Does Anything Just Slide By?
Many of us have heard the term “Greasy Grace“.
This is usually used in a derogatory manner when people who are focused on sin, especially other people’s sin, talk of others who seem to not be as concerned about a certain problem or lifestyle.
It is especially used by those that I would put in the more legalistic camp of our large and very diverse Christian family.
You see, although I struggle daily with some of the things that uptight and hard-nosed people do, I accept them as part of my family.
Those from the holiness movement, or fundamentalist movements, are still loved, accepted, and forgiven by the same Jesus as I am.
He has adopted them into His family.
And the reason I am able to do this is because of “Greasy Grace”
Let me share why.
The Absolute Need for Grace
We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” No matter if you are a legalist, a liberal, or as myself, a balding man on a quest for the radical middle, we are all saved the same way, By grace.
Not by conformity, nor by even having correct doctrine, but by grace.
It is not what you do, nor how you express your Christian faith that saves you, but what you have received from God.
“Romans 3:23
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
It does not matter if you have been in church all your life, or lived a reckless and riotous life, we have all sinned. Each and every one of us.
There are no big sins or small sins.
No cardinal sins and venial sins.
Sins unto death vs. sins not unto death. (Catholic teaching)
Sin is a sin.
And I believe every fundamentalist reading this would agree with me. So, all of us are on the same playing field.
We all need grace daily in our lives.
The Need for Daily Grace
“2 Corinthians 12:9
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
Grace is not only needed to be saved but it is needed daily in our Christian walk.
Many people think that grace is only for what we are not able to do ourselves. That we reach up with our works, and grace reaches down from heaven and meets us in the middle.
That is not what the Bible teaches. It teaches that only grace saves, sanctifies, and empowers us. That we are incapable of helping God out. We are His workmanship, not our own.
“Romans 5:11
So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”
Having Faith in the Grace of God
I have faith in the power of that relationship.
I believe that God has things under control.
I believe that once that relationship has started, He continually works to conform us into the image of Jesus.
I am not who I was when I received the grace of God. I do not know anyone who has truly received grace, that is.
So, although people may look on the outside as if they are not in the process of becoming more like Jesus, my faith is not in what I see with my natural eyes. My faith is in the one who never let me go, even when I told Him to take a long walk on a short pier. (I forgot momentarily that He can walk on water)
Having faith in grace does not lead people to a carefree attitude about sin, but instead leads them to a deep appreciation of the gift that has been given to them, and thus to a heart change about their sin.
The Bible Teaches Greasy Grace
So I believe in greasy grace.
I have to believe in it.
The Bible teaches it.
It teaches that each and every one of us needs that grace daily.
If we don’t believe in greasy grace, then I know myself, that I am still a sinner, and no matter how little the sin is, it violates the standard of a Holy God.
If there is not greasy grace, then I won’t slide by the standard of God’s holiness and neither will you.
Now that is something to think about!
