So
the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is
with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don't really
understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead,
I do what I hate. -- Romans 7: 14-15 (NLT)
I thank God for His grace. I thank God that His grace is sufficient for me. That His grace covers my sin and grants me eternal life. That His grace assures me that my name is written in the Lambs Book of Life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ however is always a balance. For everyone who focuses solely on His great love overlooks His terrible wrath at their own peril. Likewise, when we focus solely on the awesome grace of God we tend to minimize sin to our great peril. Let me first state that I am not speaking about sin as it relates eternally -- to salvation. The Bible is very clear on that subject:
So we praise God for the glorious grace he
has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in
kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and
forgave our sins. -- Ephesians 1: 6-7 (NLT)
For those of us who are born again,
we are sinners saved by grace. Our eternal question has been resolved. The
grace of God has forgiven our sins and reunited us with the Father. That grace
is sufficient for every sin we have committed and will commit in the future. If
we were sincere when we gave our hearts to Christ then there was a regeneration
of our heart. We started to desire the things of God over the things of this
world. When we stand before God for eternal judgment He will only see the blood
of His precious Son Jesus Christ. Now that is some powerful grace.
So I understand the desire to preach
grace. It should be preached as it is an integral part of the Gospel. It is
even more desirable when you consider how much of modern churchianity is spent
on hammering people for their sins. There are far too many people who walk
around in the bondage of guilt for sins the Savior has already died for! Despite
there being no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, there remain too
many people shackled to condemnation. Too many people who do not understand the
price Jesus paid to set them free. That past that haunts you is exactly what
Jesus died for! That sin or moment of great shame in your past is exactly what
Jesus died for! Here is one step further -- that sin you committed yesterday is
exactly what Jesus died for! His grace is sufficient and His blood covers it
all.
The balanced Gospel however does not
just discuss grace but also deals with sin. I do not preach about sin because I
enjoy it. I do not preach about sin so people can feel bound but rather so
people can learn how to truly be free. Here is the truth today that we need to
wrap our heads around. The awesome grace of God did not erase the existence of
sin. It forgave the offense of it. Even when dealing with grace Paul explained:
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that
God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course
not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? -- Romans 6:
1-2 (NLT)
