Grace, Part 3
The Gospel of Grace provides great liberty and freedom from the regulatory control of religion for the believer.
"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Rom 4:1-3 KJV)
The type of faith Abraham had brings "a righteousness void of works". God made a promise to Abraham and Abraham "believed" Him. His “believing" caused God to credit righteousness to him. This act of "believing" is needed to come into a relationship with God through Christ. Keeping religious law (including the Mosaic Law), performance, church attendance and church affiliation can NEVER earn, maintain or add to our salvation. Some professing believers believe that our initial "salvation by faith" gets us in the Kingdom, but good works are needed to keep us in God's favor and to compensate for sin. This belief distorts God's grace, yet is popular in the religious world.
The scripture declares..."Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 3:24 KJV)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:23 KJV)
"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 KJV)
Why does God grant eternal life as a gift? Because the price was paid for by Jesus. Yet, the sacrifice of Jesus accomplished more than just "paying the price". To understand the Gospel of Grace we need to understand the “more”. Jesus Christ, the spotless, sinless Son of God was innocent, yet sacrificed Himself on the cross as being guilty. He willingly bore the guilt, shame and punishment for humanity. As a result of this act...the innocent and sinless dying for the guilty; a divine principle was set into motion. When Jesus was crucified on the cross...God "reckoned" or credited us as the ones being crucified. Justice, that demanded the death sentence for our sin was satisfied by the price Jesus paid. We were the guilty ones. God credited every spiritual benefit that Jesus suffered to pay for on the cross...to us. It was a divine exchange. We are set free. Paul tells us that the law (the source of sin's power over us) "has dominion over a man as long as he lives". Death had to take place for us to be free of sin’s power, we had to die!
When did we die?
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Rom. 7:4 KJV)
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Col. 3:2-4 KJV)
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Gal 2:20-21 KJV)
"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Rom 4:1-3 KJV)
The type of faith Abraham had brings "a righteousness void of works". God made a promise to Abraham and Abraham "believed" Him. His “believing" caused God to credit righteousness to him. This act of "believing" is needed to come into a relationship with God through Christ. Keeping religious law (including the Mosaic Law), performance, church attendance and church affiliation can NEVER earn, maintain or add to our salvation. Some professing believers believe that our initial "salvation by faith" gets us in the Kingdom, but good works are needed to keep us in God's favor and to compensate for sin. This belief distorts God's grace, yet is popular in the religious world.
The scripture declares..."Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 3:24 KJV)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:23 KJV)
"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 KJV)
Why does God grant eternal life as a gift? Because the price was paid for by Jesus. Yet, the sacrifice of Jesus accomplished more than just "paying the price". To understand the Gospel of Grace we need to understand the “more”. Jesus Christ, the spotless, sinless Son of God was innocent, yet sacrificed Himself on the cross as being guilty. He willingly bore the guilt, shame and punishment for humanity. As a result of this act...the innocent and sinless dying for the guilty; a divine principle was set into motion. When Jesus was crucified on the cross...God "reckoned" or credited us as the ones being crucified. Justice, that demanded the death sentence for our sin was satisfied by the price Jesus paid. We were the guilty ones. God credited every spiritual benefit that Jesus suffered to pay for on the cross...to us. It was a divine exchange. We are set free. Paul tells us that the law (the source of sin's power over us) "has dominion over a man as long as he lives". Death had to take place for us to be free of sin’s power, we had to die!
When did we die?
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Rom. 7:4 KJV)
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Col. 3:2-4 KJV)
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Gal 2:20-21 KJV)
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