Obedience

The True Grace of God

January 31, 2014 By ELLIOTT NESCH

Grace is not a hug. Grace is not a substitute for repentance. Jesus Christ was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). A grace without truth is not a properly balanced and biblical grace. With Peter’s mention of “the true grace of God” (1 Peter 5:12), it must be that there is also a false grace.

Most importantly, the Scriptures tell us that we are saved by grace. “We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved” (Acts 15:11). Paul said,

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Again, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7); Salvation is by grace, and faith gives us access to this grace by which we are saved. “We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).

We cannot earn or merit our salvation by works or obedience, but salvation is a free gift of God. Paul said, “God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,” (2 Timothy 1:8-10); “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt” (Romans 4:4); “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace,” (Romans 4:16); “And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work” (Romans 11:6). Grace actually enables us to believe. In Acts 18:27, we read, “he [Paul] greatly helped those who had believed through grace.”

Many Dispensationalists make a distinction between the Gospel of grace and the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. They argue that the Gospel of the Kingdom was preached to the Jews and will be preached again in a future “great tribulation” but now we preach the Gospel of Grace. In their own words: “A remnant of the Jews will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. Today we preach the Gospel of Grace.”1 Another said, “This good news to that nation was the ‘gospel of the kingdom,’ and should in no wise be confused with the Gospel of saving grace.”2

Are there really two different Gospels? This may sound good on the surface, but Paul understood the Gospel of Grace and the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to be one and the same Gospel. Paul said,

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. (Acts 20:24,25)

Notice how Paul used these terms Gospel of the Grace of God and Gospel of the Kingdom of God interchangeably and synonymously. Paul never referred to more than one Gospel. This Gospel of the Kingdom is the Gospel of Grace and has everything to do with our salvation.

True grace is the power of God unto salvation. Paul the Apostle said, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). If we are truly under grace, then we are not under sin. The power of grace destroys the power of sin. The measure of which we are truly under grace corresponds to the measure which we are loving God and keeping His commandments. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dispensationalism, Faith, Free Will, Grace, Hyper-Grace, Martin Luther, Obedience, Power of God, Sin, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Works

Polycarp Declares Jesus is Lord

November 20, 2013 By ELLIOTT NESCH

Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Today this passage is used to justify and teach a watered down gospel of easy believism. Just confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart and you will be saved, regardless of how you live your life. This is the false idea being taught today. After all, Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” But the primitive Christians understood this very differently than modern Christians. Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” In other words, if Jesus is truly Lord, then we will live like it. Not only will we confess He is Lord, but we will also live like He is Lord by obeying Him and keeping His commandments, even unto death.

Below is an excerpt from The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp, chapter VII-XVI, ANF, volume 1, pp.40-42. In it, Polycarp is persuaded to say, “Lord Caesar” or “Caesar is Lord” or die. This account gives new meaning to confessing that Jesus is Lord. The expression, “Away with the Atheists,” which Polycarp was commanded to repeat is intended to be a reference to the Christians who were regarded by Romans as atheists because they refused to pay homage to Caesar and worship the false gods of the heathen. When Polycarp repeated the phrase, “Away with the Atheists” he was referring the words to the heathen and not to the Christians as desired.

His pursuers then, along with horsemen, and taking the youth with them, went forth at supper-time on the day of the preparation with their usual weapons, as if going out against a robber. And being come about evening [to the place where he was], they found him lying down in the upper room of a certain little house, from which he might have escaped into another place; but he refused, saying, “The will of God be done.” So when he heard that they were come, he went down and spake with them. And as those that were present marvelled at his age and constancy, some of them said. “Was so much effort made to capture such a venerable man?” Immediately then, in that very hour, he ordered that something to eat and drink should be set before them, as much indeed as they cared for, while he besought them to allow him an hour to pray without disturbance. And on their giving him leave, he stood and prayed, being full of the grace of God, so that he could not cease for two full hours, to the astonishment of them that heard him, insomuch that many began to repent that they had come forth against so godly and venerable an old man.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Early Church, Obedience, Persecution

The Night Cometh

September 11, 2013 By ELLIOTT NESCH

This is an interview we recently recorded with my good friend Stan Avery, director of Unreached Villages. He describes the work of Unreached Villages in getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have never heard in India. The law of charity leads evangelical Christians in America to make as much money as they can and give cheerfully and sacrificially to the work of the Gospel without falling asleep and being overcome by the “American Dream.”

Is tithing a Christian doctrine? How can Christian disciples lose their lives in obedience to Jesus Christ? Will American Christians be held accountable by God for how we use the resources we have been blessed with? These questions and more are answered in this interview with brother Stan Avery.