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Is Saving Grace the Only Grace? By Graemme Marshall Many Protestant churches teach a doctrine of grace that is not only too narrow -- it is largely wrong!
sign in a farmer's field near our village proclaims: "By grace are you saved." And it is true that we receive conversion and salvation by God's grace. Yet the concept of grace is horribly distorted within the Christian world. The doctrine of grace accepted by many teaches that God readily forgives sins -- not only past but also future sins -- so there is no longer any requirement to obey God's laws. Because of its corrupted meaning, we may view it mostly as unmerited pardon. But grace is much more. Let's understand the broad biblical truth of God's grace! Grace has rich meanings
Similarly, in the New Testament the Greek word for "grace" is charis (Strongs #5485). Overall, it means graciousness, divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in life, gratitude, benefit, favor, gift, joy, pleasure and thanks. As always, the context of how the word is used provides proper meaning. "Grace" is a dominant New Testament theme. And we know from Scripture that salvation is by grace, not by any works on our part (Romans 11:5-6; Ephesians 2:4-5). A sample of meanings There are different, meaningful ways the people of God are under God's grace: 1. Grace, as a word, is used for letter introductions and endings. For instance, Paul in 1 Timothy 1:2 wrote, "Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father," and in 1 Thessalonians 1:1 he wrote, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father." In chapter 5, verse 28 Paul used the word in an ending: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." The apostle John wrote a similar ending in Revelation 22:21. These instances show different applications for the use of the word. 2. Grace delivers from the effect of lawlessness. On the religious argument that grace delivers us from keeping the law, Genesis 6:5-8 says it differently. Noah found grace in God's eyes. But God's gaze had already seen that the world was lawless and so decreed a flood to drown everyone, all except eight who observed His law. If Noah were lawless, he would also have perished. Striving to keep the law resulted in God's grace (favor), which saved them. Noah also had righteous works to fulfill in building the ark. 3. Human destiny is explained in God's grace.
4. The firstfruit calling is by God's grace. It is by God's grace that we are called. Paul shows us this in Galatians 1:15-16 and 2 Timothy 1:1,9. Christ's gracious personal prayer to the Father was to keep those called from the evil one (John 17:11-12,15). It is by God's grace that we can be Christlike in mind and character; be called sons and daughters of God, and do a work on His behalf (Philippians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 1:12; Ephesians 3:16; Psalm 94:16-19).
5. Forgiveness is part of our grace. While we strive to keep the law, it is by God's grace that we are forgiven. Paul explains that it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4; 5:15-21; Titus 3:4-7). In the universally publicized statements of some Holocaust survivors we read, "I'll never forgive what they did to me." Such statements reflect this hugely difficult thing of forgiveness. But God has it all in hand. A resurrection will confront all perpetrators of evil with an opportunity for individual repentance of what they did to others. 6. By God's grace we share spiritual gifts.
Among the ordained, there are special speaking, teaching, counseling, organizational and editorial skills. Abilities can be strengthened by God's Spirit for service to His Church. 7. The gospel is free by God's grace. It was Christ's instruction to the disciples, "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). God's grace is to do a work in which our magazine The Good News and other literature always goes out free.
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Recommended reading Read magazine. And for additional reading, request a copy of . Copyright 2009 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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