Let that truth sink in.
So how then shall we live?
"What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?....For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- ...For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace....You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness ....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." Rom. 6:1-23
I do not need a set of rules and empty religion or a get out of hell card. I need new life in Christ.
The glory of God demonstrated in the Gospel gives us freedom from both sin and religion. The Gospel liberates us from condemnation and transforms our hearts so we want to know His presence and honor Him. Our response to the grace of the Gospel should be no less than radical obedience to God's Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
To read the first part of the series on grace go here.
Are you swept away by the extravagant grace Jesus demonstrated on the cross?
The people who encountered God's grace in the bible, did not walk away the same. He accepts us just as we are, no matter what we have done or where we have been but He doesn't leave us as we are. By His grace He changes us, not so He will love us more but because He loves us.
It is impossible to experience the grace of the Gospel and not be transformed
In John 8, Jesus receives the woman who was caught in adultery and offers grace and mercy. She deserved death, but Jesus became Lord of her life that day and she was forgiven and she received life. She did not have to earn the love of Christ, she only had to come to Jesus feet and proclaim Him as Lord. She was not left to continue in her life of sin. Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you, now go and sin no more." (v.11)
Zacchaeus gave away his riches after encountering the grace and mercy of Jesus. Paul, the self proclaimed "chief of sinners" known for murdering apostles, became an ambassador of Christ after experiencing amazing grace on Damascus Road.
"No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him...No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God." 1 John 3:6-9
We will never live perfectly in this life.We cannot do anything to earn God's love but living as a redeemed child of God, we should see evidence of grace in our lives. With eyes fixed on Jesus, we rest in the Gospel and war against the flesh and the devil. Our lives should increasingly reflect the holiness of Jesus and a habit of going to God to repent and be cleansed when we sin. By God's grace we can be in pursuit of spiritual holiness to "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Rom. 12:1)
"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:11-1
God's grace forgives our sin and empowers us for good works as a grateful response for what He's done.
A Gospel motivated change is being overwhelmed of what Christ has done for us on the cross and being caught up in God's grace. The beauty and grace of God changes us from the inside that is followed with change on the outside. The more we taste and see that the Lord is good, the more we desire the things of God out of delight, not duty. We will be diligent for good works that glorify Him and lead us to know Him more intimately.
"We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand." (Eph. 2:10)
Knowing Jesus and having a life that brings Him glory becomes our desire and the satisfaction of our souls as we stand in awe of His beauty and Majesty. His presence is joy and worth anything we forsake or endure. He is the Giver of every perfect gift who has promised to be with us always. He is the treasure worth it all.
It's easy to be discouraged by the problems we face and the wickedness in the world. Evil is a strong force around us. Temptation maybe strong and unrelenting. We may get knocked down, but DO NOT GIVE UP! Get back up! Only in God's power can we push back! Living in Christ is not without a struggle, but the Spirit of Christ is with us and it's a fight we will win! In Christ you serve a different master. You are a beloved child of God, dead to sin, alive to righteousness and dependent on His finished work on the cross- now go live like it! A glorious King sits on the throne and we are assured, that God is stronger "you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
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