The purpose of grace
It is clear to me that the major
cause of the divisions that exist in the church, the body of Christ and the catalyst
for being guilty of such sins like irreverence, idolatry and provoking the Lord
to jealousy stems from the misunderstanding and the improper application of grace:
Grace as we should know is a
terminology that is frequently used in the religious circle, but it is unfortunately
misapplied by many. Grace, is God’s unmerited favor, mercy and compassion which
He bestowed upon man for a distinctive purpose but it stands between two
extremes.
- The
extremity of the rough and turbulent waters of legalism
Legalism is where God’s grace has
been received in vain by those who attempt to be justified by the works of the
law, and have unfortunately fallen from grace. Because, as it is written, “If
anything is by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no
longer grace. And if anything is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise
work is no longer work” (Romans 11:6).
- The
extremity of the calm, placid, but extremely toxic waters of liberalism
Liberalism is when the grace of
God has been turned into a license for disobedience, and even denying the only
Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ, by those who are using their liberty as an
opportunity for the flesh, and as a pretext for evil. The grace of God is
simply His unmerited, undeserved favor, compassion, and mercy which He bestowed
upon humanity without their help and participation, for their ultimate
salvation. This undeserved favor is descriptive of:
a.
The
favor of His only Begotten Son who reconciled us to the Father even when we
were dead in trespasses and sins.
b.
His
gift of eternal life which according to the apostle John is that, we may know
the Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom the Father have sent and that
we can grope for Him and find Him,
c.
His
forgiving mercy, by forgiving us of the sins of the past, and being faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness if we
confess our sins.
d.
His
divine gifts and talents, as His divine power has given to us all things that
pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by
glory and virtue. He has given to all without exception, life, breath and all
things.
e.
The Gospel, the medium by which we can grow in
grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because without
faith it is impossible to please God, and faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God. Grace therefore establishes the foundation by which man can
serve God, without his/her own input and involvement, so that no one can boast.
For it is written; “But when the
kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us,
through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He
poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior ” (Titus
3:4-6).
It is by grace we have been, and
are being saved, through faith (hearing the word of God and believing), and
this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one
can boast. But the reason why everything is by and through the grace of God it is
because, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
We have been saved by grace so
that those who have trusted in God by hearing and believing His word may be careful
to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and
profitable for everyone. Doing what is good is not according to each man
walking after the imagination of his/her own heart or doing what seems right in
his/her own eyes, but doing and walking according to the good which has been
prepared in advance for us to do. Because, there is a way which seems right to
a man, but the end thereof is the way of death.
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To be continued, stay tuned
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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