The Gospel of Guided Grace

Remaining and Growing in Grace

Luther on grace:

People don't earn God's approval or receive life and salvation because of anything they've done. Rather, the only reason they receive life and salvation is because of God's kindness through Christ. There is no other way.  Many Christians are tired of hearing this teaching over and over. They think that they learned it all long ago. However, they barely understand how important it really is…This truth alone makes and sustains Christianity. You might hear an immature Christian brag about how well he knows that we receive God's approval through God's kindness and not because of anything we do to earn it. But if he goes on to say that this is easy to put into practice, then have no doubt he doesn't know what he's talking about, and he probably never will. We can never learn this truth completely or brag that we understand it fully. Learning this truth is an art. We will always remain students of it, and it will always be our teacher.

The people who truly understand that they receive God's approval by faith and put this into practice don't brag that they have fully mastered it. Rather, they think of it as a pleasant taste or aroma that they are always pursuing. These people are astonished that they can't comprehend it as fully as they would like. They hunger and thirst for it. They yearn for it more and more. They never get tired of hearing about this truth. Luther

Galatians 2:11-16 (NLT)

      But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.  As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.  When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?  “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles.  Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.

Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) 

    See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

1.  Can we handle and get over criticism without being resentful or bitter about those who criticize us?
2.  Do our emotions ever go ballistic and become convulsive whenever we hear others criticize us?
3.  Do we still carry a hypersensitivity and strong dislike and discomfort when we hear the names of those who have criticized us before?

1. Grace can be missed even as a Christian, so make every effort to remain in and under God’s Grace by constantly examining our hearts and motives

Galatians 5:25 (NLT) 

    If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

Mark 14:66-67 (NLT) 

    Meanwhile, Peter was below in the courtyard. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest [67] noticed Peter warming himself at the fire…

John 21:9 (NIV) 

    When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

2. Whatever areas of defeat that the Holy Spirit puts His finger on, invite God to give more grace, victory and change our hearts in that area

Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV)

     " 'I will change their hearts. Then they will know that I am the Lord. They will be my people. And I will be their God.  They will return to me with all their heart.

Romans 2:29 (NLT)

     … it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Never take our eyes off Jesus – Who is the One who sends the Holy Spirit and empowers us in difficult situations to persevere into victory

Luke 24:49 (NLT)

     “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

     …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Galatians 5:16-18 (NLT)

     So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.  The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.  But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 

3. Follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, receive His grace to transform our hearts, and the fruit of the Spirit will emerge with minimal struggle