Can we take grace too far?
Excerpt from 52 Lies Heard in Church Every Sunday:
“We need to remember that grace involves God expressing His unconditional love and favor toward us, independent of anything we ever do or don’t do. Grace is personified in Jesus.
So to say that you can go too far with grace is like saying that you can go too far with Jesus. It simply isn’t possible.
Consider this: God is infinite in His goodness, holiness, and love.
Can He ‘go too far’ with those? . . .
The reason we don’t grow weary with grace when we really understand it is because we come to see that grace isn’t simply a doctrine. Grace is personified in Jesus Christ, and we can never get over Him!
He is grace.”
– Steve McVey
Book review of 52 Lies Heard in Church Every Sunday
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Thanks for reading through 31 Quotes of Grace this October.
I’m more convinced than ever that we can never go too far with grace because we can never go too far with Jesus!
YAY! You made it, Lisa … filled with grace and truth and beauty, as ever.
May your cup overflow with a refreshing rest this weekend, friend.
Thank you so much, Linda. What an awesome voice of encouragement you’ve been. I loved finding the quotes of grace, but I will be glad for a break from daily posts. 🙂 May you have a great weekend yourself.
What a wonderful series, Lisa! Definitely one that I will come back to! Such a good point today. Seeing grace as a doctrine alone, sort of misses the point of grace, doesn’t it? Have a blessed weekend!
Yes, June–grace isn’t just one more doctrine, it is the main thing! Such a beautiful truth.
Hi Lisa! Congratulations on posting every day in October! I don’t know how you do it, I sure couldn’t. I really admire your dedication. What graces will pour on you and your life because of your dedication to God in his wonderful mercy and love for you!
Have a great weekend, and thank you for your leadership in reflecting a wonderful part of our Lord.
Blessings,
Ceil
Well, I’m kinda glad it’s done. 🙂 I always say—next year I’ll prepare more ahead of time! ha. I did prepare a little ahead this year, and it helped. Thank you for your blessing, Ceil–same back to you.
Amen, Sister! Sometimes we get “too spiritual’ for our good, yes? Thank you for these 31 days of sharing about grace from the different books you’ve read, Lisa. This is a beautiful one, indeed!
I loved this one too, Dianna; a fitting one to end the month with! Blessings to you, friend.
I think we’re intended to be God’s Watering Cans of Grace.
Can’t get too full because we’re designed to spread it around.
Oh, I love that imagery, Andrew. Watering cans of grace. Yes.
The only way I have seen people seem to go to far with grace is when they negate any need for obedience or responsibility on our part. In order to be saved, no, there is nothing we can do except believe, and even the grace for that comes from Him. After we’re saved, there is nothing we can do to earn God’s love or favor – it’s all freely given. But then some people take that to mean our actions don’t matter at all, when they’re actually supposed to be changed and empowered by God’s transforming grace. I thought Jerry Bridges’ Disciple of Grace kept all of that in good balance.
I think the more we understand grace, the more responsible we become. Love begets more love. So thankful that’s how God works!
Yes, Bridges did a masterful job of combining the two in his book. I’m grateful I finally read it a couple years ago.
And speaking of grace…we can channel it, even in the worst and darkest hours.
The story of Brittany Maynard, the young woman who’d planned to take her own life tomorrow (Nov. 1) – but may postpone that act – moved me to write an open letter on my “31 Days” blog.
I hope that you will not object to my giving the link, in the hope that somehow she, or others in her position, may see it.
http://dailygracequote.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/a-letter-to-brittany-maynard/
Your letter brings me to tears, Andrew. Thank you for sharing it there, for sharing it here. I’m so grateful you continue to use your voice. We’re listening.
Lisa, thank you so much for this series, it has been a great study of ‘grace’ and is a wonderful resource. Well done too, it’s no mean feat to post every day! Enjoy the rest over this weekend:-)
Thanks, Victoria. Posting everyday was a little laborious. ha. But worth it to cull back through some great books on grace!
to me grace fills the gaps in my life that i cannot understand no fill myself and no i do not think we can take grace too far or expect too much from it, but we need to be aware that as we are offered grace from Jesus Christ we should pass that grace forward to others.
hope that makes sense?
Yes, that makes beautiful sense, Beverley. Grace isn’t meant to be stagnant; it flows in and out and around. Thank you.