Even when we were dead
(slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses,
He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of
Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by
grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved
(delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). (Ephesians 2:5 AMP)
Paul is explaining that grace is the underlying cornerstone
of our salvation. Yet, there is much
misconception in the body of Christ when it comes to grace.
On the one hand, grace is that acronym that we all love to
espouse – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
This is the reality that we get something we don’t deserve. Yet, from here many Christians extrapolate a belief
that borders on heresy. You hear this
mistaken understanding when a brother or sister is confronted in their sin and
their response is, “Hey man, I’m not under law, I’m under grace.” That kind of thinking is not grace; it is an
excuse for the flesh. Grace is not a
license to sin. In fact when you dig a
little deeper into what grace really is, you find an interesting truth
emerge. Paul writes to Timothy:
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 (Titus
2:11-12 NIV).
Paul is telling Timothy that grace is the personal trainer
in our lives that teaches us to say no to unrighteousness. Combine that with the power of God’s
indwelling Spirit that has freed us from sin and gives us the ability to turn
away from sin to live a holy life, and you have the winning combination that
becomes transformational. That’s why the
statement that “I’m not under law, but under grace,” is so off track. A life under grace would be one of
righteousness, not sinfulness.
The original disciples knew this. Listen to just a few comments on what they believed about how salvation would look in the life of the believer because of God’s grace
and His Spirit:
Those who say they
live in God should live their lives as Jesus did (1 John 2:6 NLT).
For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:26
NKJV).
Make every effort to
live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see
the Lord (Hebrews 12:14 NIV).
Today, instead of making excuses for my flesh, I will
conscientiously access the grace of God to live a life that says no to
unrighteousness.
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