The Biblical Doctrine of Grace

Our only hope for redemption is grace: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The subject of grace is quite the important topic in the Bible; unfortunately, it is one that many in the religious world misunderstand. Therefore, if we keep these nine things in mind, we will know what the Bible says about grace.

First, grace saves (Eph. 2:8), but it does so through faith. In other words, saving grace cooperates with works of faith (Rom. 4:16; James 2:17-18). We should never confuse works of faith with meritorious works (Eph. 2:9), because these place merit in the works themselves rather than in the source of these works, which is Jesus Christ! Because of what Jesus did, culminating with His death, burial and resurrection, I am able to access His saving grace through the obedience of faith (cf. Rom. 1:5; 16:26), which recognizes the merit where it ought to be—in Christ! This is how grace is able to save!

Second, grace separates (Rom. 6:1-4). Through my faith, whenever I trust in the work of Christ and turn to God through repentance and obedience, because of the goodness of God (Rom. 2:4), I then become separated from the past, just as Abraham left behind Ur of the Chaldees. We leave behind the world—its aims, aspirations and values. We no longer live as we used to live. We change. In addition, we separate from ourselves (Matt. 16:24). We must crucify self (Gal. 2:20). We separate ourselves from anything that stands between God and us, or that competes with God, because God now comes first (Matt. 6:33). In this way, grace separates.

Third, grace forbids sensual living: “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4). Here were some who were “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,” which underscores those who want access to grace, but refuse to live godly lives. In other words, grace takes care of those who believe and teach, “We can access the grace of God while living any way we want to live!” No, the Bible does not teach this! Grace forbids sensual living.

Fourth, grace serves (Heb. 12:28). Grace does not bring us into the kingdom of God for us to just sit down. In gratitude to God, even as the apostle Paul said, we say, “I am debtor to all men!” (cf. Rom. 1:14). Out of the joy and gladness of heart that God has redeemed us by His grace at a time when we were so unworthy, we are now ready, willing and anxious to serve God every day and in every way! I am not only going to assemble for worship services, but I am going to serve Him daily! Grace serves.
Fifth, grace submits and suffers (Heb. 2:7-9). By the grace of God, Christ suffered and submitted to the will of God (cf. Phil. 2:5-8). Therefore, the grace of God calls for submission and suffering. If we are going to access the saving grace of God, we must be willing to submit to the will of God, and we must be willing to suffer for the will of God. Think about what Jesus did for us on the cruel tree of Calvary! Yet, the nature of humanity is to avoid suffering. Not so, the Bible teaches. Grace is ready to submit and suffer.

Sixth, grace sings (Col. 3:15-17; Eph. 5:19-20). We often leave out one of the key elements of what Paul teaches about singing—we are to sing because we are thankful! Read the psalms and note how there were songs of joy in their heart! The first recorded song in the Bible is in Exodus 15, when God redeemed Israel from Egyptian bondage. Whenever the grace of God lays hold of our hearts, melodies of songs of praise and gratitude will flood our hearts! In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were in prison with bleeding, beaten backs. Yet, the grace of God put a song in their heart as they were praying and singing! The reason why so many Christians struggle with singing is because they fail to appreciate what the grace of God has done in their hearts. Every time we worship God in song, we ought to think about what God has done for us as unworthy recipients of His grace! For the congregation that thinks about such, they will raise the rafters! Grace sings!

Seventh, grace gives us a standing place (Rom. 5:2). God is holy, but humanity is sinful. Thus, God cannot fellowship with sin. The only standing ground that I have is “in Christ,” which I access by grace. By the grace of God, I am able to stand in Christ, wherein I am able to have fellowship with God, in spite of my frailties and weaknesses. The one who is not in Christ has no place to stand! Grace gives us a standing place!
Eighth, grace sacrifices (2 Cor. 8:1-4). The Macedonians begged the apostle Paul to have the opportunity to give, even out of their deep poverty. As such, grace sacrifices.

Finally, grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). The grace of God is sufficient for every situation and every need in life (cf. Eph. 2:7).

If we keep these nine things in mind about grace, we will understand exactly what the Bible teaches about that which saves us.

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The Almighty Oak

There is an old truism that we are not to put our trust in man, because man will disappoint us in the end. Men are fallible, subject to temptation and often give in to sin. If our faith, our trust, our hope resides in some man or some man-made material object then we will eventually “have the rug pulled out from underneath” us. If our trust is in some man, no matter how noble, how learned, how spiritual, he seems to be he will eventually disappoint. And when our trust is in the high and mighty in this world and when the mighty fall, what happens to those who have made that person their object of adoration? Do they themselves lose faith; will they stumble and fall as well? This indeed does sometimes happen. When a tall tree in the forest falls, sometimes a few of the lesser trees nearby are knocked down or are damaged by its fall.

In Romans 1:4, Paul made it clear that the resurrection was the single greatest proof that Jesus is the Son of God, that He was not some mere mortal man. Jesus was, “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul makes the argument that Jesus Christ was in fact raised from the dead. In verses 3-4 Paul stated, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…” He gives as proof of the resurrection, “He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once… After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also…” (1 Cor. 15:5-8) Jesus’ resurrection was confirmed by many eyewitnesses. Jesus’ resurrection proved that He was no mere man; that He was indeed the Son of God, therefore He is worthy our trust and devotion. Paul goes on to argue that if the resurrection were false, then Jesus was only a man, therefore those who had placed their trust in Him were in a pitiful condition. “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty… If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable…” (1 Cor.15:13-14, 19). Paul concludes, “Christ is risen from the dead…” (1 Cor. 15:20).

Jesus is the Son of God – the resurrection proves it. Jesus is ultimately worthy of our trust. He is above failure. The Bible states, “They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one…” (Psa. 14:3) Paul states, “As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Rom. 3:10-12, 23). This affirms to us that man can and will disappoint us. It reminds us that man can betray our trust; that man can lose heart and thereby cause us to question our faith. In the movie Braveheart, the father of Robert the Bruce, after Robert’s betrayal of William Wallace, tells him, “All men betray. All lose heart.” Yet by contrast, Jesus is the True Friend who will never betray or lose heart. If our trust is in Him, He will never break our heart.

Jesus is the Almighty Oak, whose roots go deep into rocks of the earth and no matter how viciously the winds blow; no matter how the earth shakes; no matter how many trees are uprooted or broken off – Jesus, the Almighty Oak – never even trembles or loses a single leaf, and provides a safe haven of rest from the tempest to all those planted beneath the protective and sheltering arms of His branches.

 

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Speech and Character

Paul’s “Southern Accent” and Peter’s “Northern Accent”

Over the years, I have often been teased about my southern accent. While it is not as pronounced as it once was, I realize that when I speak a common question is, “Where are you from?” Now before you think that being southern is all that bad, may I remind you that Paul said “you all” thirty-one times in his writings!

Your speech tells more about you than you think. As Peter watched the trial of Jesus, those that stood by said he was with Jesus because they knew he was from Galilee (Luke 22:59). Matthew gives the reason for their charge, “Certainly you too are one of them, for you accent betrays you” (Matt. 26:73, ESV). (By the way, maybe those from northern Galilee did not say “you all” for Peter only uses it only once in writing his epistles. Smile)

Our speech does reveal our character. Have you noticed what Peter did to convince them he had not been with Jesus? “Then he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man’” (Matt. 26:74). Cursing and swearing is not part of the character of those who have been with Jesus.

There is another event in Peter’s life which should be noted. After Peter repented of his wrong, God used him in a mighty way on the day of Pentecost. It is his message that day which is recorded in Acts 2. The next chapter tells Peter and John’s healing of the cripple man at the gate of the temple and the powerful message Peter spoke at Solomon’s porch in the temple. They were arrested and these two men stood before the highest Jewish council, the Sanhedrin. Once again the spokesman was Peter. He did not waver this time as he did when he warmed himself at the “devil’s fire.” He was no longer ashamed to be known as one who was a follower of Jesus.

Study carefully Luke’s recording of this event. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). They had been with Jesus! Being with Jesus changes the way you speak!

So what about your speech? Do you cower and fail to speak up for that which is right? Is there timidity in standing for that which is right? Perhaps you need to spend more time with Jesus.

Jesus was bold and forthright. He did not hesitate to rebuke the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in Matthew 23, nor did He hesitate to rebuke Peter when He said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me” (Matt. 16:23). His boldness was tempered with kindness, but He spoke truthfully.

May God help each of us, whatever our accent, to spend time with Jesus and speak so that others always know we have been with Jesus!

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Hope, an Anchor for the Soul

An anchor is a heavy object that is used to make fast a vessel at sea. It prevents the ship from moving either with the current or from the force of wind, or both. A vessel at anchor is safe so long as its anchor holds, but if the anchor slips and if a shoal or reef is near, the vessel could run aground and perhaps even sink. Clearly, ships need anchors. But, have you ever thought how much you need an anchor? I am not talking about a ball and chain to hold you physically in place, but rather a spiritual anchor for your soul.

The Christian’s hope is the sure and steadfast anchor for his or her soul, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast…” (Heb. 5:19a). What was the hope to which the inspired writer was referring? And, just what is hope anyway? The English word “hope” is defined by Dictionary.com as, “A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment…” The Greek word most often translated as hope in the New Testament carries the idea of anticipation with joy and confidence.

Simply put, hope is a desire plus a realistic expectation of its eventual fulfillment. The particular hope that is referred to by the Hebrew writer is God’s promise of eternal salvation to all who are faithful and obedient to him, as expressed in Heb. 6:9-11 “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end…”

Hope is also a realistic expectation that is based upon evidence, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us…” (Heb. 6:18). The evidence for our hope of salvation is based on two indisputable facts. The first of these immutable facts is that it is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2). Therefore, He will perform his oaths and promises, even as He did with Abraham (Heb. 6:12-17). The second immutable fact is that Christ made it possible for sinful man to be reconciled to back to God (Heb. 6:19-20; Eph. 2:14-16). Heb. 6:19b-20 states “…which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” “That within the veil…” refers to the Holy of Holies within the tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant was kept and where only the high priest could enter. The ark represented the presence of God. Therefore, to enter “within the veil” means to come into the presence of God. Christ, as the “forerunner” for us, has gone before to make a way for us to follow so that we too, could enjoy the presence of God in eternity, even as he promised in John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Christ is the forerunner of our salvation and He is the Eternal High Priest who mediates between man and God, bringing reconciliation. Thus He is, “an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

Hope is what enables Christian to withstand the various storms of life. Without the Christian hope to anchor his soul, man will drift through life without any direction; driven to and fro with every wind and current that comes along. Man’s only hope is in Jesus Christ. Our hope is founded upon the immutable facts of God’s faithfulness and of Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

Another interesting fact about anchors is that the more wind blows and the current strains against a firmly grounded anchor, the deeper into the sea floor it digs and the more firmly it holds on. The same is true with our anchoring hope. Paul describes this process taking place as we patiently endure hardship and tribulation, “and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us…” (Rom. 5:2-5) This anchoring of hope can also be strengthened as we observe how other faithful children of God were able to endure the trials and hardships because of the hope that God provides, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Rom. 15:4).

Truly, “We have an anchor that keeps the soul stedfast and sure while the billows roll; Fastened to the rock which cannot move; Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.” -Priscilla Owens, 1882.

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Decisions

The problem often faced by worldly people is “what do I do next?” Indeed, this is last resort for people who have followed the Devil all their life and suddenly find themselves in a predicament where they do not know where to go or what to say. The person who follows the worldly crowd will probably find themselves involved in, unlawful activities [i.e. drug use or selling of illegal drugs, prostitution, lying, cheating, gambling, adultery, thefts, robbery, and etc.]. Many people at this point in life have been apprehended by the local, county, state, or federal authorities and will soon face a jury on criminal charges. This is for many worldly people the first time they have given any serious thought to the decisions that brought them to this juncture in life. Yet, may such people realize at this bad time in their life that everything has gotten as bad as it can get, “What can I do now? Where can I go? How did I get here?”  The truth of their situation is simple, they made bad decisions and choose to follow through on those decisions. This is their root problem; they chose to do those things over a period of time that led them into deeper and deeper trouble with the lawful authorities due to their choice to break established laws.

Whenever people make decisions based upon their free will to do so, they must ultimately face the consequence for their decisions. When a person has violated the laws of man and God they are surely headed toward a day of accounting for their decisions. It is true, that every decision that one makes, either good or bad carries with it the ultimate day of retribution [i.e. facing the music or being accountable]. There has never been a time in man’s existence when he was at liberty to escape retribution for his deeds. The first man and woman [i.e. Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:1-24] were not immune from accountability to God’s law and subsequent humankind has had the same problem. Apparently mankind has an inclination to make wrong decisions based upon their innate ability to choose, this does not mean that mankind is somehow born evil or totally corrupt at birth as our Calvinist friends suggest.

Since mankind does have this free will facility to choose either good or bad with everything in life, why does mankind so often choose to turn away from compliance to established law? We are at a loss generally to answer the why of man’s ability to choose to violate man and God’s laws more often than to accept them and abide therein. One of the problems that face everyone is the frailty of the human condition; man is possessed of a body and mind that requires constant care in both physical and mental preservation. If we fail to care for our body it will not serve us well very long and if we fail to be conscious of our mental choices we will descend into shame and degradation.

There is simply only one realistic decision that man must make in life, that decision ought to be made early in life yet some do not make the decision until they have created a wreck of their life. That decision is to pursue the truths revealed in God’s Book [i.e. the Bible]. God has informed mankind via Jeremiah 10:23, “O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” ASV – From this passage of Holy Scripture we recognize that man’s condition may be unfathomable to him yet if he will pursue the wisdom from God via the Bible, God’s plan for his life can be understood and followed.

God’s plan for man is summed up in the New Testament, in several references:

Acts 2:37-40, “37 Now when they heard (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, (even) as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, save yourselves from this crooked generation.” ASV

Hebrews 5:8-9, “8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;” ASV

Eph 3:17-21, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which passes  knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fullness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 unto him (be) the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.” ASV

Acts 2:47, “47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.” ASV

CONCLUSION:

Remember this; whenever man makes the decision to proceed in life without God’s direction he will surely live a life of unlawful and unscriptural activities. Often those that live a worldly life are self destructive, bringing upon themselves many sorrows. But the person who turns to God for instruction and chooses to follow God’s instruction will surely be a credit to mankind and to God through righteous action and manner of life. The true Christian may live a life that encourages other people to live righteous lives as well. The Bible teaches us that true Christians are “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth.” [Matthew 5:13-16]Consequently one is wise who makes a decision to faithfully serve God throughout their whole life, cf. Romans 12:1-2.

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