Falling Into Grace
We are called to live our lives by faith. However, faith is not merely a mental exercise—it is a spiritual faculty...
March 30, 2025
Romans 1:17 – For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
This verse can also be understood as, “The just, by faith, shall live.”
We are called to live our lives by faith. However, faith is not merely a mental exercise—it is a spiritual faculty. Faith can only be acted upon spiritually. When you see God in His goodness, faith rises. When you witness His grace and mercy, faith automatically arises within you.
The Bible states in Romans 2:4, “It is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance.”
Romans 2:4 – “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
It is not a terrifying revelation of God that brings repentance, but rather His goodness. The gospel is not bad news—it is good news. If anyone has told you otherwise, understand that the gospel is a message so good that it is almost too good to be true. The Lord has placed it on my heart to teach about God’s heart through the different covenants found in the Old Testament. Whether you are a new believer or have been walking in faith for some time, this series is for you. It will take you back to the basics and refresh your heart with the truth about the Father. This is especially important for those who have never studied the Old Testament or do not fully understand it. I will also address common misunderstandings about God.
Many times, when something bad happens, people are quick to blame God. He is often one of the most misunderstood figures in the world. I will take you through Old Testament stories where God’s actions have been misinterpreted, and I will reveal the grace behind every one of His actions.
Some of you may feel as though you have been pulled back in this season. You have done everything you can to move forward, yet it seems like something is pulling you back. Let me assure you, it is not God who is pulling you back—He desires for you to move forward. Instead, it is the enemy who is trying to hold you back.
The vision I saw was that of an arrow being pulled back in the hands of a warrior. God holds the bow, while the enemy tries to pull you back. However, it is God who will decide when you are released. He is using every attack of the enemy to set you up for a super-explosive promotion.
Psalm 127:4 – “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.”
You are an arrow in the hands of the Father. Imagine this: before releasing you, God allows the enemy to pull you back. But when God finally lets you go, you will soar further than you ever imagined.
Falling into Grace
When we think of Adam, we often think of failure. I used to imagine that when I reached heaven, I would have some tough questions for Adam. However, even in Adam’s fall, the grace of God was at work. Adam did not just fall into sin—he also fell into the grace of God.
Let’s go back to Genesis 1:26 and see God’s original intent for creating man:
Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’’
God’s original plan was for man to have dominion over the earth. Simply put, He created us to rule on His behalf. Think of yourself as a king! Stand in front of the mirror and declare: “I am King.” Some of you may laugh, but remember: Jesus is the King of kings. If He is the King of kings, then who are the kings? We are!
The Blessing and Dominion
Genesis 1:28 begins with God blessing Adam and Eve. The first words they heard from God were words of blessing. God cannot expect fruitfulness from us without first empowering us with His blessing. Being fruitful is not just about having children—it means being productive. If fruitfulness only meant having children, then Jesus would be considered unfruitful, which is not the case. God created us to be producers, not just consumers.
A consumer simply takes and complains about what they have received. A producer, on the other hand, creates and contributes. God has called us to be producers—creators who bring forth His kingdom on earth.
Dominion Through Rest
Adam was created on the sixth day, and on the seventh day, God rested. This means Adam’s first day of existence was a day of rest. Imagine receiving a new job, and your first day is a paid holiday! This illustrates that God intended for man to rule not through striving but through resting. Creative people operate best when they are relaxed. Striving chokes creativity, but rest releases it.
If you examine Genesis 2, you’ll notice that God’s name shifts from Elohim (Almighty God) to Yahweh Elohim (Covenant-keeping God). This change is significant. While Elohim signifies His power, Yahweh Elohim speaks of His relationship with us. From the beginning, God did not just want to be known as the Almighty—He wanted a relationship with mankind. This is why He desires that we rule through resting in His relationship with us.
The Two Trees
In the Garden of Eden, there were two trees in the midst: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17). God commanded Adam not to eat from the latter, not as a test but as an invitation to trust Him. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents self-effort—living by our own strength. The Tree of Life represents grace—living by faith in God’s provision.
Imagine a teacher giving a surprise test. The students have two options: take the test and be graded based on their answers or simply write their names on the paper and receive full marks. That is grace! Christ has already written the answers on our behalf. Yet many still choose to rely on their own effort rather than resting in God’s grace.
The Fall of Man: Choosing Self-Effort Over Grace
Genesis chapter three begins with the fall of man, where humanity chooses self-effort over grace. Observe the serpent’s deception in Genesis 3:1:
Genesis 3:1 – “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’”
Look at what the devil is doing—he is twisting the words of God. God had actually given permission to eat from every tree except one, but the serpent’s wording makes it seem as though God is restrictive rather than generous. His aim is to make humanity doubt God’s goodness.
I always say, faith rises when you see that God is good, but doubt arises when you see God as bad. When you have a wrong picture of God, doubts take hold. Because Adam and Eve doubted God’s goodness, they partook of the tree. The devil deceived them, saying that if they ate from the tree, they would become like God. But weren’t they already created in His likeness? (Genesis 1:27). The enemy was selling them independence—the idea that they could be like God apart from Him.
The Power of Isolation
The devil still uses the same tactic today. Proverbs 18:1 warns,
Proverbs 18:1 – “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”
If Satan can isolate a believer, he can destroy them. That’s why coming to church is vital—it is an act of spiritual warfare. Ever noticed that everything seems fine until Sunday? Then suddenly, the car breaks down, the child falls sick, or urgent errands appear. It’s not a coincidence; it’s spiritual warfare. The enemy knows that if he can isolate you once, he can do it again until he completely separates you from the body of Christ.
The Consequences of Disobedience
When Adam and Eve ate from the tree, their eyes were opened—not to a greater wisdom, but to their own nakedness and shame. Genesis 3:7 states,
Genesis 3:7 – “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”
Were they not already naked before? Their new awareness brought shame, revealing knowledge that God had purposefully shielded them from. God hides certain things from us for our own protection, knowing they add no value to our lives. Instead of focusing on God’s reality, Adam and Eve fixated on their lack.
Running from God
Hiding in shame, Adam and Eve heard God walking in the garden.
Genesis 3:8 – “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”
Many think that when they sin, God hides from them. But even in their sinful state, God was drawing near. What if, instead of running from God, they had run toward Him? How different would the story be?
This is what sin does—it distorts our perception of God. Sin makes us believe that God is angry, ashamed of us, and rejecting us, but the truth is that even in our brokenness, God comes toward us.
The Question of Identity
God calls out to Adam,
Genesis 3:9 – “But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’’
This was not a question of geographical location but of spiritual position. Adam was no longer where God had placed him—in a position of power and authority. Adam responds,
Genesis 3:10 – “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”
Fear comes from shame, but why should we feel shame in the presence of the One who created us? Instead of fixing ourselves, we should come to God as we are and allow Him to restore us.
The Consequences of Sin
As a result of their choice, Adam and Eve faced consequences. Genesis 3:14-15 records God’s words to the serpent:
Genesis 3:14-15 – “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
This is the first prophecy of Jesus—the seed of the woman (Christ) would crush the serpent. Women do not have seed; men do. This prophecy hints at the virgin birth of Jesus, who would come through Mary, without the intervention of a man.
To the woman, God declares that childbirth will now be painful (Genesis 3:16). Yet even in this consequence, there is hope—through childbirth, the Messiah would come.
To Adam, God says:
Genesis 3:17 – “Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.”
Before sin, the earth provided for Adam. Now, he would have to toil for his food. This is why Jesus’ blood fell to the ground—breaking the curse. Adam’s sin introduced thorns, and Jesus wore a crown of thorns to reverse the fall.
God’s Provision of Grace
Despite their failure, God clothed Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3:21 – “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”
Adam and Eve’s attempt to cover themselves with fig leaves represents self-righteousness, which is insufficient before God. But God provided skins—an act that required the shedding of blood, foreshadowing Jesus’ sacrifice.
Expulsion from the Garden
God expelling them from Eden was not a punishment, but an act of grace. Genesis 3:22-23 says:
Genesis 3:22-23 – “Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.”
Had they eaten from the tree of life in their fallen state, they would have lived forever in sin. By removing them, God was preparing the way for redemption through Christ, who would die in their place and restore what was lost.
The Reversal of the Fall
Everything Adam lost, Christ restored. Ephesians 1:4 states,
Ephesians 1:4 – “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.”
Even before Adam fell, God had already found us in Christ.
Every consequence of Adam’s sin was reversed at the cross:
- Adam introduced fear; Christ removed it. “Perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18)
- Adam brought toil; Christ offered rest. “Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
What Adam lost in the garden, Jesus restored on the cross.
Stop Hiding—Come Boldly to the Father
Adam introduced death, but Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life.” How do we apply the truths of these stories in our lives in light of having Jesus?
First, stop hiding. Come to the Father boldly. The Bible says,
Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
You don’t have to clean yourself up before coming to Him. Come as you are, and He will cleanse you. Stop pretending. Just come and let Him repair, fix, renew, refresh, and work in your life.
Stop Struggling—Rest in the Finished Work of Christ
Stop striving. Stop struggling. Rest in what Jesus has already accomplished.
Hebrews 4:11 – “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”
When Jesus died on the cross, He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Do not start what Jesus has already completed. He has finished your healing, your righteousness, your deliverance. Don’t strive—just believe. Believe in the One who died for you. You are no longer under Adam’s curse but under the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Jesus took the curse upon Himself so that you may inherit the blessing of Abraham. God’s heart for you remains unchanged—His original intent is still to bless you so that you can take dominion over everything that comes against you.
Start Reigning—You Are Seated with Christ
In Christ, you are restored to the position that Adam lost. You are seated with God at His right hand.
Romans 5:17 – “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”
Have you received the abundance of grace? Have you received the gift of righteousness? Then you are called to reign in life—not just in heaven, but now.
Every enemy that rises against you is an opportunity for you to overcome. There are battles God allows so that you can experience His victory firsthand.
Yes, sickness still exists. Lack, fear, and challenges may come your way. But the Bible declares, “It is finished.” Your responsibility is to stand on the finished work of Christ and take dominion. No sickness, demon, fear, or shame can control your life because you are a new creation in Christ. You are the righteousness of God. God sees you the way He sees Jesus. Stand confident in the One who has qualified you to be righteous.
Who Told You?
The next time you feel unworthy or less than a new creation, ask yourself: Who told you?
You may experience sickness, but you are not sick. Sickness is not your identity. You may face struggles, but you are not a sinner—you are the righteousness of God. You may experience lack, but you are not poor—you are the righteousness of God.
Fix your eyes on the spiritual. Shift your perspective. In the physical, it may seem like you are going down, but in the spiritual, you are seated with Christ, far above every power, rule, and authority. Don’t let the enemy drag you down to a lower level. Sit on the throne God has given you, and rule and reign in righteousness, peace, and joy.
The Power of Joy—Laugh in the Face of the Enemy
Psalm 2:4 – “The One enthroned in heaven laughs”
Are you seated on the throne with Christ? Then laugh at your problems.
When the devil tries to bring shame and fear, look at those lies and laugh. When a giant stands before you, laugh. Not in front of people—they might think you’re crazy—but in private, laugh at the enemy’s attempts to shake you. Why? Because you are seated on the throne with Christ.
Let faith rise up! Fear chokes grace, but faith releases it. When you trust the Lord, when you see the bigger picture of His goodness, fear loses its power. Faith is not a mental exercise. It is not simply reciting declarations while still operating in fear. True faith arises when you see how big God is.
Nothing Is Bigger Than My God
Imagine your biggest challenge right now. Does it feel overwhelming? Now, picture God—much, much bigger than that challenge.
Say these words out loud: This is peanuts for my God! Say it like you believe it. Whatever the challenge is, it is nothing compared to the greatness of your God.
Faith is not about reciting random scriptures and hoping something sticks. It’s about having a revelation of God’s goodness. It’s in that revelation that Paul confidently declares,
Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus”
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