Grace, the essence of our faith.
Ever heard the song that goes "grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that is greater than all our sin" ? Do you believe this? Do you live your life according to that? Today, I'd like to talk about God's grace and our tendency as Christians to fail from believing in it. Read on!
You know, I've been a Christian for four years now and only in the last couple of months have I really started to understand the gift of grace. Can you imagine that?
A Christian without grace is a very fearful and anxious Christian I can tell you that much.
I read a verse today that, to me, sums up what grace should do in my life. The apostle Paul in the book of Philippians says:
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Philippians 3:12-13
This is great stuff guys. Paul is basically saying, listen guys I'm not saying I'm already perfect and got it all figured out. But, nonetheless, I keep going. I leave the things from the past behind [including my mistakes, failures, regrets etc.] and I move forward [to the promising future God has promised to all those who believe].
"Who believe what?", you may ask. Who believe that Jesus has the power to forgive our sins!
The reason why many of us stay stuck in the past is because we don't really believe Jesus has forgiven us of our sins. You know, the gospel seems simple enough:
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. Acts 16:31
Soooo simple!!
Yet, the reality is, many of us don't believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If we did we would believe Him when he tells us all the things about forgiveness:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. Hebrews 8:12
Do you truly believe this? How many of us ask for forgiveness and then feel awful about what we've done for days, weeks, months and for some even years! But what is the promise here? As soon as God forgives, He forgets. We are covered with the righteousness of Christ. This is why He died for us. He paid the price for our sins, all we need to do is ask for forgiveness and believe that His sacrifice is enough to pay the penalty.
Sadly though, instead of doing that, we often try to pay the price ourselves by feeling bad about our sin, giving ourselves consequences or trying to repair the mistakes we made. We're totally missing the point! We are trying to work our way to being right with God. And we are tired and not at peace because we cannot never pay the price, it's too great for us!
This is why grace is defined as an unmerited and free gift from God.
He gives us forgiveness and the choice to be saved not because of what we do but because of who He is
So we really need to stop working to pay for our mistakes and start praying for forgiveness, asking God to change our hearts and believe that He will.
Then, there are some of us who believe God forgives us but they fail to forgive themselves. We pray, ask for forgiveness, make a decision to do better but we let a heavy cloud of guilt and shame hover over our heads. We don't move on with the peace that comes with being forgiven. This is what it means to believe. Believe God has forgiven You and show it by forgiving yourself! Instead of feeling miserable because of what you've done, rejoice that Christ paid the price to give you freedom and a new start.
** Now, I need to specify that it's important not to use God's grace as a reason to sin. "Oh, even if I do wrong, God will forgive me!". Even the apostle Paul tells us:
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Romans 6:15
Imagine this. You tell someone you really love that no matter what happens or what they do, you'll always be ready to forgive them. And then you find out that they stole your money or they lied to you. So when you ask them about it, they say, "well, you told me you'd always be ready to forgive me so I figured I could do whatever I want". You see the point here? **
And, you know what? If you were in a position where you did that, you continually sinned because you knew God would forgive you. If you go to Him right now and repent and ask for forgiveness for doing that, He is so good that He will forgive you. God is amazing like that.
I love God!
I really hope this helps some of you understand better the concept of grace and that you can live a life of hope in Jesus Christ.
Prayer to pray: Dear Jesus, thank You for dying for me. You didn't have to but You did. And, thanks to that, I have the opportunity to spend eternity with You. What a gift! Help me to believe that your death was enough to pay for my sins. Remind me everyday that if I sin, I can go to You. And, help me not to stay in the same place but to grow in You. Forgive me of my sins today and abide in me that I may sin no more. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
What did you think of todays topic? Let me know in the comments below.
Have a blessed day/evening/night and thanks for reading!
Much love and smiles,
Nahisha :)
Comments