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Some Facts About Grace (Romans 6:23) Christianity, by placing emphasis on the wrong things, has become, in our day, nothing more than an ethical or moral system. But the basis of true Christianity is the supernatural saving work of God, which is made possible through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, and freely bestowed upon all who believe, by grace. It is true that those who are saved have been given a rule of life, but this is only secondary. Salvation's terms are clearly defined - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast," (Eph. 2:8-9). Salvation is the transforming work of God for man, not man's work for God. Salvation is what God does for one who trusts the finished work of Christ. I. Grace Defined Grace is the undeserved and unrecompensed favor of God. II. Characteristics of Grace A. Grace cannot be withheld because of demerit or unworthiness (Rom. 4:5-8). Grace ceases to be grace if God has to withdraw it due to man's sin. Pure grace cannot be exercised where the slightest degree of human merit or goodness is recognized. Christ has paid for sin; men now either accept or reject what God has done. It is not a sin question, but a Son question. All questions of demerit and unworthiness have been banished (Eph. 1:6). Salvation is by grace alone. B. Grace cannot be lessened because of demerit or unworthiness. Grace will not allow God to do less for one who has been more sinful. Much sinfulness calls for much grace (Rom. 5:20-21). The sin question has been set aside. God's saving grace is without measure. This is not to say that God has ignored the fact of sin, but He has met this issue perfectly and finally, once and for all, at Calvary. C. Grace cannot incur a debt. An act is not gracious if it, under any circumstances, incurs a debt. Grace is the unrecompensed favor of God. That includes any past, present or future repayment. Salvation is a gift, and a benefit cannot rightfully be called a gift if it must be paid for before, at the time of, or after (Rom. 6:23). No service is to be given, on the part of the believer, with the thought of repayment. Any such attitude would only cause distress to the giver. These attempts only frustrate His grace (Gal. 2:21). How faithfully we should serve Him, as an expression of love, but never as a repayment. D. Grace is not exercised as a payment of a debt (Rom. 4:4, 11:6). Grace could never be the payment of a debt, i.e., deserving. Man is already condemned "under sin" (Rom. 3:9, Gal. 3:22), and is "guilty" (Rom. 3:19), thus all merit and worthiness on man's part has been disposed of absolutely and forever (Eph. 2:8-9, Tit. 3:5-7). An act ceases to be purely gracious when it is in recognition of merit, worthiness, or the payment of a debt (Rom. 3:24). Pure grace is neither treating a person as he deserves, nor treating a person better than he deserves, but treating a person without the slightest reference to what he deserves. G R A C E is: God's Riches At Christ's Expense - by Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. |
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