Performance Based Grace

I remember hearing the old acronym used to explain grace and thinking about how appropriate it was, and I'm one of those who really don't like acronyms because they come across as forced, or silly, but alas, this one works.
G- God's
R- Riches
A- At
C- Christ's
E- Expense

Now, here's the question, do most Christians really view grace this way?
I know some people are nodding their heads, "oh yes", it's those people who don't really believe in salvation by sovereign grace that don't view grace properly. Well, that's not what I mean. I mean this: as a Christian, do I really view my salvation as being based upon Christ? Let's break this down in real life. Have you ever said, heard or thought this, "well, I knew I was going to have a bad day because I didn't read my Bible this morning." What is that doing? It's basing your spiritual outlook on you, and not on God. You're making the grace that you need for the day, which is more than abundant in Christ, based upon your performance of a work. Granted, it is a good work and Christians should desire to study Scripture, but our day, or our status before God is not based upon what we do or don't do.
Now there could be someone thinking that I am getting at a notion of cheap grace, which leads to one being free to do whatever they want. Well, sorry to disappoint because that's not what I mean.

What I am getting at is that often times, good, conservative Christians, of all types of denominations and flavors, base their standing before God on what they do, so when they sin, or when they aren't "good enough" that day because they didn't perform a spiritual discipline, they believe that somehow God is looking at them differently; God isn't seeing them through the lens of Christ. Somehow the grace bestowed upon the sinner at salvation isn't good enough anymore. Well, this doesn't cut it. You cannot find this concept in scripture.
The Bible teaches over and over again that believers share a union with Christ, and because of this God ALWAYS views His children as His children. He does not view them based upon their sin, based upon their failure, but he views them based upon their union with Christ.
When a Christian fully understands this, that temptation to view themselves as a "lesser" Christian because of their performance is squelched because the Christian can confidently say, "I am in union with Christ, and based upon Christ's work, I am a child of God and that will never change!"

Book of the day Saved by Grace by Anothny Hoekema.