It seems like almost every time my husband and I sit down to read the Bible, we are blown away by how clearly this is taught.
Blown away that we’ve never seen this before.
But it’s so obvious!
I was close to tears, watching an overview video about the book of Romans this morning. Maybe for multiple reasons —
One, because it’s so beautiful. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God! We are so helpless. We couldn’t keep the law. We can’t even act righteous now, as we wish we could!
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15)
But even when we fall short, God’s grace will never fall short. He is always faithful. That gift is given to us, notwithstanding our imperfections.
“What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all!” (Romans 3:3)
It’s so simple! It’s so amazing!
The LDS church likes to say “We are not saved in our sins—we are saved from our sins.” This comes from the Book of Mormon, but I think the culture of the church has taken it out of context. Of course we are saved from our sins. And Jesus releases us from our sinful state, so we will not be in our sins anymore when we are in heaven.
But we are most definitely in our sins now!! (see Romans 7:15 again)
But the LDS church makes it sound like we need to be righteous and worthy first, and then we can be saved.
No, I am a sinner now, and I am saved now. I am saved in my sins! Despite my sins!
That’s exactly why Grace is so amazing!
Here are some highlights from the book of Romans that makes Grace so clear:
“Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” (Romans 3:27)
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9)
“And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” (Romans 11:6)
Grace is a free gift. You can’t earn it. And you can’t earn a higher, more privileged level of it.
We are already given to be joint-heirs with Christ himself! Why are some people going back to the law to try to be “worthy” of a higher privilege?
But secondly, it makes me emotional because HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?? and so many of my friends and family members don’t understand this!
I am not okay with that!
This is not okay, that there’s a religion teaching that Jesus saves but we still need so many laws and ordinances as if we are still under the old covenant!
I’ve been praying about my feelings, this trauma response perhaps, seeking healing from anger. My friend told me her insight yesterday — the bitterness is because we just found out someone we were in a relationship with, and had every intention of being with for the rest of our lives, has been lying to us this whole time!
How would you feel if you were completely enamored with and devoted to your spouse (and I was! to the LDS church), only to find out they were lying about their identity the whole time?
Would you walk away happily, no big deal??
You’d probably need years of therapy and unwinding!
Here is what the Bible says about claiming faith in Christ while still trying to achieve works of the law:
A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
“You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from my grace.” (Galatians 5:4)
…You are alienated from Christ.😢
…You have fallen from Grace.
You can’t hold works in one hand and grace in the other hand. We have to let go of our works. Let go of the law.
Allow Him to save you from the law ❤️
All I Possess 