The Truth About Grace: What Churches Won't Tell You

[Steve Myers] I'm not under law, but under grace. You've heard that. Maybe you've even thought, that's great. Now I don't have to follow all those old commands, right?

Here's the truth. That's not what grace is about. Not even close. When the Bible says you're not under law, but under grace, it's not saying God's law no longer matters. Being under law means being under the penalty of the law. Sin brings the penalty of death. That's under the law. But by God's grace, the penalty is removed and gives us the power to obey God from the heart.

Now, grace is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. It doesn't remove your responsibility. If anything, it calls you to something bigger, something better. I mean, let's be honest. A lot of people misunderstand God's grace. They think it's simply about getting saved without change. But Scripture tells us a different story.

God's grace—that's His favor and His forgiveness—it's not some random lottery ticket. His calling is personal. Notice what Jesus said in John 6:44. He said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." So, if you're listening, that tug you feel, that sense that life should be more—that's not accidental. God may be reaching out. The question is, how will you respond?

The apostle Paul makes something very clear in Ephesians 2:8. He says, "For by grace you've been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

So, ah-ha, you might say, salvation is a gift. I'm saved by grace. But is that all that's to it? True, you're not saved by being good enough. You can't earn it by ticking off a religious checklist or by just having good intentions. But here's the next part. Look at what the Scripture says next. Ephesians 2:10, it says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Now, did you catch that? God gave you grace so you can live differently, not to keep sinning, not to ignore His law, but to be changed, to follow Jesus in obedience. You see, that's the kind of grace that should transform you, should shape you, and empower your life. Unfortunately, some think grace cancels out God's commandments. That is a dangerous misunderstanding.

Notice what Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:17. Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Sounds quite different, doesn't it? In fact, Paul reinforces that same thought in Romans 6:14. He wrote, "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace."

You see, being under grace doesn't mean, hey, I can do whatever I want. I don't have to worry about the law. I don't have to worry about the Sabbath or God's commands. No, it means you're no longer controlled by sin. God's favor and forgiveness, yes, it removes the death penalty of sin. It gives you the power to say yes to God and no to the sin that holds you back.

Let me give you an example from my own life. When I was 12, I started to learn to play the saxophone. At first, it was pretty rough. I thought, couldn't I just play a song, whatever I wanted? Practicing scales? That was boring and repetitive, just notes on a page. Honestly, it didn't feel very rewarding. But as I kept at it, something began to change. The discipline turned into skill. Pretty soon I was able to play real music and songs that were fun, and not just fun to me, but even fun and enjoyable for others too.

You see, grace works like that. At first, obeying God and turning from sin, it might feel like rules and regulations and restrictions. But as you keep walking with Him, His grace changes that into joy. What once felt like a burden becomes part of your purpose and even a delight. And that's what grace does. It reshapes your heart and your thinking. So what once felt like rules now becomes the rhythm of your life.

Now, grace is a big concept. How does grace fit with God's law? How does it fit with your purpose? How does it fit with the path to eternal life? If you want to know more, go to ucg.org/bt507. That's where you can find our free study guide, What Does the Bible Teach About Grace? I think you'll get so much out of it, and there you can check out all the other helpful resources that can really give you a better perspective.

You see, real life. What does grace look like in real life? Well, here's an example from the book of Titus. Titus 2:11. It says, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age."

What's that telling us? Grace teaches us to live differently. It's not about convenience. It's not just about comfort. What's it saying? It's about change, changing your direction. Imagine your life sort of like a GPS. You've been heading in the wrong direction for years. You've been taking detours that maybe felt easy or maybe even fun, but you ended up getting nowhere. God's grace, that favor He gives us, His forgiveness, it acts like a recalibration. It nudges you back on course.

Is God telling you, make a U-turn? Make a U-turn?

You see, through His Spirit, He gives you the power to turn from sin and live the way He intended. He intends you to live with purpose and lasting change. The best part? You're not driving alone. He's guiding you every step of the way.

Now, life isn't perfect once you respond to God. There's temptations. There may be doubts, sometimes setbacks, but they're all part of the journey. Grace gives you the strength to go on and persevere.

You ever notice what Romans 6:1 says? It reminds us, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not. How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" You see, that's telling you real grace helps you leave sin behind. And God's Spirit works in you, reshaping your desires. So obedience, not a bad word. It isn't a chore. It actually becomes a joy.

You see, Jesus didn't give some casual, take it or leave it kind of calling. No, not at all. In Luke, 14:27, notice what Jesus said. "He said, whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." And further down in verse 33, He said, "Whoever of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple."

Following Jesus demands, He demands everything, your time, your priorities, your heart. That's why baptism is described as death. Your old self dies, and you rise to live a new life, fully devoted to God. You see, grace calls for that kind of commitment, for a complete, full commitment.

It's kind of like a firefighter who runs into a burning building. He puts his life on the line. The smoke is thick, the heat is intense, and every second counts. Lives are inside, people who can't save themselves. But does the firefighter hesitate? Not at all. Every ounce of strength, his focus, and courage goes into that mission.

You see, following God under grace, it's like that. Full commitment, full surrender. God's favor and His forgiveness give you the strength to step boldly and obey fully, even when the path is difficult. You see, His favor empowers you to rise above what you couldn't do on your own. And so you commit your heart. You commit your priorities. You commit your choices because the stakes are eternal.

Just like that firefighter, they rely on training and their team. You rely on God's Spirit to guide you and empower you. And even though the fire may be fierce, even though that path may be hard, God's grace equips you to step boldly and obey. And fully follow Him.

That's what grace enables you. It enables you with the power of forgiveness to leave your old self behind, your old ways, and live a new life. And that's not just a nice theory. It shows up in your everyday choices. How you work, how you treat your family, how you worship, and how you spend your time.

You see, all too many know about grace, but they don't realize what it asks. Grace is demanding, but in the best way. Why? Because God's gift is invaluable. It costs Jesus His life, and it deserves your full response.

So here's the question for you. Are you ready to live under grace the way God designed it? Not the cheap version most Christianity offers, but the real life-changing power of God's grace.

Will you take the next step and surrender? Not just your beliefs, but your choices and your priorities—your whole life. And that's not always easy. But here's the promise. Through every high and low, God's grace empowers and encourages and transforms every step of your journey.

Grace, it's more than just a word. It's God's favor and forgiveness at work in your life, at work in your relationships, at work in your calling, and at work in your purpose. And that grace—it's available to you if you're willing to respond.