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Grace or another gospel?

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:” (Galatians 1:6).

There are those who vehemently adhere to grace coupled with works in order to merit the favor of God. Others unknowingly dabble with this false doctrine by believing that good works are necessary in order to appease a righteous God. This is another gospel. Exactly what is “another” gospel in reference to? This is an important question because of its vital relevancy for Christians today. Have you been “…removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel?”

The teaching of “another gospel” is one which centers on good works and strict obedience to the laws of God in an attempt to merit or earn the favor of God. This “other” gospel gives equal creditability to ones “faith” combined with ones “works” in order to both prove and maintain salvation. A follower of this “other gospel” usually criticizes, condemns, and falsely judges the “sinner” who claims to be a Christian because a “true born again believer” will not lie, overeat, be lazy, complain, gossip, get angry, steal, or lust. They usually place high priority on outward appearance, performance, and the praise of others, but lack understanding of God’s marvelous grace freely given to us through Christ Jesus. Those who promote this other gospel have also convinced themselves, and try to convince others that they have reached a holier, more righteous, and more pure standard in their personal life.

Is this what the scriptures really teach? Does the word of God really teach that our pious behavior is required for complete salvation? This other gospel is a gross misinterpretation of the true gospel. It is an utter failure to understand the grace, power, and preeminence of Jesus Christ which in turn results in the preaching and teaching of another gospel.

For example, one of the erroneous teachings often misapplied is found in Matthew 24:13 which says, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” What does this mean? The person who can just “hang on” to the end will be saved? Is Jesus not enough to save you from sin and keep you saved?

Let me ask you a question. Under grace are you required to flee, abstain, pray, love, study, give thanks in everything, reckon, endure, keep, obey, put away lying, speak the truth, be angry and sin not, let not the sun go down upon your wrath, not give place to the devil (in thoughts, words, or deeds), steal no more, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, grieve not the holy Spirit of God, let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice, be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you in order to endure to the end and be saved? Think about that and be completely honest.

You have misinterpreted the scripture and completely misapplied the word of truth when you fail to distinguish the differences between our “positional relationship” and our “operational responsibility.” In other words, when we are in Christ and Christ is in us, nothing will separate us. This “positional” relationship is unchangeable because it is not dependent on your thoughts, words, or deeds. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Our “operation” as a Christian is different altogether. We may not always do the work of God. “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I” (Romans 7:15).

We should always endeavor, by faith, to obey the word of God after we get saved. No one is suggesting otherwise. And we should bear fruit after we receive Christ, no one is suggesting otherwise. But what happens if we sin just one time after becoming a Christian? What if we violate one law of God? How does God view it? “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). Beloved, we cannot pick and choose our scripture to support our particular belief. If we do not keep all 600+ laws, and if we disobey just one commandment, we are guilty of violating all of them according to God’s word.

Follow the progression of the Apostle Paul’s message to the Church at Galatia and be honest with the word of God. If you are truthful with scripture, you will understand that grace abounds even when you commit sin. Grace is always addressing sin in your life. I did not say you have a divine permission slip to go out and sin, but the Bible teaches if you do sin, grace still abounds. But don’t take my word for it, study the scripture honestly and discover the amazing grace which is given to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:7).

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Galatians 2:20–21).

“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:2–3).

“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” (Galatians 3:21–22).

“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” (Galatians 4:9).

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

Can it be any clearer? Attempting to somehow obtain a righteous standard by thinking, saying, and doing certain things is not possible. The word makes it clear that, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1–2). Don’t sin! But what happens when you do? “And he is the propitiation for our sins.” Scripture makes it abundantly clear that our very best, our most pious behavior, and highest achievements in life still fall hopelessly short of pleasing a righteous and Holy Heavenly Father. “Jesus Christ the righteous…he is the propitiation for our sins.”

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

This Old Testament scripture in Isaiah is applicable to every person who has, or ever will, live a mortal life. This verse is the foundation for understanding the grace of God. It is utterly impossible for us to satisfy God’s just demands toward sin apart from personal faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we fail to see that our “righteousnesses” are as filthy rags (rags that cover an oozing, bloody, pus infected, open sore) we will be chained to the heretical doctrine of sinless perfectionism and live in the bondage of self-willed works and self-righteousness. More importantly, we will fail to truly love and understand the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

GRACE CAME BY JESUS CHRIST

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

Charles Spurgeon said, “The apostle says that the only begotten is ‘full of grace and truth.’ He did not come to tell us about grace, but actually to bring us grace. He is not full of the news of grace and truth, but of grace and truth themselves.

Others had been messengers of gracious tidings, but He came to bring grace. Others teach us truth, but Jesus is the truth. He is that grace and truth whereof others spake. Jesus is not merely a teacher, an exhorter, a worker of grace and truth; but these heavenly things are in Him: He is full of them.

I want you to note this. It raises such a difference between Christ and others: you go to others to hear of grace and truth, but you must go to Christ to see them. There may be, there is, grace in other men; but not as it is in Christ: they have it as water flowing through a pipe, but He has it as water in its fountain and source.

He has grace to communicate to the sons of men, grace without measure, grace essential and abiding. There is truth in others where God has wrought it, by His Spirit; but it is not in them as it is in Christ. In Him dwells the depth, the substance, the essence of the fact. Grace and truth come to us by Him, and yet they evermore abide in Him.

I say again, our Lord did not merely come to teach grace and truth, or to impress them upon us; but He came to exhibit in His own person—life, and work, all the grace and truth which we need. He has brought us grace in rivers and truth in streams: of these He has infinite fullness; of that fullness all His saints receive.”

SIN IS COVERED BY GRACE

“But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many” (Romans 5:15).

“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” (Romans 5:17).

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20).

“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:21).

Does grace reign? If so, how long does it reign? Is grace conditional to our acts of righteousness? Are we required to hold unto eternal life in order for grace to reign in our life? Notice in the above referenced verse there is no break in the words “…even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” There is no period after the word righteousness. Grace reigns by Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace reigns through righteousness by Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace reigns because it is through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1–2)

Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. But if you do sin, grace still abounds . That’s the point. Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).

Let us understand that the Christian life is Christ. Colossians 1:21–22 says, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” That’s grace!

The unadulterated Christian life is simply one of faith, trust, belief, and reliance on God. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). And Proverbs exhorts us to: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). But we know the Christian has a specific type of faith, not a general belief. Faith always rests in and relies on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is the means by which God makes a connection between knowing Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour (positional) and knowing Him as our very life (operational). It always sounds simple when we are counseled by others to just have more faith, but if the truth be known, we each face the daily challenge to genuinely trust God. So let us keep: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Revelation 22:21, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”