It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 (NASB)
In honor of our nation’s 240th birthday, it seems appropriate to take a few moments to consider our emancipation from sin and what that freedom means to us. I’ll spare you the history lesson, but we should all be well acquainted with the sacrifices made by others that we may be a people who can (still) worship freely.
This week I had the privilege of hearing Ken Ham, founder of the Creation Museum and soon-to-open Ark Encounter, speak at the International Christian Retail Show in Cincinnati, Ohio. He shared some sobering survey statistics, along with several scripture references, to support his statement that America is only one generation away from losing the religious liberties our founding fathers—and others—have given their lives for.
I’m not preaching doomsday here. I am well aware that some believe America’s finest hour still lies ahead. I certainly hope that is the case, but I honestly don’t know. I do know this, however, that the prevailing zeitgeist is not trending favorably for Christians.
So what are we doing with our religious freedom? Paul reminds us in Galatians that Christ has made us free. He then exhorts us to stand firm in that liberty and not become slaves again to a yoke of bondage.
It is at this point I wish to consider the purpose of grace as it relates to sin. In Romans 5:2 (NASB), Paul tells us that “through our Lord Jesus Christ . . . we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand. . . .” So it is by grace that we are to stand firm in the freedom with which Christ has made us free. Paul continues his discourse on faith and grace (v.17) by saying that “those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” So not only do we stand firm by grace, we are also empowered to reign in life through Christ . . . if we receive the abundance of grace that God gives.
So how does this grace work to not only make—but keep—me free? What is it about the grace of God that enables me to stand firm against the deceitfulness of sin?
Some seem to view grace as either a safety net, get-out-of-jail-free card, or perhaps a hall pass to temporarily excuse them from God’s classroom of righteous living <insert wagging index finger>. Titus tells us exactly the purpose grace serves in keeping us free from sin:
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Titus 2:11-14 (NASB)
God’s grace appeared to bring salvation, but it also appeared as an instructor. Grace instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live righteously. It has not appeared as a lamppost upon which to lean in support of our sinful choices. Here we see an irrefutable axiom:
God’s grace is His provision to avoid sin, not His promise to excuse it.
Write that down. Stamp it upon your conscious and subconscious mind. God’s grace is His provision to avoid sin, not His promise to excuse it. But how many times have we made poor choices and sinned because we knew that God would forgive us? Notice my intentional use of the word we. I am just as guilty as anyone reading this.
Here’s the point. Instead of using grace as the aforementioned safety net, get-out-of-jail-free card, or hall pass, let’s begin to rely more upon the grace of God to steer clear of that website we know our eyes have no business viewing, or giving voice to those unkind words that we know will only wound.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!” (Romans 6:1-2 NASB). Rather, let us apply God’s provision of grace to stand firm in our freedom from sin and never again subject ourselves to a yoke of slavery.
