From Good to Grace

1. Obsession with goodness hinders true Christianity

Our ideas of pleasing God involve being good at everything, never having weaknesses or mess-ups, having every skill and gift, and keeping the religious plates spinning at all times.

Goodness addiction defined. Many Christians struggle with an obsession to be "good" in order to please God and others. This manifests as perfectionism, constant comparison, and a focus on external behaviors rather than internal transformation.

Consequences of goodness addiction:

• Feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and failure
• Difficulty experiencing God's love and grace
• Judging others based on outward appearances
• Burnout from trying to maintain a perfect image

The gospel alternative. True Christianity is not about being good enough, but about receiving God's grace and love through faith in Christ. This frees us from the pressure to perform and allows us to live in joyful response to God's goodness.

2. Understand what God truly wants from and for us

God wants the same thing from us. He simply wants us to follow him, receive from him, submit to him, and, as we will discover later, let what we receive from him compel us outward to serve and love people.

God's desire for relationship. Rather than a list of rules to follow, God primarily wants us to know Him and receive His love. This involves:

• Spending time in His presence
• Listening to His voice through Scripture and prayer
• Submitting our will to His leading

God's gifts to us:

• Unconditional love and acceptance
• Freedom from condemnation
• A new identity as His children
• The indwelling Holy Spirit

Our response. As we receive from God, we naturally desire to share His love with others through service and compassion. This outward focus stems from an overflow of what we've been given, not from obligation or attempts to earn favor.

3. Recognize the danger of reverting to works-based faith

We go back because living by our goodness is innate and it's also, I believe, because we're gospel illiterate.

The pull of legalism. Even after experiencing God's grace, Christians often revert to trying to earn God's favor through good works. This happens because:

• It feels more natural to our flesh
• We lack a deep understanding of the gospel
• We fear fully embracing grace

Signs of reverting to works:

• Constant self-evaluation and comparison
• Feeling distant from God when we fail
• Judging others based on their behavior
• Serving out of duty rather than love

Staying gospel-centered. To avoid this trap, we must continually remind ourselves of the truth of the gospel – that our standing with God is based solely on Christ's work, not our own. Regular Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers can help reinforce this truth.

4. Receive God's love as the foundation of Christian life

To receive God's love by faith means to not try to receive it by other things: accomplishments, self-sufficiency, the validation of others.

God's love is a gift. We cannot earn or deserve God's love; it is freely given through Christ. Receiving this love involves:

• Acknowledging our inability to save ourselves
• Trusting in Christ's completed work on the cross
• Allowing God's love to transform our identity and self-worth

Barriers to receiving God's love:

• Past hurts or negative experiences
• Misunderstandings about God's character
• Pride and self-sufficiency

The impact of God's love. When we truly receive God's love, it becomes the foundation for our entire lives. It gives us security, purpose, and the ability to love others freely. This love is not based on our performance but on God's unchanging character.

5. Rely on the Holy Spirit for Christian living

The Holy Spirit is who makes us competent for the Christian life.

The Spirit's role. The Holy Spirit is not just an added bonus to the Christian life; He is essential for living out our faith. His work includes:

• Convicting us of sin and guiding us in truth
• Empowering us to overcome temptation
• Producing spiritual fruit in our lives
• Gifting us for service in the church

Practical reliance on the Spirit:

• Regular prayer, asking for His guidance and strength
• Cultivating sensitivity to His promptings
• Yielding control of our lives to His leadership

Freedom through the Spirit. As we learn to rely on the Holy Spirit, we experience true freedom from legalism and self-effort. We discover that God is working in and through us to accomplish His purposes.

6. Embrace the freedom Christ offers

Grace frees us from a focus on self and all the sins and burdens that come along with it: selfishness, insecurity, pride, trying to prove myself worthy, seeking love and approval, fear of not being enough.

Understanding true freedom. The freedom Christ offers is not just freedom from sin's penalty, but freedom from:

• The need to prove our worth
• Comparison and competition with others
• Fear of failure or rejection
• Slavery to others' opinions

Living in freedom:

• Regularly reminding ourselves of our identity in Christ
• Rejecting lies that contradict God's truth about us
• Choosing to live from a place of acceptance rather than striving

The impact of freedom. As we embrace the freedom Christ offers, we become more authentic in our relationships, more courageous in our service, and more joyful in our daily lives. This freedom becomes a powerful testimony to others of God's transforming grace.

7. Let God's love compel you to love others

We love because he first loved us.

The natural overflow. When we truly receive God's love, it cannot help but spill over into our relationships with others. This love:

• Is not based on others' worthiness
• Seeks the best for others, even at personal cost
• Reflects God's character to a watching world

Practical ways to love others:

• Actively listening and showing empathy
• Serving without expectation of return
• Forgiving as we have been forgiven
• Speaking words of encouragement and truth

Overcoming obstacles to love. Loving others can be challenging, especially when they hurt or disappoint us. We must continually return to the source of love – God Himself – to renew our capacity to love even the difficult people in our lives.

8. Extend grace to fellow believers

Grace brings unity, but it doesn't bring uniformity.

Unity in diversity. The body of Christ is meant to be unified in essential beliefs while allowing for diversity in non-essential areas. This requires:

• Humility to acknowledge we don't have all the answers
• Willingness to learn from those with different perspectives
• Focus on our shared faith in Christ rather than secondary issues

Practical ways to extend grace:

• Avoid judging others' motives or spirituality
• Celebrate different expressions of faith within biblical boundaries
• Listen to understand rather than to argue or prove a point

The impact of grace-filled community. When we extend grace to one another, the church becomes a place of healing, growth, and powerful witness to the world. Our unity in diversity reflects the multifaceted wisdom of God.

9. Find hope in Christ, not circumstances

Hope is active, directed, and chosen. Peter reminds us that hoping in God is something that requires girding and soberness. Hope, like grace, isn't a sweet, meek little word. Hope is a clinging, a surety of belief, a stubborn refusal to let go.

Redefining hope. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation based on God's character and promises. This hope:

• Is anchored in Christ's finished work and future return
• Provides strength to endure present trials
• Shifts our focus from temporary to eternal realities

Cultivating biblical hope:

• Regularly meditating on God's faithfulness in Scripture and our lives
• Reminding ourselves of our eternal destiny in Christ
• Connecting with other believers who can encourage us in hope

The power of hope. When we place our hope fully in Christ, we can face life's challenges with peace and perseverance. This hope becomes a powerful witness to a world desperately seeking something to cling to in uncertain times.

Last updated: November 24, 2024