Destined to Reign

1. Grace is undeserved favor, not a reward for good behavior

Grace is the undeserved, unmerited and unearned favor of God — the moment you try to merit the free favors of God, His grace is nullified.

Grace defies human logic. It is God's kindness and blessings given freely, regardless of our actions or worthiness. This concept challenges our natural inclination to earn rewards and avoid punishment. Under grace, God's blessings flow from His goodness, not our performance.

Examples of grace in action:

• A corrupt tax collector (Zacchaeus) receives Jesus' favor without condition
• The woman caught in adultery is forgiven and not condemned
• The prodigal son is welcomed home with celebration, despite his failures

Grace empowers believers to live righteously by first accepting that they are already righteous in God's eyes through Christ. This shifts the focus from striving to earn God's approval to resting in His unconditional love and acceptance.

2. The law condemns, but grace empowers and transforms

The law always ministers condemnation. Grace, on the other hand, always ministers righteousness.

The law exposes sin but provides no power to overcome it. It sets an impossible standard, leaving people feeling guilty and condemned. Grace, however, provides the power to live righteously by first declaring the believer righteous.

Contrasting effects of law vs. grace:

• Law: Increases awareness of sin, leads to guilt and defeat
• Grace: Increases awareness of righteousness, leads to confidence and victory

Under grace, believers are empowered to overcome sin not by their own efforts, but by resting in Christ's finished work. This leads to true heart transformation, rather than mere behavior modification driven by fear of punishment or desire for reward.

3. Jesus fulfilled the law, freeing believers from its demands

Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law perfectly on our behalf. All that we were unable to do, He did on our behalf.

Christ's perfect obedience satisfied the law's demands for all who believe in Him. This means believers are no longer under the law's jurisdiction or subject to its penalties. Instead, they live under a new covenant of grace.

Key aspects of Jesus fulfilling the law:

• He lived a sinless life, perfectly keeping all commandments
• He bore the punishment for all sin on the cross
• He rose again, declaring believers righteous before God

This frees believers to live by faith in Christ's finished work, rather than striving to keep the law in their own strength. It shifts the focus from what we must do to what Christ has already done on our behalf.

4. Righteousness is a gift received by faith, not earned by works

Righteousness is a gift. It is not a reward for perfect obedience to the law.

Righteousness by faith is a core tenet of the gospel. It means that God declares believers righteous based on their faith in Christ, not their own moral performance. This righteousness is imputed, or credited, to the believer's account.

Key aspects of righteousness as a gift:

• It is based on Christ's perfect obedience, not ours
• It is received by faith, not earned through works
• It is permanent and unchanging, not fluctuating based on behavior

This truth frees believers from the burden of trying to earn God's favor. Instead, they can rest in the assurance that they are always righteous in God's eyes because of Christ, empowering them to live righteously from a place of acceptance rather than striving for acceptance.

5. God's love and forgiveness are constant, not based on performance

There is nothing that you can do that will make God love you more and there is nothing that you can do that will make Him love you less.

God's love is unconditional. It does not increase with our good behavior or decrease with our failures. This truth challenges the common misconception that God's affection for us fluctuates based on our actions.

Implications of God's constant love and forgiveness:

• Believers can approach God boldly, even when they fail
• There's no need to "earn back" God's favor after sinning
• Freedom from fear of punishment or rejection from God

Understanding God's unchanging love and complete forgiveness liberates believers from performance-based religion. It enables them to relate to God as a loving Father, rather than a harsh taskmaster.

6. Living under grace leads to victory over sin and destructive habits

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Grace empowers holiness. Contrary to the fear that grace leads to licentiousness, the Bible teaches that living under grace actually provides the power to overcome sin. This is because grace changes the heart, not just external behavior.

How grace leads to victory over sin:

• It removes condemnation, which often perpetuates sinful cycles
• It reveals our true identity in Christ, motivating righteous living
• It provides the Holy Spirit's power to overcome temptation

Believers who understand grace find that their desire to sin diminishes as they grow in their appreciation of God's love and forgiveness. They live righteously not out of fear or obligation, but out of love and gratitude.

7. Mixture of law and grace nullifies the power of both

When there is mixture between the old and new covenants, between the covenant of law and the covenant of grace, you lose both and the benefits of the two covenants are nullified!

Law and grace cannot coexist. Attempting to live under both systems simultaneously leads to confusion, frustration, and powerlessness. It's like trying to put new wine into old wineskins – both are ruined in the process.

Effects of mixing law and grace:

• Diminishes the power of grace to transform
• Reintroduces condemnation and fear
• Creates a performance-based relationship with God

Believers must choose to live fully under grace, rejecting any attempt to earn God's favor through law-keeping. This allows them to experience the full power of the new covenant and its transformative effects.

8. Faith comes from hearing about Jesus, not from self-effort

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. The more of Jesus you hear, the more faith rises in your heart.

Focus on Christ, not faith itself. Many believers struggle trying to generate more faith through their own efforts. However, faith naturally grows as we hear and meditate on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Ways to increase faith:

• Study the gospels, focusing on Jesus' words and actions
• Listen to Christ-centered, grace-based teaching
• Meditate on the finished work of Christ on the cross

As believers become more conscious of who Christ is and what He has done, faith rises effortlessly. This faith then empowers them to receive all that God has provided through Christ.

9. God's goodness, not fear of judgment, leads to true repentance

It is the goodness of God that leads you to repentance.

Repentance flows from grace. Many believe that preaching judgment and condemnation is necessary to bring about repentance. However, the Bible teaches that it is actually God's kindness that leads people to turn from sin.

How God's goodness leads to repentance:

• It reveals God's true nature, drawing people to Him
• It demonstrates the high cost of sin (Christ's sacrifice)
• It provides hope and motivation for change

True repentance is a change of mind about God and sin, not merely feeling sorry or trying harder to be good. When people encounter God's radical love and grace, it naturally produces a desire to turn from sin and live for Him.

10. Believers are forever righteous in Christ, despite failures

Today, God does not remember your sins or hold them against you because He has already judged them in the body of His Son.

Permanent righteousness in Christ. Believers often struggle with feeling unrighteous when they sin. However, the Bible teaches that our righteousness is based on Christ's perfect work, not our imperfect performance.

Implications of permanent righteousness:

• Freedom from guilt and condemnation
• Confidence to approach God at all times
• Motivation to live righteously out of gratitude

Understanding this truth allows believers to quickly recover from failures, maintain intimacy with God, and grow in holiness. It shifts the focus from sin-consciousness to righteousness-consciousness, empowering victorious Christian living.

Last updated: August 10, 2024