“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:20–21, ESV).
Grace does not merely bless us to become God’s children. Grace is fuel that empowers us to grow as God’s children. Grace is not simply a doctrine, but a Person named Jesus who comes to live in us and through us.
Ken Boa, in his life-transforming book Conformed to His Image, provides this excellent chart to describe the difference between religion and grace.
|
RELIGION |
GRACE |
|
|
Says |
“Do” |
“Done” |
|
Emphasis |
What we do |
What God does |
|
Lives out of |
The flesh (self-life) |
The Holy Spirit (Christ-life) |
|
Draws on |
Our resources |
God’s resources |
|
Deals with |
External rules/regulations |
Inner heart attitude |
|
Primary focus |
Ought to, should, must |
Want to |
|
Creates |
Bondage, duty, obligation |
Freedom |
|
Lives life from the |
Outside in |
Inside out |
|
Declares |
“Do in order to be” |
“You are; therefore you do” |
|
Produces |
Guilt and condemnation |
Acceptance and security |
|
Leads to |
Defeat |
Victory |
Marinate on that.
