GRACE IS THE GIFT OF RIGTEOUSNESS!
Most Christians today hold to one of two views about the grace of God. Because of a serious misunderstanding of God’s word we have these two opposing views about grace. Which view is Biblical and which is not? The purpose of this study is to discover the truth about which one of these views is the Biblically correct position and how harmful it is to believe in error concerning the important subject of grace. It is of utmost importance that we understand which view allows us to be justified before God.
The first view we will discuss is called libertinism. It is based on Calvinistic doctrine. It suggests that the free gift of grace will save a Christian believer no matter how he chooses to live after he is saved. We are saved purely by this gift of grace from God as soon as we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. Once we receive this free gift of grace from God we can never lose it no matter how sinful we choose to live afterwards. To this type of believer grace becomes a license, permitting them to live however they want to without any possibility of being able to lose this gift of grace or their eternal salvation. Because of this belief many live a licentious and lawless lifestyle indulging in the lusts of the flesh without restraint. But does God really save us in our sins or from them? Is grace just a cheap gift certificate into heaven with no moral or spiritual obligations attached? Is grace no more than a license permitting Christians to practice sinful behavior without any eternal consequences? Does the liberty we have in Christ, as Christians, allow us to do what we want? Does the New Testament law of Liberty, in Christ, abolish any need for holiness and righteous conduct? Can we continue in sin if we choose and simply present our certificate of grace to God for entrance into heaven? These questions will all be answered as we go along.
The other opposing view to Libertinism is called Legalism. Legalism refers to the belief that Christians must live in conformity with God’s moral laws and standards. This system of belief, in no way, turns grace into a license to indulge the fleshly nature. This system places much greater emphasis on Christians being active in good works and in working out their salvation by living a life that is pleasing to God. Obedience to all of God’s moral standards, commandments and rules for conduct is the cornerstone of this system of belief. If a Christian disregards God’s moral laws he risks falling from grace and losing his salvation if he persists in practicing unrighteousness. Does God require Christians to live in conformance with His written word? This is what we must find out!
Many Christians believe that this means we are free to live the way we want to because we are saved by grace and cannot ever, no matter what happens, ever lose our salvation. The New Testament teaches, however, that this law of liberty is freedom from the Old Testament dietary laws and ordinances (1 Cor. 8:9, 10:29; Gal. 2:4, 5:1,13). It does not, however, include freedom from New Testament moral standards and teachings. Those who truly have liberty in Christ cannot be servants of corruption or become entangled again in a life of sin (2 Pet. 2:19). This is why Jesus and His apostles preached the necessity of deliverance from all bondage to sin (Lk. 4:18). James taught that those who wish to apply the perfect law of liberty to their life must be a doer of the word. Christians are to withstand temptation and lay aside all sinfulness and let God’s moral compass and rule book, His word, lead them to salvation (Jam. 1:12-25). Peter taught that Christians must never use their liberty in Christ as a cloak of maliciousness or as an excuse to allow sin to reign in their life, but as true servants of God who are dead to sin and who live only by righteous standards. Our example to follow is Christ who “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.â€(1 Pet. 2:16-25). Paul taught that all things were lawful for Christians but not all things were expedient. Those who live an unrighteous lifestyle will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul also taught that Christians who are washed, sanctified and justified must glorify God in everything they do, avoid anything that does not edify them spiritually, do not have any fellowship with any work of darkness, and do not allow themselves to be brought under the power of anything (1 Cor. 6:9-20).
In Romans Chapter 6 Paul explains how a Christian under the grace of God is to conduct himself. Grace is not to be a means to justify our sinful actions but rather the means to become dead to all sin and freed from its enslaving power. No longer is the Christian to use his body as an instrument of sin to fulfill fleshly lusts but from now on only as a instrument of righteousness. If we use grace as a cloak to cover and justify our sin we deceive ourselves and are no longer servants of righteousness but are servants of sin. Only as we live a life of obedience can we be freed from the mastery of sin. “Being then made free from sin ye become the servants of righteousness.â€(v. 18) If we live in sin we are no longer righteous and saved by grace. Grace is the gift of righteousness that frees us from sin so we can live a life of holiness (Rom. 5:16-21).
Grace is the gift of righteousness that liberates us from the yoke of bondage to a life of sin. It is only by the grace of God that we can be saved when our hearts are purified of the old sin nature (Acts 15:9-11). We are justified freely by the grace of God through the Lord Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin� (Gal. 2:17) The purpose of Christ’s redemption was not to redeem us in our sins through the gift of grace but to deliver us from all of our sins (Mt. 1:21). “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works†(Tit. 2:14) Grace cannot reign in any Christians life through an unrighteousness, disobedience, lawless or licentious lifestyle (Mt. 7:21-23).
If Jesus commanded us to be perfect (sinless, blameless, innocent, obedient, righteous, holy, just) then grace cannot be anything less than the law of spiritual perfection (Mt. 5:48). We are to put off all the sinful conduct of our former life and be renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on the new nature “which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.†(Ep. 4:22-24) Those who are saved by grace are the righteous servants of God who sin not. Those who call themselves Christians but do not depart from iniquity are of the devil. Spirutual perfection and purity can only be achieved by being born again. Only those who practice righteousness are born of God and saved by grace (1Jn. 2:29, 3:1-10).
What did the apostles teach? Unlike many churches today, they taught the truth about grace. “..warning every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man [with a license to continue in sin?] or to [be perfect in Christ Jesus] (Col. 1:6,28). Those who believe grace is just a convenient cover-up for their sins have been caught in the devils snare and have been “taken captive by him at his will.†If you find yourself in this type of situation repent and be determined to be purged from all iniquity so you can be sanctified by the Holy Spirit and become qualified for the masters use (Col. 1:21-26) Don’t despise the blood of the covenant that was shed to sanctify you and save you from all your sins, as an unholy thing. The defiling acts of sin will surely cause you to “fail of the grace of God.†As a good soldier of Christ, wage war against all ungodliness in your life and make straight paths for your feet by walking in holiness (Heb. 10:26-31, 12:1-17). If we want God’s grace working in our life we must be perfected in Christ, do His will, obey His moral laws and maintain a holy lifestyle that is pleasing and acceptable to Him (He. 12:28,13:21)
By Bibleman
TWO VIEWS OF GOD’S GRACE
Most Christians today hold to one of two views about the grace of God. Because of a serious misunderstanding of God’s word we have these two opposing views about grace. Which view is Biblical and which is not? The purpose of this study is to discover the truth about which one of these views is the Biblically correct position and how harmful it is to believe in error concerning the important subject of grace. It is of utmost importance that we understand which view allows us to be justified before God.
LIBERTINISM
The first view we will discuss is called libertinism. It is based on Calvinistic doctrine. It suggests that the free gift of grace will save a Christian believer no matter how he chooses to live after he is saved. We are saved purely by this gift of grace from God as soon as we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. Once we receive this free gift of grace from God we can never lose it no matter how sinful we choose to live afterwards. To this type of believer grace becomes a license, permitting them to live however they want to without any possibility of being able to lose this gift of grace or their eternal salvation. Because of this belief many live a licentious and lawless lifestyle indulging in the lusts of the flesh without restraint. But does God really save us in our sins or from them? Is grace just a cheap gift certificate into heaven with no moral or spiritual obligations attached? Is grace no more than a license permitting Christians to practice sinful behavior without any eternal consequences? Does the liberty we have in Christ, as Christians, allow us to do what we want? Does the New Testament law of Liberty, in Christ, abolish any need for holiness and righteous conduct? Can we continue in sin if we choose and simply present our certificate of grace to God for entrance into heaven? These questions will all be answered as we go along.
LEGALISM
The other opposing view to Libertinism is called Legalism. Legalism refers to the belief that Christians must live in conformity with God’s moral laws and standards. This system of belief, in no way, turns grace into a license to indulge the fleshly nature. This system places much greater emphasis on Christians being active in good works and in working out their salvation by living a life that is pleasing to God. Obedience to all of God’s moral standards, commandments and rules for conduct is the cornerstone of this system of belief. If a Christian disregards God’s moral laws he risks falling from grace and losing his salvation if he persists in practicing unrighteousness. Does God require Christians to live in conformance with His written word? This is what we must find out!
THE LAW OF LIBERTY IN CHRIST
Many Christians believe that this means we are free to live the way we want to because we are saved by grace and cannot ever, no matter what happens, ever lose our salvation. The New Testament teaches, however, that this law of liberty is freedom from the Old Testament dietary laws and ordinances (1 Cor. 8:9, 10:29; Gal. 2:4, 5:1,13). It does not, however, include freedom from New Testament moral standards and teachings. Those who truly have liberty in Christ cannot be servants of corruption or become entangled again in a life of sin (2 Pet. 2:19). This is why Jesus and His apostles preached the necessity of deliverance from all bondage to sin (Lk. 4:18). James taught that those who wish to apply the perfect law of liberty to their life must be a doer of the word. Christians are to withstand temptation and lay aside all sinfulness and let God’s moral compass and rule book, His word, lead them to salvation (Jam. 1:12-25). Peter taught that Christians must never use their liberty in Christ as a cloak of maliciousness or as an excuse to allow sin to reign in their life, but as true servants of God who are dead to sin and who live only by righteous standards. Our example to follow is Christ who “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.â€(1 Pet. 2:16-25). Paul taught that all things were lawful for Christians but not all things were expedient. Those who live an unrighteous lifestyle will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul also taught that Christians who are washed, sanctified and justified must glorify God in everything they do, avoid anything that does not edify them spiritually, do not have any fellowship with any work of darkness, and do not allow themselves to be brought under the power of anything (1 Cor. 6:9-20).
GRACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
In Romans Chapter 6 Paul explains how a Christian under the grace of God is to conduct himself. Grace is not to be a means to justify our sinful actions but rather the means to become dead to all sin and freed from its enslaving power. No longer is the Christian to use his body as an instrument of sin to fulfill fleshly lusts but from now on only as a instrument of righteousness. If we use grace as a cloak to cover and justify our sin we deceive ourselves and are no longer servants of righteousness but are servants of sin. Only as we live a life of obedience can we be freed from the mastery of sin. “Being then made free from sin ye become the servants of righteousness.â€(v. 18) If we live in sin we are no longer righteous and saved by grace. Grace is the gift of righteousness that frees us from sin so we can live a life of holiness (Rom. 5:16-21).
FREEDOM FROM THE YOKE OF BONDAGE TO SIN
Grace is the gift of righteousness that liberates us from the yoke of bondage to a life of sin. It is only by the grace of God that we can be saved when our hearts are purified of the old sin nature (Acts 15:9-11). We are justified freely by the grace of God through the Lord Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin� (Gal. 2:17) The purpose of Christ’s redemption was not to redeem us in our sins through the gift of grace but to deliver us from all of our sins (Mt. 1:21). “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works†(Tit. 2:14) Grace cannot reign in any Christians life through an unrighteousness, disobedience, lawless or licentious lifestyle (Mt. 7:21-23).
THE LAW OF PERFECTION!
If Jesus commanded us to be perfect (sinless, blameless, innocent, obedient, righteous, holy, just) then grace cannot be anything less than the law of spiritual perfection (Mt. 5:48). We are to put off all the sinful conduct of our former life and be renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on the new nature “which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.†(Ep. 4:22-24) Those who are saved by grace are the righteous servants of God who sin not. Those who call themselves Christians but do not depart from iniquity are of the devil. Spirutual perfection and purity can only be achieved by being born again. Only those who practice righteousness are born of God and saved by grace (1Jn. 2:29, 3:1-10).
BE PERFECTED IN CHRIST!
What did the apostles teach? Unlike many churches today, they taught the truth about grace. “..warning every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man [with a license to continue in sin?] or to [be perfect in Christ Jesus] (Col. 1:6,28). Those who believe grace is just a convenient cover-up for their sins have been caught in the devils snare and have been “taken captive by him at his will.†If you find yourself in this type of situation repent and be determined to be purged from all iniquity so you can be sanctified by the Holy Spirit and become qualified for the masters use (Col. 1:21-26) Don’t despise the blood of the covenant that was shed to sanctify you and save you from all your sins, as an unholy thing. The defiling acts of sin will surely cause you to “fail of the grace of God.†As a good soldier of Christ, wage war against all ungodliness in your life and make straight paths for your feet by walking in holiness (Heb. 10:26-31, 12:1-17). If we want God’s grace working in our life we must be perfected in Christ, do His will, obey His moral laws and maintain a holy lifestyle that is pleasing and acceptable to Him (He. 12:28,13:21)
