|
|
In the truths of His word, God has given to men a revelation of Himself. Here we can see His great love for the human race in extending grace, and lifting those who come to Him, from a life doomed for destruction and offering them eternity. The Bible reveals God as both loving and just, and to all who accept and love these truths, they are a shield against the deceptions of Satan. It is by neglecting these truths that a door is opened to the "strong delusion, that they will believe a lie." (11 Thess. 2:11) The nature and the importance of God's moral law has been, to a great extent, lost sight of. A wrong conception of the divine law has led to serious errors in understanding conversion and sanctification.This in turn has resulted in making man his own voice of authority (his own god).
In the place of God's moral laws there have arisen man's laws, ethics, and traditions. These are then promoted as good for we are no longer "under the law" but under grace, free to follow our way, and disregard God's plain commandments.
Not all religious leaders in the various churches are deceived by the twisting of Paul's writings to cause the soul's destruction. There are men who acknowledged and deplored this trend in deception. Professor Edwards A. Park, writes: "One source of danger is the neglect of the pulpit to enforce the divine law. In former days the pulpit was an echo of the voice of conscience. . . . Our most illustrious preachers gave a wonderful majesty to their discourses by following the example of the Master, and giving prominence to the law, its precepts, and its threatenings. They repeated the two great maxims, that the law is a transcript of the divine perfections, and that a man who does not love the law does not love the gospel; for the law, as well as the gospel, is a mirror reflecting the true character of God. This peril leads to another, that of underrating the evil of sin, the extent of it, the demerit of it. In proportion to the rightfulness of the commandment is the wrongfulness of disobeying it. . . .
"Affiliated to the dangers already named is the danger of underestimating the justice of God. The tendency of the modern pulpit is to strain out the divine justice from the divine benevolence, to sink benevolence into a sentiment rather than exalt it into a principle. The new theological prism divides what God has joined together. Is the divine law a good or an evil? It is a good. Then justice is good; for it is a disposition to execute the law. From the habit of underrating the divine law and justice, the extent and demerit of human disobedience, men easily slide into the habit of underestimating the grace which has provided an atonement for sin." Thus the gospel loses its value and importance in the minds of men, and soon they are ready practically to cast aside the Bible itself.
Many religious teachers assert that Christ by His death abolished the law, and people are now free from its requirements. There are some who represent it as a great burden, and present grace as the liberty to be enjoyed under the gospel to be free from God's moral law.
However how could the moral law of God be changed? It is a revelation of the will and the character of its Author. God is love, and His law is love. Its two great principles are love to God and love to man. "Love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10. The character of God is righteousness and truth; such is the nature of His law. Says the psalmist: "Thy law is the truth:" "all Thy commandments are righteousness." Psalm 119:142, 172. And the apostle Paul declares: "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Romans 7:12. Such a law, being an expression of the mind and will of God, must be as enduring as its Author.
(Adapted from GC 445-446)
It is God's grace that saves us and by His grace we keep the law!
Here's some verses for thought:
We often hear the statement — "We are saved by grace, period. The law frustrates grace."
Eph. 2.8-10
Already we see a little problem here. Paul just wrote we are saved by GRACE not works and then he turns around and says we need to walk in the good works God ordained for us.
What does he mean?
But let's look at other texts that speak of grace.
John 1.14
In childhood Jesus was an obedient child. He spoke and acted with the wisdom of a child and not of a man, honoring His parents and carrying out their wishes in helpful ways, according to the ability of a child. But at each stage of His development He was perfect, with the simple, natural grace of a sinless life. The Bible says of His childhood, "The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." And of His youth it is recorded, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:40, 52.
Is the promise of Jude 24 "he is able to keep you from falling" truth?
While the Bible says we frustrate grace by legalism it also says grace can be given in vain if we do not allow it to mold us. Paul acknowledges his life is a testimony of what God's grace can do and declares grace was not bestowed upon him in vain.
So if grace makes us holy, would we not be then keeping the holy law of God?
So what does it mean to be save by grace?
Like two oars -- pull either one too strongly and you go in circles.
Yes, we are saved by grace! But what does it mean? Does it, as some claim, separate obedience from grace?
"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.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Simple-- we are lost without Christ, nothing we do can earn us justification, but once justified and in Christ -- we do the works. "Let no one deceive you, he who does righteousness, is righteous," the apostle John tells us. (1 John3:7) In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Paul also tells us not to be deceived for those who do the works of evil will not inherit eternal life.
"And the child (Jesus) grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the GRACE of God was upon him."
"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 with great power the apostles witnessed of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great GRACE was upon them all.
Does a pure, sanctified heart have something to do with being able to witness with power?
Could grace be involved with cleansing the heart as well as empowering the messenger?
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his GRACE, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
(Jesus) is declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received GRACE and apostleship, FOR OBEDIENCE to the faith among all nations, for his name.
We receive GRACE for obedience!
But BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Grace, praise God, means the forgiving of our sins. But grace does much more -- it renews, transforms and creates in us a new heart and mind, writing the law of God therein. By the grace of God we do the works God has set before us and we develop godly lives.
If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth....
trample the son of God underfoot, count the blood of the covenant by which we are sanctified a common thing and insult the Spirit of GRACE? The Lord will judge His people.
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.
"And God is able to make all GRACE abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"
Grace and works? The two go together! They are not opposed to each other. But this Biblical truth is in totally contradiction to the gospel now being preached.
"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, who loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope THROUGH GRACE,
Comfort your hearts, and ESTABLISH you in every GOOD WORD AND WORK."
Obviously, to be saved by grace means more than forgiveness from sin.
To be saved by grace establishes us in right doing.
"Thou therefore, my son, BE STRONG IN THE GRACE that is in Christ Jesus."
And make straight paths for your feet, so those who are lame won't be turned out of the way; but let it rather find healing. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: LOOKING DILIGENTLY LEST ANY MAN FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
How can a man fail of the grace of God? We are to follow holiness? Without it shall not see the Lord. If we do not follow holiness we fail of the Grace of God.
Therefore guard the wandering thoughts of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the GRACE that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
As OBEDIENT children, do not conform to the former evil desires you indulged in, in your ignorance: but as He who has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Remember too, Paul told us the commandments (yes, the ten--see Romans 7) are just, good and HOLY. Sin is the opposite of those just, good and HOLY commandments.
Would not the law of sin which reigns in our members and is in complete opposition to the holy law of God, be put to death. (See Romans 6 and 8)
Home Page