Deserting Grace
Galatians 1 & 2
Steve Andrews writes:
Let’s say Roscoe comes to you and says that he is trying to read his Bible and become a better person so that God would forgive his sins. You tell Roscoe the good news that Jesus died to save sinners. You share the incredible truth that we are saved by grace though faith, and Roscoe gets saved. Then, you tell Roscoe the bad news. The good news is that we are saved by grace, but once you are saved it is time to get busy working in the kingdom of God.
First, you have to go to church on Sunday and tell the preacher, so he can baptize you. After you have been baptized and join the church, you must start attending all services; Sunday School, Worship, Discipleship Training, Sunday night worship, Wednesday services, and Monday night outreach.
If you can sing you need to join the choir because if you don’t use your gift, you will lose your gift. After establishing a habit of attending and working in the church, you must develop a discipline personal devotion or what mature believers call a quiet time. Read the Bible everyday—3 chapters from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament so you can read the entire Bible in a year. In addition to the Bible reading, you should start praying for 30 minutes everyday.
Early morning is best because you want to start your day with God. Now that you are saved Roscoe, you must be a soul-winner because this is the great commission. You should average at least one soul saved per month. And I almost forgot the most important thing—here are your tithing envelopes because you must give 10% of your income to the church.
Roscoe is now experiencing a grace hemorrhage, but you don’t even notice the bleeding because that is what you been attempting to do all your Christian life. You have never been able to live up to that standard, but you would never admit it to a new believer. You secretly hope Roscoe will loose his enthusiasm and settle into a mediocre faith that doesn’t make anyone nervous. After sharing the personal growth disciplines, you move to the next item of business of acceptable behavior for a good Christian church member. These mostly consist of NO’s.
· No alcohol or eating where they serve alcohol
· No dancing
· No sports on Sunday
· No tobacco or gambling, unless you are a Kentucky Baptist because they believe even God loves the Kentucky Derby
· No R rated movies unless you wait for them to come out on TV or rent them for home viewing
· No rock or rap music
· No two piece bathing suits at the beach (not a problem for Roscoe, but a good Christian lady would never wear such an abomination)
· No expensive jewelry or cars
· No voting for anyone other than the candidate endorsed by Christian right-wing conservatives
Here are some examples that hit closer to home for our church: No drums, No electric guitars, No race tires in the “sanctuary”, No dinners in the “sanctuary”, No clapping, and the list goes on. It may make you feel better to say, “Well, that is just how I feel or that is how I was raised.” But the truth is that your list is nothing but legalism.
Several contributing factors for deserting grace:
1. False teachers:
2. Vain Tradition: 1 Peter 1:18 says we are not redeemed with vain traditions, but with the blood of Jesus.
3. Pride:
4. Insecurity:
5. Guilt:
6. Hope of acceptance:
1. Power in the Savior (Galatians 2:18-20)
Paul lived his life by grace though faith. He did not do great things for God; rather Christ did great things though him.
We did not work hard to get saved, and we don’t keep the faith be working hard at obedience. Colossians 2:6 says, As you received Christ so walk in Him.
2. Paradox of serving. Three questions:
A. Are there Christian disciplines and commands that define our faith?
B. Do you have to keep the commands to remain in good standing with the heavenly Father?
C. Do I Love Christ?
Consider the answers to the following questions:
· When you teach, is it because you like being in charge of a class or because you love Jesus?
· When you sing, is it because you enjoy the applause or because you love Jesus?
· When you witness is it because of obligation or because you love Jesus?
· When you give, is it because you believe that God will shut the windows of heaven if you don’t tithe or because you love Jesus?
Rev Richard Ryals
