We are saved by grace. Nothing we can do can get us saved. We can do our best to follow the Ten Commandments and every rule our church and denomination has in their bylaws.
But our actions and attempts will not save us. We cannot get good enough to be saved. How then do we get saved? By God’s grace. God empowers us. God gives us the grace (the ability) through faith (by believing) in Jesus to get saved. So, it is by grace that we are born again.
A person might say, “Well, then, OK…if I’m saved by grace and not because I’m good, if Jesus died for my sins, that means whatever I do in life is okay.”
Ah, no…it’s not okay. Grace is not a license to sin. In fact, when you receive that license of grace, it becomes a license to not sin. It is your license to do the thing you normally couldn’t do. “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Rom. 6:15).
A Christian might confess, “Well, I’ve always gossiped a lot. My mouth runs faster than my brain. I just can’t control gossiping.” The truth is, that’s a lie. If you’re born again, then you’ve been given the ability to do something a lost person can’t do. What is that? You can say, “I’m righteous.” That entitles you to stand before God and ask the Father for something in the name of Jesus.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
So you go to the throne and you say to the Father, “Father, You know and I know I have a problem. My mouth runs faster than my brain and I gossip. Your Word says in 1 John 5:14 that I can have confidence that if I ask anything that is according to Your will, You hear me and You will give it to me. I know it’s Your will that I don’t gossip about my brother and sister. It’s Your will that I don’t say bad things, and I’m having problems with that. I want to get it stopped. So in the name of Jesus, please give me grace to not gossip.”
When you go to the throne of grace, the Father gives you grace. By going to the throne of grace you have now received grace to do that thing you normally couldn’t do. You no longer have an excuse. So if you start shooting off your mouth, it’s not because you don’t have the ability to stop it; because the Father has given you the license, the permit and the ability to not gossip.
If someone gossips knowing it is a sin but knowing God will forgive them, is that a license to sin? No! It is not a license to sin. That is called abusing grace! When someone starts relying on grace as a method of sinning and getting away with it, they are abusing God’s free gift.
God doesn’t like that and He will not allow them to continue “getting away with it.” “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?” (Rom. 6:1-2).
God has a lot of grace. He can help us. God can give us the power to not continue in sin. This grace is the power to defeat sin—any sin!
This is an excerpt from Larry Ollison’s book,
“Discover the Power of Grace in Righteousness”
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.