Sin does not separate us from God’s grace.  In fact, where sin increases, grace increases all the more (Romans 5:20).  Does that mean it’s OK to sin?  Absolutely not!  Sin is always destructive.  Christ died to release us from its grip.         But if sin does not separate form God’s grace, is there anything that can?      The answer is a resounding yes!     The Greek word for grace is charis, and is defined as “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).  Separating ourselves from His grace does not negate our transfer to heaven at the end of this life, but it can separate us from His power being free to move in and through our lives in this life.     So what is it, if not sin, that can cause us to fall away from grace?  Galatians 5:4 gives us the answer.  “If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ.  You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing)” (Amplified Version).   The Law is not limited to just the Ten Commandments, or the 613 additional laws that the jewish leaders instituted.  The law can be any act, ritual, or ceremony that you deem necessary to stay in  right standing (righteousness) with the Lord.  We ARE completely righteous in Christ when we are born again by Christ’s work at the cross, not by any of our own actions (See www.lindacooze.com/justified-by-believing/ ).  Let’s just consider the Ten Commandments.  If you are struggling to keep one or more of the Commandments perfectly, and as a result assume that you will be punished for your failure or not be blessed because of your lack of perfection, then you are relying on your ability to keep the law in order to be in right standing with the Lord instead of relying on His gift of righteousness to you, completely apart from your works.                 “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.” (NIV).     You are empowered to renew your mind, to be transformed, to be fully blessed because you ARE righteous in Christ.  He has set you free from the need to try to renew your mind, to transform your life by your own efforts to prove your righteousness so that you can be blessed.                 Please join me again on Friday as we reveal the essence of knowing His righteousness in your place.    Until then, know that you ARE blessed.        Linda