Grace Is the Truth That Sets Us Free

Feb. 14, 2018 | By Creflo Dollar

One of the most important things we could ever do in life is to get born again and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior; once we’re saved, the next step is to begin changing how we think. We do that by developing a relationship with Jesus through studying God’s Word. We’ve learned wrong-thinking from the world, and letting God reveal the truth as we go deeper and deeper into His Word is like peeling back the layers of a dead flower to see beauty and life inside. Accepting the world’s lies as truth keeps us in bondage, but learning the truth of God’s grace sets us free.

During Jesus’ ministry, everyone who came into contact with Him and believed in Him was changed forever. It’s the same with us. When we trust Jesus, it’s impossible not to be changed radically. One of the most dramatic examples of how His presence influences us is seen when Zacchaeus, a cheat and a thief, had a change of heart when he learned that Jesus had accepted him in spite of himself (Luke 19:1-9).

The world still operates by the Law of Moses, and it says we must get rid of our shortcomings, first, before being considered acceptable. Jesus accepts us as we are, shortcomings and all. As we continue in our relationship with Him, it’s only a matter of time before we begin to see positive changes in ourselves. These are changes we couldn’t possibly make on our own, but only by God’s favor. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

We’re in a battle with the enemy for our minds. Any mindset or thought process that runs contrary to the Gospel of Grace is wrong-thinking and keeps us trapped in worldly attitudes. Learning and applying God’s Word about specific situations reshapes our thinking. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5, NKJV). Agreeing with God’s Word empowers us to break free from the imprisonment resulting from wrong- thinking.

God doesn’t think like humans. When we study the Scriptures, they challenge every religious thought we’ve ever learned. God’s way of thinking is radically different. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8, 9). Learning how to think like Him is a process, but the more we bring our thoughts into alignment with His, the more we change.

We don’t need to be tied down by twisted philosophies that contradict God’s will; they limit our thinking, dull our minds, and shut us down. God wants to show us the marvelous plans He has for us. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). His desire is for us to have the freedom found through a relationship with Jesus. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). He’s offering this freedom to us and waiting for us to accept it.