Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound. God’s grace is a wonderful subject to study and understand, and sadly, the majority of religious people have been taught falsely concerning it. When studying Scripture, we are to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15), meaning, we are only to draw such conclusions that are warranted by the evidence, while maintaining both the immediate and remote context. The same is true of God’s nature. God is perfect in all His attributes and will not allow one attribute to override another. Yes, God is merciful, gracious and loving, but at the same time He is also righteous, holy and just. God’s justice will not allow His grace to cover the unrepented sin of a person.

Most believe that God’s grace will eventually save everyone no matter what, but that idea not only violates God’s nature, it calls God a liar. God has said that He will only save the obedient who will be judged by His Word (John 12:48). The grace of God does not mean that all men and women will be saved. God’s grace makes it possible for all men and women to be saved, but only those who choose to faithfully obey God’s will escape eternal punishment. The grace of God does not mean that there is no work to be accomplished by men and women. God’s word says we are saved by works (James 2:24-26), and we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:9). Obviously, God is telling us there are two or more types of works. Works that are EXCLUDED and works that are INCLUDED! Excluded works are those of merit and human invention (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:3; Romans 4). However, works that are included are works of obedience (Romans 1:5; Galatians 5:6; James 2:24), which are called ‘works of righteousness’ (Acts 10:35). If it is the case that all works are excluded from God’s plan of salvation, then that would mean faith is excluded (John 6:28-29).

God’s grace does not mean that we are not living under law. We are obligated to be led by the Spirit. But to be led by the Spirit means that we are to be governed by the gospel of Christ which the Spirit gave mankind. Paul wrote, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2). The New Testament is referred to as the “perfect LAW of liberty” (James 1:25; 2:12); the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2); and the royal law (James 2:8). IF it is true that we are no longer under law, THEN it is the case that sin has ceased to exist and the need for Christ’s sacrifice is non-existent, because John tells us. “Whosoever commits sin transgresses the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). I hope you will reasonably think through that for a moment.

If you find yourself in the crowd that believes God’s grace will save everyone in the end, we hope this brief study will cause you to rethink what you have been taught, and that you will study it further.