The Grace Awakening: Believing in grace is one thing. Living it is another. by Charles Swindoll
“Bound and shackled by legalists’ lists of do’s and don’ts, intimidated and immobilized by others’ demands and expectations, far too many in God’s family merely exist in the tight radius of bondage, dictated by those who have appointed themselves our judge and jury.”-Chuck Swindoll [from the Introduction]
The Grace Awakening calls all Christians to wake up and reject living in such legalistic, performance-oriented bondage. The God of the universe has given us an amazing, revolutionary gift of grace and freedom. This freedom and grace set us apart from every other “religion” on the face of the earth.
In this best-selling classic, Charles Swindoll urges you not to miss living a grace-filled life. Freedom and joy-not lists and demands and duties-await all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
With his characteristic style and gentle authority, Swindoll disarms the counter-attack of all those who would not preach grace-filled living and who would claim that focusing on grace would fill our churches with wild, undisciplined people with no godliness in evidence. Yes, Swindoll says, teaching and preaching grace is risky. Some may push the limits and misuse their freedom. But grace is the message of the gospel…the good news of salvation. As Christians, we sing about God’s amazing grace. We understand that we are saved by grace. Let’s learn to live by grace! Discover how in The Grace Awakening.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Anyone who says that this book
teaches grace as an excuse for sin
has never read the sixth chapter
- Grace: It’s Really Amazing!
There are killers on the loose today. The problem is that you can’t tell by looking. They don’t wear little buttons that give away their identity, nor do they carry signs warning everybody to stay away. On the contrary, a lot of them carry Bibles and appear to be clean-living, nice-looking, law-abiding citizens. Most of them spend a lot of time in churches, some in places of religious leadership. Many are so respected in the community, their neighbors would never guess they are living next-door to killers. - The Free Gift
For the next few minutes let’s think about heresy. To begin with, answer this question: What would you consider the most dangerous heresy on earth? Stop and think before you answer. The one I have in mind is not so bold and ugly that it would make angels blush. This one is subtle, rather attractive. For a long, long time it’s been a favorite of many. Actually, it has been around since the Garden of Eden. - Isn’t Grace Risky?
But isn’t it risky? Won’t some people take it to an extreme? In California—or anywhere—doesn’t a minister run the risk that some in his flock may take unfair liberties if he presents the message of grace with the same gusto that I’m emphasizing in this book? Couldn’t an awakening of grace lead to an abusing of grace? - Undeserving, Yet Unconditionally Loved
To many people, grace is nothing more than something to be said with heads bowed before dinner. But that idea, simple and beautiful as it may be, is light-years removed from the depth of meaning presented in Scripture regarding grace. This biblical concept of grace is profound, and its effects are both far-reaching and life changing. Were we to study it for a full decade we would not come close to plumbing its depths. - Squaring Off against Legalism
One of the most serious problems facing the orthodox Christian church today is the problem of legalism. One of the most serious problems facing the church in Paul’s day was the problem of legalism. In every day it is the same. Legalism wrenches the joy of the Lord from the Christian believer, and with the joy of the Lord goes his power for vital worship and vibrant service. Nothing is left but cramped, somber, dull, and listless profession. The truth is betrayed, and the glorious name of the Lord becomes a synonym for a gloomy kill-joy. The Christian under law is a miserable parody of the real thing. - Emancipated? Then Live Like It!
With all this talk about grace and liberty, perhaps it’s time for me to clarify something. Some may be asking: Doesn’t liberty have its limits? Shouldn’t folks restrain their freedom and occasionally hold themselves in check? Yes, without question. Grace can be—and sometimes is—abused. - Guiding Others to Freedom
With all this talk about grace and liberty, perhaps it’s time for me to clarify something. Some may be asking: Doesn’t liberty have its limits? Shouldn’t folks restrain their freedom and occasionally hold themselves in check? Yes, without question. Grace can be—and sometimes is—abused. - The Grace to Let Others Be
Grace comes to us in two dimensions: vertical and horizontal. Vertical grace centers on our relationship with God. It is amazing. It frees us from the demands and condemnation of the Mosaic Law. It announces hope to the sinner—the gift of eternal life, along with all its benefits. Horizontal grace centers on our human relationships. It is charming. It frees us from the tyranny of pleasing people and adjusting our lives to the demands and expectations of human opinion. It gives relief—the enjoyment of freedom along with all its benefits. It silences needless guilt and removes self-imposed shame. - Graciously Disagreeing and Pressing On
One of the marks of maturity is the ability to disagree without becoming disagreeable. It takes grace. In fact, handling disagreements with tact is one of the crowning achievements of grace. - Grace: Up Close and Personal
My fellow pilgrim, is the progress more painful than you expected? Thinking you were in for a Disneyland experience, have you been surprised to find yourself on cold, barren ground—lonely, depressed, and broken? Are you beginning to wonder if you are on the wrong road? Trust me, you are not. God is at work in you. His “mighty hand” is above you. His love is around you. His grace is available to you. Awake and claim it. - Are You Really a Minister of Grace?
It’s time to take off the gloves, rip off the masks, knock off the rationalizations, and face the truth head-on. Are you one who models and ministers grace or not? Is what you’re doing the work of your own flesh energized by your own strength? Are you relying on your charisma to pull it off? Do you often have a hidden agenda? How about your motive? With a captive audience hanging on to your words and following your ministry with unquestioned loyalty, do you exploit them . . . do you use your power for your own purposes? Is the enhancement of your image of major importance to you, or can you honestly say that your work is directed and empowered by the Spirit of God? Is yours a grace-awakening ministry? - A Marriage Oiled by Grace
As I study the seventh chapter of 1 Corinthians, I find no fewer than three realities (of course, there may be more) to be faced by every married couple. I am so convinced of the significance of each one that I mention them to every couple I marry. I also have observed that among those I know whose marriages have not lasted, one or more of these realities was passively ignored or deliberately set aside. - The Charming Joy of Grace Giving
Beginning in 2 Corinthians 9, verse 6, through the end of the chapter, I discover four things that make grace so attractive, not just at the Christmas season but all through the year. In verse 7 we are told: “Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart.” - Grace: It’s Really Accepting!
When I began this book, I stated in the opening chapter that grace is really amazing. As I write the closing chapter, I want to emphasize that grace is really accepting as well. It not only gives with joyful generosity, it receives with grateful humility. When a person truly experiences a “grace awakening” and begins to understand and demonstrate the kind of love I have been describing, there is not only the amazing desire to extend encouragement, affirmation, support, and reassurance to others, there is also an accepting attitude that allows others to reciprocate in like manner. As easy and simple as that may sound, it is neither. In fact, it cuts cross-grain against our natural tendency to be self-sufficient and invulnerable. Before you reject that thought, think realistically. Just how open and accepting are you when others extend unexpected and undeserved grace in your direction?