Grace and Forgiveness

So what is Grace? What's it to me? I ask myself time and again but just couldn't really comprehend the meaning of this word. But with all that I can wrestle within my heart I am determined to find the answer. Because the knowledge of this changes perspectives on the Christian walk.

Have you ever heard a friend say: "I am not holy enough, therefore I don't think I can be a Chrstian" or "What's the point? Christians still do whatever they want, so what's the difference?"

Before these questions be answered, let us take a look back in time

The laws: Ceremonial, Civil and The 10 commandments were first created because God's people asked for them. When Jesus came and was crucified, He fufilled the Ceremonial and Civil laws, but what about the 10 commandments? Romans 3:21-31 says that Jesus was presented as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. And in verse 31: "Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law."

You know how Grace and Mercy always go hand in hand?
Grace - no strings attached, free for all (Righteous or not)
Mercy - out of pity, leniency, favour

E.g. Grace - when Jesus died for one and all. Mercy - When He knows in our imperfection we fail from time and again, He is always ready to forgive.

So does Grace = Freedom? What is this freedom? Freedom to do whatever we want? or Freedom from sin?

"Freedom is not the ability to do what you want to do. Freedom is not the right to do what you want to do. It is the power to do what you should do."

If Grace = Freedom, then Grace was not given to us so that we have the ability to do what we want to do, neither was it a right to have, but it is a power given to us to do what we should do. All of us have the ability to make choices, the right to choice, but not many of us have the power over choice. This power is self-control, and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.
When you receive God's Grace, you receive power. After receiveing this power, how are you as a Christian going to use it?

John 21:15-18 This is the second time Jesus asked Peter 3 times whether he loved Him. Jesus already knew the first time when He asked Peter that Peter was goind to deny Him. It says in verse 17 that Peter was hurt because of this. God brings us all to a point in time where our hearts must be broken before He can use us. When our hearts are so full, there is not room for Him to come in. But in being broken, He can then seep through those cracks and do something in us.

Grace can only be experienced when we're most inconvenienced/uncomfortable/down and out. No one can sit comfortably on a couch watching tv and say that he is experiencing God's Grace. In John 21:18 says that Grace takes us on a path we do not want to go, therefore its never going to be an easy path, because who wants to walk a path that is going to hurt us? Therefore the Christian walk is not an easy one, and if you find it getting easier for yourself, you know you're deviating from that path of Grace. The Devil doesn't care if you believe in Jesus, he doesn't even care if you go to heaven. All he cares about is that you go there alone. Jesus isn't meant to be selfish. He is meant to be shared.

So do you now think you are not holy enough? It is true, we can never be perfect. Do you think being a Christian is pointless? It is true, we fall sometimes. But no Christian can experience Grace from God and walk away unchanged.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”- Galatians 2:20
12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. - Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore let no Christian say I believe in Jesus but does nothing about it, because faith without action is dead. Your walk with Jesus is like polishing your car. It may look perfect on the outside, but on closer inspection, there are still cracks, scratches, flaws etc. We try hard to obey every command God has given us but Romans 3:23 says that we fall short and there's nothing we can do about it. Thats where Grace comes in when we fall short. Just like wax, Grace fills the cracks and imperfections in our lives. Where we fall short of that standard, Grace makes up for it. Where Man cannot, God can. When it is impossible, it is Him-possible.

A wonderous mystery in the pages of history
Of a Man who bled and died for me
He's more than a story
He's the One who hung upon a tree
His crimson flow poured out for me
He gave His life to set me free
And I fall down
I fall down
I fall down on my knees
And cry Holy is the Lord
Worship Him
Worship Him and adore
- Cry Holy, Planet Shakers