Thursday, January 28, 2010

Vain grace

Grace can be in vain...now that is a scary thought...

1 comment:

The Righteousness of God said...

Hi Craig & all. Thats a short post, kinda looked 'open for a spiritual pop quiz' so Im taking advantage of it haha. Maybe this will bless new comers to Grace. Grace in vain: Gal. 2:21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Here we see the word 'grace of God' defined by 'Christ' death to secure our righteousness! Anytime I put my self under any system or standard to 'merit' or 'earn' my righteousness (right standing with God) I have just "Frustrated Gods Grace" which is "Jesus obeyed the law fully for me & then became by being made 2Cor.5: 21, everything I was on the cross and bearing my death under the law that I deserved by being (past tense) a sinner." Grace is what God did through & by Christ Jesus that I dont deserve. Grace becomes vain when I try to receive by my works/obedience what I can only receive by grace through Jesus' obedience. Lastly, Gal.5:4 "Christ (Gods Grace) becomes of no effect to me, whenever I am justified by the law (which is NEVER), I have fallen from Grace." Jesus never leaves me or forsakes me but the power, annointing and benefits/blessing of Jesus on my life becomes vain, ineffective whenever I put or trust in my obedience to any type of standard or law to gain access to the blessings of God. I am then left looking very righteous but in reality I have become self-righteous and then poisoned left to persecute/pursue all those who dont look or act as holy as me. Grace in vain, leaves me like Saul who persecuted the church, Gods embodiment of Grace. I have become 'clouds without water,' and 'wind without rain,' loud, boisterous but powerless & ineffective!