Grace is the cross, the cross is grace.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: grew up in a Christian home.

The Church we went to preached hell and condemnation. That put the fear of god into my life, yes. But the drawback was the condemnation that came with the demand for obedience to the law.

I spent most of my life believing that I was not good enough, because I just could not live up to God’s standard. I would try and fail, then try and fail. This led to many bouts of depression because no matter how hard I tried, I just could not succeed in living up to God’s standard.

Hearing a certain preacher teach on grace, the word that he shared set me free. I could finally sing “I am free, free, free”, with complete honesty, for the first time in my life. I finally understood what happened when Jesus died for me.

My soul found rest in the knowledge of the complete work of the cross. The sins that held me in bondage for many years fell away as I sat at the feet of Jesus and cried, just being thankful. In His presence I found healing and peace.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Once I determined in my heart to rest in His love and let God work in me, through me and to me, I truly became a new creation and a brand new man.

Understanding Grace set me free from the bondage of not being good enough, free from the bondage of working for my salvation, free from trying to keep the law.

When we lead people to the Lord, we tell them “this is the good news. Jesus died for you to set you free from bondage. Come live a blessed life.” Once they start coming to church, we tell them “you must quit drinking. You must quit this, quit that, quit that.” All their freedom just ran out of the door with must.

If someone is truly born again and understands that he is no longer bound by the law, the freedom to choose to live for Jesus is his own choice and no longer a necessity for salvation, because the cross has already dealt with that issue. Becoming a child of God does have responsibility. This must be taught, not forced.

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];

Rom 6:1 What may we say, then? are we to go on in sin so that there may be more grace? This is the reason why most people run after Grace Teachings.

The law demands. Grace offers you a choice. Shepherds are afraid to give their flock a choice because they are afraid of them taking liberty with the grace of God. If anyone should use the grace of God as a reason to sin, he is lacking in understanding and needs guidance, not the law. The law brings death.

Maybe they are afraid that some people would stop paying tithes. I have found that since giving is now by choice and not by wrath, I give more than I have ever given while giving through necessity. This is because there is no obligation, only the freedom to give what I purpose in my heart.

Many times, I myself have stood before the congregation and brought them under obligation to the law of tithing, also telling them that if they cannot give with a cheerful heart, they should not be giving. This in itself is a contradiction. It is like me coming to you and sticking a gun in your ribs and telling you to give me your money and do it joyfully or die.

There can be no joy where there is no choice. God wants us to want to serve Him, otherwise He would have created us like the angels.

The law was given:

• To show us God’s standard.
• To show us what sin is.
• to show us that we cannot meet God’s standard on our own.

It was only when we joined a new family in Christ and we mentioned grace, that we found resistance. Not knowing what was happening on the internet and the interdenominational squabbles that were taking place, we thought that there was something wrong with us. Then we discovered the real problem. Division in the body of Christ.

I find that many people are using this division as they use any dispute, to let their own voice be heard. They say it is about grace or they say it is about works but in actual fact, they just want to be heard. These are easy to recognise, bringing with them accusations and further division.

There must be a separation of those who live godly lives and those who live ungodly lives. That is the only division that should take place in the house of God. There has to be those who have wealth, or who would give to those that have less or those who do not have? There should not be a separation of haves and have nots.

Rom 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Many Christians are calling for the return to the cross. The cross is our anchor and why anyone would leave it in the first place, is beyond me.

Many people are preaching that we, as the body of Christ should once again recognise the Ten Commandments and bring obedience back into the Church.

We are redeemed from the curse of the law.

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangs on a tree:

I believe in grace. God's grace sent Jesus and the price paid for me and knowing all that Jesus has purchased for me sets me free to dance. I am no longer under the curse of the law; I obey out of love not law. I pay tithes out of love not to avoid being cursed. I am redeemed from the curse of the law.

The law no longer has the power to condemn. It does however show me what God's standards are and I want to please my heavenly father so I do my best to do what pleases him, while living in the true freedom of choice given by my Father in the freedom of Christ Jesus.

The word is well balanced and any leaning toward the pleasing of our ears will set us on a path that leads only to destruction. The truth and the truth alone can set us free. We must however be sure to divide the word correctly and not try to impose on others the law without grace, for then we will become like the Pharisees that Jesus rebuked.

Neither should we teach grace without accountability, leading men astray. Let us be humble toward one another, seeking to encourage, lift and help one another, with the unadulterated word of God.

Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Because of His grace, my love for Him overflows. I seek to please Him above my own flesh. The law is the standard by which I live, yet without the power to condemn. I am free by His grace, I am free to obey of own choice, of my own freewill.

Here is a choice nugget to chew on. Rev 22:14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.