Does the teaching of grace lead to passivity in the Christian life?
One of the most common misunderstandings about the grace life is that it teaches passivity in the life of the Christian. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The grace life is an active lifestyle energized not by the energy of the flesh but by the energy of the indwelling life of Christ. Consider the example of the apostle Paul. Paul trusted Christ to live His life through him (Romans 15:18) while leading an extremely active lifestyle. Notice Paul’s description of his lifestyle in Colossians 1:29, “And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” Paul was not passive; he was active. The words “labor” and “striving” in the original language refer to weariness to the point of physical exhaustion. Yet it was not done in the energy of the flesh it was “according to His (Jesus’) power” which was at work within Paul. For further reading refer to Grace Rules by Steve McVey, pages 89-90 and 194-197.
