A More In-Depth Study Of God’s Grace
Posted: Saturday, September 10, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
I have sometimes been accused of denying the grace of God. That is just not true. I do deny some people’s view of it. I know of people who say that it doesn’t matter what a person does, those which God has chosen will be saved and those which He has not chosen, will not be saved. That is utterly ridiculous and nowhere in the Bible can one find such doctrine. It is a part of the doctrine started and promulgated by John Calvin, a sixteenth century French theologian. A good, and I think sincere fellow but he misinterpreted the teachings of Jesus by a mile and a half.
Total Depravity (that one is born totally a sinner in every way)
Unconditional Election (some are chosen, some or not, without merit)
Limited Atonement (Jesus died only for the elect-Those chosen)
Irresistible Grace (If you are one of the chosen, you cannot possibly be lost)
Perseverance of the Saints (Similar to the second and fourth. You cannot possibly be lost)
Without trying to be all wise, I simply deny that either of those assertions are true. They are not taught in the Holy Scriptures and all are contradicted by scripture. Of course, that is not our topic. We are only interested here in the how, when and why God’s grace is obtained.
The meaning of the word “grace” is something given to others although not earned. The dictionaries refer to it as “unmerited favor“. That is exactly what it is, but it is not something that is forced upon anyone whether they want it or not. In fact, it is not even free to those who do want it. It is given upon certain conditions. It is available to everybody, under conditions. Humor me to make a ridiculous sounding comparison. Let’s suppose I won in a sweepstakes, two Bugatti Veyron automobiles (price each $1,700,000). If I agreed to give you one of them if you would only keep mine washed and detailed. You would in no wise earn that car, just as simply as I did not earn both for mailing in an entry into a sweepstakes.
But by the grace of the sweepstakes sponsor, I got them. Not totally free but by a stamp and envelope and a very small effort. You would get one, not by earning it, but you would have to do what I said or you would not get it. Get it?
Grace is extended to all humans, if they will put forth the effort to obtain it. But it is totally priceless. Look at the value of the reward, eternal life where you will never have any physical pain or sorrow forever and ever. What kind of action or payment could possibly be worth that? There is nothing whatsoever that man can do to justify saying that he earned salvation.
But, he must strive to do the things commanded in God’s word to be awarded with God’s grace. So, you will not have earned it by works…works would never earn the value of grace.
With that thought in mind, read this and you’ll see that it is saying exactly that…but nothing more:
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV)
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Amen! Great job! We are not to take advantage of God's grace - we are called to put on the new man once we have freely received salvation by grace. Blessings! THi Teresa, thanks for reading and the comment. It is good to hear from you again. I filled out a responce to you earlier today but when I got back here , it was gone. I must not have saved it properly.
God's gift to us.... not license to sin but His GRACE. Again, I wonder when you get a minute to sleep with all your research, writing and posting! Keep them coming!
Hi Marijo, thanks for reading. Well, let me tell you...I'm an early morning person, always have been. I rise at approximately 4:00 A.M., fix my own (and my sweetie's) breakfast , eat, feed my dog and cats, and I'm through for the day! So I sit my lazy behind down at this computer and I spend most of the next 10-12 hours researching the internet and writing an article or two. If you will visit my website, which is listed on my bio with all my articles, browse it thoroughly and you will find links to just about everything in the world that will tell you anything you need to know about any subject. I am so thankful for the internet. Had it not been for this avenue, I would probably have gone nuts after I retired.. I've never been as content in all my 81 years as I am today. I'll be 81on the 20th of this month. God has richly blessed me and with the most wonderful mate in the world.
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