Well, this certainly was a revelation to me. Sometimes as Christians we get caught up in doing our best to make things happen…we’re trying to get God to do things for us. I guess maybe I was caught up in that. The other day I heard this still small voice inside of me say, “Grace is already flowing; all you have to do is just get in it.” That’s all you have to do, just get into the grace and things will happen. And you know what? That grace started flowing at the cross and it’s been flowing ever since.

CJ McKay

Did you know that the Jews in the Old Testament were to follow approximately (there is some dispute among scholars) 613 laws or commandments to be right with God? While these days there might not be many people trying to keep all the Old Testament laws, the mindset of trying to earn salvation is surely alive and well. Let’s talk about why grace changes everything in the life of a believer, and how we can keep ourselves from falling into the trap of legalism. 

1) Understanding Grace

The form of grace you might be most familiar with is the characteristic of God towards people usually described as “undeserved favor” resulting in the possibility of our eternal salvation. But read the Scriptures carefully, and you’ll notice another meaning: “this favor overflows in powerful, practical helpfulness from God in your daily life where you most need it.” ~John Piper, (desiringGod.org) The beauty of this truth: not only does God give us the means to be reconciled to Him and saved from eternal punishment, but He also strengthens us to do what He’s made us to do in our daily lives. 

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

2 Timothy 1.9

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9.8

2) How Grace Changes Us

So how should we live in the face of grace? We should be a deeply grateful, loving, humble people. When our human nature tries to rear up and cause us to be judgemental, harsh, or prideful, we’re forgetting that without God, we’re in exactly the same boat as the people we’re judging. 

The enemy is so tricky, and it’s easy to begin to subconsciously think that because we made the decision to follow Jesus, we’re actually better than the people who haven’t yet. Or that we’re doing better than other believers for some reason or another. Be wise to the tricks of the enemy, and root out thoughts like that ruthlessly. Humble yourself and immerse yourself in the Word to change your thinking and your heart.

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3) Lean Into Grace

If you find yourself struggling with your thoughts as described in the paragraph above, pray about it, confess, and find scriptures to help you change your thinking (examples to follow). Just as we can’t earn salvation, and we don’t have the strength in ourselves to obey the Word or do what God has called us to do, we also can’t change our minds on our own. Ask God to help you root out thoughts that are unpleasing to Him. Ask Him to replace your thoughts and the attitudes of your heart with His own. God, help me to see people the way You see them. Create in me a clean heart. 

Confession is a powerful way to humble yourself. Talking to God and asking forgiveness for the things you’ve done, thought, or neglected to do help you remember that you’re not perfect; that you need God as much as anyone else. 

Studying your Bible and choosing Scriptures to meditate on will help you change your thoughts. Below are 3 to start with, but I encourage you to find others that speak to you. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3.23-24

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2.8-9

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 30.18

Fighting self-righteousness is something all believers have to do on one level or another. Do you have a go-to Scripture to help you in your fight?

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God bless you. Stay hopeful!

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