Over the past couple of weeks, I have had at least three conversations that took the same basic path. We were talking about the marvelous grace of God - and about how His kindness toward us is the only thing that leads to a truly changed life (rather than religious manipulation, trying harder, fear of His wrath, etc.). I based this conviction upon Scriptures such as Romans 2:4, Titus 2:11-13, etc.
In each of the conversations, I was met with similar resistance. While each person seemed to want to affirm the reality of God's grace, they were uneasy about the possibility of "making God's grace too free". Each person said (in their own way) that it is dangerous to talk about grace without talking about holy living. Their fear was that people who view God's grace as being offered with no strings attached would be likely to abuse grace as a license to sin.
I tried to explain that God's grace, by definition, leaves itself open to being taken advantage of. Unless this possibility remains, grace ceases to be grace. The Apostle Paul knew this - and encouraged the Roman believers to live in light of their new life and identity in Christ (Romans 6).
Nonetheless, Paul earlier affirmed that "where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5). Paul's teaching on living in surrender to the indwelling Spirit of Christ in no way diminishes or denies this earlier affirmation. I believe based upon Scripture and personal experience, that until we begin to grasp and embrace the reality of God's irreversible tenderness toward us - regardless of our sins and failures - we will never truly grow spiritually.
I meet so many people like myself - who battle against a vague, nagging sense of God's disapproval. No matter how "good" we perform on a given day, we are racked with existential guilt and a feeling that God must surely be upset with us about something. Often we project upon God the false beliefs we assumed at earlier stages of development and for whatever reason cannot seem to fully lay down.
Thankfully, I am learning with so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ that over the course of time, the truth of the Gospel can chip away, dismantle and expose this false projectionism for the idolatry that it is. From a human perspective, the Gospel is so upside down! The Gospel brings us to the finish line, crowns us with victory and secures our spot in the winner's circle before we have even taken our first baby steps in the race!
The Gospel affirms that the pressure is off! There are no hoops left to jump through. Because of Jesus dying in our place, God is fully pleased with us and no longer are we the recipients of His anger against sin. All of this and more is offered to us simply through trusting in the provision He made through Christ. This is very different than the "organized religion" Christianity is often lumped together with. This is truly revolutionary! T'was grace that brought us safe thus far...and grace will lead us home!
What say you?
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