Some people think that it’s so great to not be under the law, as if grace is some loosy-goosy system that lets them get away with anything. Quite the opposite is true, grace raises the standard far beyond what the ten commandments required.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:21-22)

The law said do not murder, but if we are angry without a cause at a brother or sister, we are a murderer at heart, and if we call someone a fool we are in danger of hell! Are you sure you want to be under grace?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”

Again the law said do not commit adultery, but grace says if we merely look with sexual desire at a woman/man we are an adulterer at heart. Christ is not only looking at our external actions, but our inner-desires, intents, and imaginations. Also Jesus gets radical in this passage and says that if one of our members causes us to sin cut it off, or if it’s the eye, gouge it out. For it’s better to enter the kingdom legless, armless, and eyeless, than to be cast into the flames of an eternal hell with all our body parts intact. Now while I do not think that Christ is actually advocating anyone to dismember themselves, we do see the furious passion of God conveyed in this passage that we would not sin and instead live holy lives. It’s not optional, it is so deadly important. Eternity is on the line here!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5:43-47)

This is what life looks like under grace. It’s not a lower standard than the law, but a higher one. Now how could Christ make the standard more strict? We could never keep up our end of the old covenant! How can God expect us to abide by a system that is so much deeper in its requirements? Whatever the Lord demands of us, He enables. He gives the power to do that which He commands us to do. We must understand that we are one with Him, and because of that, fountains of supernatural power are within us. We need only turn our eyes to Jesus, and find that we are flooded with all the divine energy we need to live out the holy life we are called to.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

This is one of the huge differences between being under grace versus being under the law. Before the cross, the law said, “do,” but supplied no power to do what it demanded, it was completely dependent on human willpower and performance. But under grace, whatever is asked of us, is supernaturally empowered. Whatever God requires of a man, He does through the man, by His Spirit. I hope you can see that grace isn’t for wimps. The cherry on the top of Jesus’s sermon of life under grace is,

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

Now whether or not Jesus was serious when He said this, i’ll pretend for a moment that He is. No fancy interpretation needed here, it’s a simple command – be perfect. Now i’m sure all the alarm bells are going off in your head, because you can’t possibly imagine how we could be perfect, and ever measure up to such a high standard. But guess what? You’re right! You can’t do it! It’s impossible! But He can. He can do it in and through you if you allow Him to possess you with His Spirit.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” (Philippians 2:13 NLT)

This is not a self-generated perfection, but a Spirit-empowered reality. If you want to be perfect, just start drinking Him in, and in surrender to the Spirit’s power you will begin experiencing freedom from sin in ever increasing measures. The more you drink of the presence of God, and submit to His word, the more you will be changed and empowered to live a life glorifying and pleasing to Him. Just remember you can do nothing apart from Him, so simply learn to abide in His presence, and you will see the radical fruit of holiness produced in your life.