Ever wonder why so many Christians are afraid of grace teaching? Have you noticed how they always bring up things like you need to be holy, obedient, etc., . . . . . like grace automatically excludes that?
Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age," Paul was wrongfully accused of teaching: 'You should sin so that grace will abound". The reason he was accused of this is because he HAD been teaching "Where sin increases... grace... SUPER-ABOUNDS." His answer to his slanderous accusers regarding the accusation that he promoted sin by teaching grace was: "How CAN we sin?? We have DIED to it in Jesus Christ!!" How CAN I live be in Russia when I'm in the USA?? I can NOT!! In the same way... Christians that KNOW God's grace personally are the most holy people there are anywhere. But how does this holiness come about? By their self-effort and discipline? No. That has never worked. It is a product of right-believing. If our focus is on our sin... we continue to sin. If our focus is on Christ's righteousness that comes to us as a gift APART from our good works...we are CHANGED by that believing. There are SOME people that DO use grace as an EXCUSE to continue their immoral behavior, etc. There are always a few around. But we should not compromise the grace of Christ for a few characters. God's grace MUST be preached without apology and without 'balancing it' [actually 'mixing it'] with the Law. It must be preached boldly in its purest form... because it's GRACE that... once preached to people ... once mixed with their faith ....that truly saves them from evil behaviors and EVERYTHING ELSE that destroys their lives. Once they know the truth: Christ died to impute righteousness upon sinful people who don't deserve it but who will receive it by faith... then THIS truth will set them free!! Preach grace, brother... and don't worry about 'steadying the ark'!! It's the grace of God... uncompromised... that people need to hear! THEN... and ONLY THEN... will they be freed from their consciousness of sin... which will eventually lead them into freedom from sinful behavior... EFFORTLESSLY!! Grace doesn't promote sin. It cures it. It's the only thing that does!! Law arouses sin. Always has. It's called 'the strength of sin' by Paul in I Cor. 15. Don't compromise grace in order to remedy sinful behavior. Grace IS the remedy. If we preach grace... and they will come into what Paul calls 'the obedience of faith'. Preach grace and you will find people WANTING to live righteous, God-glorifying lives. Preach grace through faith APART from works and you'll find people producing good works without trying. Compromise grace in the name of controlling the people's behavior... focus people on themselves and their effort to please God through right behavior and you MAKE INEFFECTIVE the gift of Christ. And when Christ becomes of NO EFFECT... you have just sentenced the people to a life of vain struggle with no victory. Preach grace, brother! The joy and peace of the whole world depends on it!!
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