What does it mean to be under grace?
In this devotion, is my penultimate post on this devotional series “Grace Redefined”, I shall focus on what it means to be “under” grace.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace – Romans 6:14
From the previous discussion post, we recognize that living under the law refers to persons who are subject to the penalties of transgressing the law, by the choices that they make in their lives. Moreover, we know that Jesus Christ died to give access to anyone who chooses, the opportunity to try to live a sin free life and access heaven through the merits of His blood, His sacrifice. Thus, anyone that accepts Jesus’s atonement, and chooses to live a life that Jesus prescribes in His Holy Word, then such a person will not be suffering the penalties of sin, such a person would not be found “under” the law and its judgment but rather under Jesus’ grace and protection.
Did you know that by default we are under the law, that we naturally will choose sin unless we are given external assistance?
- And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. – Gen 6:5
- The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? – Jeremiah 17:9
- Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. – Psalm 51:5
Those bible texts above reveals that mankind, if left alone due to the initial fall of Adam & Eve into sin, will always continue to choose sin. We naturally therefore are living under the law and will face the penalty of sin which is death. Hence, as was stated in an earlier post, the law is a burden to the sinner as it it’s a constant reminder that our transgression brings death.
However, it is possible to escape eternal death, by choosing Christ and the life that He advocates through the word of God. Jesus Christ paid the penalty of sin on the cross for everyone. Unfortunately, while this blessing is accessible to everyone, NOT everyone chooses to accept it.
Yes friends, by DEFAULT we are under the law, but to be under grace requires a choice. Grace has been freely provided but not everyone seeks its shelter. Grace is the umbrella that God has opened to shelter all those who desire freedom from the ultimate impact of sin: death. However, not because the umbrella is opened, it means that you will receive shelter. Shelter is only received by those who go UNDER the umbrella, and thus move from UNDER the stinging drops of sin.
Without grace there would be no sacrifice for sin. The grace of God towards man, was manifested toward us in the form of Jesus’ birth and culminated in His death on the cross for man’s sin ,which now reconciled all those that were willing to be drawn back to God:
- I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain – Galatians 2:21
- 8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. 9 And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it [is] a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance. – Exodus 34:8,9
- 22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: – Romans 3:22-24
However, being drawn back to God is one step, remaining close to God is the other step. Redemption through accepting Jesus and being baptized puts you on the path to righteousness, keeping close to God keeps you on the path to righteousness. How do you keep close to God? By keeping far from sin? How do you know if you are keeping far from sin? To keep far from sin is to keep far from transgressing the law (as sin is the transgression of the law).
Again, do you see how IMPORTANT the law of God is? Do you see why it is impossible to say that the law is “done away with” because of Jesus’ death on the cross? We need to know what sin is so that we can keep far from it. Only the Law of God can reveal what sin is, as sin is the transgression of the law.
Jesus’ death provides access to life, a way out from sin. Sin still exists and will only be destroyed when Christ returns. Thus, it is important and necessary for us to be able to identify what sin is, so that we can keep clean, keep far from the stain of death.
The reality is, while many Christians attempt to dispel with the law, they fail to realize the power and the necessity of the law.
Did you know:
– The law is not oppressive but it grants you liberty?
– The law does not create war or disharmony but it creates peace?
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. – James 1:25
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. – James 2:12
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them – Psalm 119:165
How can people describe God’s law as repressive and yet the Bible states that the law grants liberty and peace? It must be that many have gotten it wrong simply because people seek to do things their own way yet call themselves Christians:
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:22-23
The bible reveals that there will be many who CALL themselves Christians but will NOT be recognized my Christ Himself because their lives are against the will (law) of God.
How can you move from under the law to on top the law as a foundation?
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes – Matt 7:24-29
Therefore, the analogy suggests that by keeping the law (the instructions of Jesus Christ) we can “stand”, but by not keeping (therefore by disobeying the law) we fall back into sin and therefore under the law (no longer standing on top) and thus once more under the consequences of disregarding the law.
Friends, my prayer is that those who are searching for God, seek to know God fully and not partially. That those who are searching for God understand that God wants you FULLY and not partially. Therefore, I encourage us all, that as far as possible to seek for a clear understanding of God’s word; discarding prejudices, fears, selfishness and any hindrance so that when we receive understanding and instruction, we may readily apply it to our lives.