Fallen from Grace

I was taught, since a young child, that “Fallen from Grace” meant that because one does not go to church enough, donate enough money or time to the church, etc. one would fall out of God's Grace. Basically not working hard enough or that one's performance does not measure up to a particular standard. These standards are usually established and dictated by the church one attends. Out of so many different churches, which one is even teaching the correct doctrine? I thought that I put myself out of God's love and on a path straight to Hell, over and over again. I would pray & do all kinds of things to clean myself up, then get dirty all over again. What I was taught was actually the opposite of what Grace is all about. My works are between me and God, not for me to brag about so that I can compare and condemn other with. We don't even truly know each others works, so quit judging each other over them. I did not understand many things, for example, forgiveness requires a blood sacrifice, which God offered once and for all. He does not offer a sacrifice every time we ask for forgiveness. If He did, He would have to die every time we ask that of Him. Then, this would become a work that I could compare and condemn others with. I would be relying on my ability to stay on track asking for forgiveness every time I turn around. If you do believe this, you are not rightly dividing the Word of God.

When I finally took myself out of the equation and totally put my faith in what Christ did for the world, I found peace through Grace! I rested in the fact that the sacrifice that Christ made is sufficient to cover all my unrighteousness from the eyes of God; past, present and future. I find it funny that any time the word Grace is mentioned, a religious person seems to always follow up by adding the importance of working hard and being good enough to make sure you get in and stay in God's good Graces. As if every person is too stupid to understand that it is important to live a life of honesty, integrity, good works, etc. They believe that if you don't feel guilty and in constant fear that your unworthiness will send you to Hell, then you are going to live like the devil and just happily bath in sinfulness while losing your salvation. Don't get me wrong, I believe that it is very important to live in the Spirit and not in the flesh. God addresses this subject very clearly in Paul's writings and other books in the Bible. In fact, when you put your faith in Christ (His righteousness, NOT YOURS) then you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. You are sealed for eternity, your heart is changed at that point. The Holy Spirit is with you to help and guide you through His conviction, you are not alone. He can do a better job than your fellow sinning christian who wants to belittle you to put themselves on a higher pedestal.

We were designed to be born with 3 parts; spirit, body & soul. Due to sin, we are born with a soul and a body, but our spirit is dead. Our soul and body are born corrupt. When we put our faith in His sacrifice; the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, to save us from our unrighteousness, then we gain His Spirit. Our flesh is still corrupt and as Paul puts it, we will battle with our flesh until we die. When we die, our flesh, blood and bones will not enter the kingdom of heaven because they are corrupt, sinful. Their is no cleaning this up. Even if it were possible to clean the flesh, God's standard is perfection, which is not attainable by us. Our soul is married to His Spirit and we will gain a perfect heavenly body when we die. So if we want to compare who has the least sinfulness, we are foolish. Some act as though they are so Holy. This is bondage. I am in no way saying that any unrighteousness should be acceptable for a Christian's behavior. But if we teach lost people that Grace is only attainable by faith plus works, then they will never understand what God's Grace is.

If you are adding to what Christ has done, then you have not put your faith in Christ. Put another way, how can you be saved if you don't need saving? If you can do it yourself, then Christ died in vain. Everyone has a right to believe what they want. But as for me, I refuse to go back into the bondage that caused me constant guilt and fear for years. I am free and confident in my salvation because it is a gift from God and NOT a result of my own doing. And I rest in that! From time to time, I may question myself, “Am I worthy enough for Heaven?” My immediate response is, “No, but my savior Jesus Christ is!”

Galatians 5 (KJV)
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Ephesians 2 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.