Freedom from sin has never been cheap. It demands a high price called SACRIFICE. God's GRACE is very costly. It is costly because He sent His only begotten Son to die on a cross for us, Ephesians 2:1-10. He paid the price for sin, Romans 5:6-8. Jesus' death reconciled us to the Father, Romans 5:9-11. So the question is, how does God make us righteous? We are justified through FAITH in our Lord Jesus as Jesus Himself defines the Faith that saves. That is why the Bible calls that FAITH "obeying the Gospel." 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 1:22. It is through God's gift, GRACE, that we are justified and have redemption. What this means is that there is no other way in which we can be justified since we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The glory of God is His divine righteousness. His righteousness defines His character. When we sin, we are not righteous. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins through FAITH in Him. Romans 3:21-31. Let's never forget that every time we sin, it takes Jesus' cruel death to pay for it. Therefore, let's not wink at our sins, but turn to Jesus rejoicing in His grace, working out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12.
With God's GRACE in mind, let's never forget that His grace has been manifested for our salvation. This GRACE has brought us instruction, teaching us that we should die to ungodliness and all lusts and to live godly and holy. This GRACE teaches and trains us in how to conduct ourselves in purity, free of every lawless deed, in order to appear before Him as a zealous people equipped for good works. This is how our Father is glorified. Titus 2:11-14. Jesus is our helper in overcoming sin. He has already defeated him who had power over death, that is, Satan. Jesus is our deliverer from the slavery of sin. He gives the help that we need to overcome sin by defeating Satan. He lived and became human like us that He might become a merciful and faithful priest, since He Himself was tempted and suffered like all of us. In knowing all this, let's never forget that He is able to come to our help when we are tempted to sin. Let's never forget our hope and confidence of deliverance. Jesus is our High Priest. Hebrews 2:14-18. This is what the GRACE of God is!
Unfortunately, many are under the belief and are convinced that by keeping a check list of certain moral principles they are going to be good enough to receive eternal life. Let's be careful here and not pursue or establish our own righteousness. This will never work! Let's not make the big mistake of establishing righteousness through our own laws, but rather let's establish righteousness through the FAITH of Jesus. In the Bible, the Law of God refers to the WORD of God and NO man can please God while he sets aside, ignores, or disobeys the WORD of God. Psalm 19 and Psalm 119.
So when we do not seek to be saved through Jesus, according to His calling us through GRACE, II Thessalonians 2:14, the Gospel of Christ, and pursue a different calling, that has been corrupted, we dessert Him who called us, Galatians 1:6-7. So, are we justified or saved by keeping the Law of Moses? OF COURSE NOT . It is ONLY through FAITH in our Lord Jesus that we are saved and justified, and not the works of the Law. Galatians 2:14-16. Now, can we fall from GRACE? The answer is very obvious, YES! If we unyoke ourselves from Christ and seek to be justified by the Law and not through the FAITH of Christ. Galatians 5:4.
In conclusion, let's make it our ambition to live by GRACE and bear good fruit in our daily walk with our Redeemer. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is NO LAW." Galatians 5:22-23. May our Redeemer help us walk by GRACE and bear good fruit to His glory !
Luci
