Grace & Faith
My church is called Grace & Faith Church. Grace (what God has done on my behalf and freely offers to me) is awesome! Faith (the way I receive freely the things of God) is awesome too!
I believe in the superabundant grace of God (1 Tim 1:14). I believe in the word of faith. I believe that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:8, 17). Oh yes. I do.
I preach messages filled with grace and faith. I teach people to understand grace and faith. And I try to live a life motivated by grace and faith. I'm a grace-and-faith-man through and through.
A Verse
But did you know, we grace-and-faith-ers have to be careful that we don't slip back into becoming religious (in a bad sense). It's easier than you think to start down the road of legalism (do, do, doing in order to try and be right with God).
"How easy?" you may ask.
Well, just take a well-meaning Bible verse out of context and give it an Old Testament slant i.e. that God is a grumpy old so and so, impatient with us, ready to boot us out of his sight at any moment.
Like this verse:
Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)
There are other verses that can threaten to turn a grace-believer into a legalist if not rightly handled. But this is the one that I'm going to use as an example. (Maybe you can mention or discuss others in the comments.)
Insinuation!
I've heard that verse recited in a way that seems to give it a added meaning that says, "Oh yes, God's a God of grace and we we are made righteous by faith BUT if we don't use faith and act in faith, He's not happy - we don't please Him."
Oh. Oh dear. Really? God's upset with me?
Maybe you were at peace with God, enjoying being a child of God and going along happily, thank you very much. Then this kind of insinuation sends an arrow in your heart to persuade you to get all apprehensive and hesitant.
It could send you into a works mentality of 'Hear faith. Think faith. Speak faith, Act faith. Do that or risk displeasing God!'
Remember, He's the Father!
That verse I quoted isn't even the full verse. It's edited. The full verse is, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
God is Spirit (John 4:24). He can't be known unless we have faith in Him! Why? Because faith is the evidence of things unseen (Heb 11:1). When we're aware of God's presence and we're seeking to know Him, to hear His advice and His encouragement (because He loves us, and we want to be around that love and respond to His love) - it's pleasing to God.
The same is true of earthly fathers. I'm pleased when my kids remember to call me up or pop in to see me - especially if it's just to say, 'Hello,' and not to try and convince me to give them something! (Not that I begrudge helping and providing for my children.)
Just before Heb 11:6, in verse 7, it mentions Enoch - a man from ancient times who is famous for walking with God. Enoch journeyed through his life, led by the Lord and in step with Him. This man's walk of faith so engrossed him that he forgot to die in the usual way and ended up just walking off into heaven with God!
Faith pleases Father God because it's the way to access abundant living. God never wants faith to be a burden to us.
If we read Hebrews 11:6 through a Father's eyes, we read, "Wow, my little one, I'm so pleased your heart is open to mine. You trusted Me. I told you it would work out well. I told you that you could do it! I'm so pleased for you. I am."
Well Pleased
Father God said, "This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased" (Matt 3:17) even before His Son had started His earthly ministry, preached a message or done a miracle! If you believe in Jesus, you're a son or a daughter of God too. He's pleased in you because you're His child, you're family, adopted to be a royal son or daughter of Father God.
Hebrews 11;6 says God is a REWARDER of those who diligently seek Him. He's a rewarder, not a punisher. He's a giver not a taker. When we're established in the true nature of God, oh how we'll delight in trusting Him (having faith in Him)!
To diligently seek Him isn't some kind of religious ritual, it's about passionately wanting to search out the 'deep things' of God - the wonders contained in His heart, and found in His character and His will. To diligently seek Him is to discover that 'secret place' of His love, peace and protection which is untouched by world events and our circumstances. To diligently seek Him is wholeheartedly wanting to worship Him and glorify His grace!
"How marvellous! How wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvellous! How wonderful
Is my Saviour's love for me!"
Go in Peace
Once Jesus was eating a meal at the home of Simon the Pharisee when a woman of ill-repute came and wept at Jesus' feet. She dried His wet feet with her hair. She kissed His feet. Then she broke open a jar of precious, expensive scented oil and massaged the oil into His feet.
The Pharisees refused to call this woman by her name. They just called her a 'sinner.' Yet how pure was her worship compared to the religious posturing and self-important pomp of the religious men who frowned upon her?
She diligently sought the Lord. She ignored the looks of contempt from the legalists who only saw her faults and past mistakes. All that mattered to her in that moment of desperate need was to be in the presence of Jesus. And she was rewarded by the Lord! For God desires to reward us, not to punish us for our sins. Jesus proves it.
He told the woman, "“Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Luke 7:50).
Now Choose
When I started writing this blog post, I didn't plan on ending with the story of the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus. I believe the Holy Spirit inspired me to land here. And as I wrote it, I was moved to tears myself.
(You can read all of the story in Luke 7:36-50.)
I am sure that this particular blog post is purposefully meant to minister to someone (or more than one). If that's you, please let me know by leaving a comment, thank you.
I hope this has helped you to see how easy it is to slip into legalism. Don't be like a Pharisee and be sin-focused. Be Son-focused!
Your failings were abolished through the finished work of Jesus. Have faith in this. Your new birth means God is well-pleased in you. When you're saved by grace through faith, your spiritual eyes are opened to see this. Use them! And enjoy the rewards!