Hi Axehead, I agree with most of what you wrote but I think you have a misunderstanding of Grace. You really can't go by Annanias and Sapphira because as far as we know, it was a one time event and the scripture tells us specifically what their sin was. Do some christians abuse grace because of their misunderstanding as you exampled? Absolutely, but I wouldn't consider it a common theme among Christiandom. The fact of what grace does, from your post: " the way Jesus' blood "covers" a person so that God when He looks down on them, doesn't see the person's sin anymore, but just sees the blood of Jesus," is absolute truth but only when we apply it by repentance and seeking forgiveness for a sin even if it's for the thoudsandth time. To believe that honest to goodness christians never sin is naive and not honest. While we may try not to sin, all of us sin in one way or another at least every few days.
Being born again doesn't mean one will never sin again, it is a fresh start with our new inner man, however, just as our physical bodies can break down through sickness, disease, broken bones, etc., so can our spiritual man because we are not spiritually incorruptible yet. The beauty of God is that He doesn't demand that everyone adapt to His way at the same time in the same way. He deals with us as individuals, not a collective. He might deliver someone with a drinking problem immediately upon salvation or He might want another person to learn something from the battle of overcoming. If one never suffers defeat at times, one won't appreciate the journey to becoming an overcomer. We are at war and while we lose the battle with temptation sometimes, we have Christ's assurance that we will win the war.
Hi Trekson,
I am talking about an attitude of taking advantage of God's grace and thinking that sin for the Christian does not mean the same as sin for the Unbeliever. Somehow, we think we are protected. Why wasn't Adam protected? He walked with God and was created in His image. Why did one "little" mistake (his first sin) cost him so much? Of course we sin after being born-again, but don't you think that new Christians should be taught the proper purpose of grace?
Here is the Purpose of Grace in God's Words.
“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; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and PURIFY unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
Today, the emphasis is put on forgiveness instead of righteousness. Is there more than forgiveness? Is there freedom from sin? Does God require us to obey Him and walk in righteousness? Or do we just slap the bumper sticker on our car "Christians aren't perfect just forgiven." What this is saying is, "I'm a sinner just like you, but I'm forgiven and you are not." Then we do whatever we want and every night before we go to sleep, we just ask the Lord to forgive us."
That my friend is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that kind of thinking is even a scandal to the world and breeds a False Gospel of False Security.
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (2Co 3:18)
Axehead