Part
#1 – The Pure Grace of God
Introduction
to the Study:
I
came to this study as a by-product of my recent studies in Paul’s letter
to the Galatians. I noted the tremendous conflict between the men who came
from the “law-keeping” Messianic Church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:24), which
had formed on the day of Pentecost and …the Apostle Paul. I believe that
conflict still exists today within Christendom.
This conflict was due to the men from Jerusalem “bewitching”
(Gal 3:1) the believers of the grace Churches in Galatia, which Paul had
converted through his pure
grace gospel.
The Jerusalem men came to Galatia in order to “spy
out the liberty”
(Gal 2:4) of these Galatian converts who had receive and enjoyed the fruit
of Paul’s pure grace gospel. Paul says they were “false
brethren” (Gal 2:4) from Jerusalem, who “pervert”
(twist, Gal 1:7) the gospel of the pure grace, to promote and require “the
Law” as being still necessary. “By
the law”, Paul says, that “Christ
is become of no effect unto you”, and to become “fallen
from grace” (Gal 5:4).
Paul
was given his “gospel of the grace of God” directly from the
ascended Christ, who returned from heaven just to appear to Paul
and give him that pure grace gospel for the Gentiles.
Paul
calls his gospel “the mystery, which
was kept secret since the world began” (“Mystery” in Greek is “musterion”, meaning
“the secret plan of God”).
Romans
16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my (Paul’s)
gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery,
Galatians
1:11-12 But I certify you, brethren,
that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12For
I neither received it of man, neither was I
taught it, but by the revelation of
(from) Jesus Christ.
Ephes.
3:1-4 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for
you Gentiles, 2If
ye have heard of the dispensation
of the grace of God which is given
me to youward: 3How
that by revelation he
made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby,
when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Col.
1:26-27 Even the
mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,
but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To
whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in (indwelling) you, the hope of glory:
Paul makes his gospel of salvation “by
grace through faith (trust)”
so clear in these verses.
Ephes. 2:8-9 For by grace
are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of
God: 9Not
of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe (trust) in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Paul told the Galatians, that if anyone who would preach “any
other gospel”
than the grace gospel that he preached they should “be accursed”
(Gk. anathema, meaning “banned”, Gal 1:8-9). Thus, Paul says there is a
ground for division from those who claim to be Christians but hold to and
promote “the Law”,
or any gospel, than that of Paul’s pure grace gospel. The gospel of the
Messianic Kingdom preached by “the
twelve” included law
and works.
Note that of all the God-breathed inspired Scripture, every
reference used herein to describe the believer’s state of being under a pure
grace dispensation
for the Gentiles, as the sole basis of our eternal relationship with the
Lord, is taken from Paul’s epistles. Paul is “the
Apostle to the Gentiles”; his clarity on the subject of grace is replete.
Romans
11:13 For I (Paul)
speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles,
I magnify mine office:
Romans
15:16 That I (Paul) should be the
minister of Jesus Christ to the
Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God,
that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified
by the Holy Ghost.
Paul
clearly states that we are NOT under Law, but Grace alone, apart from works
of any sort.
Rom
6:14b … for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Col.
2:13-14 And you
(Colossian Gentiles),
being dead in your sins
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath
he quickened (zao, made
alive) together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses; 14Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing
it to his cross;
Romans
11:6 And if by grace, then is
it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But
if it be of works, then is
it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Romans
4:5 But to him that worketh not,
but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Titus
3:5 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;
This
is not to say a Christian will not “work” in accord with His now
indwelling Lord’s leading. However, “works
for righteousness” have nothing to do with our salvation. Our ongoing
relationship with the Lord is not dependent upon what we can do, or do at
all, except to simply receive and enjoy the fruit of God’s
love and grace, which is in the
person of Christ as our
indwelling life, to nurture, empower, prompt, restrain us, and guide us
from within.
In this study I primarily make heading statements concerning
God’s Grace and then let the noted Scriptures speak for themselves. Some
of the thoughts I may expand upon come from the writings of William R Newell
(1868-1956), who was asked
by
D.L. Moody to become the Assistant Superintendent of Moody Bible Institute,
under R. A. Torrey.
Let’s
now begin this study with a definition of Grace – taken from Vine's
Expository Dictionary.
“GRACE”,
on the part of the bestower, …is the friendly
disposition from which the kindly act proceeds, graciousness, loving-kindness, goodwill generally; especially
with reference to the Divine
favor, called "grace."
In
this respect there is stress on
its freeness and
universality, its spontaneous character, as in the case of God's redemptive
mercy, and the pleasure or
joy He designs for the recipient; thus it is set in contrast …with debt.”
The
nature of Grace
is God acting freely, according to His own nature – as
love; with no promise, obligation, or requirement to be fulfilled by the
recipient of grace – except to freely receive.
Romans 5:17 For
if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall
reign in life (Zoë, spirit life) by one, Jesus Christ.) Romans
8:15b … but ye have received the Spirit of adoption…
The
source of Grace for mankind is
the Father working through His Son, Jesus Christ, as the
Spirit of Life
Ephes.
1:2 Grace be to you,
and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ.
2
Cor. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Ghost, be
with you all. Amen.
2
Cor. 3:17a Now the Lord is that Spirit…
The
vessel conveying God’s Grace is the resurrected Jesus
Christ.
John
1:17 For the law was given
by Moses, but grace and truth came by (dia, through) Jesus Christ.
2
Tim. 4:22 (KJV) The Lord Jesus
Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be
with you. Amen.
(The
word “be” was added by KJV translators. This verse is a salutary
statement of fact, not a prayer by Paul. Thus, Christ
is with our spirit and thus also, Christ
as the grace of God is with our spirit.)
Christ
Himself is the fullness of God’s
Grace given to man; Christ as Grace, by His resurrection life
indwells and works within and through every submitted believer.
John
1:16 And of his (Christ’s)
fulness
have all we received,
and grace for grace.
Philip.
4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be (is)
with
you all (all
you believers)
2
Tim. 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ
be (is) with thy spirit.
Grace be
(is) with
you. Amen.
Thus,
Christ as Grace of God incarnate is
now indwelling our human spirit, to be our sufficiency.
Part # 2 – The Pure Grace of God
In
Contrast to Grace, THE LAW says – “Obey
and be blessed, disobey and be cursed”. These God-given contingencies (“if
thou”) are for another dispensation (The LAW) for another people
(Israel).
Deut
28:1-2 if thou (Israel)
shalt hearken diligently unto
the voice of the Lord thy God,
to observe and to do
all his commandments which I command, that the Lord
thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee,
if thou (Israel)
shalt hearken unto the voice
of the Lord thy God. Deut
28:15-16 But it shall come to pass, if
thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord
thy God, to observe to do all
his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that
all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee…
The
vessel of grace, Jesus of Nazareth, originally came to the Jews
ONLY
(Matt 15:24), Preaching the Kingdom and the LAW (Matt 15:18),
for righteousness.
Rom 15:24 … I am not sent but
unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Romans
15:8 (NIV)
For I tell you that Christ has
become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the
promises made to the patriarchs
(<< Concerning the Messianic Kingdom to come to earth,)
Matthew
4:17 From that time Jesus
began to preach, and to say, Repent:
for the (Messianic Jewish)
kingdom of heaven is at hand. An
everlasting Kingdom, on earth, long ago was promised to Abraham and his
offspring - Israel.)
Mat
5:17-18 Think not that I am come to
destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfil…Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall
in no wise pass from the law, till all (concerning
the Kingdom) be
fulfilled.
The
place of Gentiles
Under the Law of Promise to the Jews – They had no place, without hope
and God.
Matthew 15:22-26
a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him,
saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is
grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But
he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and
besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. (Also,
see Mark 7:25-27)
Jesus
Instructed His Disciples Accordingly
Matthew
10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go
not into the way of the
Gentiles, and into any
city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6But go
rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew
28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I (Jesus)
have
commanded you (disciples) ...
Paul
describes the condition of the former Gentiles and their “but
now” condition
Ephes. 2:11-15 Wherefore
remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are
called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh
made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants
of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But
now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the
blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made
both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between
us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the
law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace;
This
“one new man” who
is made of twain (two)
is the unique
“church, which is the body of Christ” (Eph
1:22b, 23a), only
referred to and taught by the Apostle Paul. “The
body of Christ”
consist
primarily of Gentiles and very few Jewish converts; even as such, Paul says
we then are neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal 3:28), but “one new man” –
which is Christ’s very body, His incarnation on earth today.
Part
#3 – The
Pure Grace of God
The
Dispenser of the “Dispensation of the Grace of God” is the Apostle Paul
Ephes. 3:2 If ye have heard of the
dispensation of the grace of God which is given me (Paul)
to
youward:
Gal 1:12 I neither received
it
(the
gospel of grace) of
man, neither was I
taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The
Apostle Paul’s Gospel in “the dispensation of the grace of God”
Ephes.
3:1-3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2If
ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given
me (Paul) to youward (Gentiles): 3How that by revelation he (Jesus) made
known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Paul
calls this message of “the
dispensation of the grace of God”
– “My
Gospel” and “The Mystery”
Rom
16:25 Now to him that is of
power to stablish you according to
my gospel, and the
preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret
since the world began,
Col.
1:26-27 Even the
mystery which hath been hid
from ages and from generations, but now
is made manifest to his saints: 27To
whom God would make known what is
the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the
hope of glory:
Paul
says Grace is Uncaused in the recipient: its cause lies entirely in
the Giver, which is God.
Ephes.
2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it
is the gift of God: 9Not
of works, lest any man should boast.
Paul
declares: Grace is for All those who receive Christ, as
…the Grace of God sent to indwell believers.
Rom
6:14 … you
(Grace
Gospel believers):
ye are not under
the law
(of the old dispensation),
but under grace. Romans
8:2 For
the law (normal operation) of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law (normal
operation) of sin and
death.
Grace
is sovereign over all, not
having debts to pay, or conditions to fulfill, God’s grace can act
toward whom and how He pleases. Grace can, and does often, place the
least deserving in highest favor.
Ephes. 2:7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his
grace in his kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus.
Titus
3:5 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;
Grace
can’t act where
there is either “deserving” or “ability.”
Thus, the recipient must give up
trying to give cause in order to earn Grace.
Gal
5:4 Christ
is become of no effect unto you, whosoever
of you are justified by the law; ye
are fallen from grace.
Romans
4:4 Now to him that worketh is
the reward not reckoned of
grace, but of debt.
God’s
Grace does not require us to “help” to “do” or “be”
in any way — it is
absolute; Grace does all.
Romans 11:6 And if
by grace, then is it
no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Romans
4:14 if
they which are of the law be
heirs, (Then) faith
is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Ephes.
3:20 Now unto him that is able to
do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to
the power that worketh in us,
Part #4 – The
Pure Grace of God
Once we Realize we are truly the
object of Divine Grace, it
yields growing Humility. The recipient of grace is brought to know
his own absolute unworthiness and his complete
inability to attain worthiness;
yet he finds himself blessed - on
the principle of Grace, which
outside of his own self-resource.
1 Cor. 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I
am: and his grace which was
bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than
they all: yet not I, but the
grace of God which was with me.
“The flesh”,
a man’s independent self-effort, has no place in the plan of God
that is based upon the pure Grace of God. (“not
of works”, see Eph 2:8-9,
Titus 3:5)
Rom 8:7-8
the carnal (fleshly) mind
is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot
please God.
Grace is resisted by the proud,
natural, fleshly mind of man.
Yet, it is for this very reason that the true grace believer rejoices;
knowing that “in him, that is, in his flesh, is no
good thing” (Rom 7:18);
yet he finds God has blessed him, just as he is.
Ephes. 1:6
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved.
Romans
5:8 But God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephes. 1:3 Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
(already) blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in (in the person of)
Christ:
Part
#5 – The
Pure Grace of God
The
Place of Man Under Grace: Justified
& Counted as Righteous.
We
have been accepted in Christ. We are not “on probation”. As to his life
past – it’s forgiven and forgotten; it does not exist before God: He has
died at the Cross in Christ, and Christ is now his life.
2
Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin
for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God
in him.
Romans
3:24 Being justified freely
by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
2
Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin
for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in
him.
Romans
4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not
reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5But to him that worketh
not, but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness.
Galatians
2:20 I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Grace, once bestowed, Grace
is not withdrawn; for
God knew the human condition (hopeless and helpless) beforehand. God’s
action dispensing of love and grace and mercy was independent
of man’s capabilities, not dependent upon them at all.
Rom 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Thus, the failure of our
devotion to
God does not cause the withdrawal of His
bestowed grace.
2 Tim. 2:13
If we believe not (we
disobey), yet he abideth
faithful: he cannot
deny himself.
Part
#6 – The
Pure Grace of God
The
Proper Attitude of Man under Grace: Consent
to be loved while always being unworthy.
Ephes. 1:6-7
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he
hath made us accepted in the beloved
(Christ).
7In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace;
We
ought not to make “Oaths”
“Resolutions” “Vows”, “Covenants” or “Promises” in this day of “the dispensation of the grace
of God”;
that would be to trust in our self
to carry them out. The words “pledge”,
“oath” and “vow”, “covenant” and “promise” are words and thoughts that
do not appear in Paul’s 13 grace epistles which convey the details of “the
dispensation of the grace of God”.
These words noted are pertaining to and of the Law
dispensation, Not of
Grace.
Rather, we
now know that we are blessed, even while realizing, more and more,
our lack of worth.
Romans 5:6 For
when we were yet without strength,
in due time Christ died for the
ungodly.
Ephes. 1:3 Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
We
testify of God’s goodness; through grace we grow ever more tender
in conscience.
2 Cor. 1:12
For our proud confidence is this, the
testimony of our conscience, that…
in holiness and godly sincerity…in
(through) the
grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially
toward you. (NASB)
God’s
remedial chastening is of His Loving Kindness, as a Father toward His
Children - Not punitive, as a law-judge
Hebrews 12:6-7
For whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye
endure chastening, God dealeth
with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth
not?
Like
Paul, being under grace, we
have no burden regarding our self,
but many about others.
2 Cor. 7:4
Great is my confidence in you,
great is my boasting on your behalf;
I am filled with comfort. I am
overflowing with joy in all our
affliction.
1Thes. 3:12
the Lord make you to increase and
abound in love one toward another, and toward all men…
Eph.
4:32 be
kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Romans
15:7 Wherefore receive ye one
another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Part #7 – The
Pure Grace of God
To
“hope to be better”, is to hope in your self. It is to
fail to see yourself “in
Christ” to be your only righteousness.”
Romans 7:18
For I know that in me
(that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth
no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform
that which is good I find not.
2 Cor. 3:5
Not that we are sufficient of
ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Being disappointed with your
self exposes the fact that you have believed and trusted in your
self-abilities, rather than Christ –
this is to be still rooted
in pride, self-love.
Philip. 1:6
Being confident (peitho,
passive assent) of this very thing, that he
(God) which hath begun a good work in
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Philip.
2:13 For it is God which worketh in
you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
We
have no standing before God, in ourselves.
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace
given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to
think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of
faith.
The
lack of enjoying the Divine blessing
comes only from unbelief, so much as to Not to receive. The lack of the blessing of enjoying
His indwelling life, peace and rest is not from ones failure of
devotion.
Real
devotion to God arises from realizing that blessing
has been received from God while yet unworthy and undevoted.
Romans 3:3
For what if some did not believe?
shall their unbelief make the
faith of God without effect? God forbid:
Rom 4:20
(Abraham)
staggered not at the promise of
God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to
God
To
preach devotion
first and blessing second, is to reverse God’s order. The
Law made man’s blessing depend on his devotion. That is preaching
Law, not grace. That is to earn your blessing, which cannot be
grace. Paul tells us we are already fully blessed, in Christ.
Ephes.
1:3 Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
But
Grace confers undeserved,
unconditional blessing; our devotion may follow, but does not
always do so in proper measure.
2 Cor. 5:5 …
God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
1Cor. 2:12 Now we have received…the
spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely
(graciously) given
to us of God.
Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we
might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law:
for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
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