The True Grace of God

January 31, 2014 By

True GraceGrace 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...]

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

Faith & Works

August 26, 2013 By

faithandworks

The Apostle James wrote:

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? (James 2:21-25)

These verses have confused many Protestants who have initially found James to be in contradiction with the Apostle Paul who said:

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)

knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11)

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)

What do we make of this apparent contradiction between Paul and James? First of all, James admits that it was because of Abraham’s faith that God declared him righteous. James and Paul both cite the same passage Genesis 15:6 to make their points:

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)

just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Galatians 3:6)

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. (James 2:23)

James is saying the same thing as Paul, but he is clarifying that Abraham’s works demonstrated that he had saving faith. Abraham’s obedience corresponded to his faith in God. James informs us how works are an important part of saving faith, that a man is justified by works, not faith only. It is not just any type of faith, but a particular kind of faith that saves: “faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6)

In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul describes how salvation is not of works, but by faith in Christ which brings us into God’s grace which works in us and through us. He describes how saving faith is always followed with and characterized by good works.

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Filed Under: Commandments, Faith, Grace, Law, Legalism, Obedience, Righteousness, Salvation, Sola Fide, Works

“Good Works” vs. “Dead Works”

May 28, 2013 By

by Alan Martin

“Good works” vs. “works of the Law”. We must not confuse the importance of maintaining good works with the equally vital truth that we are not to pursue a righteousness based upon “works of the Law”. Consider Paul’s very strong exhortation to Titus - “This is a faithful word and concerning these things I desire you to strongly affirm, in order that those who have believed in God should maintain good works.”

“Maintain” here is a word meaning - “to practice as a profession.” These good works that we are to practice are not “works of the law”, but acts of compassion that flow out of faith working through love - especially “the love of the brethren.” Paul reaffirmed the urgency of maintaining good works as he closed his letter to Titus - “And let our people learn to practice as a profession (maintain) good works unto urgent needs.” Since Paul urged that all believers be taught to maintain good works, we must not allow misguided men take away from this urgency by confusing good works of faith with “dead works of the Law.”

Paul taught that Jesus came to redeem us from all lawlessness - and to purify to Himself a people zealous of good works. In light of this truth, never let men negate the importance of maintaining good works. These good works have nothing to do with “works of the Law”, they are “works of faith” that flow out of brotherly love. We are not saved “BY” maintaining good works, but we are saved “TO” practice them as a profession!

Maintaining the good works of meeting the urgent needs of our brethren is “a trustworthy saying” that Titus and the rest of us are to take thought to strongly affirm. May we become just as zealous for maintaining good works as Paul urged Titus to make those saints under his care!

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Filed Under: Faith, Law, Love, Works