Grace Q & A: Does God ever require anything of us?

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 NKJV

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1 NASB

 In the recent weeks, we've been in an extended study of the great Grace of God. We've been getting back to the basics of the Good News Gospel of Jesus Christ. We've just been doing a simple Grace question and answer format. If you have questions, by all means, leave them in the comment section below. 

 So far we've seen that we are not under condemnation under Grace. We've asked the question is God always pleased with us? Today, I sense the guidance to address another issue. Does God ever require anything of us? If He does how does that reconcile with Grace?

 Does God ever require anything of His redeemed? His children? This is a question that requires the delicate balance of the Word of God. Because legalistic religious tradition and the unlearned foolish would misapply and mislead. Religion would have one to believe God demands and requires works and achievement and performance to secure God's love and favor and goodness. The foolish would float around thinking there is no standard of conduct, no perimeters within to operate, a do what thou wilt philosophy.

 We must use the Scripture, rightly divided because there are times and situations where God does require something from us. Under the Old Covenant God required the Children of Israel to follow the demands of the Law. In His mercy, He instituted the sacrifices, which do give us a foreshadowing of the once for all sacrifice of Christ, for when they missed it. 

 In the New Covenant, we also see passages that seem God is putting forth requirements for believers. Rightly divided we see God requires things of Christians who are called into ministry and leadership roles. The key here is understanding these are Christians who are freely entering the service of the Lord. 

 Serving in ministerial leadership has some requirements because we are representing Christ to a fallen and fractured World who need to see real people. People who can help lead them to the Savior. Leaders who won't take advantage of them. Who aren't out to hurt them or mislead them. 

 Now the religious among us who fight Grace and wish to institute a performance centered gospel would readily say if there are requirements of a believer then that isn't Grace. They would proclaim I thought you hyper-Gracers say that God did it all? Why do you have to "do" anything? 

 Their motive is to get people back under works. What they fail to understand is what the Hyper-Grace Gospel is all about. Grace isn't a do-nothing message. It is a do-nothing in order to receive His love, goodness and favor and blessings. If you're engaging in spiritual disciplines or works in order for God to do something for you, then you are operating under Old Covenant principles. 

Whatever the demand Grace is the supply

 Now, let's bring all this together. Even if there is a demand or requirement under Grace we must understand God has already given us the supply. This is the aspect of Grace that some forget. 

 The Law demands but it can't supply. Religion can see portions of the New Covenant that address behavior or spiritual disciplines like prayer and turn them into requirements that must be met in our own effort and strength. Any aspect of the Christian life can find its supply in Grace.

 Whatever the demand Grace is the supply. The Law demands righteousness. Grace supplies that righteousness in the person of Christ. 

 Religious tradition makes ardent, strenuous demands of people. Grace supplies the believer with the truth of who they are in Christ. Grace reveals their true identity and acceptance with their loving Father God. 

 The flesh makes a demand that we fulfill its lusts and unrenewed desires. Grace supplies us with the empowerment over that addiction and the freedom and deliverance from darkness and destructive habits. Grace shows us we don't have to surrender to that addiction or habit. 

What has He required of us?

What has God asked of us as New Covenant believers?

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:29 NASB

23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 1 John 3:23 NKJV

 What has God asked of us? Simply to believe and walk in His love. When we believe in Him and love others we will walk in wholeness and uprightness. The standard isn't rules or regulations from men, it's adhering to what God said in His Word. Well brother, if He is asking this of us then we are earning something, right? No, God also has given us faith and put His love in our hearts when we received Him. 

He commands us to walk in love but supplied that ability to do so. Romans 5. He commands us to believe but He gave us His Faith, Ephesians 2 and Romans 10. Wherever we see demand know Grace brings a full supply.

 In summation, we can't say it enough. Wherever there is a demand God has already supplied it. God tells us to forgive, but He has already forgiven us, so we can forgive others. He gave us His righteousness and made us holy once for all time in the Finished Work. So we can walk uprightly because He already made us holy. Grace did it all and any requirement finds its full supply in Grace.

Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Grace Q & A: What about Repentance?

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 NKJV

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1 NASB

 We've been in a study of the Grace of God. The Good News Gospel of Jesus Christ. We've been getting back to basics and asking and answering simple questions about the Grace of God. So far we've discussed what Grace is. We've seen how we're no longer under condemnation. We've addressed the issue of cheap Grace and answered the charge that accused Grace teaching of being only for sinful people and the Lazy. 

 Today, it seemed good to address the issue once again about repentance. What is the relationship between Grace and repentance? Some accuse Grace teaching as being against the idea of repentance. Some say we teach we can sin all we wish and never need to repent? Is this an accurate assessment?

 This is not an accurate assessment because this assessment of Grace is based upon hearsay, conjecture and even some hyperbole. What we must consider is that among all denominations, churches, and Christians are differing theology on sin and repentance. Allow me to elaborate. Some simply feel repentance is a sense of "sorrow" over sin and then asking God to forgive it. Still, others, feel that true repentance is to turn from committing sinful deeds, that is if one is habitually sinning the same sin they still haven't repented.

 Still, in the face of differing views, Radical Grace is charged the same. We are accused of teaching that when you sin you need not repent. Or that we can freely pursue sin and never concern ourselves with sin. How should we respond to this charge?

 First, we must understand the enemy opposes the work of God. He brings these false accusations to deter us from proclaiming the glorious truth of the Good News Gospel of Jesus Christ. The enemy uses many voices to distract people from hearing the Good News. Religious tradition, legalism use the same accusations they charged Paul the Apostle with. That Grace teaches sin is acceptable. That Grace says it's good to sin without restraint and there is never the need to change. 

 I understand the need to bring clarity. I understand the need to qualify what we say at times. Certainly, no one should desire to be misunderstood. That is understood but at the same time we must not get so distracted we spend more time trying to explain to legalists what we are actually saying than actually proclaiming the Gospel truth. 

 To once again answer religion's accusative charge, what Gospel are they hearing? The truth is they can't grasp the concept of once and for all time sacrifice. The Finished Work of Christ. Hebrews clearly reveals it had to be a once for all time sacrifice. 

  Jesus bore the sin of all, once for all time. He paid the ultimate price. Once He shed His sinless perfect divine blood, that settled the sin issue once for all time. Once the sacrifice was made what other sacrifices are equal to it? Is it our apologies? Is it our sorrow? Is it our groveling? Is it our confession? Only His Blood bought us once for all time forgiveness and perfect righteousness. 

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.  Hebrews 10:18 NASB

 This is the answer to the charge. When we sin we aren't confessing the sin or sorrowing over it, in order to receive forgiveness of that sin. That is what people selectively hear. They hear what they wish and discard the rest. No one said we should keep sinning that Grace will abound. No one said sin is ok or something to be pursued.

 In truth, no one is even saying we should never confess our sin. That we should never feel sorrow over sin. In reality, there are times when we blow it and it can affect others. In those situations, we may experience sorrow and remorse for how our actions were detrimental to others. Why? Because we have the Love of God shed abroad in our hearts. Our heart desires to bring joy and gladness to people. 

 That said, we stay with the Gospel. We know and understand our confession, or as it is really defined in Scripture, agreeing with God about our sin, acknowledging it, doesn't make us more or less forgiven. Sorrow may come about after we miss it but we can't allow that to dominate our thinking or dictate our identity. 

Some things to remember

1. Under Grace right and wrong are still right and wrong.

Truth hasn't changed under Grace. Meaning, right, and wrong is spelled out for us in the Scripture. It is still wrong to commit adultery or lie or steal. Because God's Love is our guide, He wouldn't direct us to sin. 
2. The Scripture is still the absolute highest authority and is the truth of God. 
If we disregard the Scripture as God's Word. If we do some mental gymnastics to dismiss clear warnings and clear statements of right and wrong because it messes with our emotional sentiments we've disregarded His Word, His truth. 
3. If we disregard His Word, then there are no standards and anything is "permissible".
Once we operate outside the perimeters of Scripture, feelings, unrenewed desires, ideologies become the foundation of right and wrong.

 With the foundations once again established, and this charge about Grace and repentance addressed, how then do we define repentance? Is repentance defined as turning from sin? How about sorrow for sin? Is groveling to our Father when we blow it the right image of repentance?

No, these are the definitions of men. Repentance is clearly defined in the Scripture. It means to change one's mind. It means to embrace right thinking and reject wrong thinking. Hence the need to reestablish the foundations. Right thinking is possible when we renew our thoughts to His thoughts. How do we know His thoughts? They're found in God's Word. 

 Religious traditional holiness concepts claim repentance is a turning away from sin. This may be the way repentance was seen and understood under the Old Covenant. Look at how the ministry of the New Covenant distinguished repentance and turning here.

 The issue with this turn and cease from all sin definition becomes a works oriented gospel. That is not good news and is not the Gospel. New Christians and those who've been a Christian for many years may be struggling with a sin. If the leadership holds this definition of repentance, it translates to them teaching these particular Christians either lost their salvation or were never saved. They did not truly repent. That's contrary to the simple Good News Gospel Paul preached.

30 Then he led Paul and Silas outside and asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

31 They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all your family.”Acts 16:30-31 TPT

 What about repentance? What must we do to be saved? What about repentance and Grace? It is simple if we stay with the Scriptures. Follow New Covenant truth. 

 Repentance is a change of mind, that's it. What is the role of repentance in our salvation? Changing our minds about Jesus. Changing our minds about our condition. Changing our minds about the simplicity of the Gospel. This change of mind is not a conscious effort. It's a natural response to the hearing of the truth of His Word, the Gospel truth. 

 Salvation isn't a commitment to turn and cease from all wrong. It isn't a turning to good works. Good works and walking out our holy identity is a fruit of the Gospel not the root of our salvation. 

 Grace and repentance are always active in our relationship with our Father. We are constantly changing our minds about who we are and what He said about us. In other words, When our thinking contradicts His Word, that is what He said about us, our circumstance or our standing before Him, we change that thinking to align with what He said, not what we feel in our minds. 

 In summation, don't allow tradition to move you away from the simplicity of the Gospel. Don't allow man's words to define repentance. Stay with God's Word. Repentance isn't a scary word. It is part of the Good News that we can change our minds and think His thoughts. It's Good News because it shows us we can relinquish traditional religious thinking, wrong Worldy concepts, lies of the enemy, and embrace what our Father says. 
image courtesy of jesadaphorn @freedigitalphotos.net

Grace Q & A: Is God really always pleased with us?

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 NKJV

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1 NASB

 We've been in an ongoing study of The Good News Gospel of Christ Jesus. We've been getting back to the basics of the amazing Grace of God. We've addressed the objection of too much emphasis on Grace. We've looked at the truth that we are no longer under condemnation. 

 Today I sense the leading to answer another question that some have asked about Grace. In answering this question, we will allay yet another myth about Grace. Is God in fact always pleased with us? Is there a way we can be displeasing to God?

 Before we answer the question fully, we must first ask ourselves something. Why is the concept that God is pleased with believers somehow controversial and even unsettling to some Christians? Is believing that our Father is well pleased with His children somehow diminishing to God's character?

 Based solely on interviews given by certain religious leaders and their writings and sermons, the biggest objection to the concept that God is always pleased with His family seems to be that this view lessons God's moral standards. That He no longer brings correction.  He never bothers with instructing His people. 

No correction under Grace?

 The disconnect in the religious tradition-minded is that they don't fully understand true Biblical correction. Instruction is given out of love and not out of anger or disappointment. To illustrate, think back to when you first began instructing your children how to properly eat with a utensil. 

 When you instructed or corrected their use of the utensils were you angry? Were you berating them with harsh words until they got it right? Were you sore displeased in them when they didn't get it right? No, you love them and you took time to show them the correct way. 

 In a similar fashion, God's correction isn't harsh. He isn't angry at His Church! Sadly, some believers feel they didn't have a sincere church meeting unless the speaker reminded the people of how often they fall short and fail to measure up. 

 Some believers cling to a flawed concept, a faulty mindset, a wrong image within, that God, through the avenue of His Spirit is perpetually reminding believers of their sins, shortcomings, and failures. Is this the work of God? Is this the moving of His Spirit? God's Word would call this concept false.

 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12 NKJV

If He said by His Spirit that He would no longer remember our sins then why would His Spirit contradict the Scriptures and remind you of your sins? God isn't reminding you of your failures, that's the enemy and His condemnation and accusation attacks. Resist those fiery darts and stand strong in your righteousness in Christ. 

  What about correction though? If God's not bringing my sin to me why does He correct or instruct me? When God brings correction He reminds you of who you are and whose you are. Sin and shortcomings are an attack on your identity. 

 Look how Paul by the Spirit brought instruction and correction to those in Corinth, here and here. Be it strife and division, or even sexual immorality among the church, the correction was the same. He reminded them of who they were. He brought them back to their identity. In other words, the Spirit was saying, this isn't you. 

"Who told you that?"

 In Genesis, God asked this of Adam. This is how God corrects and instructs us. He wants us to be reminded of who we are. The World system, the flesh, (or thinking that isn't aligned with the truth of God), and the enemy try to tell you who you are. They call you addict. They call you immoral. They call you moocher. They call you a failure.

 God looks at you and reminds you of who you are. He speaks to your identity. He speaks of the real you. He looks past the sin or misdeed and doesn't allow your actions to define you, but His Finished Work to define you. Allow God to tell you who you are not your poor choices, not any addictions or habits, not the defeated enemy satan but your Father who loves you unconditionally, eternally. 

 Is God always Pleased with us?

 To answer the question raised, is God always pleased with us? Absolutely. You are His beloved child with whom He is well pleased. What about my failures, my shortcomings, my sins? The answer is identity. God is always pleased with you. Your choices or actions aren't who you are. The Father and the Finished Work define you. While God isn't pleased with negative thinking patterns, misdeeds, sins and shortcomings, He is always well pleased with you.

In fact, it is knowing and fully understanding that He is well pleased with us that brings victory over the enemy and temptation. 

Look at Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, here. Look at the enemy's words to Jesus.

 The enemy said to Jesus, "if you be the son of God..." What is the significance of this phrase? The enemy when tempting Christ, left out His full identity. God had just told Jesus that He was His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. The enemy never addressed Him as the beloved Son in whom God is well pleased. 

 The temptation always includes an attack on identity. When you know you are always well pleasing to God the enemy's temptation loses its power. The strongholds are pulled down when we remember our identity. 

  Well, can't we bring our Father displeasure? We can, but not in the way that religious tradition thinks. Paul speaks of not being able to please God when we are operating from the flesh. In context, Romans 8  is speaking of operating out of the spirit. In other words, when we try to earn, strive, achieve to receive what only Grace provides that displeases God. We are minimizing the Finished Work and attempting to complete in the flesh (works that are done in our own strength) what is only begun and completed by the Spirit. 

 In summation, we are always His beloved children in whom He is well pleased. God isn't mad at anyone. He isn't in a bad mood. He actually likes you. Remember who you are and whose you are and rest in that and walk in victory.