🎙️ 25-319 — Grace Over Works

Religion says, “Do better.”Grace says, “It’s done.”We live in a culture addicted to performance — grades, promotions, followers, results. The world teaches us that our worth depends on what we produce. When that mentality seeps into faith, it strangles grace.Since Eden, humanity has tried to earn what only Heaven can give. Every false religion repeats the same lie: “If I can climb high enough or behave well enough, God will finally accept me.”But the Gospel obliterates that lie.Grace doesn’t climb to God — grace comes down to man.OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:📖 Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) — “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”TEACHING:Grace means you don’t get what you deserve — you get what Jesus deserves. It’s not leniency; it’s liberty. The cross didn’t lower God’s standards; it fulfilled them in full.Jesus lived the life we couldn’t live, died the death we should have died, and then handed us His reward. That’s the scandal of the Gospel — the greatest trade in human history.Every other system says, “Earn your way up.”Jesus says, “I earned it, and I’m coming down to bring you home.”Here’s where many believers stumble: we know we’re saved by grace, yet we try to stay saved by works. We start at the cross but think we must finish it ourselves. That isn’t faith — that’s performance dressed in Christian language.Grace doesn’t just open the door — it carries you across the finish line. It doesn’t excuse sin; it empowers transformation. Titus 2:11-12 declares, “The grace of God has appeared… training us to renounce ungodliness.”Grace doesn’t pat sin on the back — it nails it to the cross.PERSONAL TESTIMONY:I wrestled with this for years. I thought God’s favor was something I had to maintain — preach well enough, lead strong enough, don’t mess up.But every time I fell — every time pride or anger surfaced — guilt whispered, “You blew it again.”Then came my breaking point — my own spiritual earthquake.In the middle of my frustration, God spoke: “Stop. Slow your roll. Don’t let Satan get a foothold.”Right there I realized I wasn’t serving — I was performing. Trying to prove my worth to the very God who had already proven His love. That moment shattered my pride and rebuilt my peace.Grace met me — not in perfection, but in surrender.LIVING APPLICATION:Grace isn’t weak; it’s fierce. Real grace trains, disciplines, and strengthens. The enemy hates grace because it kills pride — his favorite weapon.Works are comfortable for the ego. They let us feel in control. But grace demands humility — an honest admission that we can’t earn, fix, or fake it.Christianity isn’t about behavior management; it’s about heart transformation.Grace turns guilt into gratitude and striving into surrender.When grace gets inside you, obedience stops being a burden. You live holy not to be loved — but because you are.Your salvation isn’t fragile — it’s finished. You didn’t achieve it; you received it. Stop living like you’re still on trial. The verdict is in. The blood still speaks. The case is closed.💡 LIVING PRINCIPLE:Grace doesn’t excuse sin — it empowers transformation.⚔️ DAILY ACTION:When guilt whispers “not enough,” declare aloud: “Jesus is enough.”✅ PRACTICE (Do This…):* Read Ephesians 2 aloud; underline every mention of grace.* Identify three areas where you still try to earn God’s approval — surrender them.* Do one kind act today expecting absolutely nothing in return — grace in motion.💥 CHALLENGE OF THE DAY:The next time you fail, don’t hide. Run straight to God and thank Him for the grace that still covers you. That’s not arrogance — that’s faith.🙏 PRAYER:Father, thank You for grace that finds me when I fall and carries me when I can’t walk. Forgive me for trying to earn what You freely give. Teach me to live as one who knows he’s loved, redeemed, and empowered by Your Spirit. Let my life overflow with the same grace I’ve received. In Jesus’ name, amen.🔥 IN CLOSING:You’re not earning salvation — you’re enjoying it.You’re not proving grace — you’re walking in it.Stop striving to be worthy of grace. Start living from the victory it already secured.Let’s Get To Work!🛡️ Every mission needs supply lines.If this battle cry resonated, help us keep the line strong and the truth loud.👉 Support This Work –Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe