You can’t intimately know the God of the universe and experience the extravagant grace He has poured out and yet, still be convinced that your sin is not a big deal and you’ve got something better going on than what He can offer you with righteousness.
Grace is mind-blowing in that it shows us God loves us based on the simple fact that He has chosen to love us, not because we can contribute anything to Him or have earned His love. That's the actual story of grace, and it's a million times better than the cheap "sin now/pray later" mentality many of us settle for.
An encounter with this grace drastically alters your life. The understanding of what it has accomplished for you gives you a perspective beyond just your own pleasures and habits. Even more than just changing the way you view life, it changes the way you live as it works in your heart over the course of your lifetime.
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 2:4). Grace strips you of your idols and sinfulness, beginning the process of making your life reflect the righteousness that was declared over you at the cross. Grace doesn’t cover up the sinfulness in your life—it shines a spotlight on it and gently prompts change because of the price at which you were bought.
A true encounter with saving grace will naturally radically change your heart to reflect more righteousness—not to permit more unrighteousness.
This doesn’t mean you will immediately stop sinning or never struggle. It just means that we shouldn't stop struggling. Accepting defeat isn't living as a slave to righteousness. Actually, it's laziness.
An encounter with this grace drastically alters your life.
Again, Paul points this out: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).
