Grace Repurposes Our Hearts

I have often been disappointed in myself in that I have sinned after knowing not to, even while knowing so much Bible. The question then becomes, “How could I do such a thing?” and “How can I not sin?” The fact is that after our salvation we soon recognize that we have a stubborn ‘heart’ problem that needs resetting. Thankfully, God’s grace and His ongoing work upon our soul, over time … ‘repurposes our heart.’

First, we need to be delivered from the Law, which is contrary to God’s plan for us during this age of “the dispensation of the ‘grace’ of God.” Jesus by His cross totally removed the external law from burdening us.

(Christ died on the cross…) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:14)

There’s a great difference between walking “under the law” and walking “under grace.” Law and grace are two contrary paradigms. Thankfully, Paul wrote, “… ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

1. The law demands but it’s powerless to help us achieve righteous living… due to “Sin in the (our) flesh.”

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (Romans 8:3)

2. The Grace of Christ’s Cross freed us from the dominion of “Sin in the flesh.” (Rom. 6:6-7)

3. Then Grace works to ‘repurpose our heart,’ in choosing the righteous thing over the other. When we more fully recognize the grace and love seen in God’s offering of Christ’s cross for us it motivates our heart to ‘choose’ righteousness. But, any remnant of ‘law’ prevents righteous living by empowering “Sin in the flesh.” Grace must be seen as total, ‘pure grace.’ We must let go of any reliance upon law-keeping.

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of (thinks) you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Gal. 5:4) “if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace…” (Rom. 11:6)

“… sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through the Law.” (1 Corinthians 15:56b (AMP)

But… “the love of Christ constraineth (urges and impels) us (2 Corinthians 5:14a)

We were all born spiritually dead and powerless under Sin’s dominion. But now, as saved believers our old sinful, powerless, self is’ crucified with Christ.” We’ve also been ‘freed’ from the dominion of sin and death. We’ve been spiritually raised up” in union with “Christ who is our Life(Col. 3:4), which is the Eternal Life.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was Raised Up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so We Also Should Walk in Newness of Life.” (Romans 6:3-4)
“Knowing this, that our old man ‘is’ crucified with him, (so) that the body of sin might be destroyed (Gk. kartargeo, be made of know effect), (so) that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin (from Sin’s dominion)” (Romans 6:6-7 (KJV)

The Law purposes to control ‘behavior’ under threat of ‘punishment.’ Its focus is solely on behavior, making its requirements superficial. The law doesn’t go deep to change our heart’s mind and will. This explains the weakness of religion’s law-based ‘performance-based acceptance systems.’

  • Law cannot save a soul. Law cannot remove sin. Law cannot empower anyone to righteous living.
  • Law actually empowers sin.  “… the strength (Gk. dunamis, force) of sin is the law.” (1 Cor. 15:56b (KJV)

“For Sin, taking occasion by the commandment (the Law), deceived me, and by it slew me.” (Rom. 7:11 KJV)

 “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Rom. 3:20) “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the (sinful) flesh (of Adam’s’ kin), God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3 (KJV)

Walking righteously is ‘grace in action.’ Grace removes the superficial requirements of the law and by contrast, ‘Repurposes Our Obstinate Hearts.’ Grace reveals to us the finished work of Christ’s cross and says ‘believe in Him,’ so that we might then be ‘free’ and ‘motivated’ to choose righteousness over sinning.

Grace is received only by “faith.” Faith isn’t a behavior, it is a learned trust; it can’t be forced on us.

  • Grace… first is the work of Christ’s Cross … on our behalf, saving our soul.
  • Grace … simultaneously ‘washes away sins’ … in the “regeneration” of our soul (cf. Titus 3:5)
  • Grace … then works to change the focus of our hearts and minds… toward God.
  • Seeing God’s Pure Grace repurposes our hearts’ to make the right choices for righteous living.

Immediately uponbelieving’… the grace of the deposit of the righteous life of Christ ‘in us’ immediately confronts our ‘inward man (soul)’ with a changed ‘resolve.’ After this, though we may still sin on occasion, none of us wants to sin. Still know that, God’s focus under ‘grace’ is not on our ‘behavior,’ but our belief, our trust in the effectual truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ’ cross-work on our behalf. Our faith in this gospel of the grace of Christ that save us … then work in us to change us.

Grace’s focus is not our work, but the work of Christ “for us.” He by His cross made a way for us…by His dying for us and also as us. Thus, our responsive hearts can’t help but to be ‘repurposed… toward Him.’

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of (springing from) the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

“Every man according as he PURPOSETH in his heart, so let him …” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

God’s intention is that His Grace saves us and then works on the premise that a changed person with a repurposed heart will act differently. A believer who knows the truth of God’s love in the gospelpurposes his hearts’ will, without law … and by grace he will do what ‘God purposes in him.’ To not commit acts of sin is an act of the soul’s ‘will,’ being repurposed by great appreciation for “the love of Christ” who died for us and committed His overcoming life to us. Seeing His absolute love, our hearts are ever turned toward Him.

the love of Christ constraineth (urges and impels) us (2 Cor. 5:14) “Christ is all and in you all…” (Col. 3:11)

After our salvation, the Grace of God works to repurpose our hearts. (cf. Phili 2:13), giving us revelatory “knowledge of the truth” of the gospel, which is necessary in order to believe and to change or move our hearts to make the right choices.

“… but ye have ‘obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine (teaching) which was delivered you.” (Rom. 6:17)

“[Not in your strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work In you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” (Phili. 2:13)

The Struggle: What if our behavior does not change? For all of us, in some area of our life, we may not change entirely while on earth still in these Sin-laden bodies… thankfully we’re still saved and kept by grace.

  • The struggle under lawwas and is ‘how to perform against your will.’ Why should I?
  • Grace answers this with why and how we make the right choice. Grace repurposes the heart, by acting upon our will through faith. For it is only “by faith” that we as knowledgeable grace believers know that Sin no longer has power over us… except only to tempt us (cf. Rom. 6:3-4, 6-7).

We conduct our walk by ‘faith’ in the same Gospel as saved us... always looking to and standing with Christ as Savior. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord (by faith), so walk ye in him (by faith) …” (Col. 2:6)

What is needed is not the application of ‘law’ to try and force our behavior. What is needed is the knowledge and application of God’s love and His ‘gospel of pure grace’ to ‘win our hearts.’

The struggle under grace is met with faith and patience as ‘a work of God in-progress.’ Many want to see themselves changed now. When grace is applied to the heart, Christ goes to work within us… Day by Day.” The Bible tells us of those who waited and learned to trust; Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Paul in Arabia.

“though our outward (body) man perish, yet the inward man (soul) is renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” it is God which worketh In You both to will (purpose) and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phili. 1:6, 2:13)

Having believed to receive God’s “grace and (liberating) truth (which) came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17);

  • God’s grace race provides us, “day by day,” the time necessary for grace to do its work in us.
  • Meantime, God’s grace, all the time, freely lavishes the unconditional “love of God” upon us; to be known in our heart. God’s Grace works to win our heart that we might co-operate with His Spirit!

The “Gospel of the Grace” needs be taught and ‘received by faith,’ and then to be recalled “day by day.” And, when we start extending grace to others, we will see that our behavior has changed, and without the law. Paul counseled Timothy: “… be strong (Gk. endynamoo, enabled) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 2:1)

God’s unwavering love and grace does not force us to do, but rather, it motivates our hearts and empowers us to live righteously.

the ‘love of God’ is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Rom. 5:5)