StriperAddict
Senior Member
In my perception, why most of Christianity is scared to death of the simple gospel of grace minus the complicated, man-made additives of speculation, is so many are scared to death if they begin believing we are totally forgiven rather than forgiven a sin at a time, if we are made righteous in one fell swoop rather than gradually over decades of "living for God," if we are made alive to God through Christ's death and his resurrection alone, all as a gift and not of our works as the gospel of grace says is true of every believer in Christ, it will strip them of brownie points they believe they are earning in exchange for their fighting temptation, pressing on, "trusting God" to reveal his will for their life, etc... that distinguish them with God from those less spiritual than they.
These folks judge grace from afar and they fear the equal ground that unity in Christ stands on.
Bondage to fear and disunity has become an up close friend and freedom from afar that unites us seems like an enemy!
Grace not only removes every inferior motivation for upright living, God and his grace forever take the ball out of his court in Heaven, placing his son in us on earth and putting the ball squarely where it belongs: in our court with Christ in us.
Viewed from afar, grace is scary.
The good news is once grace is experienced up close and personal there's no reason to fear.
Grace received always produces love joy and peace, both inside us as well as among our fellows.
To know grace is to know God’s good intentions toward you and know that Jesus death and resurrection accomplished it all for you.
But folks sure do get scared when they judge grace from afar.
“For you have not received a spirit of bondage leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"” Romans 8:15
- Eric Rukin
These folks judge grace from afar and they fear the equal ground that unity in Christ stands on.
Bondage to fear and disunity has become an up close friend and freedom from afar that unites us seems like an enemy!
Grace not only removes every inferior motivation for upright living, God and his grace forever take the ball out of his court in Heaven, placing his son in us on earth and putting the ball squarely where it belongs: in our court with Christ in us.
Viewed from afar, grace is scary.
The good news is once grace is experienced up close and personal there's no reason to fear.
Grace received always produces love joy and peace, both inside us as well as among our fellows.
To know grace is to know God’s good intentions toward you and know that Jesus death and resurrection accomplished it all for you.
But folks sure do get scared when they judge grace from afar.
“For you have not received a spirit of bondage leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"” Romans 8:15
- Eric Rukin