Outrageous Grace

Written by: Andrew Friesen on July 16, 2009

The Bible is very clear that we are to live holy and pure lives before God.  “Be holy because I am holy.”  (1 Peter 1:16).  However, there are so many misconceptions out there about how to go about it.

Today, there are so many condemning preachers is makes me sick to my stomach.  They think that by telling everybody what to do and how to live that it will produce holiness and help people to live right when it actually does the opposite.  I would go as far as to say it causes some people to be so insecure that they want nothing to do with God.  

First of all, let me explain that when the Bible refers to “the Law” it is referring to “human effort”.  Or in other words, what we try to do in our own strength to please God.  

The Bible says that the Law (or human effort) actually makes people want to live unholy.  “(1 Corinthians 3:6)  “for the letter kills (human effort), but the Spirit gives life.” and in 1 Corinthians 15:56 says “the strength of sin is the law (or human effort).”  So when preachers start condemning people preaching only the law and commandments (or human effort), it actually makes people want to sin even more.  Out of fear some may try to live holy, and in there own effort and have some success, but sooner or later they fail until they realize the words of Jesus “apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)  The Bible says that the law is holy, just and good.  But, as far as making a person holy, just, or good it is utterly useless.  Paul the apostle said, “But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire.”  (1 Corinthians 7:8) 

So what’s the purpose of the law?  Why would God give the 10 Commandments?  The answer is in Romans 3:19 “That every mouth will be stopped”.  God gave the law to show all of us how much we need His outrageous grace.

The Bible gives the answer to live a holy life:  “For sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under law (or human effort) but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

The Bible says that the grace of God is what makes a person live a holy life.  I call it outrageous grace!  What is grace?  Grace is the undeserved, unearned, unmerited favor of God.   Grace is all about God’s love for us and His anger for sin that He expressed through what Jesus did on the cross 2000 years ago.  That when we were still sinners Christ died for you and put all of your sins (past, present, and future) on Jesus.  2 Corinthians 5:18 says,  “that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them”.  God has dealt with the sin problem once and for all.  “He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”  (Hebrews 9:26).  If any person will simply believe that, they can not help but to live a holy life pleasing to God.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.  (1 Peter 1:5-9)

The Apostle Peter said that the diagnosis for not living holy is because that person has forgotten the grace of God.  Do you see it?  God’s grace makes us fall in love with Him and His Spirit is the one that causes us to live the holy victorious life.  Hallelujah!  You will fail on your own.  But thanks be to God for His outrageous grace that causes us to live the life God has for us.  Wow! I'm getting so excited just writing this.  How good is our God!  This is the message that will change the world.  There's even song called outrageous grace that we used to sing in church.  I remember how soo many people were blessed by God's grace during that time.  I want to encourage you to take a look at it.  Your thoughts? -Andrew 

Verse 1
There’s a lot of pain but a lot more healing
There’s a lot of trouble but a lot more peace
There’s a lot of hate but a lot more loving
There’s a lot of sin but a lot more grace

Chorus
Oh outrageous grace oh outrageous grace
Love unfurled by heaven’s hand
Oh outrageous grace oh outrageous grace
Through my Jesus I can stand

Verse 2
There’s a lot of fear but a lot more freedom
There’s a lot of darkness but a lot more light
There’s a lot of cloud but a lot more vision
There’s a lot of perishing but a lot more life

Bridge
There’s an enemy
That seeks to kill what it can’t control
It twists and turns
Making mountains out of molehills
But I will call on my Lord
Who is worthy of praise
I run to Him and I am saved