What Do You Believe About God’s Grace

What Do You Believe About God’s Grace: Some weeks back, I watched a video in which the American fiery preacher, Philip Anthony Mitchell condemned the pervasive sins in the church and charged believers to repent. Some people in the comment section attacked him for speaking about sin, arguing that they do not need to repent since they are saved by grace.

I was shocked to my marrows reading these comments that showed the bent of the modern church. So, sin is now acceptable in the church and holiness is what we should fight against. What an upside down situation. Hebrews 12:14 is emphatic that no man can see God without holiness, yet these deluded folks are content with living with the nature of satan.

1 John 3:8 declares that anyone who practices sin belongs to the devil. Why would any believer crave the nature of satan or as someone once observed, why would you want to live the same life that sent Jesus to the cross? Is He now a minister of sin? (Galatians 2:17)

In a previous edition of the magazine, we carried the story narrated by a Christian who was invited to a picnic hosted by one of the branches of Baptist Church in America. This believer said he was shocked to see many members of the church at the picnic consume alcohol, and all sorts of illicit drugs, in addition to many of them entering a nearby bush to engage in sexual orgies.

He said when one of them saw his consternation, the person came to him and said that God loves them regardless of their conducts and that He (God) will forgive them when they repent the next day.

 These misled Baptist members exemplify products of the modern version of the Gospel, which excludes repentance and obedience to God. This gospel, hinged on cheap grace ignores the Biblical pathway to holiness through operations of an indwelling Holy Spirit. This is reinforced by the, “say a sinner’s prayer and be saved doctrine which has no basis in Scripture. Ephesians 2:8 affirms that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ.

However, since God created us with free will, there is something we must do to get saved. Grace does not just flow from God into every human vessel; otherwise, everyone would be saved. The pathway to salvation is clearly enunciated in Romans 10:9, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The popular John 3:16 gives the same understanding: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” The “whosoever” communicates God’s respect for our human free will. He will not impose salvation on anyone nor use His awesome power to force us to love Him.

Those who preach the modern gospel which focuses on self-actualisation present God as a genie humans can control by saying the right prayer or confessing the right Scriptures. Those under its influence do not even bother to read the Holy Bible for themselves. Rather, they feed on junks authored by so-called Christian social media influencers. In 2 Timothy 3:15, Paul the apostle said to Timothy, “And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ.”

 The fake preachers think that they can twist God’s hands to endorse their false gospel of cheap grace. Mark 16:20 tells us that God confirmed the words of those who preached the risen Christ with accompanying signs. Many of these charlatans recourse to sourcing dark powers of divination to deceive their gullible followers. That is why holiness has become a rarity in the church. Telling people that grace covers all their atrocities makes the word of God of none effect because the Matthew 1:23 declared that Jesus came to save us from our sins.

What is happening in the church now also reared its head in the early assembly, causing Jude to address the issue in  verse 4 of his letter, “For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed – ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a licence for immorality, and deny our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

 It is now time to address the question “What Do You Believe About God’s grace? Like many Biblical concepts, no Scripture defines grace. Titus 2:11-12 tells us what grace does, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

Some people argue that the gospel does not focus on morality. That may be true, but the Holy Spirit cannot indwell an immoral person. We do not stop at morality. We pursue oneness with God (John 17:21).

The cited verse gives us an understanding that we do not overcome the flesh, satan and sin in our own strength but through the divine enablement (grace) imparted to us or dispensed by the Holy Spirit. This was also emphasised in the Lord’s response to Paul when he sought relief for the thorn in his flesh. The Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Many of those who quote Ephesians 2:8 that they are saved by grace alone whenever they indulge their flesh or the devil, ignore other Scriptures that clearly show that God expects us to use our free will to overcome some things. For instance, 2 Thessalonians 5:22 exhorts believers to abstain from all appearance of evil. Almighty God will not do this for us. Similarly 1 Corinthians 6:18 warns us to “flee fornication.” What happens when we disobey God? Disobedience is a manifestation of pride and God only gives His grace to the humble (James 4:6).

  Those who quote Ephesians 2:8 also forget that the same Holy Spirit who inspired Paul to write that verse, also stirred him to write Romans 8:1-4. These verses summarise the gospel of Jesus Christ. No man can please God by obeying the Law of Moses, otherwise Christ died in vain.

But the law is spiritual and cannot be wished away because even the Lord Jesus affirmed in Matthew 5:17 that He has not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it. Verse 4 of Romans 8 is critical. It says that the righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled as we walk and are led by the Holy Spirit. That is why Paul declared in verse 14 that only those led by the Holy Spirit belong to God.

 If you have been operating under the misconception that God’s grace gives you the license to sin, know today that you are on the paths to destruction. Let me share with you what I received from the Lord that has helped me in my walk with Him. Make the Holy Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation your safety net. Do not be satisfied with human interpretation of God’s word. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding before you read the Holy Bible.