Are you a disciple of Jesus in need of some encouragement? Well, you’re in the right place! Today, we’re diving into understanding the power of being anchored in God’s grace. It’s not just about being forgiven at your baptism; it’s about discovering a strength you never knew you had.

Contents

The big lie
God’s grace
Jesus to the rescue
The lies that steal from us
Anchoring in the power of grace

The big lie

Have you ever felt deceived or realized you’ve been believing a lie for a long time? It’s a jarring experience. Today, we can uncover a big lie you’ve been led to believe about yourself and your relationship with God.

The Bible is clear: God is head over heels in love with us and super proud of us. But here’s where it gets tricky: our feelings often shout the complete opposite. We feel God must be angry or frustrated with us because we keep messing up.

So, what’s the real deal? Is God pleased or upset with us? Which voice are we going to listen to?

God’s grace

To truly understand and accept God’s grace, we need to recognize the truth about it. This truth is powerful and life-changing!

A peek into Hebrews 10:11-18 reveals that this isn’t a new confusion. Even two thousand years ago, people struggled with the same feelings.

Early Christians, who were previously non-believing Jews, thought they had to keep up with old laws and traditions to make God happy. They forgot it’s not about what they did, but what Jesus had already done. They weren’t anchored in the truth of grace.

Jesus to the rescue

Here’s the game-changer: Jesus offered a single sacrifice for our sins, and that settles it forever. That’s the power of grace! No more are the days of endlessly trying to make up for our mistakes. Because we are in Jesus, we’re considered perfect forever, even as we’re still growing and improving.

And here’s some more good news: We are perfect because all our wrongdoings are already completely forgotten (Hebrews 10:17), we’re hidden with Christ (Colossians 3:3), and we’re already seated with Him in heaven (Ephesians 2:6). Talk about an upgrade!

Understanding how God really sees us is powerful. It’s like discovering you’ve had superhero strength all along. And this strength comes from embracing the truth (2 Timothy 2:1).

The lies that steal from us

But some lies try to steal this power and joy from us. Let’s call them out:

1. The Frustrated Father Lie: The idea that God gets tired of forgiving us. The truth? Just like in the parables of the lost sheep and the returning son (Luke 15), God celebrates when we come back to Him. Always. Continually. There’s no frustration, just pure joy!

2. The Revolving Door Lie: The notion that our salvation is a back-and-forth uncertainty. In reality, Jesus secured our salvation once and for all (Hebrews 10:14). It’s not a game of one minute in, another minute out; one minute saved, another minute lost.

3. The Sin Multiplication Lie: The belief that our sins continue to keep piling up, weighing us down. The truth is, God has promised to remember our sins no more (Hebrews 10:17), and we are constantly purified from all sins (1 John 1:7).

4. The Great Expectation Lie: The pressure that we must earn God’s love back every time we mess up. The fact? You can’t re-earn what you’ve never lost. God’s love isn’t based on our performance; it is based on Jesus’. Remember: we’re hidden with Christ (Colossians 3:3).