"It's OK" Mentality

Sometimes my sister can say some really wise things like, "We should have such a fear of God that we should have to convince ourselves that everything we do is NOT a sin." Christians want to live their way, and do questionable activities. They move headstrong into an activity insisting they're okay to do even when there are legitimate questions. If their is a question then why would we run the RISK of offending our Lord!!!!
God is a righteous God, and we know that because of His righteousness we were separated from Him. This begins the mysterious, glorious story of grace that is redemption. Jesus shed His righteous blood so that we could have a personal relationship with Him.
I probably won't quote this correctly, but,
"While my sins his death displayed for all the world to view,
Such is the mystery of Grace, it seals my pardon too."
Our Youth/Interim Pastor had a great illustration yesterday. He said, "If you fell down in the parking lot, and all your papers and things were all over. And, I ran out to you, picked you up, and collected everything you lost. Would you get back in your car, and yell to me, 'Pastor, I'll thank you later'?" He was speaking of being able to instantly consult the Lord, and I think it also shows that when someone does something for us, there is a reasonable response.
"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." When someone shows you kindness you react with gratefulness. When someone gives you injustice you react with indignation. When Jesus gives us unending, all encompassing, unimaginable atonement, there is an equal and opposite reaction:
That reaction should be the gift .of ourselves to Him. How do I know this? Look at this popular verse:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." -Romans 12:1
You see that it's the reasonable reaction to grace that we present ourselves to the Master as a sacrifice, but notice that our sacrifice should, reasonably, be "holy" and "acceptable." How does this happen? Let's look at the next verse:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:2
Do not be "conformed to this world." This is the first step in our reasonable reaction, we need to separate ourselves from this world. We need to be sanctified. If there's no difference between you and someone who is unsaved, it's time to question your sincerity! We need to be renewing our mind in God's Word. This will be the mirror that shows our imperfections. It make us a pure, holy, good, acceptable sacrifice!
Many tell me, "I'm saved by grace, 'all things are lawful to me.'" Yes, that's wonderfully true! I could never deserve God's grace, and am thankful that I don't have to live a certain set of standards to deserve His salvation. However, as I stated, we're talking about our equal and opposite reaction to God's grace. This reaction should be a fear of God, and a desire to be sanctified, or separate from this world, so that we can become a holy and acceptable sacrifice to our Lord!
Don't be like Cain and give your Lord who loved you so much an imperfect sacrifice! Endeavor to make your life holy! Which is only reasonable, I repeat, this is our reasonable reaction to God's grace!
Next time there's a question about whether something is a sin or righteous, I beg you consider these verses! Present yourselves holy and sanctified, not imperfect and tainted by the pleasures of this world!
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." - I John 2:15