The Grace Message with Dr. Andrew Farley

Grace has always stirred up controversy. Say it's too big and too free, and someone's bound to push back. Stones get thrown, accusations fly: "You're watering down the truth… cheapening obedience… ignoring the Law." But maybe what we've misunderstood isn't grace—it's God Himself.

What if feeling far from God doesn't mean He's far? What if you've only got one spiritual nature—and it's new? What if Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount to crush the religious, not inspire believers? And are crowns and rewards the goal of godly living?

In Part 2 of our "Grace Under Fire" series, we turn to Scripture to tackle these tough questions—and more. You'll see why the usual answers fall short, and how the New Covenant rewrites everything.

1. If God's so close, why do we sometimes feel far from Him?
2. Do we have one or two spiritual natures? Why is this important?
3. React to this statement: The Sermon on the Mount amplifies the Law.
4. Does our freedom from Law include the Ten Commandments? What about godliness?
5. React to this statement: We don't need crowns and rewards as motivation.
6. If God isn't keeping score, why care about our attitudes and actions?
7. React to this statement: You can't lose your salvation, no matter what.
8. React to this statement: God's discipline is training for the future, not punishment for the past.

Does Hebrews 6 warn about loss of salvation? My pastor threatened me if I didn't tithe. He said I might lose my salvation! Did Judas go to Hell?

What is your take on the IRS clarification about pastors being able to endorse candidates? What is the remedy for depression? And what about suicide? Are there levels of heaven? Mansions? Rewards? Crowns? Did Judas Iscariot really have any choice in the matter of betraying Jesus?

My mom died by suicide, and I wonder what happened to her. Help! Why does Jude mention that the archangel Michael disputed with Satan over the body of Moses? Does "store up treasures in heaven" have to do with tithing?

What if a true believer is sleeping around? Can we know who is truly saved and who isn't? Are some sins impossible for a Christian to commit? What does it mean to be born again? My daughter left her husband and wants a divorce. What can I do?

What if our worship songs were truly motivated by the new covenant message of our union with Christ? My son is a believer struggling with same-sex attraction, and he's wondering if it will prevent him from going to heaven? If I don't tithe, will I be cursed?

What is election (predestination)? My church won't baptize me, because they say I'm living in sin. They say if I remarry, it will be adultery! My Bible teacher says Jesus is the Holy Spirit. Is that accurate? I wonder what God thinks of me being an introvert!

• If I'm totally forgiven, then why confess at all?
• What keeps me in line if I'm under grace?
• Why do I still struggle if Christ lives in me?

1. Are we saying that sin doesn't matter?
2. If we're totally forgiven, why confess at all?
3. If we're under grace, what's going to keep us in line?
4. Are we really righteous right now? If so, how do we know?
5. If Christ is in us, why do we still struggle?
6. What's the point of growth if we're already complete?
7. Are we saying that the Law is bad?
8. What about judgment day—shouldn't we still be nervous?

Someone in our community just died of suicide. What can I be ready to say or share when people ask me about his death? My son tells me I need to go to a real church, my baptism doesn't count, and I'm not reading the true Bible. Help me! My husband passed away five years ago, and since then I've been helping others. Now, I need a job and place to live. What should my next steps be?

What does Jude mean when it says, "build yourselves up"? And what about "praying in the Spirit"? Isn't that tongues? If not, what is it actually? My mother wants me to drive her to the Catholic church, but I wish she knew the truth about Jesus. What can I do? I put mud on my eyes and nothing happened. Why didn't God heal me?