In our own self-sufficiency and self-reliance we are not looking for the grace of God. In our pride and grace-averse hearts, we work to keep logs and account books of the works we do and good deeds we do, believing that we must still do more to impress God, rather than realizing Christ said “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Christ was the perfect sacrifice and the only acceptable sacrifice. The single sacrifice that could satisfy God’s need for justice (Romans 5:15-17).
We will continually sin, resist God’s grace, try to impress God, balance grace, justify ourselves to God and others, remain self-reliant, grace averse and live as we please. That is why grace is a free gift. God is pure, so are His gifts. Grace is one of those gifts and why it is given freely, regardless of how we respond. If it was in response or given and pulled back because we did nothing with it, abused it, did not do what God asked us to do it would not only not be a free gift, it would also not be pure. As a result it would not be from God. Not to mention that it would no longer be grace (Romans 11:6). God did not want us bringing our ledgers and books of good works to Him saying, “Look what I did.” It is totally 100% a work of God (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Thanks be to God it is, because we would surely mess it up! Because it is a work of God we know He is faithful to finish what He started (Philippians 1:6). The greatest proof that we have that God will finish what He has started, that we will indeed one day rise again with completely new bodies is the very resurrection of Christ Himself (1 Corinthians 15:12-58).
To make sure we knew it was completely His work and that He would finish it, He gave us His Holy Spirit as a promise or seal (KJV) of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). In Scripture, a seal signifies:
A finished transaction (Jeremiah 32: 9-10, John 17:4)
Ownership (Jeremiah 32:11-12, 2 Timothy 2:19)
Security (Esther 8:8, Daniel 6:17, Ephesians 4:30)
So yes, you will resist God’s grace just like the rest of us, but God knows this. He expected it and made sure your salvation is secured not because of what you do or don’t do but because of what His Son did. Nor are we responsible for finishing the job as every step of salvation is dependent 100% on His grace. His grace really is sufficient even for our messed up theology, weak attempts to please, half-hearted obedience, divided worship and weak sacrifice.
Still some are bound to bring up how John said that those who “abide in him ought to walk like Christ” (1 John 2:5-6) and John quotes Christ in John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” So what does the word “abide” here mean or what is it referring to?
The word abide here refers to staying connected to Christ or in a relationship with Him. What is it that keeps us in that relationship with Christ?
Some would say that it is our obedience, but we have covered that none of us are perfectly obedient. If it is based on our obedience does that mean that when we are just the little bit disobedient God kicks us out. Sort of like, “OK, you did not thank Me over there so because of that you’re out of here.” Some would say it is not the least sins but when your life does not reflect God’s standard of living. The only issue with that is that’s our standard; God’s standard is perfection. Since none of us are perfect none of us will ever be obedient enough to enable us to stay in a relationship with Christ, within on our own ability.
There is another answer given to what enables us to stay connected to Christ here in this passage. That answer would be our faith. When we place our faith in Christ’s finished work God imparts Christ’s perfect obedience to us. Thus making it not about our obedience, but His obedience to God’s laws (The things the Bible tells us to do, which is a lot more than God’s moral law). After all, while we will always fail, He never does. Then through our faith the Holy Spirit works to keep us connected to or in a relationship with Christ. We need always remember that our salvation is a total work from beginning to end completed by God. Remembering this is God’s work makes faith the accurate answer to the question of what keeps us abiding or connected to Christ.
Then motivated by gratitude for the grace we are given daily we make choices, choices to be obedient to God. As we offer our lives back to Christ. This is the choosing to “abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming (1 John 1:28).
However, even here the apostle John knows we will not always make the healthy choice that is based on our identity as a disciple of Jesus. John lets us know that the Holy Spirit not only teaches what choices to make but also enables us to make those choices. He is the same one who covers us and keeps us secure when we succeed, do it half-way or just miss it altogether.
I am writing to warn you about those people who are misleading you. 27 But Christ has blessed you with the Holy Spirit. Now the Spirit stays in you, and you don’t need any teachers. The Spirit is truthful and teaches you everything. So stay one in your heart with Christ, just as the Spirit has taught you to do. (1 John 2:26-27)
We are either in the process of resisting God’s truth or in the process of being shaped and molded by his truth.†
† Charles Stanley, How To Listen To God. Thomas Nelson. 2002, p. 19
What happens if I go on sinning?
Count on it! As you do, you will join the rest of us who continue to do so on a daily basis. As John said, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).
You may hear other people say, “Be careful of teaching grace in such a way that it encourages others to keep on sinning.”
Paul was afraid of encountering this same fear, which is why he wrote Romans 6:1-14. Like Paul, we encourage you now to offer your bodies as instruments of God’s glory. It is important to understand that those warning you about this gift of grace have created their own list of little laws, their lists of acceptable or not acceptable sins. The problem with this is that God’s standard is the ultimate standard and God’s standard is perfection. “But you must always act like your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:48). None of us, no matter how hard we try, will ever be perfect and we will always sin. This is why salvation must be 100% a complete work of God’s to which we can contribute nothing.
When someone who claims to be a disciple of Christ continues to do things that are not glorifying to God, well-intentioned Christians will correct them with a law or instruction on how they should be living or what God’s Word says about what they are doing. There is only one issue with this and that is it rarely corrects the long-term, under-lying problem, “for the letter (law) kills but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Our problem which brings us to sin is not always a habit that needs correcting but an identity issue. We need reminding of our true identity, our new identity in Christ and what it cost for us to have that identity. Without a deep understanding of that cost and our lives without Christ no instructions on how to live will ever be lasting.
We see an example of Paul doing this with a church full of “those sanctified in Christ Jesus” who are living in ways that do not glorify God (1 Corinthians). The whole church of Corinth was affected as a result of these individuals. However Paul does not begin the letter of Corinthians dealing with these issues but by first reminding them of the gospel. The gospel is that while we were distanced from God because of our sin, God chased us and brought us near through Christ’s sacrifice (Ephesians 2:11). If he pointed out where they were failing without reminding them of who they are, more rebellion could occur. The best way to help our brothers and sisters live in a way that shows a heart of gratitude for God loving us even when we were unlovable is not always giving them a lesson in “How To” first. Sometimes depending on the severity of the sin it is better to start with reminding them who they are first and God’s love for them. Then once they are reminded, they will often admit “Yes, I’m not doing