"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the _grace of our God into lasciviousness,_ and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Jude 1:3-4
The scriptures have a lot to say about grace from the very first book of the bible, to the very last.
In the above passage, Jude exhorts the church to "earnestly contend for the faith," and continues with, "there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemenation, they were ungoldy, and turned the grace of God into lasciviousness, even denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
Just as it was when Jude warned of these men who crept in who were turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, those same teachings are still at work today. Some even deny the Lord by saying that all are saved regardless of what god they follow. That is an outright lie and we should be aware of these things.
Complete pages would have to be removed from the Bible itself in order to maintain that false teaching. But we know that there are those who deny that the scriptures are the Word of God.
But Jesus said this:
"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."John 12:48
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63
In regards to "grace," the word didn't simply show up in the New Testatment, but grace was given throughout the scriputres. Here are a few examples.
| Old Testament | New Tesatament |
|---|---|
| Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. | Luke 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. |
| Genesis 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: | John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. |
| Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. | Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. |
| Exodus 33:16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. | Acts 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. second column |
| Exodus 34:9 And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O LORD, let my LORD, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance. | Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; |
| Ezra 9:8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. | Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: |
There are many, many more verses on this subject contained within the scriptures. I encourage anyone reading this to do a biblical word search on "grace," and see the scriptures and passages for yourselves.
Who receives Grace?
"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."James 4:6
"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."1 Peter 5:5
When a person turns to God in Christ Jesus sincerely and from the heart, there is humility, because the person recognizes that he or she has need of a savior.
When Jesus said that He came for sinners and not for the righteous, (Luke 5:32) Who was Jesus speaking to? He was speaking to the Pharisees who were self-righteous.
Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Matthew 23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
So when Jesus said that He came for the sinners and not the righteous, he wasn't telling the Pharisees that they were righteous. They were righteous in their own eyes, but a sinner knows that he or she has need of a savior.
It's an acknowledgment of one who turns to Christ that he or she recognizes his or her shortcomings, and this type of humility has nothing to do with self-righteousness.
Is there a "fall from grace," according to the Apostle Paul, there certainly is.
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."Galatians 5:4
Paul isn't negating God's word in any way there. He is saying exactly what Jesus said to the Pharisees in the seven woes. Their faith was in their works, and our faith must be in Christ Jesus.
There is nothing that we ourselves can do to earn salvation.
Paul referenced the Old Testament more than 183 times in his own teachings, showing it to be foundational. That number does not include the many places and people Paul referenced written of in the Old Testament.
In fact, Paul spoke about the very foundation that we are built upon in reference to the Prophets which included faith in Christ Jesus who upholds it all. He always has!
"Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"
If the end-all-be-all is purely salvation by grace, then there would be no need for churches, for teachings, for growth or maturity. Paul would not have built the early churches, or even had need to teach the memebers if grace was the end of the matter.
Grace is not a license to sin, but the grace extended to us is a blessing from God so that we might be changed.
Grace also is given in a measure:
"Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."
"Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Romans 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Romans 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."
"Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
The grace of God is abounding toward us who abide in Christ, and is extended to all who will humbly accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Walking in the "newness of life," involves real and actual changes. We are changed and made new, and we should recognize those changes in our lives.
September 18 2017