The code of grace: leading with truth, obedience, and freedom

David Bowman Sept. 23, 2025

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You do not delight in sacrifice and offering; you open my ears to listen. You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering. Then I said, "See, I have come; in the scroll it is written about me. I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me." ‭‭—Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭6‬-‭8‬

A simple Yes to God's great invitation opens the door to all of his goodness. He is ready to welcome us into the party of His presence. He stands prepared to fill our lives to the full with purpose and joy.

Somehow, we have reversed the polarity of grace. We consider it something we earn by learning all the rules and keeping them the best we can, or else finding excuses for all of our failures.

Here are the rules:

#1 God's grace is greater than all our sin.
#2 God's purpose is better than any plan we conceive.
#3 God's salvation is never earned and always received as the grace it is.
#4 God's love flows where his invitation is welcomed.

God does not want you to memorize lists of rules and do your darndest to keep them.

Darn is, as one preacher preached so hard one Sunday, a second-hand curse word. "We think," he said, "we are avoiding cursing by substituting one word for another, but the condition of our hearts is the same. A non-curse-word is still a curse word because of its intent."

Someone told him something somewhat surprising as she shook his hand on the way out the door that morning. The preacher replied, "Well, I'll be darned."

Oops.

It's not the list of little legalisms that keep us safe from bigger bothers that counts. It's integrating God's truth and grace, wisdom and wonder into our very being. It is letting his Spirit lead the way into grace upon grace. It is hearing and obeying his unburdening commands and embracing his enriching guidance.

We are saved by grace and kept by grace. We add nothing to the equation. Our rules added to his instruction only clutter the path. A good acrostic might prove helpful.

Here's the CODE for a full and meaningful life.

• Capture God's truth as you read the Bible day by day.
• Obey what he says and discover the liberation that comes from agreeing with him.
• Distill theological truth into living, loving habits.
• Express, like King David in this psalm, your trusting commitment and liberated life.
  • (Hat Tip to Tiago Forte for his CODE acrostic, which this is adapted from.)

God delights himself in those who delight themselves in him.

Prayer:Our Father, I love reading the words of truth and life you have preserved for us. I enjoy discovering new levels of release and freedom flowing from alignment with your truth. I delight in forming life-giving habits that enrich my walk with you and overflow into other people's lives. I find fulfillment in helping others see how good and great you are. Amen.

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David Bowman, (DMin, PCC) is the Executive Director of Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth, Texas. He also serves as a Multiplying Trainer for Future Church Co. Learn More »

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