Everything about the Christian life, from beginning to end, is a free gift from God. It is all grace! Having said that, it amazes me how many Christians are afraid to talk too much about grace. They somehow think that if we make too big of a deal of grace, Christians will just start running around sinning all they want to because they know at the end of their sin, they will find grace. The reality is, a person can never walk free from sin’s grip apart from grace. “For the grace of God has appeared to all men bringing salvation, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:11 – 12.
You see, grace throws all the burden back on God to perform, and when God performs through us, on our behalf, it looks like righteousness and godliness. In our lost condition, we were helpless, and so God stepped in and reconciled us to Himself through the finished work of His Son, on the Cross. “By grace, we are saved through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works that no one should boast. For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:8 – 10a.
We didn’t get saved as a result of our good works, and we don’t live a life of righteousness as a Christian as a result of our good works for God. You and I as believers are in union with the righteous life of Christ, and it is literally the righteousness of Christ as a free gift revealed through us that is the true life of victory and holiness for the Christian. “For if by the transgressions of the one (Adam) death (spiritual death) reigned through the one, much more those who receive (continually receive step-by-step by faith) the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17. By the way, the righteousness of God in Christ is your new true nature as a believer in result is the true you doesn’t want to sin at all because it is contrary to your nature in Christ. You don’t just have His nature as yours as a free gift of grace, but also you possess the grace of His ability to not sin when tempted.
The same way you became a Christian but totally throwing yourself onto His grace is how you live the life of the Christian, step-by-step, trusting in His grace. “Just as you, therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” Colossians 2:6.
Remember, grace isn’t just the free gift of God’s pardon at the end of our sin; it is the free gift of His power to not sin in the first place. You are in Christ, and it’s a grace trip, so enjoy the ride.