THE GRACE GOSPEL

The Grace Gospel is a label for an assortment of fringe groups that hold as a common basic tenet the belief all human-kind will receive eternal salvation as a product of grace, and grace alone – i.e., Universalism through Grace. Such a belief hinders a multitude of scriptures dealing with the whole council of God, easily a book size refutation, but the purpose here is to focus on three verses penned by the Apostle Paul who, by the way, wrote the book on grace.

Paul dealt directly with the abuse of Grace in Romans 5:21-6:2 (JESV): “Just as our sin nature has ruled us and will cause our physical death and eternal separation from God in Hell, so also our right standing with God will allow God’s enabling power to rule us, providing heavenly life of endless duration through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say to this?  Shall we continue to allow our sin nature to rule us that God’s saving grace and mercy may increase more and more? God forbid, may it never be!  How can we who have died to our sin nature continue any longer to spend our life under its control”? We are all slaves: We are born enslaved to sin and graced with the opportunity to become slaves of righteousness, a choice of our free will. (Rom. 6: 12-13) Either our sin nature will rule us or God will rule us. Grace does give diplomatic immunity; “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Rom. 5:20B NKJV).  The grace of God has been given in greater measure than needed and will always be “more than enough” for any sinner with a repentant heart.  But this in no way implies we should flagrantly sin and presume upon God’s grace.  The phrase “God forbid” used in Rom. 6:2 is the strongest Greek idiom for repudiating a statement, and does not indicate when or how He forbids.  We don’t know when we have gone too far, when we have crossed the line where God’s merciful grace is no longer available. 

God’s grace is not automatically applied to those who sin willfully; the existence of grace and mercy do not guarantee application if one does not turn away from sin and turn to God. If a born again believer willingly and deliberately commits sin, with full knowledge that it is sin, God’s grace is withdrawn.  Such a believer spurns and tramples underfoot Christ’s atoning work, treating as common, unholy and profane the precious blood of Jesus, and insulting and outraging the Holy Spirit, the one who imparts Grace (Heb. 10:26-31). Ditto the once born sinner who chooses to ignore God.

Grace is amazing and awesome, but it is not ours to flagrantly abuse and wastefully expend. One could rightly ask what about God’s command to Obedience and Holiness, His demand for Justice, or His promise of Judgment, declaring wrathful consequences on those who choose to live outside His blood covenant, if one was basing their beliefs on the whole council of God. But, if one’s Bible was translated by Edward Scissorhands…

SALVATION IS A GIFT

ACCESSED BY GRACE

APPREHENDED BY FAITH

(Eph.2:8)