What if the key to eternal peace and salvation was not something you could earn, but a gift waiting to be accepted? Join me on a transformative journey in "Embracing Grace - Salvation Through Faith," where we delve into the liberating message of Ephesians 2:8. Discover how the concept of divine grace contrasts sharply with the world's obsession with earning and deserving, and learn how accepting Jesus' sacrifice paves the way to forgiveness and eternal life. This episode shifts our perspective on righteousness and salvation, encouraging trust and belief over striving and performing.
As men, we navigate different seasons, seeking guidance to conquer obstacles while remaining steadfast. Discipleship Masterminds is the environment where you not only receive invaluable insights to overcome challenges but also gain profound guidance on the path to becoming the leader God uniquely designed you to be.
What if the key to eternal peace and salvation was not something you could earn, but a gift waiting to be accepted? Join me on a transformative journey in "Embracing Grace - Salvation Through Faith," where we delve into the liberating message of Ephesians 2:8. Discover how the concept of divine grace contrasts sharply with the world's obsession with earning and deserving, and learn how accepting Jesus' sacrifice paves the way to forgiveness and eternal life. This episode shifts our perspective on righteousness and salvation, encouraging trust and belief over striving and performing.
As men, we navigate different seasons, seeking guidance to conquer obstacles while remaining steadfast. Discipleship Masterminds is the environment where you not only receive invaluable insights to overcome challenges but also gain profound guidance on the path to becoming the leader God uniquely designed you to be.
Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be. I'm your host, chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, guys, it is your spiritual kickoff episode. I'm just excited to speak today. I'll tell you what. It's just been a beautiful day here in North Carolina. The sun is out, we have hay bales out in our pasture. It's just a gorgeous morning. All right, so let's get right into it.
Chris Grainger:
Scripture of the week this week is in the book of Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 8. It says, for it is by grace, you have been saved through faith. This is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God. So, man, let's just unpack this one. This is going to be a good one. I just got a feeling, fellas, this is going to be some good stuff. So I just got a feeling, fellas, this is going to be some good stuff. So let's dive right into it.
Chris Grainger:
First of all, we need to understand where is the book of Ephesians? Okay, so now that is in the New Testament. Okay, now, this is after Galatians, before Philippians. So if you keep flipping and get too far, you get to Philippians. Just back up a little bit. Okay, if you get to Galatians, keep going, okay, and Paul is hammering. Paul is hammering, I mean hammering on something right here.
Chris Grainger:
Now, quite often we get wrong. And that's grace, just the idea of grace, because this verse right here is the essence of Christian faith, because it tells us our salvation. Hey, this has nothing to do with our own efforts. It's a gift, a gift, and we start trying to figure out how we're going to simplify and apply this. This can really transform everything for us. It can free us from the works that we feel like we have to do all the doggone time because we're trying to do that workspace. Righteousness, if I can just be a little bit better, I can just do this a little bit more. No, no, no. It's inviting us to rest in the grace of God. Just think about that for a second. Resting in the grace of God.
Chris Grainger:
We need to think about what grace is At its core. It's pretty simple it's receiving something that we don't deserve, because when we talk about mercy, that's not getting something that we do deserve, but grace is when we do get something that we don't deserve, and that world that we live in now is putting a lot of emphasis on earning and deserving right, and I know that gives me so hard. It can be really complicated the idea of grace, because we're conditioned to believe that our worth and our success depends on what Our efforts or our achievements. Just take a look at LinkedIn, you'll see that firsthand. Right. But grace turns this whole notion on its head. This tells us, no matter how hard we try, our works are not going to be enough to save us from that ultimate penalty, the penalty of sin, right, and the penalty for that is death. So once we recognize that grace is something we can work for, it liberates us Because it takes us from striving to trusting, from doing to believing. And I'm telling you this changes so much for the Christian once they finally start getting this.
Chris Grainger:
Because this whole idea of workspace, righteousness, this is such a big deal. Because we're trying to be good, right, quote, unquote good Because we want to follow the rules. Right, we want to perform these random acts of kindness and just start all this good stuff. I just want to avoid doing bad stuff because we hope if we do that enough, that's going to secure our seat in heaven. And this is exhaustive too, because it doesn't have a good standard.
Chris Grainger:
Think about that for a second. What is your definition of good Like? What is good enough? Like, if I get to good enough, am I in heaven? Okay, but what is that parameter? Where is that at on the good meter, and how many good deeds do I need to do to get in?
Chris Grainger:
There's people fellas, I'm telling you you're laughing, but there's people who think this. I talk to people all the time who think they're going to get to heaven just by being a good person. I'm here to tell you hell is full of good people. Them think they're going to get to heaven just by being a good person. I'm here to tell you hell is full of good people. It just is. It just is because our salvation is not tied to quantity or the quality of our works, but to the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and our choosing to put faith in him. That's what matters.
Chris Grainger:
Jesus' work on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of grace. Don't miss this. He paid the penalty for our sin. He's offering us forgiveness and eternal life. That's grace. That is complete grace, right there. This is a gift. This is something that you can't earn. It is freely given.
Chris Grainger:
Now, think about this. I have a gift that's sitting right here in front of me. What do I have to do? I can't just, okay, give Thank you. No, you have to accept the gift. You have to accept it. It means you have to receive it. This takes action. This is a personal faith that we have to have.
Chris Grainger:
Fellas, this is a decision that you have to make, or whatnot You're going to. I can't do it for you, family can't do it for you, friends can't do it for you. Nope, nope, nope. It doesn't work that way. It has to be yours, it has to become your own. And then, when you accept that gift, that shifts our understanding of righteousness, of what right is and salvation. And it's going to be such a big deal for you.
Chris Grainger:
Once you start changing the way you think about this, and when you start, what you'll find is, once you surrender your life to the Lordship of Christ, you're going to start trying to incorporate the principle of grace in your daily lives. You're going to start letting go of the need to constantly prove yourself and show others and do this and do this and do this and do this. No, you'll start embracing your identity as a child of God, saved by grace Through faith. It's just beautiful, because this shift allows you to live so much for your life Because you're not burdened by pressure like you're. Pressure on earning God's favor, no, instead, you can just love God, love others and just keep being that disciple of Christ. Your motivation is going to change Because you'll be just grateful for the grace that he's poured out, that he offers you up, and that grace becomes the foundation of your faith.
Chris Grainger:
How you view yourself, how you view the people that you're around you with, how you view the guy who just cut you off in traffic right, it's going to change it, and I'm telling you, the gift that Paul talks about in his verse, our salvation is a gift from God, received through faith, not because we can earn through our own efforts. Once we truly understand that man, things just do get a little bit better. I won't say easier. They do get better, though, because we recognize that that gift is gift and it's freely given. It's transformative, it changes everything, it frees us to live our life with confidence and joy. There's a lack of joy out there in this world. Fellas, I want you to be walking around joyful. I don't want Eeyore to be your spirit animal. No, joy, choosing those moments and just recognizing the assurance that God loves you. A sinner in need of a Savior. Such a big deal.
Chris Grainger:
And if someone were to ask you to explain grace to others, how would you do it? Think about that Again. I always go back to getting something we don't deserve with grace. Maybe as a kid you have memories of getting some elaborate presents and things like that. Did you deserve that stuff? Probably not. You're probably just like me, a little bit aggravating trifling kid. My mom or dad listening they're probably like amen to that, but you still get that stuff. Think about the grace we give as parents to our kids. Now, right, do they deserve it? Absolutely not. One of my favorite pastors calls them vipers and diapers. Baby, that's it. They are vipers and diapers just because they're little sinners, just like you, just like me. Yeah, we extend them grace. Just think about that and how often that shows up.
Chris Grainger:
And if this whole idea of what I've been talking about in this episode you're kind of like I think I get it, but I don't know if I fully understand it. Well, it all starts with this. I want to share some good news with you. You made it this far into the land with Dennis, this spiritual kickoff episode. I don't know why you're here, other than you're trying to grow to be a leader that God told you to be and maybe need a better understanding of grace. Hey, we need to first understand who we are, and we are made in the image of God.
Chris Grainger:
So it kind of goes back to the very beginning, when God created heavens, the earth, the stars, the sun, the moon, the land, the ocean, the animals, all this stuff. He spoke, all those things he said let there be, let there be From, let there be light to everything else. He spoke it Until he got to man and what he did? He formed him with his hands in his own image, made him out of the dust and then he breathed the breath of life, the Ruah, into his nostrils and Adam's lungs were filled with the Spirit and he sat up, the first man, and he was face-to-face with his creator. You know, it was beautiful, absolutely beautiful, and that's the image that we're made in. We are made in the image of God.
Chris Grainger:
Unfortunately, there's a separation and sin entered the world, okay, and that's called the fall. So he had sin enter the world and at that point we're separated from him. Adam was escorted out of the garden and ever since then, this is the world we live in. Okay, now you have this gap, this gap of sin, and recognizing sin is, very simply, anything that separates us from God. That's all a sin is I'm trying to keep this very simple for you guys listening. Okay, anything that separates us from God. Don't try to rank sins like mine's better than yours and mine's not as bad as yours. Don't do that stuff. Okay, that's silly and we all fall short of the glory of God because God is holy and we are not, and we have this sin gap. Okay, so there's nothing we can do.
Chris Grainger:
Again, we just spent this whole spiritual kickoff episode talking about we can't work our way to be good enough. Right, it's not like a Boy Scout who's trying to be an Eagle Scout and you can check all the badges. You know I can do this badge, this badge, this badge, and if I get this many hours, I can do this. If I get this many things, I can do this, and all of a sudden, you're an Eagle Scout. It doesn't work that way. When it comes to salvation, okay, you can't help a thousand old ladies across the street today for next month, and then you're good. No, it doesn't work that way, all right. So we have this gap. We can't pay it. We can't pay this gap because we have a holy and righteous God and we have a sinner in us. We're all sinners and for you out there listening and thinking well, I'm not a sinner, chris, I'm a cupcake, I'm a snowflake. I'm not a sinner, chris, I'm a cupcake, I'm a snowflake, I'm a skittle. No, no, no, no, wrong Cupcake. You are a sinner. Every single one of us is a sinner. Okay, you probably sinned five times already this morning, just guessing. Now we got this gap. Okay, how do we close it? We can't pay for it. How do we close it?
Chris Grainger:
Enter Jesus. He left heaven on a rescue mission for us. He was born of a virgin, fulfilled all the prophecies, did all the teachings, did all the miracles, just a wonderful way that he had his ministry. And then he said you know what I'm going to take on this sin, on myself. And he gave himself up and he went to the cross and he paid the penalty for our sin. And they crucified him and he bared it all. He bled, his perfect blood ran. So no longer do you have these little lambs. Some of them have these blemishes. Nope, we have the perfect Lamb of God and His blood covered our sin and he died on the cross. And don't let anyone fool you, he didn't pass out, he didn't faint, he died on the cross. So Jesus died and they took Him and they laid Him in a tomb. Now we're not sitting here mourning today and weeping and lamenting and crying because Jesus is in the tomb. No, because something happened. After three days he rose, he overcame death.
Chris Grainger:
Now, this is such a big deal because all of the religions out there, all of them, you can go. You know the people that started them. They're dead. Guess what? They're still dead. Okay, it's just a part of it, except for Christ.
Chris Grainger:
He overcame death, he came out of that empty tomb, he went, he still went back to his boys, he got to see them all again, did a little more teaching and he went straight to heaven. He ascended and he's sitting in the right hand of the Father right now. And there's no other name under heaven that's been given to us guys by which we must be saved. He is it. The way, the truth, the life. This is no other person, it's Christ. Now, knowing all this, knowing Now, knowing all this, knowing that we're sinners and need a Savior, jesus is that Savior. Okay, he paid the penalty for our sin. So we have this gap. We can't close it, but Jesus closes it for us.
Chris Grainger:
What do we have to do? You have to accept Jesus as your Savior. You have to take that step of obedience and recognize that you know what my way ain't working. I don't got this, no more. I need Jesus in my life, not just today, but every day. I need Jesus in my marriage. I need Jesus in my parenting, in my career, in my finances. I need Jesus to help me overcome these addictions I'm struggling with. I need Jesus to help me with this pornography that I can't stop looking at You'll find out from our guest this week from this alcohol that I can't put down. I need Christ because this world is pushing me back and I just feel so defeated. I need Jesus to speak this life over depressions in my life or anxiety or stress or sickness All the things that so many people are struggling with.
Chris Grainger:
So we've already talked about salvation as a free gift. So what do you have to do with the gift? You have to get it. You have to accept it. You have to ask Him into your life, ask Him to take over, commit your life to Him. He wants your heart. That's all he wants. And once you give Him your heart, everything will change.
Chris Grainger:
So that listener out there right now and I know there's a listener and you're to that point, maybe you got that tear welling up and you're saying you know what I need to fully surrender my life to Christ. I've never done it. And you're thinking, well, there's no way I'm going to do this, I'll listen to a podcast, no-transcript, be obedient. Let's pray right now. So, father, for that one listener who, right now, they're ready to confess you as Lord and Savior of their life, I pray you just give them peace, give them encouragement, give them just hope. I know that they're struggling, I know they're dealing with some things. I know that the evil one's trying to make them think that they're defined by the things of their past, that they're no good, that they're condemned, that they're not fit for use. I just want to speak those lies straight back to the pits of hell, where they belong, bind them up and keep them there. I want to release the power of the Holy Spirit on that listener. I want them to know right now that, therefore, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I pray that you hear their prayers. I pray you put people on their path. That's going to encourage them. That's going to help them on their journey. We pray all this according to your will, in Christ's name, amen. So now you just accept that Christ is your Savior.
Chris Grainger:
Touch down, let's go Send me an email, chris at thelinewithinus. Again it'sris at thelinewithinus. Again it's chris at thelinewithinus. I want to hook you right up with some free resources that we got for you so far as getting some Bible knowledge, some verses known that you need to get known. I will hook you up with that. Get you started on a 30-day to Unleash the Line Within free course, just trying to put you some resources available to get you started, as well as find out where you live. If you need help finding a church, I want to do that for you as well Because, again, at Lionwood, denison, we're not a church. We're a good supplement. We try to come alongside, but you need to be part of a local church, a gospel-centered church. Okay, all right.
Chris Grainger:
So again, chris at lionwooddenisonus, and guys, this week's episodes, I'm telling you it's just going to be heavy. It's going to be some hard stuff. Don't run away from it, particularly if you're a guy who struggles with addiction Not just. You know, everybody goes to pornography. You can be addicted to anything. So if you have an addiction in your life, this is going to be a conversation that you won't listen to okay on Wednesday. So listen to. Okay on Wednesday.
Chris Grainger:
So again, thelionwithinus is how you connect with us for all our resources, all the ways we try to help people, all the ways we try to support. We're on the Bible app for your devotions. We have close to 30 devotions out there at this point on the Bible app. Go, check those out. Go to thelionwithinus. Join the community. I'm not going to say, I'm just going to be blunt. Join the community.
Chris Grainger:
What are you waiting on? Be part of a group of Christian men who are trying to help each other. We have our discipleship masterminds within those communities. Guys, this is where we lean in. This is where the iron sharpens iron. We have our daily spiritual kickoff where we give you a little bit of boost in the pants every day from Scripture. We have lion lunches. We have couples night. We have lion lunches. We have couples night. We have bible studies. We have lots of things that we have built To help the Christian man Grow To be that disciple in Christ, to be the leader that he's called you to be. I know he wants you to be one. He intends you to step into it. Stop trying to outsource it. Lean into your responsibility. Okay, All right, guys, enjoy this one, get after it. Have a great, great day Again.
Chris Grainger:
Thelinewithinus is how you connect with us and all the resources. I hope to see you back here on our next episode. Thank you for all the support. By the way, if you want to be a regular supporter of the Lion Within Us, you can donate right there on thelionwithinus. You'll be a monthly supporter. That would be huge. That'd be incredible. And then also, don't forget about our live events. We have lots of ways we're connecting with guys on our live events, so we'll definitely want to hear from you there as well. Okay, so get after it. Have a great day. Thank you so much. And look, keep unleashing the lion within.
Chris Grainger:
If you're a man who's looking for greater spiritual guidance into how to become a better leader, finding resources that you can trust and then implement can be daunting For me personally. I thought it was a lost cause and I decided to take the action, knowing that I wasn't alone. It was because of this wide gap that we created. Our Lion Within this community and the areas that we're helping Christian men grow are incredible. For instance, we've built ways for guys to lean in and grow through fun events like our daily spiritual kickoff, where you get that much needed boost directly from God's word, our Bible studies that always focus on how to discern and apply what we learn, and even our amazing forum where you can speak your mind without fear of getting shut down or judged by the extreme rules of modern day social media. On top of all that, we know that many men want help overcoming issues and becoming stronger in many different areas. That's why we created several mastermind groups where the iron truly sharpens iron.
Chris Grainger:
Our community is about having a growth mindset, accountability, intentionality and transparency. In other words, just leave fake you at home and come to community just as you are. I fully believe what we feel. I see the impact it's making on men right now and I would love to have you check it out. So start your very own 30-day free trial today to see how we can help you be a better leader. So if you're ready to take that first step, head over to thelinewithinus and get started. Your journey begins here. Visit thelinewithend dot us and I'll see you inside the den.
