The Danger of Grace: Disobedience
Now imagine if a country wants to ex****t several varieties of their
tasty fruit into the United States, yet for reasons of public safety, our
government decides that poor health conditions in that country are too
dangerous to permit it.
So unable to legally trans****t their fruits into a willing-to-buy
U.S.
market, they begin to smuggle in their goods, and before long, their
amazingly tasty food becomes a sensation.
Unfortunately, the government's refusal to legalize the im****ts shows
real wisdom. Soon people start to get strange illnesses traced to the
fruit,
and some even begin to die. What's worse, the fruit begins to infect genes
and harm unborn babies.
But strangely, the desire for the fruit continues to soar-people eat
it
ravenously despite the laws against it and the health effects. The
government decides to take decisive action, and soon creates an amazing
serum from a very rare blood type that sustains the lives of people who
eat
the fruit as long as they continue to inject the serum.
To spread the word, the government offers the serum free of charge to
anyone willing to take it. The only catch is that serum receivers are
asked
to evangelize about the dangers of this poisonous fruit. Even though the
law
still considers it illegal to buy, sell, or consume the fruit, they give a
blind eye to those who spread the word.
Sounds suspect, right Who in their right mind would willingly
continue
to eat the fruit knowing that it destroys their body and their children's
lives And most Americans who respect our laws would be outraged by such
willing defiance and would not tolerate it.
Unfortunately, these Americans treat God's law the same way. Is it
right to willingly eat the fruit even with the serum Of course not, but
some
Christians think that because we have a serum, called "grace," our sins
are
covered in even willful disobedience. Does it really make sense to
continue
to sin because we have His grace God wants to blot out sins not only in
our
lives, but also from the universe-might we consider cooperating by
committing to obedience
We must remember that there is a very fine line between admitting
that
we cannot overcome sin on our own and willful disobedience. Someday, the
former will lead to the latter if we do not trust our Lord's promises that
He can help us obey God's law (Revelation 3:21). The amazing thing is that
the Bible says if we cling to Jesus, we will have victory. So I think the
real question should not be, "Why are the Commandments so hard to obey,"
but
rather "Why am I finding it so hard to trust God's promise" Too often the
phrase, "We can't keep them," really means, "God will forgive me anyhow."
That is presumption, and it is a dangerous game to play with the Almighty.
That's why one of the most passionate arguments fired against
"Commandment keepers" is the same argument that convinces me that obeying
them is really a matter of loyalty to Jesus. It's been said that all we
can
do is believe, for we as sinful beings are unable to obey the law anyway.
But this is really a chilling argument when you unfold its ultimate
conclusion. It's as if they are saying that all of those Bible verses
about
relying wholly on Jesus for salvation are actually saying we must instead
be
puppets possessed by Jesus. He must either overlook our sins with His
blood
or actually take over our bodies, choosing for us. But puppets don't love
Jesus, nor do puppets care or choose. Why should they If we are puppets,
why
care about the law at all-or even Jesus-who is the Commandments, the Word,
in flesh
Of course, the argument about simple belief is countered in the
Bible.
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons
believe-and
tremble!" (James 2:19, emphasis added). Even the devil believes in the
saving power of Jesus, but the Bible says he will not be saved. Which
means
it must require something that the devil and the demons don't do!
What could that be It's acknowledging God by choosing to live the
pure
lives He meant for us. He wants His people to be active participants in
His
plan for their lives. This surely begins with belief, a crucial step. But
it
must not end there. What does faith really mean without commitment "Faith
without works is dead" (James 2:26)!
Should we treat something He came to die for so carelessly Some say,
"Even if I don't want to sin, but do, it is covered under God's blood."
Should we be so dispassionate and neglectful I think the heartfelt plea
is,
"I will commit my heart to God's Commandments as a testimony of His grace
in
my life. Should I stumble, He will lift me up." But if we don't do our
best,
should we expect Jesus to continue paying the price
The Word of God sums it up best as always: "Little children, let no
man
deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is
righteous. He that continues in sin is of the devil; for the devil sins
from
the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he
might
destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God does not continue
in sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born
of God" (1 John 3:7-9).
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