Grace, Discipline, Godly Conduct And Honesty
Sometimes some young folks who get to embrace the message of Grace for the first time and start growing in it tend to think Grace simply means I don't need to pray anymore, submit anymore, give anymore, go for service anymore or just live anyhow because what I do doesn't really matter to God. This thought is a sure sign of immaturity and it's normal. The only problem is when you keep remaining or get stuck in this place.
I recently heard someone say "whatever I do in my body does not matter anymore because all my sins are paid for". Yes you're right. All your sins have been paid and nothing can change that fact. But remember your body is God's temple, not your own. So what you do with your body really matters to the landlord or owner of your body.
Saying whatever you do with your body doesn't matter because you're under Grace is not the teaching of Grace, it's the teaching of Gnosticism. Gnosticism believes that whatever you do with your physical body doesn't matter because this physical world is not real. This is how some grace-supposed teaching could end up in.
Beloved, there is a way to conduct yourself as a believer and if you don't get this right, you might end up in serious delusion. Grace should always set you free to live your life to glorify Jesus, not to gratify your selfish pleasures and carnal desires.
Some people have even come to the point of not going for Sunday services and other meetings because their new revelation is that Christ is in them so whether they go for services or not, God is okay. Really? You see, this is how deception secretly creeps in unawares.
If your pastor's teaching doesn't correspond to your new found knowledge, it's not the time to rebel. You can still remain and serve until the Lord leads you somewhere. Paul demonstrated the highest realm of maturity which many young ones are yet to know and practice...... Read this:
1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
9:4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
9:5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Can you see this? Paul had to be matured to come to this conclusion. If we can do this, we will not only make a lot of impact, but save many and keep ourselves of swaying or drifting.
Some young Grace guys also have the habit of scrutinizing the messages of other men of God to find faults instead of listening and discerning the voice of God even in their messages. Eg. I was listening to someone preach about a message in the Old Testament. There was no revelation in that message but I still chose to listen anyways. Guess what? Out of this, I received a mighty revelation on Grace that has greatly blessed people where ever I go.
Don't get proud when you understand the message of Grace, don't try to even win an argument, don't come to a place you can never be corrected, don't come to a point where you think it's okay to do anything I want. You are not your own. Someone bought you, always remembers this and you'll be humbled every single day of your life.
Does Grace teach discipline, integrity godly conduct and honesty?
Yes it does. Paul the first Apostle to expansiate the message of Grace wrote about it to the church . What did he say?
2 Corinthians 4:1,2
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Titus 2:11-13
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
2 Corinthians 8:21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
2 Corinthians 13:7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
If the outcome of Grace does not eventually reflect positively on your conduct, then it wasn't Grace you met. When Zaccheaus met Grace (Jesus Christ), he gave back four times what he stole from innocent people. The outcome of Grace makes you do at least four times better than what you couldn't do before in your own ability.
Keep growing IN Grace, keep abounding in good works also. BE DISCIPLINED ,HONEST AND SINCERE IN BEHAVIOUR. Let men see the light of God's glory shine in your life physically.