Amazing Grace!
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Galatians 2:21).
Let’s face it, some individuals seem to have better outward behavior than others…and they know it. “Thou shalt not” is their mantra in life. It seems their mission in life is to drive others back into bondage rather than draw them to the freedom, liberty, and victory which are in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Perched on a lofty pedestal of self-righteousness they attempt to bring others up to “their” pious lifestyle and they often hurl their condescending judgments on others who do not look, smell, speak, act, behave, and believe exactly like they do. It’s sickening…to others and to God. Come on! There is absolutely no righteousness in any of us apart from the mercy and grace of God which is in Christ Jesus. Remember? You could do nothing good enough to merit the favor of God before salvation and you cannot do it now. We needed a substitute then and we still do in order to truly live out the Christian life.
If you’ve trusted in the death of Christ on the cross for YOUR sins, His burial, and His glorious resurrection, then you are MADE the righteousness of God in Him. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him
” (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was the only substitute who could satisfy the just demands of God. That’s grace!
Do you know this? Do you realize you cannot ever be good enough to satisfy the holy and just demands of God? That’s grace. Grace is God reaching down through Christ to helpless, hopeless, and homeless mankind to give them eternal life. God declaring you to be righteous even though you are still a sinner is beyond human understanding, logic, or reasoning. But it’s true. That’s grace.
Now that you’ve come to Christ in faith and He has showered His abundant grace on you, will you now frustrate the grace of God by returning to the law of commandments or any other good work or good deed? Righteousness does not come by keeping, doing, performing, or maintaining pious standards, righteousness comes solely by Christ. That’s grace. And now, we live out the Christian life by that same grace which is ours to the full in Christ. Grace does not inspire us to live a sinful lifestyle. Grace changes our nature and equips us with the ability and desire to love and follow Christ.
If you understand grace, then you understand it is “grace” that equips us with all we need to live the Christian life. Grace frees, the law binds. Grace says yes, the law says no. Grace to forgive, grace to walk in truth, grace to give, grace to receive, grace to love, grace to obey, grace to forbear, grace to be kind, grace to back off and let God work in some ones life, grace for patience, grace for holiness, and grace for sin. Grace is as effective now as it was when you first trusted Christ. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
July 7th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Forrest,
Good post on Grace, and a good caution about holding onto the law in bondage. However we must remember that there is a difference between our Justification and our Sanctification.
From this post, it sounds like you are saying that once someone believes in God, then we can throw out our Bibles and just live by the Spirit, since Grace will guide us unto all truth. Jesus, however, says if you love Me, you will follow my commands. Paul warns the Church to discipline members who are caught up in adultery and fornication. Clearly there are “laws” that Christians must obey, and left to our own (even with the indwelling Spirit), we will still tend to do that which we do not want to do if we don’t constantly go back to His Word for correction.
God’s law is not for nothing to the believer. It was and always will be a reflection of the nature of God. The law cannot make us perfect, and we cannot follow the law perfectly, which is exactly why we needed a Savior, Jesus Christ. Now that we are in Him, however, it is our obligation and good pleasure to learn and follow the law, to divide those ceremonial laws that Christ were done away with at the ressurection of Christ, and those moral laws that are the very character of Christ. Simply read the Proverbs, and see how doing things God’s way brings us closer to Him, while doing things our way separates.
“Thou shalt not” is certainly appropriate, and even more appropriate is “Thou shall”: in worshiping Christ, in loving our enemies, and in taking care of the Widows and Orphans, for example. All the while, our love for Jesus will drive us to be more like Him, and to “love His Law.”
1 John 3:7-10 “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
Doug A.
July 7th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
You wrote: Good post on Grace, and a good caution about holding onto the law in bondage. However we must remember that there is a difference between our Justification and our Sanctification.
My response: Indeed. You must have missed my teaching on the operation and experiential aspect of the Christian life. In my article I plainly said, “And now, we live out the Christian life by that same grace which is ours to the full in Christ. Grace does not inspire us to live a sinful lifestyle. Grace changes our nature and equips us with the ability and desire to love and follow Christ.”
You wrote: From this post, it sounds like you are saying that once someone believes in God, then we can throw out our Bibles and just live by the Spirit, since Grace will guide us unto all truth.
My response: I trust that you are much more careful in rightly dividing the word of truth. I never said grace “guides” us into all truth anywhere in my article. Those are your words, not mine. I guess most true Christians know the basic doctrine that the Holy Spirit always operates in and through the preserved, inspired and infallible written word of truth in order to teach us. Here is what I said: “Grace changes our nature and equips us with the ability and desire to love and follow Christ.”
My Biblical support for this is:
Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
You wrote: Jesus, however, says if you love Me, you will follow my commands.
My response: No. He did not say that. Actually He said: John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Do you love Jesus, Doug? Keep His commandments. And John 14:21 says, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” The scripture is clear. Loving Jesus results in changed behavior.
But what happens to you if you fail to keep His commandments? Does grace still reign? Of course it does. That’s grace! Should we continue in sin that grace may abound? Of course we shouldn’t continue in sin. No one is suggesting that.
You wrote: Paul warns the Church to discipline members who are caught up in adultery and fornication. Clearly there are “laws” that Christians must obey, and left to our own (even with the indwelling Spirit), we will still tend to do that which we do not want to do if we don’t constantly go back to His Word for correction.
My response: Of course we should obey the scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
But surely you know this. Read carefully. Galatians 3:19-25 “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 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. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. WHEREFORE THE LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US UNTO CHRIST, THAT WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. BUT AFTER THAT FAITH IS COME, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER.”
Galatians 5:1 exhorts us to, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
You wrote: God’s law is not for nothing to the believer. It was and always will be a reflection of the nature of God. The law cannot make us perfect, and we cannot follow the law perfectly, which is exactly why we needed a Savior, Jesus Christ. Now that we are in Him, however, it is our obligation and good pleasure to learn and follow the law, to divide those ceremonial laws that Christ were done away with at the ressurection of Christ, and those moral laws that are the very character of Christ. Simply read the Proverbs, and see how doing things God’s way brings us closer to Him, while doing things our way separates.
My response: Is JESUS CHRIST enough? Read the scripture. John 1:14 “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.” And John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but GRACE AND TRUTH CAME BY JESUS CHRIST.”
Again, grace equips us with the desire and ability to love and obey Jesus Christ, Doug. Don’t sin! But what if you do? 1 John 2:1 says “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:”
You wrote: “Thou shalt not” is certainly appropriate, and even more appropriate is “Thou shall”: in worshiping Christ, in loving our enemies, and in taking care of the Widows and Orphans, for example. All the while, our love for Jesus will drive us to be more like Him, and to “love His Law.”
My response: You do not understand the message of grace. I am not saying the Bible excludes things like put on, put off, put away, mortify, abstain, avoid, flee, reckon, depart, yield and yield not. I am saying, TO QUOTE DIRECTLY FROM MY ARTICLE:
“Some individuals seem to have better outward behavior than others…and they know it. ‘Thou shalt not’ is their mantra in life. It seems their mission in life is to drive others back into bondage rather than draw them to the freedom, liberty, and victory which are in Christ Jesus our Lord. Perched on a lofty pedestal of self-righteousness they attempt to bring others up to “their” pious lifestyle and they often hurl their condescending judgments on others who do not look, smell, speak, act, behave, and believe exactly like they do. It’s sickening…to others and to God.”
Focus on Christ!
You referenced: 1 John 3:7-10 “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
My response: The Greek word for doeth is NOT “prasso” which means to do, perform, or achieve. Rather, it is “poieo” which means to be endowed with the quality of righteousness. By reading the words of God carefully, we know this word “doeth” is beyond our behavior. We could never be AS righteous in our behavior “even as he is righteous.” Read the scripture with attention to the words. “Even as….” How is God righteous? Do you honestly believe that anything you DO can ever match God’s righteousness? Praise God that JESUS CHRIST is my righteousness. God is satisfied with Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.”
Also, give careful attention to these words: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” This is an absolute positional reality. In Christ we are pure, righteous, and sinless positionally, not experientially.
I pray the Lord will give you understanding. That’s grace.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Hi Forrest,
I agree wholeheartedly, and I am so pleased that your response to my comment brought out all the things that I hoped you believed but that could not be contained in a single Blog post.
I think I do understand God’s grace, and that we are both saying the same things…that is one of the problems in the blogosphere because we are writing quickly and not talking face to face; we sometimes tend to mis-communicate.
As for “poieo” vs. “prasso”, the word “poieo” is often used as “do” in the Scriptures (for example Matt 1:24 – “Joseph…did as the Angel of the Lord had bidden him”
I provided the caution because I have known some who use the “grace” of God as an excuse to sin. We must realize that there are those who are deceived, who think they are in the Faith but are not. If we are consistent in our falling into sin, then this is potential evidence that we don’t truly believe in the One who has paid the price for us. In this case, since we are not truly born of God, then Grace is not really over us, and we CAN sin.
Because of Him,
Doug A.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
When grace is taught there will always be those who abuse it. We are still mortal, corruptible, sinful people. And in very good company. Remember, Romans 7:17-20 reminds us “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”
But grace abounds in the life of a believer even when he/she sins. That’s the point and that’s grace! You wrote this: “If we are consistent in our falling into sin, then this is potential evidence that we don’t truly believe in the One who has paid the price for us. In this case, since we are not truly born of God, then Grace is not really over us, and we CAN sin.”
Of course that COULD provide potential evidence of not being saved. On the other hand, keep in mind “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).
Let’s talk about “consistently falling in sin” for a minute. Since you first came to Christ in faith, what has your minute-by-minute daily walk been like compared to the absolute, total, perfect Holy and righteous standard of God? Every single thought. Every single word. Every single deed. Every single attitude.
Yes, we should grow in our love, devotion, and obedience to Christ, and a healthy understanding of grace equips us to do just that. But if the truth be known, the message of grace is that God declares you righteous even though you still sin. That’s grace! Should we sin that grace may abound? God forbid! But if you do sin, grace is at work. Grace provides that unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor of God. The law and the commandments focus on performance and doing. Grace focuses on and glorifies the PERSON of Christ and simply being.
July 9th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Amen. The longer I live in the faith, the more I realize how far from the mark I am… and the more I find I must rely on Christ.
Norm Wakefield has a great series where he instructs us to “Draw Near and Hold Fast” to our only refuge and strength, Christ Jesus.
Thanks for the fruitful feedback – I do need to be careful with my accurate use of words!