For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Jude 4
The other day, during an early-morning gym conversation about spiritual things, I invited a relatively new friend to church. (I know what you’re thinking, “early-morning gym spiritual conversation”? But we actually cover all types of intense topics, from politics, culture, and guns to parenting and familial drama. It definitely helps my treadmill time fly by though!)
After hearing her rationale for why her family doesn’t attend any church, I walked away discouraged—but also with the recognition that it’s a very common reason: She knows all too many people who consider church their Sunday social club; their cars proclaim their church du jour, but their ungodly actions reveal a life no different from the rest of the world. Then there are all those exposed “Christian leaders” who have fallen hard, again giving the Church a bad rap. Despite my responses of, “Well, we’re all hypocrites—no one is perfect,” and, “Sadly, pride goes before the fall,” I do get it. But there’s no quick-fix proof text to counter such negative experiences.
The fact is, Christians can give Christianity a very bad name. I’ve written a lot about the ubiquitous wolves (false teachers) today, as well as very popular movements that pervert the Truth but are very attractive—especially to young people. But I want to bring this issue down to the individual believer. You and me.
As followers of Jesus Christ (Christians), we recognize that because of sin (our inability to be perfectly holy), the perfection of this world and the intended relationship between Man and God is broken. We cannot be good enough to restore that relationship. But Jesus, fully God and fully man, paid the penalty for our sin, exchanging His righteousness for our unrighteousness. Our sins are forgiven, and, through the grace of God, our slate is wiped clean. As the Apostle Paul puts it, “where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:21).
Ah, but this is the slippery rope many Christians use to try and maintain their tight grasp on the world. Their thinking is, “Well, it doesn’t matter how I live, I’m covered by God’s grace—so let’s party!” But they need to read the very next verse from Paul: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1).
When we truly understand the Great Exchange of the Gospel and the fact that we can relinquish our valiant (and exhausting) strivings to earn our way to heaven, we are truly free (John 8:36)! And it’s out of our grateful joy that we choose to live righteously. Will we miss the mark? Every day! Will we be seen as hypocrites? Yes! The difference is, though, that we quickly recognize our failings, ask forgiveness, and change course. Every day, month, and year, we strengthen our walk with the Lord, becoming more and more like Him.
Grace is not meant to be a justification to live however we want. If you attend a church where habitual sin is acceptable and tolerated “because of grace,” either within the congregation or from the pulpit—run. But, more importantly, let’s look in the mirror. Are we using God’s amazing grace as an excuse to maintain worldly living? Or does His grace motivate us to pursue holiness with a thankful heart?
Lord, Your grace is amazing and Your mercy unfathomable. Help me never use these to justify my selfish ambition and desires.
encouraged by grace 