- Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- John 5:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
- Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
- Ephesians 1:6 - To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Sometimes it seems difficult for people to accept grace. They think that after believing in Christ, one must live by certain rules to maintain God's love and approval. But this thinking confuses grace with legalism. The Scripture teaches that we are saved only by the grace of God, only through faith in Christ. Salvation is not earned by works and is not maintained by works. After becoming a child of God, the believer does not try to earn His love and acceptance. God has already fully accepted them in Christ. Therefore, obedience and service are not conditions for retaining salvation, but are the result of gratitude for God's grace and love. Legalism keeps a person under a sense of guilt and fear. A person constantly thinks they are not good enough. Grace frees us from this bondage. As we know that God's love does not change, a desire is born in our heart to obey and serve Him out of love. A believer who correctly understands grace realizes that grace not only frees us from sin but also encourages us to obey the Lord and serve Him with love and gratitude for everything He has done for us. The Holy Spirit works within them, giving them the strength to live a life that pleases God.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace. I know that I am fully accepted by You because I believe in Christ. May my life be filled with obedience and service born out of love and gratitude to You, not out of fear or a sense of guilt. May Your Holy Spirit strengthen me on this path every day. Amen.
Reflection
How can realizing that God has already fully accepted you influence your struggle with feelings of guilt?