Grace of God Bible Truth

Why is this page about the "TRUE" grace of God? Because the majority of professing Christians in the world today do not understand the true meaning of God's grace. Many believe that the grace of God is this big 'cover up'. That all you need to do is believe in Jesus and your sins will be covered over and it doesn't matter if you continue to walk in sin, because you are now "under grace not law". Not so long ago I heard a pastor preach at a local non denominational church, and he was telling the people that even if they fall away into a sinful life again and stop living for Christ, their salvation is still sure! I was shocked! This is a teaching straight from Satan himself and so so dangerous. Take a look at what Paul said to the Corinthian Church:

2 Corinthians 6:1 ...'We then, as workers together with Him also PLEAD with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.'

Do you see what the apostle Paul is saying there? He is talking to the Church in Corinth. He is talking to people who profess to have turned to Jesus, but he is PLEADING with them not to receive the grace of God in vain. Why? Because although they have accepted Jesus into their lives, they are still walking in sin!! And this is the very state of the majority of churches today! And why is Paul 'pleading' with the church? Because if they receive the grace of God in vain, then in reality, they are not under grace at all, but still under sin!

The reason this is such a misunderstood issue is because people believe that once they are justified, then they are saved and there is nothing more to do. This is only partly true, because although there is nothing else that WE can do OURSELVES to ADD to the saving work of Christ Jesus. If we truly accept what our Lord and Saviour has done for us in taking away our sins and saving us from certain death, then we should WANT to do good works for Him, not because those works will help save us, but because we ARE saved. Many Christians ignore the work of 'sanctification' which Jesus performs in us, as we put off the 'old man' and 'walk in the Spirit', in newness of life. They believe that once they are justified, they can sit back, continuing to live a worldly life. This is the danger of the once saved always saved doctrine. "Hey I'm saved right, and nothing can undo that! Well, I may as well enjoy my life here too!" Not so my friend!

John 12:25 ...'He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.'

John 15:19 ...'If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are NOT OF THE WORLD, but I have chosen you OUT OF THE WORLD, therefore the world hateth you.'

1 John 2:15 ...'Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM.'

Another word of sanctification is 'holiness', to be set apart for holy work, which is what Jesus does in us as we walk with Him. Let me just quickly explain the two elements of justification and sanctification. Justification is when a person comes to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, accepts our Lord into his life and repents of his sins. At that moment, that person is made righteous through the blood of Jesus, receives the grace of God and is justified in the sight of God. God looks at that person through Christ and we APPEAR righteous through Him. Now sanctification is an ongoing process in that persons life, of turning away from sin and becoming holy and perfect through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. To be sanctified is to be set apart, to separate one's self from the things of the world, and from sin and to become holy, which Jesus Christ performs in us.

Hebrews 10:10,14 ...'By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.'

Now take a look at what Paul says in Hebrews:

Hebrews 12:14 ...'Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.'

Do you see what Paul is saying here? Make EVERY EFFORT to be holy! Does that sound like we have a part to play in this process? Of course! And why is this so important? Because as he says, without holiness, NO ONE will see the Lord!! Do you now see why Paul PLEADED with the Corinthian church to NOT receive the grace of God in vain? Friend this is so important. We must not receive the grace of God in vain like the majority of the professing Christian world does ... Romans 6:15 ...'What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? GOD FORBID.' ... We MUST put away sin from our lives and put on the 'mind of Christ'. But remember, we cannot make ourselves holy, only Christ can do that, and we don't do these works to BE SAVED, we do them out of a loving desire to follow Christ Jesus because He HAS SAVED us.

Just think about this for a moment. Before the time of Jesus, a person would be considered a murderer or an adulterer if they PHYSICALLY killed someone or slept with another man's wife. But Jesus taught us that under grace, even if you THINK about it in your mind, then you are guilty. Now which is the higher standard? GRACE!! Living under grace is a higher standard than under the physical law. Grace demands more of us, and yet the majority of professing Christians in the world will tell you that you are free to sin under grace. But, the Bible clearly teaches us that we don't do this on our own. We cannot do it on our own, because we live in sinful flesh, which cannot keep God's law in of itself. So how do we do it? Through Christ Jesus! 2 Peter 1:3 ...'According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.' ... Do you see this wonderful Bible truth? When we come to Christ in faith and truly accept Him into our lives and desire to be like Him, He will give us ALL THINGS that we need to live holy and Godly lives.

Many professing Christians even believe that our FUTURE sins are already covered under grace, WITHOUT us repenting of them! But take a look at what Paul said ... Romans 3:25 ...'Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of SINS THAT ARE PAST, through the forbearance of God.' ... Paul tells us that it is our Sins that are PAST that are covered by Jesus blood. Also, if you take a look at what Jesus says to the seven churches in Revelation, you will see that He tells the majority of them to REPENT. Now these are His church that He is speaking to, and yet He is telling them to repent. Are our future sins already forgiven? Absolutely not!! Friend, I plead with you never to stop repenting of your sins.

Remember, under the Old Testament law, you had to physically commit the sin to be guilty. Under grace all you have to do is THINK about it and you are guilty. So the grace of God demands more from us. But don't forget that God will empower us through His grace to be holy and keep His Commandments.

Now I love what God has given us through James in the Bible. What James does is COMPLETE the picture of the true grace of God:

James 2:14,19,20 ...'What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:18 ...'Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.'

James comes along and says: "You say that you have the grace of God in your life? SHOW ME!! Prove it by your walk, the way you live, show me your fruit and your works. You say you have the grace of God WITHOUT works? I'll show you the grace of God in my life BY MY WORKS". This completes the picture of grace for us, and shows us that we cannot TRULY be under grace if we do not walk the way Jesus walked and strive for holiness. If you do not do good works towards others and don't do the works of God's Commandments, then your faith is in vain and DEAD. Again, we don't do these works TO BE saved, we do them because we ARE saved. If you truly accept what Jesus has done for you, then you should desire nothing else, but to serve and follow in His footstep.

"Take up your cross and follow Me!"

This is why the majority of the professing Christian world do not walk the way Jesus walked. They use the grace of God as an excuse to continue living a worldly life of sin. If you truly accepted the grace of God in your life, then you would walk the walk of Christ Jesus. The parables of the ten virgins and the talents and other parables show us that the only difference between the professing Christians who are saved and lost is what they DID with their lives. They all knew Jesus, they all believed they were under grace and were saved, but it was ONLY those who 'worked out their salvation with fear and trembling' (Phil. 2:12), those who 'showed their faith by their works' (James 2:18), those who 'made every effort to be holy' (Hebrews 12:14) that were saved. And it wasn't those works that saved them, but those works they did, PROVED that they had truly accepted Christ into their lives and accepted the gift of grace.

What Does the Grace of God Do?

Titus 2:11-12 ...'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.'

Do you see? The grace of God TEACHES us to be holy and to shun the things of the world.

Hebrews 12:15 ...'looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God.' ... How can we fall short of the grace of God? By refusing to use it's full potential. By not using the power of Christ Jesus in our lives to become perfect and holy.

1 Peter 1:16 ...'because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.

Deuteronomy 18:13 ...'Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.'

Hebrews 6:1 ...'Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection.'

Hebrews 13:20-21 ...'Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.'

James 1:4 ...'But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.'

1 John 2:5 ...'But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.'

2 Corinthians 7:1 ...'Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ...'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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.'

2 Corinthians 13:11 ...'Finally, brethren, farewell. BE PERFECT, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.'

Do you see the amazing truth from these Bible verses? Friend, we have a work to do, but we do not do it on our own, and we do not do it to be saved. We do it because we ARE saved by the PERFECT obedient life and sacrifice of Christ Jesus. If we truly accept the grace of God in our lives, then He will give us of His Holy Spirit who will help us walk with Christ, and Christ will stand in our place before God and God will see a person cleansed of sin, spotless and righteous THROUGH Christ. Do you have the grace of God in your life today?