What about Grace?

17.  What about Grace?

Recall, Jesus was full of grace and truth. 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. John 1:14. The Spirit of Truth is the Holy Ghost, and the grace cometh by Jesus Christ.  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17.   Yes, it is that simple.  Grace cometh by Jesus Christ because grace is received through the Word.  But note, this is not any interpretations or bogus word.  The pure Word is the source of grace–not man’s doctrines and teachings of me and religion intended tom appease the workings of the flesh.

Thus, when we are truly alive in Christ by the Spirit we have the grace He had as the Word because He dwells in us, AND, we have the Holy Ghost being the spirit of the Father in us.  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  John 14:23.  That combination is in us is needed to do the Father’s will which we know makes us His son.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  Romans 8:14. 

Just as salvation through Christ is not of ourselves, neither is grace of ourselves as if we could naturally be of His grace without repentance. Grace is OF God and not just from God!  What shall we say then, shall we continue in sin or disobedience of His will so that grace abounds? What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:1-4.

Pleading “grace for the unbeliever” is of no help when the desire for truth by the pure Word is not in their heart. Why? Belief is from the heart of love, and grace is not given to the unbeliever because they do not have the pure Word, but only a form, version or adulteration (interpretation) of it.  Let’s reconsider the penitent man being crucified on the cross next to Jesus when Jesus was crucified.  The penitent man was also facing imminent death. He was literally unable to prove his penitent heart by an amendment of his lifestyle in conduct. But what if he was able to get down from the cross and live on in this world like you and me? Does he live an amended lifestyle of repentance or continue as a thief and yet remain “saved” by the Word–by what Jesus said? Recall, Jesus said to repent or perish.”  (See, Luke 13:3 and 13:5). 

What about his other sins? What if someone wearing a robe lied to him saying he didn’t need a heart desirous of an amendment of lifestyle (repentance), but a doctrine of grace would cover his continued thievery sufficient for him to “retain” his salvation? .. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:4-5; see also Mark 13:5-6. 

What if the man was told by a family member that “sided” with him saying his thefts were the product of his ancestral genetic makeup as a human, and thus natural behavior as part of God’s creation? Is he allowed to continue stealing while being “saved” so long as he believes his genes made him do it, and the works of his flesh are always covered by grace? What if that which he believes is not in line with the pure Word, does it matter?  What if his own hardened heart keeps him from the truth because he refuses the amendment of lifestyle the Spirit shall bring to all who will live in Him?

Lastly, we hold onto our salvation in fear of God, because most assuredly we are supposed to fear Him (see section 6 above)!  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Luke 12:5; see also Matthew 10:28, Luke 1:50 and 23:40, Acts 13:16, 1 Peter 2:17, and Revelation 14:7. In fact, as God is also the Word and fearing God IS part of the will of God as His Word, we should fear Him if we do NOT obey the pure Word and fear Him? 

If people came to the realization they could lose the salvation they think cannot be lost, would they act in fear of God and repent? Would they continue to rely on a bogus doctrine of cheap grace they were taught contrary to the pure Word? Would they seek the strength of the Holy Ghost which means suffering in the flesh to do whatever it takes to endure an amendment of lifestyle in order to stay obediently faithful in service to Him, instead of pursuing their own will of the flesh? Yes, of course, provided they believed and feared God! 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 Corinthians 7:1.

Many people shall lose the salvation they think cannot be lost!

Despite the numerous examples in the Bible that teach man can lose the salvation he thinks cannot be lost, have the “eternal security” proponents of a religious theology (science) forgotten about Adam? …the Old Testament clinging Jews being “broken off” (e.g., blotted out)? …the whole concept of anybody being “broken off” for not doing God’s will?

Why then do people prefer to rely on the doctrines of men and their theology despite what the pure Word says? Are they relying on their own beliefs thinking God will change His Word to suit them? Do they think the Bible is outdated because the authors didn’t understand science as we do today? Do they believe the Bible is “less true” today than it once was?

Why would anyone think the Word is not as forceful as it ever was simply because man has progressed in his understanding of the flesh and the world around him? Thus, why have a modernized, muted, version of the Word?  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:25. Has the Word gotten “dumber” because man believes he has gotten smarter? God forbid! For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 1 Corinthians 3:19.

Only by fear of God is salvation truly valuable to us anyway, and a proper fear of God includes the possibility of losing one’s salvation as per the Word! IN short, the unbeliever of the pure Word for eternal life lacks the sincerity of heart to love Him and live by that pure Word, because that pure Word means forsaking the will of the flesh and “following Jesus” doing as He did as explained previously.  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5. 

Hence, we know grace is only for the children of God, but not everyone is a child of God as explained previously. The unbeliever of the pure Word goes to hell, and thus the love of God does not save them! Again, He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:7-8.

A fact worth mentioning is the children of the devil may receive God’s mercy all the while He withholds His wrath, however, neither grace for the believing, nor mercy for the unbelieving, connotes a license to sin. Because of His mercy and goodness we can repent, become born of the Spirit, and live as the “saved” in Him with (by) His grace. THIS IS the proper context of “saved by grace”, so why would anybody want to justify their flesh and displace the pure Word of God?  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5. Any doctrine of grace that eliminates the need for repentance and life according to the Word is of the anti-Christ, and the Antichrist is the devil.

Jesus said it this way:

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20:1-16.