Do Not Frustrate The Grace Of God

"I do not set aside the grace of God: for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain" Galatians 2:21

To set aside the grace of God is to think you have to earn your righteousness through the works of the law or good works. The grace of God moves with righteousness by faith. The Greek word for set aside is "atheteo", which means to set aside, i.e. (by implication) to disesteem, neutralize or violate — cast off, despise, dis-annul, frustrate, bring to naught or to reject. Many Christians are despising and frustrating the grace of God. They are not making it operate and function to its maximum because their works are now on the scene.

Many are making Christ’s death vain, powerless and empty through their self-righteousness. The spiritual layman’s understanding of frustrating the grace of God is when you do something wrong or sin, but God’s word says, “The moment you try to attain righteousness by the law or by your own good works, you frustrate the grace of God and make Christ’s death in vain.”

We frustrate and devalue the grace of God and make Christ’s death in vain when we try to achieve our righteousness through the Ten Commandments or self-effort. Can we only believe what Jesus has finished and leave the rest to God to accomplish in us? Jesus has done it all, just rest in His finished work and trust in His ability and sufficiency to live His own life through you. The life you live now is His, not yours.

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" Colossians 3:3-4

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" Galatians 2:20

It is clear that we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. This should be a part of your thought. Christ is our life. Even the good works we do is not something we do to gain God’s attention to love us more, but rather to gain our attention that He loves us more. The good we do are things God Himself has put in place so that we will only walk in them. Do not set aside nor ignore the grace of God.

"Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" 2 Timothy 2:1

That means we must take advantage of the grace of God, not as a license to sin, but rather as a license to live the life God has purposed for us in Christ. Many people think grace gives people the license to sin, but the truth is that no one need a license to sin; we sin without a license. Do you need a license before you can drive? No, you only need a car.

"For sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the law but under grace" Romans 6:14

If you are really under grace, sin shall not have dominion over you. Titus 2:11 says, “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.” The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust so we could live soberly and righteously in this present world”. The grace of God teaches us to live righteously. Grace is actually the cure to right living. You are free to live to be fully and truly yourself.

From Book: If These Things Be in You