Your Daily Devotional for July 19, 2006

 

July 19, 2006

 

Liberating Grace

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

 

Galatians 5:1

 

Many people today are taking grace and liberty to an unbiblical extreme. They are denying the Word of God. They are saying, “Listen, I am under grace, and I have freedom. I can live however I want to live.” Consequently, they are going right back into a life of bondage because they are abusing their liberty and turning the grace of God into an excuse for wicked living. Friend, may I remind you today that a Christian who is confused about grace is not free. Second Corinthians 3:17b says, “…and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

 

I thank God today that we are saved by grace, and our sins have been forgiven. I thank God for the liberty we have to serve Christ out of a heart of love. You see, grace is not a license to sin. Titus 2:11-12 states, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

 

Biblical grace not only liberates the believer, it purifies his life. Someone once said, “The demand for absolute liberty brings men to the depth of slavery.” This is true not only in our country, but also in our Christian life. God’s grace teaches us to live in a way that pleases him. The Christian who is confused about grace might talk all day long about freedom, but he is in bondage if he is following grace to an unbiblical extreme.

 

We must guard against the teachings of grace that deemphasize holy living. Biblical grace is not an opportunity to sin. As Christians, we should say, “By God’s grace, I want to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Let’s purpose today to be more like Christ in our actions, attitudes, and relationships. Let’s purpose to live our lives in holiness before God. Only then will we be liberated by biblical grace and experience the freedom of a holy relationship with the Lord.

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