Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

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Mar 26 2008

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Kevin Bussey

Why does Grace seem to only be given at salvation?

Posted at 5:00 am under grace, legalism

Followers of Jesus love to talk about “Grace” but it often appears to be a “salvation” event. Why is that?

I was raised in a “grace-filled” family and really didn’t realize it until much later in life. My dad never forbid me from trying things as long as he was around. That is probably why I never felt the need to experiment. But I became legalistic and rigid in my walk with God. Part of it was my own fault. But part of it had to do with the ministries I became involved in. When I began to see the hypocrisy of the extra-Biblical rules and regulations that were being forced on me I began to rebel. Not against God but against legalism.

It seems that in the denomination of my youth, legalism runs rampant. I don’t know how many evangelistic messages I’ve heard that talk about Grace–probably 1000’s. I’m grateful for those. But why does it seem that Grace disappears after a person accepts Jesus as the leader of their life? Why isn’t “Grace” enough? Why is grace not as relevant for the new Christian as it is for the 50+ year believer? Why do I keep hearing messages preached to believers that talk about the “blood” being on our hands if someone doesn’t know Jesus? Why are we “guilted” into serving at church? Why are we beat down from the pulpit? Why are we known more for what we are against than what we are for? Why do we place undo burdens on people like you have to witness, read your Bible, pray, go to church, etc…? What happens is we place more burdens on people than they can bear.

Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The Pharisees placed tons of extra burdens on the Jews when Jesus came. They were burdened because they couldn’t live up to their standards. Well, neither could the Pharisees themselves. The modern church is doing the same thing. I’m fighting back! God wants us to have rest. He wants to take away our burdens. Our burden is heavy and He wants to take it. His burden is easy because He lives in us!

If God’s Grace is good enough for us at the moment of Salvation–then why isn’t it good enough now?

What do you think?

7 responses so far

7 Responses to “Why does Grace seem to only be given at salvation?”

Tom Bryanton 26 Mar 2008 at 7:21 am 1

That is one of my pet peeves about most preaching about grace. It seems to be always set in the context of salvation rather than the means by which God always rules and guides His people.

Good post!
Cameyon 26 Mar 2008 at 7:28 am 2

Yesterday I was shown Grace. I had so much on my mind that I got almost all the way to the house before I received a call from our sixteen year old that I had left him at school/church. He forgave me and we laughed. Then, as we were walking out the door running late - I received a call telling me that I had forgotten to pick up two teenage boys who were riding with us to the church’s softball game. As I picked them up - again more forgiveness and laughter. We had a hilarious conversation as we were driving across town. The game was a blast and laughter was abundant. So even though I had not followed the rules of the day per se…. grace was there. Grace is not ours alone to give nor receive. I think when we remember that - grace is easier to realize and know.

I know many denominations that are legalistic. I’m not huge on the whole denomination thing although factors in my life may appear otherwise. Denominations don’t get people into heaven. And eternity is just as much about now as it is then since He lives in you and me.

Camey’s last blog post..Bible Studies - Women & Co-Ed
Neilon 26 Mar 2008 at 10:23 am 3

Good question. There are loads of examples of “living grace” in the Bible and in real life. We should emphasize those more than we do.

Neil’s last blog post..Guess who’s coming to dinner?
Phil Hooveron 26 Mar 2008 at 12:37 pm 4

If we read the Scriptures correctly GRACE is not only given at Salvation….

Phil Hoover’s last blog post..“Getting on with life…”
Christineon 26 Mar 2008 at 1:16 pm 5

I believed the same thing about grace for the longest time until I read Swindoll’s book The Grace Awakening: Believing in Grace is One Thing. Living it is Another. It really helped me to understand that the grace God gives does not end at salvation.

I now teach my kids about everyday grace… through words *and* actions.
Christine’s last blog post..Easter Photos
Averyon 26 Mar 2008 at 5:15 pm 6

Hey Kev… I agree with you…

I have found two battles…

One against legalism…

and one against licentiousness…

I like what Paul said to Titus when he defined “grace”…

Titus 2:11-14

11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

I think the problem is that there are two definitions of grace that don’t fit what the bible teaches grace is…

Grace doesn’t mean overlooking someone’s sin… it means the power, the force, and the ability to walk with God… because we can’t do that…

On the other hand grace isn’t rules and regulations… it is God’s work in us and through us, not our own work… we rest in His work…

Here’s a story that you might find interesting about grace from Ray Stedman…

You remember the illustration that I have used on several occasions; it was one of Dr. Ironside’s favorite illustrations of law and grace: It is the story of the young Indian lad who had never been off the Navajo reservation until Dr. Ironside brought him to Oakland. He had been a Christian only about two years. When he came to Oakland, he was taken into a group of Christian young people one Sunday night when they were discussing law and grace. He listened to them as they argued back and forth about the various aspects, and then the leader called on him to say a few words. He said something like this:

“Me been listening to you talk about law and grace, and the longer me listen, the more me think you don’t know what law or grace is.”

He said,

“Let me tell you what I think: When Mr. Ironside ask me to go to Oakland with him, we get on a big train down in reservation. I never been on a train before, and we ride and ride and ride all day long, and, finally, we come to Barstow out in desert.”

And he said,

“Me very tired so me get off train to walk platform and stretch legs. While me walk around platform, me see sign that say, ‘Do Not Spit Here.’ Me look at sign, and me think, ‘what strange sign white man put up — Do Not Spit Here.’”

And then he said,

“While me look at sign, before I know what happen, me spit! I look all around platform and I see many people spit here. I think to myself, ‘How Strange.’ Sign say, ‘Do Not Spit Here’ but many people spit, and I spit.”

And then he said,

“We got on train again and come long way, up to Oakland, and some friends meet us at train, and take us to beautiful home. I never been in such home. Mr. Ironside take me in and show me soft chair and excuse himself for awhile, and I left alone in room. I look around and everything is so nice — soft, thick rug on floor, beautiful walls painted lovely color, pictures hanging on walls — everything so nice. I walk around room and I think to myself about something, and I look all around room and all over the wall, and I try to find sign that say ‘Do Not Spit Here,’ but I cannot find sign. I think to myself, ‘Too bad all this lovely room going to be ruined by people spitting on floor.’ Then I look around on floor, and see nobody been spitting there — and then it come to me: When the law say, ‘Do Not Spit Here’ it makes me want to spit, and I spit, and many people spit. But when I come into grace, and everything lovely and nice, I don’t want to spit, and I do not need law to say, ‘Do Not Spit Here.’”

Sorry so long…
Derek Turneron 27 Mar 2008 at 2:44 pm 7

Great post!

Ephesians 2:8,9 says - 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Colossians 2:6 says - 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.

The way you got it is the way you live it!

Grace IS the Gospel.

Derek Turner’s last blog post..Please Volunteer