I could never do enough to earn the gift He has given. But that’s just the point; I don’t need to earn it because it is freely given. I just need to humbly accept it.
I ran away from home
You loved me Lord
I traded you for gold
You loved me Lord.
– Leeland, Perfect Love
When I truly begin to realize that God loves me even when I continually turn away and rebel against Him, that is when I glimpse His goodness and start to feel love for Him in return. And as I begin to feel more and more love for Him, that will prompt me to love him through obedience and service. Not because of duty, but because His loving grace humbles me; it softens my heart. I begin to get a glimpse of who He truly is, an unconditionally and infinitely loving God.
This love is an everyday kind of love
Every morning I’m in it
This love is an everyday kind of love
Every evening I’m in it.
– Housefires, This Love
As I see God’s amazing grace and love for what it truly is (unearnable, unconditional, and infinite) I am humbled. How should I live in view of all this? Will I continue in sin accepting grace upon grace. Never! As Paul says in Galatians 5:1, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” Verse 13 says, “For you have been called to live in freedom. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Ultimately His grace leads me to love Him, which leads me to serve Him.
Service leads to dedication and discipline. What does a disciplined life look like without becoming a life of duty to God?
WORKS
Self-discipline is good; it is only bad when it comes out of pride or a false sense of duty to God. Dallas Willard, an expert on spiritual disciplines, said this: “Works is not opposed to grace; it’s opposed to earning it. We must distinguish between effort and earning. Effort is action. Earning is attitude.” I believe this is extremely relevant. I’ve had to reorient my own heart the last few weeks.
Verses that say that I’ve been bought with a price; that I must give up all sinfulness and live in holiness because of Christ’s blood have taught my heart that I have a duty. But I don’t. Believing that I have a duty to God is putting myself on the same plane with God. What I think these verses mean is that because of His amazing love for me, which compels my love for him, I should desire to please Him.
I shouldn’t live as seems natural. My nature is sin and since I have been freed from sin should I go on living in shackles? No! Galatians 5 and Romans 6 talk about the folly of taking advantage of God’s grace to go on living however sinful is natural. Through grace I am allowed that, and God still loves me in that. But He would not be pleased. And neither would I, eventually. 1 Corinthians 11:23 says that through grace all is allowed, but not all is beneficial. Galatians 6:7-10 says that you will always harvest what you plant; so live a righteous life so you will harvest what is good.
Therefore, I should make every effort to live a holy life humbly accepting His grace when I fall, but striving for goodness, not out of duty but out of love. And as I strive and strive for Jesus the more my desires will be conformed to His desires, as Philippians 2:12-13 say.
Something I’ve been focusing on is what I read in a book which regarded purity “Stop asking the question, ‘how far is too far?’” This question is selfish. The goal is obtaining as much pleasure by getting as close to sin as you can without “technically” sinning. Even this simple thought is sin. The book said to ask this question instead: “How holy can I be?” This question reorients the gaze to the only One who is truly and utterly holy: God. Don’t try to get as close to sin as you can; get as close to Jesus as you can. As Jesus said, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
Of course, as I live in a more “holy” way; sacrificing more and more this may lead to pride. But as long as I recognize this, humbly accept his never ending grace, and repent, I will fall more and more in love with my Savior. Whenever I fall I hope to cry out this lamentation:
Create in me a clean heart, O God
And renew a right spirit within me
Cast me not away from Thy presence, O Lord
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation
And renew a right spirit within me
– Keith Green, Create In Me a Pure Heart
LIVE IT OUT
So many people think Christianity is all about following rules and laws and restricting yourself from enjoying life. I’m excited to go on the World Race and share with others that this is not the case. Christianity is the greatest love story of all time. It’s about a sinful people who were destined for death; an unconditionally loving God who has saved us; and the chance to have an everlasting relationship and joyous life with Him. On the World Race I’ll have the awesome opportunity to build relationships through service and tell of God’s grace and the Good News of Jesus.
I am now 75% funded! If you would like to support me click the donate button above, or comment below. Thanks so much!
