God's Grace Brings Freedom
The enemy has no defense over……what? Do you know? “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen,” Romans 16:20.
We have the power to crush the enemy because God has given us the authority. However, many Christians are not confident in that truth, so they struggle to earn God’s approval by their self-effort. And the enemy is acutely aware that you do not believe you have that authority.
Freedom In God's Grace
He is the master accuser and loves to point out your failures. When we buy that lie, our faith implodes.
We then disqualify ourselves mentally and spiritually from receiving for what we are believing God.
That act of unbelief gives the devil power over you – just the opposite of what the Word tells us we already have.
The truth is basic and simple. Our job is to believe that God’s grace qualifies us for protection. Jesus paid the price so we do not have to. We have the right to walk in divine health and protection.
When negative thoughts come with questions like “How dare you believe God for your healing? You are a failure in His sight. If God loved you, you would not be suffering.” Dwelling on those is buying the lie.
Instead, point to Jesus’ blood. He has paid for all your failures. Point to the promises God made in His Word for each of us regardless of our circumstances.
This is when we begin to understand God’s grace and how perfectly loved we are by our Father in heaven. This makes us realize that we can come boldly to His throne of grace – not sheepishly or wondering if He hears our prayers. When you have a revelation of His perfect love for you that fear will be cast out.
Twisting The Message Of God's Grace
Many people twist the message of God’s grace to fit their agenda by saying that grace will cause you to sin without restraint. This is a lie from the pit of hell.
You cannot be under grace and not be holy any more than you can be underwater and not get wet.
“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” Romans 6:14.
No amount of willpower, self-control, or self-effort can do what God’s grace promises you. Eating disorders, addiction, oppression, or any type of bondage cannot have dominion over you when you understand God’s grace.
The revolution of the understanding of grace is exploding.
The Ten Commandments cannot produce holiness in people. Grace is the power to go and sin no more (John 8:11) Grace is the power over every addiction that is trying to destroy you. Grace gives you lasting freedom.
What God's Grace Brings To Us
God’s grace transforms a person’s heart and produces true holiness which is not only outward but also deep and intimate beginning at the core of your heart. Holiness is a fruit of God’s grace.
The word “holiness” in the New Testament is the Greek word ‘hagiasmos’ which is translated as ‘sanctification.’ When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are justified by faith and made righteous, holy, and sanctified, which is to be set apart unto the Lord.
As you grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus, you are transformed into His image from glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
You cannot become ‘more’ righteous because you are already 100 percent righteous by Jesus’ blood – not by your efforts.
We stop the power of sin by focusing on Who God is in our lives. It is not in teaching the Ten Commandments but in understanding Jesus and the gospel of grace.
Under grace, when you experience the love of Jesus, you will end up fulfilling the law and being holy because of what He did for you. As Paul states in Romans 13:10, “Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
God Saved You By His Grace
When the love of Jesus is in you and you understand Who He is in your life, you fulfill the law. You have no desire to defy God’s commandments. You have the power to love those who harmed you.
That power stems from being firmly rooted and established in the grace of God. Christianity is about God’s love for you which results in inward heart transformation. It is not a religion. It is a relationship. It is not a list of dos and don’ts. It is about intimacy and love from your heart that gives you a taste of His love for you and a desire to live a holy life.
“God saved you by His grace when you believed. You cannot take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT.
A rich young ruler in Luke 18 came to Jesus saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He wanted to be justified by his works and the Lord gave him the law to bring him to the end of himself.
Jesus responded, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me.”
The young ruler was lacking one thing. The first commandment is, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” Exodus 20:3. Money was this man’s god. He did not want to change. He walked away sorrowful when the Lord asked him to sell all that he had.
The difference between this young ruler and Zacchaeus is amazing. There is no record that he gave one cent to the poor. No commandment was given – only grace. It resulted in Zacchaeus giving half his wealth to the poor and making a public commitment to repay fourfold everyone from whom he had stolen!
Grace Supplies
The law demands – grace supplies. The law results in fear, guilt, and sorrow. Grace supplies and it produces generosity, holiness, and inward heart transformation.
What should we share? Justification by words through the law? Or justification by faith through the power of God’s grace? Sadly, many believers are taught to believe, like the rich young ruler, that they are justified by their works. They become conscious of failing God and are in fearful expectation of God’s punishment or judgment.
When something bad happens, it reinforces that fear. Even when things are going well, they fear losing God’s blessings because of a mistake they may have made.
This results in insecurity, dread, anxiety, and all kinds of fears which become their constant companions. It robs them of living an abundant life in boldness and confidence.
Justification by faith produces hope, peace, joy, and a heart for Jesus that results in good fruit. Attempting to be justified by works produces fear and anxiety.
NO ONE can meet the demands of the law and be justified. We can be justified only by faith in the blood of the Lamb of God. Anchor yourself in that truth.
Our justification is from faith to faith, not faith to works. It is accomplished from start to finish by faith and faith alone. (Romans 1:17)