I’m not sure that I personally know people, other ‘believers’ per say, who honestly think that because they are a ‘Christian’ and are ‘saved by grace’...that they in turn can continue to go out and willfully sin, yet have no worries or concerns because ‘God’s grace has their backs’.

But that’s not to say that such people don’t exist today. We read in the book of Jude where certain people would ‘creep in unnoticed’ and introduce heresies to suggest such a thing, twisting the message of grace as a license to sin (1:4).

Yes, Paul was good to explain that while ‘sin might abound, grace does much more abound’ (Rom. 5:20-21), but he quickly nips the lingering next question in the bud by clarifying this does not mean we can continue to sin and expect grace to cover us (Rom. 6:1). He even asks a rather profound question: “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom. 6:2). He goes on to explain in that same chapter why that is an absurd thought given the fact we have been ‘set free from sin’ and are no longer slaves to it. (6:18,20,22). But thank God for 'spiritual insurance coverage'....IF...we do sin, found in 1 John 2:1.

If you missed yesterday’s message, it might be beneficial to you to go read it first before continuing on. We’ve been studying this concept of what God’s grace is, how it works, and why many may have been led to believe it is something that it is not. I continue to marvel as I personally learn more about this ‘Amazing Grace’ that God extends to us who are ‘humble’ enough to admit we need it. (James 4:6)

I‘ve also come to learn that God’s grace is more of an ‘empowering from on high’...to actually ‘do the will of God’, as opposed to Him ‘turning a 'blind eye' away with a wink’ and excusing us when we don’t...do His will (sin). Doing the will of God is no small factor either, given what Jesus makes known to us in Matt. 7:21.

And honestly, this makes more sense to me as well, especially in light of scriptures that teach it is ‘by grace through faith’ alone we are ‘saved...and not of ourselves’ lest we boast in our works (Eph. 2:8-9). If it is actually Christ in us who is leading us to fulfill His law, or fulfilling it through/in us, then it’s much easier to see how it is ‘all Him’ who does it, and not us. All we have been called to do is ‘take up a cross, deny ourselves, and follow Him’. This also sheds new understanding to that well-known passage in Galatians 2:20. Go take a look at it now if you are unfamiliar with it.

Ask yourself this: Did Jesus raise Himself from the dead, or did God the Father raise Him up? (Acts 3:15). So do you think it’s possible for us to produce the desired ‘fruit’ in our lives that Jesus is looking for? Can you really produce ‘patience’ in your life, or is it possible that we are ‘led to die’ to impatience...and the ensuing results is the fruit of patience that is produced when we die to the former? (John 12:24; 15:4-5; Rom. 8:13).

We ‘put to death... self/flesh’...when we are tempted to sin and then resist those fleshly desires; and it is not God who is tempting us. (James 1:13-16; Eph. 2:1-3; Eph. 6:12). When the enemy comes to entice us, it is in that moment that we prove to God what we love more, Him...or that sin. But here’s the catch- we are no match for this ‘enemy’ of ours; he is far more wise, experienced, and stronger than us; which is why we need a ‘covenant partner’ (Jesus) to take on our enemy for us. That’s one of the ‘perks’ when you are in covenant with God. Remember, we were not told that ‘we’ are greater than the enemy, but it is ‘Christ in us who is greater’. (1 John 4:4).

So when we are tempted, we have a ‘High Priest’ who He Himself was tempted just as we are, yet was without sin...and He is able to come to our aid when we are tempted. (Heb. 2:18; 4:15). Guess what He provides for us in that time of temptation, if we are humble enough to seek and ask for it? It is His ‘grace’ that He offers us, a supernatural empowering to ‘stand and resist’ (Heb. 4:16). I don’t advise you trying this on your own. And yes, there will be some ‘suffering’ in the flesh that occurs when we stand, and ‘die to self’ as we embrace that cross and deny ourselves; but...but...but...it is through this ‘suffering’ that we overcome this flesh nature and in turn...’cease from sinning so we can do the will of God’ (1 Pet. 4:1-2; Heb. 12:4). And look what we can anticipate in this process: “after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace will come to strengthen and establish and perfect you’ (1 Pet. 5:10).

Let me give you a moment with that last paragraph (2 Tim. 2:7).

Interestingly, after I posted yesterday’s message laying more groundwork for this message today, I found myself asking...”So Lord...what does it mean for us to ‘extend grace’ to others?” I certainly don’t possess the power or ability to give to others so they too can stand in the battle and resist sin and the enemy. When I think in terms of extending grace to someone, I think of a person who might be getting under my skin, maybe even ‘wronging’ me... but instead of lashing out at them, I ‘extend grace’ by showing kindness and patience and withholding anger and wrath. So is ‘extending grace’ to someone more like giving them a ‘free pass to sin’, like so many have come to believe God does for us?

This is what ‘came to me’ in response to that question. I was directed to Romans 12:14-21 and talk about the ‘lights going on’! It’s not up to me to ‘administer’ judgement and wrath. I’m called to love others as He first loved me (Rom. 5:8; John 15:12). IF...there is any wrath or judgement to be carried out...that’s God’s job, not mine; hence the advice that we ‘make room for it’ by backing off and just ‘turning the other cheek’ and praying for those who come against us. “Father...forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). That is what it means for us...to ‘extend grace’ to others. Let’s face it...we were all living in rebellion to God at one time, and He could have wiped us all out for it; but He didn’t.

I suppose this is where the old adage comes for us to ‘worry about yourselves’ and take care of what we need to take care of...God will sort it all out in His time and in His ways.

Tomorrow perhaps, and ‘Lord willing’...we can look in a more practical way as to how grace operates in our lives so we too...’can walk as He walked’ (1 John 2:6).