Grace means unmerited or undeserved favor. God’s grace is freely given and not determined by what we do. If we cannot do anything to earn God’s grace or favor, is it possible to lose it? Is it possible to stray from the place of God’s favor? God’s favor is something we should all desire, seek, and fear losing.
Jabez cried out for God’s hand (favor) to be upon his life. We read, “He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:10).
Hebrews 12:15 says, “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
This verse has as much to do with losing God’s favor upon our lives as it does with our salvation. Though some of what I will share here can and does apply to salvation, it goes beyond salvation. This verse applies also to those who are saved, born again and going to heaven. It is possible to be saved and yet be in a place where God’s favor is not upon our life.
Below are a few things that can cause us to fall short of God’s grace or favor.
Rejecting the One Through Whom Grace is Bestowed
More and more prominent people have been saying that although Jesus was a good teacher, there are many paths to God. If we agree that Jesus was a good teacher, it would make sense that we would also agree that He taught the truth about Himself. Jesus said no one can come to the Father but through Him (John 14:6).
Salvation comes by no other name but His (Acts 4:12). God’s favor is bestowed upon our lives through His grace and that alone (2 Corinthians 8:9). If we reject the one through whom grace is bestowed (Jesus and His teachings), we forfeit God’s grace, favor and ultimately the salvation He provides.
Depending on Works Rather than Grace
We are saved either by works or by grace. Paul said, “And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.” (Romans 11:6). It is either one or the other. It cannot be both. Galatians 5:4 says if we are seeking to be justified by the law or works then we are “severed from Christ and fallen from grace.” The blessings of God apply to this as well.
In Galatians 3:1-3 likens a dependency on works with that of witchcraft. “Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?”
Galatians 2:21 says, “I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” We must receive God’s favor in faith knowing we cannot do anything to be worthy of it, except trust in Jesus and walk by faith (Hebrews 10:38 and 2 Corinthians 5:7).
Refusing to Exercise Faith
In Hebrews 3:7-17 and Hebrews 10:26 the context is talking about faith. Throughout the Bible, faith had to be exercised to receive anything from God, whether salvation or a promise of blessing. Abram obeyed the voice of God leaving his homeland with the promise of God’s blessing (Genesis 12).
The Word preached has to be mixed with faith to profit the hearers (Hebrews 4:2). The paralytic man was touched by the Master as a result of “Jesus seeing their faith” in action (Mark 2:5). Their active faith got Jesus’ attention, which brought about both the paralytic’s forgiveness and healing. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17).
Wrong Believing Concerning Jesus (1 John 2:18-23)
There is only one Jesus who was God incarnate (Matthew 1:23, John 1:1, John 1:14, John 8:58-59, Exodus 3:14, John 5:18, John 10:3-33, Hebrews 1:8). There is a false Jesus and a false gospel (1 Corinthians 11:3-5, Galatians 1:6-9). We must acknowledge the deity of Jesus Christ. If we believe in any other Jesus than the one taught in scripture, which was God incarnate, we have the wrong Jesus and forfeit His grace and favor.
Spiritual Unfaithfulness (Hebrews 12:15-17)
There are three areas of spiritual unfaithfulness:
1. Being more concerned with satisfying our flesh than the spirit. Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of stew. He was more concerned with the immediate gratification of his flesh than his spiritual birthright. We must set our affection on things above (heavenly or spiritual) and not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2).
2. Idolatry. Idolatry is a major form of unfaithfulness (1 John 5:21). God demands to be first in our lives (Matthew 6:33). We have to live in the flesh, and God allows us to enjoy things, but He wants to be first in all that we do.
3. Faith verses flesh. Romans 9:9-13 shows a stark contrast between Esau and Jacob. Jacob was a mamma’s boy and Esau was favored by their father. Esau was a man of the world and tried to please his father by the things he did.
Jacob was (by definition of his name) a deceiver and did a lot more wrong than Esau. That said, Jacob was a child of promise. We can never please God in the flesh. Romans 8:8 says, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Faith is the only way to please God (Hebrews 10:38, Hebrews 11:6).
Giving Up
The only way the enemy can defeat us is by causing us to give up and quit (Hebrews 12:1-3). If we don’t give up, God will see us through to a successful conclusion (Philippians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Satan whispers things like, “If God really cares about you He wouldn’t let these things happen” or “How can you think you are saved when you did that?” The devil is a liar. Stand on the fact that you are saved by your faith in Jesus, His grace and that alone. No matter how hard it gets, or how bad you mess up, simply don’t quit!
Failure to Yield to God’s Discipline (Hebrews 12:4-10)
God loves us like a good earthly father, but much more and in the purest of ways. We discipline our children for their good because we want them to be prosperous and successful. God does the same. He wants us to be blessed beyond measure (Jeremiah 29:11, James 1:17, Hebrews 9:11).
I always made sure my children understood what they were being disciplined for. If you are going through a rough time you may be wondering if God is disciplining you. If He is, He will let you know what you are doing wrong so you can correct it. He won’t leave you in the dark.
Ingratitude
“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28). Complaining and not being thankful definitely hinders the favor and blessings of God.
There’s so much power in praise (Psalms 22:3, Psalm 100, Psalm 146:1-2, Acts 13:1-3). The opposite of gratitude is complaining. Philippians 2:14 says we should “do everything without complaining or arguing.” It’s easy to complain. We must replace negativity with thanksgiving and praise (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; Philippians 4:6-8).
Refusing to Listen to God
“Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!” (Hebrews 12:25). God is always speaking, we simply must tune in to His voice and listen for it. He speaks to us so we can walk in the light of His favor and blessing.
When He speaks, whether through His Word, the voice of the Holy Spirit, or the circumstances of life, we must be willing to walk in the light He gives us. Otherwise, what He says will not benefit us (John 7:17). “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away” (Matthew 25:29).
Bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)
Bitterness is a poison that will not only destroy our life, but also affect the lives of those around us. It could be something someone did or the adversities of life that torments us until it becomes a root of bitterness in our life. No matter what the cause, bitterness keeps us from experiencing the grace and favor of God.
Forgiveness is giving up your right to hurt someone for hurting you. Bitterness and unforgiveness is like drinking a cup of poison and hoping it kills the other person. When we become bitter we say and do things we normally wouldn’t. For your sake and the sake of those around you, resist and reject bitterness.
Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”