Are We Addicted to Grace?
Hi, welcome back. I know it's been waaaaay too long since I posted something. This is because I usually spend my time listening to various podcasts and posting on the message boards of those podcasts. I myself don't have a podcast, but that's no reason I should be silent. So here we go.
Why does a person become a Christian? I don't know about you but the reason I became a Christian (the second time around) was because I had finally recognized my sin and my need to be forgiven of that sin. When a person accepts Christ as their saviour, the old things fall away and they are made a new creation. This new creation is supposed to not want the trappings of our old lives.
But I find that I still sin, repeatedly. Why? Because sin is all we know. We're born into sin at birth and we don't realize we've sinned until we're confronted with the law of God. Once we realize what we've unintentionally done, we want to fix it, but we can't, only God can. So we come to Him to fix us and He does, and we like it. We love that feeling of knowing we are right with God, that we are in His good graces again. So what do we do to show our appreciation for what He has done for us? We go right out and sin again, and again, and again. I think we do this because we know God will always forgive us... ALWAYS. I think we become addicted to God's grace. We know God's grace has no limit, therefore it will always be there when we need a fix. But what if His grace wasn't in endless supply? Would that be what it takes for us to turn our backs on sin and learn how to live something resembling a Godly life?
What are your thoughts?
posted by Zecryphon | 1:32 PM
10 Comments:
"But what if His grace wasn't in endless supply? Would that be what it takes for us to turn our backs on sin and learn how to live something resembling a Godly life?"
This is a really tough question, Z-man. I dont' have a very good answer, but I think that if grace was limited, we'd all be doomed. If someone were able to choose to live without sin, grace wouldn't be necessary. The whole point of the law is to demonstrate to ourselves that our flesh is not strong enough to get the job done. But if there was a end to grace, that would be like Jesus saying, "Ok, I've gotten you this far, but you'll have to go the rest of the way on your own."
So do we sin just because we know grace will cover it? I confess that I have, to my shame, done just that. But Paul's response to this idea was, "God forbid!" (Rom 6:1+) and then goes on to speak of "the way of sin." Could this term have some significance? Is he differentiating between "committing sins" and "living in the way of sin?"
I'm not capable of living a sinless life, but I desire to become more devoted to Christ, which is why I keep trying. Note that my salvation does not hinge on such actions, but my growth as a disciple does.
And, thanks to grace, I can keep my eyes on Christ instead of obsessing about myself all the time.
Hey Dorse, thanx for the response! You're my one and only poster. Admit it, you feel special now don't you. hehehehe
One thing that crossed my mind while reading your response was 'well what if we told ourselves that His grace is limited?' This would force us to live in a way that would limit our trips to the well of forgiveness. But then I realized that doing that wouldn't work either, because then we're living our lives based upon a lie, since God's grace is limitless. So that's no good. God probably isn't going to reward us well for that in Heaven. So, I guess that answer would be, just live your life the best that you can and know that no matter what God still loves us. But then what's the motivation for doing good works or holding to God's law? Ya know other than rewards in Heaven. I know I tend to overthink things LOL.
If you believe--like I do, and I think it's supportable--that all sin is due to a failure to love perfectly, then two things proceed:
1) sin is unavoidable, as we can only theoretically love perfectly;
2) sin is no longer something to avoid as much as love is something to pursue.
So let's fall short in love, as long as we accept that this is what we are called to do. I have no use whatsoever for those who dedicate energy to avoiding "sin" that they've defined to be swearing, drinking, sex, R-rated movies, yadda yadda and yet have no love for their neighbor. That's fake Christianity, just shadow chasing.
That's a great way to look at the "sin" thing, Zeke. But the problem we have is that we can't "love perfectly" until we know that we are loved perfectly. And, most of us don't understand the power and totality of God's love for us. We continue seeing Him in the religious tradition that says we must "earn" His love, and be found worthy of it, before it is extended to us. Sure, they don't come right out and say that, but that is what is translates into. Our response, brings God's grace. If "we will do", then "God will do."
Problem is, that's not love. True love gives without expecting anything in return. And it is given with no chance of being revoked if we don't receive it "properly". It is given with no strings attached, and will not be taken away. But, we don't believe that. And not believing that allows doubt to run rampant through our relationship with God. There is no security in religion's perspective of God. There is no "blessed assurance" that they sing about.
It is only when we see God's love in true light, that we can begin to understand what it means, and how perfect it is. We become the image of "our" God. And that is exactly the problem. Our image of God is tainted with centuries of wrong teaching by leaders who don't have a clue who God is. We can't love others (and ourselves) unconditionally, because we don't think God loves us and others unconditionally.
It's not about what WE do, or say, or think... it's about what HE did to prove His unconditional love to us. What else can He do to prove it to us? HE DIED for His friends. That is the greatest act of love anyone can perform. He didn't ask us if we wanted it. He didn't require us to accept it. He just did it... with no requirement or expectation on our part. That is the greatest act of love the world has ever seen, and we have turned it into a religion to be adhered to. Why can't we see what happened?
If His love is not "big enough" to cover our shortcomings, then we're all in big trouble. It's no wonder so many of us struggle with trying to attain a state of sinlessness. We can't... but He did, and He gives His sinlessness to us freely. And it's not about US and whether or not we "accept" it, but simply a matter of "knowing" it.
We should be resting in the incredible depths of His love, but instead, our doubt moves us to continue to try to EARN it. How insulting that must be to our Creator! We think it's all about what we need to do, when all along, it is only about what He did!
I think that one of the things that helped me to finally (after thirty years of the Christian religion) caused me to truly believe in the good news of God's grace and peace was when a couple of my children failed miserably in accomplishing all that I had instructed them to do and be.....yet I still deeply loved them and would have no more cast them away than I would have cut off my own arm.
I started to realize that if "I being evil" could love that strongly, then how much more perfect was the Fathers love for me...and all of His children.
If there is anything that we can trust the Holy Spirit to always reveal it is that all the good things that come from God are always totally free and in abundant supply.
It really is an endless supply and boy do we all need to know that.
Paulo, this whole post is about a hypothetical situation. It's about a reality that can never exist. It's philosophy, really. What I'm driving at is... what is our motivation to lead "good" lives?
We know we are covered by the grace of God, and no matter what we do we can never ever lose our salvation. We accepted Jesus' finished work on the cross, therefore we are saved, once saved, always saved etc. etc. So where does the motivation to lead a good life come from? Why don't we just use God's endless grace as a license to do whatever we want?
I believe we do good works, not to attain salvation, but as a way of showing that we are thankful that we have received the gift of salvation. It's our little way of saying thank you. Sure we will all stumble along the way, just like any child who is learning to walk, but only by the grace of God will we ever be able to walk worthy in the light of Jesus.
I see what you're saying, Zec. But, I can't seem to buy in to the idea that good works are something we do at all. I think they are something that flow from us naturally as we enjoy the kingdom of God. Living in the freedom bought by Christ enables us to participate in the things God is doing all around us.
Even more, if our "good works" come from us, I can't see that they have any value to God anyway. I think our efforts are tainted, and only add up to some degree of self righteousnes. I prefer to see life with God as us being immersed into the Kingdom, and simply going along with what's already happening. But, so many of us don't see it that way, and feel we have to "do" something to feel that we are a part.
I like to wake up each day thinking not what good I am going to do today, but what He might be doing all around me. A friend of mine likes to say that he hears God telling him... "friend, I'm going to touch some lives today, would you like to come along?" To me that is the heart of kingdom life. It's not about us, but incredibly, about Him. We just get to come along.
We seem to disagree in one area, oh well, if we all agreed there'd be no other religions. LOL
We are immersed into the kingdom of Heaven and the family of God when we accept the gift of salvation, not when we do works. I believe we do works, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, to show that we are thankful to God for reconciling us to Himself.
However, I don't think we just aimlessly go along with God's plan for our lives. I think the attitude of "God is in full control" is kind of a cop out for someone who doesn't want to take responsibility for their actions. Is God in control when you cheat on your wife, or drive drunk or refuse to pay your taxes or lie about something? If He were, then we would never do those things. Works, any works, are a choice. Our whole lives are made up of works. God is pleased when we do good and displeased when we do bad. A good work doesn't necessarily have to be working at the homeless shelter or stocking the shelves of a local food bank during the holiday season. It can be something like holding the door open for the person behind you to walk through first or smiling at strangers as you walk down the street. It can be little things. Little things can make a big difference.
I personally do not know what God's plan for my life is. If this is true how can I then just go along with it? I have to constantly try and discover the plan through trial and error, there's nothing aimless about it.
There are people who continue to live a "sinful" lifestyle even after accepting salvation. They do nothing to show gratitude. They never volunteer anywhere, they never give of themselves, they don't even smile or hold the door. They still live for themselves, and they are still the most important person in the world. They will get to heaven by the grace of God, but they will most likely live in a shanty instead of a mansion.
If we do works that are pleasing to God in this life, then we will reap great rewards in Heaven.
I don't wake up in the morning and think what good works I'm going to do today to further the kingdom of Heaven on earth. Our minds lean towards evil not good. We need God to stir our soul and say "this is how I want you to honor me today." God desires worship and fellowship and a relationship. He gives us ideas of what we could do and we decide whether or not we do those things.
Well, it sounds like you've got it all sorted out, so I won't bother to add my thoughts.
We all become like our God (or at least, who God appears to be to us), and with that... we go through life.
Good luck with that, my friend!
I have thought alot about this and your post and the reality is I think it just really sucks to be human sometimes. I don't mean to dis God's creation but we can be so myopic and self centered. I think that chasing God helps but our legs get tired ,going down the love path helps but we give up so easy. I just hate the whole "I can do it cause I am saved" thought but geez Grace is free.
If we really acted as if our lives did not belong to us, They were paid for then Heaven would be on earth but alas we do not and without Grace we have no hope. I guess the only thing we can do is get up everyday and do our less then perfect best not to sin against God but somehow that seems so little compared to what He gave us.
I like to live and think Grace is limited cause it helps me stay in line but the reality is the way of this world and its hours gets in the way, with myself helping it along.
I don't know maybe I am just a prototype if so there is hope for all
Go out and love tomorrow may or may not come
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