God’s grace is greater than all of our sin.
Ideally, His grace and kindness should lead us to repentance. “Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4, NASB).
But it is clear that grace does not remove God’s requirement of holiness in our lifestyle.
“Go and sin no more” (John 8:11b, MEV).
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1, NASB).
“‘Be holy, for I am holy'” (1 Pet. 1:16b).
In a recent interview with Dr, Ezra Aniebue on the Greenelines podcast, he spoke of our need to see that grace leads through love to salvation. “‘Holiness’ is not an old, outdated word,” he said. “And ‘grace’ is not a new word. It’s not complicated.”
“But many people don’t want to hear it because they think holiness is about human perfection and/or legalism. Holiness is not about digging up evil in others. It’s not about acting holier than thou. Holiness is lived out in our daily lives with the love of God in our hearts by His grace,” he said.
Aniebue stressed the importance of accepting grace and holiness as practical direction to help us through even the most difficult moments of our lives.
“We must come to understand that in temptations, trials or any valley you are going through, you are not alone. Don’t let the devil tell you that God doesn’t love you. Don’t listen to lies,” he said. “Leave material things alone. Leave the desires of all these things and humble yourself before the Lord.
“Whatever you do, just do it with all of your heart.”
When we press into the Lord, we press into a loving Father who leads us not into temptation and delivers us from evil. {eoa}
