Grace Beyond Salvation
In our previous discussion, we explored how grace establishes the believer's standing before God, granting them a perfect and absolute righteousness. However, grace does not stop at salvation; it is also the “engine” that powers the Christian's ongoing sanctification. Just as the iconic Spitfire and Lancaster planes of World War II relied on the power of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine to outperform their enemy, so too, the Christian life must be powered by grace to live in a way that glorifies God.
The Role of Grace in Sanctification
Sanctification is the process by which a believer is transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18), growing in holiness and obedience. As noted in the previous post, whilst recognising grace as the foundation of their salvation, Christians often fail to realise that it is also the basis of their sanctification. Some mistakenly believe that sanctification depends on their own efforts, discipline, or determination, rather than on God's grace.
This misunderstanding can lead to a performance-based approach to the Christian life, where believers strive to earn God's favour through their actions. However, the Apostle Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 15:2 that believers are "being saved" (ESV) from sin’s power each day by the same grace that initially saved them from sin’s penalty. Sanctification, therefore, is not through self-effort but by relying on God's grace to transform us.
Dead to Sin, Alive to God
In Romans 6, Paul addresses another common misconception about grace: that it is a licence to sin. He asks, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:1). His emphatic answer is, "Certainly not!" (Romans 6:2). Paul explains that those who are saved by grace are dead to sin. While the sinful nature continues to tempt us, the theological reality is that sin no longer has power over us (Romans 6:14).
Paul urges believers to "reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:11). This reckoning is not just an intellectual exercise but a daily practice of living as though we are truly dead to sin. It involves refusing to present our bodies as “instruments of unrighteousness to sin” and instead offering ourselves as “instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13).
The Freedom to Live Righteously
The gospel has not only removed the penalty of sin and declared us righteous, but it has also broken the power of sin. The believer is now free to live a righteous life, not by their own strength, but by resting in the work of Christ on the cross. An appreciation of this truth liberates us from the power of sin and empowers us to live in victorious obedience to God’s Word.
When we reflect on our standing before God, it is easy to affirm that our eternal standing is based on Christ's work on the cross. However, when it comes to our daily fellowship with God, we often fall into the trap of believing that our performance determines our right to approach Him. This mindset can lead to a sense of spiritual distance on days when we feel we've failed or sinned.
Living in the Light of Grace
Author Jerry Bridges wisely points out that we are no nearer to God on our best days than on our worst days, because our standing before God is not based on our performance but entirely on the value of Jesus Christ.
“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace."[1]
This does not mean that we should be complacent about sin or that we should not mourn over it and seek repentance. Rather, it means that even on our worst days, we can confidently draw near to God (Hebrews 4:16), knowing that our acceptance before Him is rooted in Christ's work, not our own.
Grace, therefore, is not just a theological concept related to our conversion. It is the daily reality that empowers us to live a life of obedience as we worship and serve God in a way that glorifies Him. By continually relying on grace, we are equipped to grow in holiness and reflect Christ more fully in our lives.
Summary
Grace is not just the starting point of the Christian life; it is the ‘engine’ that drives our ongoing transformation. By understanding and embracing grace in both salvation and sanctification, we can live in the freedom and power that God intends for us. As we continue to grow in grace, we experience the joy and peace of living in a way that honours God, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for His unearned, unmerited favour – Grace.
[1] Bridges Jerry, The Discipline of Grace (Colorado Springs, CO, USA: Nav Press, 2006), 09.
