Living Grace

Living Grace

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: 1 John 1:, Ephesians 2:4-10

I think we know about saving grace – “for by grace are you saved…” – but what about living grace? Living life by grace?

Romans 7 says the Law of God was given to show us what sin was.
But we don’t live according to the law, we live according to grace.
What does look like to live according to the Law?

The way I see it, I have a list of things I should do, and a list I shouldn’t do.

The problem is that when I focus on not doing something wrong, what do I end up doing?
When you tell a child, “Don’t touch this,” what do they now want to do?
They hadn’t even been aware that “this” was there to be touched.
But the law, “Don’t touch this,” awakened sin in me.

It is very similar with trying to control your thoughts by fighting thoughts with thoughts - by saying, don’t think of this.

What you then think of is “this,” and the Law, don’t think of this,” actually
re-enforces “this” in my mind.

Rom.8:5 “…those who live according to the Spirit, sets their mind on the things of the Spirit.”
So I don’t fight thought with thought, I replace it with the Word of God.

I don’t resist sin by sin management; I focus on being who God says I am.

A “churchy” mindset says God is really honored when we give Him our best.
And we think in terms of, if I’m good, God likes me better.

So I make pleasing God my goal in life. (Doesn’t that sound noble?)
If I do all these good things, and stay away from evil, sinful things, then when I need Him, His presence, His power, His favor, I will have attained His attention.

So in our own strength, we try to manage our sin. How does that work out?

When Adam and Eve first sinned, they used fig leaves to cover their sin.
The first act of sin management.
The problem is my fig leaves don’t cover as much as I think they do.
Sin management is thinking I can do something about my sin by working on it.
I do good God things to make me presentable to God, so I can come into His presence.

So what is the answer to my dilemma?
What would happen in my life if I simply believed what God says is true?
Grace brings me into relationship – and that is the only base, that place, that position that I can deal with my sin.

Heb.13:5 “…."I will never leave you nor forsake you."
EVEN when I am sinning – He is right there.

1Jn.1:7-2:2
I want to point out that this is written to Christians. Christians who sin.
What breaks the power of sin? Bringing it into the light.

If my sin can be managed apart from the cross, then I don’t need Jesus.
Jesus died for EVERY sin, because it is IMPOSSIBLE for us to manage ANY sin.

The miracle of grace is that God forgives my sin, and makes me new.
In grace I live out who God says I am.

What would happen in my life if I simply believed what God says is true?
I have His favor. I have His attention. I have excellent standing with Him.
There is nothing more I can do to have a better standing with Him.
I am already His favorite!

Well then??? If I’m already forgiven, and I’m not supposed to work at not sinning, ??? then do I just live any way I want?

Ro 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Of course not!
There is a tension between grace and personal effort.

Grace is a supernatural work, but if you don’t do something, then nothing will happen.
Jn.15:5 “… for without Me you can do nothing.”
It is also true that if you do nothing, it will be without Him.
Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.
Effort is action, earning is attitude.

God doesn’t heal you because He wants to use you. He heals you because He is a GOOD GOD and loves you, and wants to be a part of your life.

1 John 2:1-2 Advocate = helper, one who comes along side.
Propitiation = atoning sacrifice.

If I sin – Am I still a son? YES! I look to His grace, not my energy to stop.
I behave like a son – “I don’t know why I did that, because that is not who I am, God forgive me, God help me not do that again….”