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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Does Teaching Grace Lead To a Careless Lifestyle?

I do grow weary at times of having to answer the paranoid legalists who are so afraid that teaching pure and undiluted grace may lead people to think it's okay to sin. The strange thing is that when I ask them if that's what the teaching causes them to want to do, they always say it doesn't. It's not themselves they're worried about. It's these other pitiful, weak Christians who might misunderstand and be led astray. After all, they don't have the maturity to know how to handle the truth so we'd better keep our teaching about grace in balance with a generous serving of warnings about the dangers and evils of sinning.

It’s the old give-‘em-an-inch-and-they’ll-take-a-mile syndrome. Some are afraid that if you truly embrace the grace of God, it’s going to cause you to go out and live a lifestyle of sin. Their reasoning is that if you tell people that their sins are all forgiven and that they’re under God’s grace, they won’t be motivated to live a godly lifestyle. They question what will prevent them from going out and misbehaving. They completely underestimate the presence of the indwelling Christ who is in us! They miss the point that it is the Holy Spirit who has taken up residence in us. He can be trusted! He is quite capable of leading people into righteous behavior without all our warnings to them.

God’s grace is not a license to sin. Those who say that the teaching of pure grace sounds that way reveal their weak understanding of the topic. That's what they said about Paul too. In fact, that's what they say about anybody and everybody who has the gall to preach grace without watering it down with a little legalism.

God’s grace is the divine enablement by the life of Christ in us, for us to be all that we’ve been called to be and all that we’ve been called to do. Grace won’t cause you to go out and sin. To the contrary, it will empower, enable, and motivate you to live a godly lifestyle. Titus 2: 11–12 explains, “For the grace of God appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age.”

The Bible says that the grace of God teaches us; it instructs us. What is the focus of that instruction? It instructs us in denying ungodliness, and it teaches us how to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age. Apparently, Paul wasn’t afraid that grace was going to cause people’s lives to run amuck. He saw grace as the antidote to ungodly behavior.

Let’s ground our thinking in what the Bible says and not in irrational fears that somebody might abuse grace if that is what they are taught. Rest assured – the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will not become a motivator for sin. His grace will inspire, instruct and invigorate you to walk in a way that is fitting with who you are in Him! In an effort to calm the nerves of jittery legalists, I'm not going to water down the gospel by warning people about how they better avoid sinning. The gospel is good news and nothing but good news. When people get that, behavior will take care of itself.

5 comments:

  1. I believe your definition of grace in a nutshell, "God’s grace is the divine enablement by the life of Christ in us, for us to be all that we’ve been called to be and all that we’ve been called to do." "His grace will inspire, instruct and invigorate you to walk in a way that is fitting with who you are in Him!" This is a 'fitting' language for each member of Christ's Body to discover the happiness to surrender their time, talent, and treasure to God's service! We don't even need to say 'service' but enjoy being His own possessions! I believe THAT enjoyment is in keeping with the theme of today's blog! Nothing careless about walking in grace in a way befitting who you are in Him and what you do!

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  2. Amen Steve, my sentiments exactly! It does take boldness to preach undefiled Grace. That's the reason the Holy Spirit was given to reside in us (to BE a BOLD witness of Grace & Truth). We cannot water the Grace message down at all. Anything but grace is our own efforts representing our own agendas. There is no selfish motives or agendas with Grace, only LIFE.

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  3. As I read and agreed with today's blog, the thought surfaced of Advent just past. During the Advent season we celebrate "God with us", Emmanuel. Thankfully, we may celebrate God's presence with us-- His possession of us-- daily and trust that the one who animates our earthly life will guide our earthly steps away from all that separates us from Him (sin) and toward all that connects us with Him (righteousness).

    While I now know that, I must admit that the legalism in which my early disciple-life was steeped occasionally tries to reasert itself. The only difference between me now and me as a paranoid legalist is an experience of God's grace, coupled with a re-evaluation of grace, or a transformation of heart and mind. How I thank God for rescuing me from legalism, not just for my sake, but for the congregation to whom I proclaim the really good news!

    I understand the "jittery legalists" and hope their experience of God's grace and re-evaluation of grace will lead them to freedom in Christ. So, Steve, every time you take up the wearying task of answering the paranoid legalist, God may be using you in the transformational process of that brother's or sister's life. Be encouraged!

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  4. If one is being accused of licensing sin you are in good company. Paul had to answer to same question, we are teaching grace correctly, if we have to answer that question. "As long as we answer(God Forbid)".

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  5. Jesus was full of grace - If grace is a license
    to sin what does that say of OUR KING?!?!?!?
    By the grace of God I am what I am.

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