I’m excited to announce a new series: Disgrace to Grace. Disgrace to Grace is about debunking several disgraceful ideas that spit in the face of the Gospel. I hope to boast in the outrage of Grace, and set you free from bad beliefs. Here’s #1. Enjoy!
Disgrace to Grace #1- Sin Separates You From God
First of all, separation from God is an impossibility. Seeing that it is actually Christ who sustains you, and upholds your very existence (See Col. 1:17 and Heb. 1:3) any sort of separation from Christ would mean complete annihilation.
If Christ left you, you, as you know you, would cease to exist.
Additionally, if sin truly separates us from God, you are going to have to theologically do away with the omnipresence of God (which is a fancy way of saying “God is everywhere”). If sin separates us from God then our sin is more powerful than His omnipresence. In other words, if our sin separates us from God, then our sin changes the unchanging God.
I’ve heard this idea a lot growing up in church. Whenever I would sin, I felt like I had to re-earn my way back into relationship with God. I believe this Disgrace to Grace is detrimental to our relationship with God. It can’t go on any longer!
Where did this horrible idea come from? This Disgrace to Grace comes from two scriptures: Isaiah 59:2 and Habakkuk 1:13.
In Isaiah 59:2 we read “..your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God..” (NASB)
Doesn’t this clearly say sin separates us? Not necessarily. Think about it like this: Separation from God is an illusion that infiltrated our mindset after the fall. The illusion of separation was a by-product of the fall. It is the Adamic mind that believes this illusion, but it has always been just that, an illusion. There is no separation.
Paul says this very thing in Colossians 1:21: “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” (Emphasis mine) Our alienation from God was always an illusion, not a reality.
Remember, it was Adam and Eve who hid from God after their sin, not the other way around.
Onto the next verse then..
Habakkuk 1:13 is where we get the whole “God can’t look a sin” idea. But I challenge you to read this verse in its proper context.
This verse is in the middle of a dialogue between Habakkuk and God. He is essentially saying this: “God you are so holy and pure. You can’t look at sin. So why are you? Why do you let sin run rampant in the world?”
Habakkuk is not saying that God actually can’t look at sin. He is talking to God, and implying the exact opposite: that God does look at sin.
The Truth
Sin cannot separate you from God! You have been eternally joined to the inescapable presence of God. He is in you, and you are in Him. You have been joined in union with Christ. You can’t go anywhere or do anything to change that fact!
This Disgrace to Grace is often taught to invoke a fear of sin, and in doing so, sin is often given more precedence than God. We think sin is bigger than grace!
But if the Gospel tells us anything, it’s that sin can’t hold a candle to grace. The grace of Jesus Christ is far greater, and far stronger than even the worst of sins.
Stop fearing sin! Absolutely nothing can separate you from God!
“..Though sin is shown to be wide and deep, thank God His grace is wider and deeper still!”
(Romans 5:20 J.B. Phillips)
What do you think about this weeks Disgrace to Grace? Share your thoughts below!
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