Grace, Part 4
There
is a principle in Scripture that is binding on everyone who is born
into this world..."And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but
after this the judgement..." (Heb. 9:27 KJV)
This Scripture reveals the real miracle of the sacrifice of Jesus and the Gospel of Grace. Up until the cross all of mankind was appointed by God to die once and then face his judgment. Now, in Jesus we died at t he cross AND we were judged and punished for our sin in the body of Jesus Christ. Our death in Christ terminated the law's dominion over us and, at the same time satisfied God's requirement to "die once". The grace gospel is “good news” and the good news is we are living post-cross, meaning the other side of death and free from the law that empowers sin's dominion over us!
The dominion of the law (and therefore the dominion of sin) terminated at our death on. Sin is permanently remitted, which is why it can never be a barrier to receiving salvation under the Gospel of Grace. Our "death in Christ" is God's perspective of our current position and it's a finished and established fact in the mind of God. Yet, religious thinking robs us of the liberty and freedom of this truth. Few believers realize that religion (a counterfeit gospel of shame and blame) can't survive without the ability to use the guilt and shame of our sins to control us. The Gospel of Grace takes away this control, which is why it's under attack by leaders of religiosity. The Gospel of Grace is good news! It sets us free and establishes us in Christ.
It is a disgrace to the kingdom of God for law-keeping, program-driven believers to discredit and condemn the Grace Gospel because in so doing they are attacking the Gospel of Jesus and negating His accomplishment to set us free. These people, though a believer in Jesus, have never discovered or experienced the importance and freedom of God’s Grace.
Most attacks on the Grace Gospel is camouflaged by emotional manipulation, legalistic teaching, charismatic showmanship, pious rituals, “Christianized language”, hierarchy intimidation and high-powered church programs by people who say they are children of the King. According to Paul there's only one gospel that's valid (Galatians 1:7-9). Paul referred to it by different names such as: My gospel, the Gospel of Grace, the Gospel of Christ, and the Gospel to the uncircumcised. It is commonly known as "the Gospel of Grace". Yet, confusion exists because most spiritual leaders defend their brand of gospel as "the Gospel of Grace".
Religion has blurred the difference between law and grace...using the argument that "the end justifies the means". The law sets up an environment of fear and bondage, making it easy to control people (for their own good of course), so says the manipulators. Paul sounds a sober warning to those who modify the Grace Gospel. Paul repeats the warning twice, alerting us to pay special attention.
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Gal 1:6-9 KJV)
Paul used strong words beg our attention. First, he accuses those that preach a different gospel other than the one he preached as "perverting the Gospel of Christ". If that wasn't strong enough he continues to say that a curse is on those who practice such things. That alone should be enough. Yet, much of religion ignores the warning and preaches a contrary gospel.
Paul's epistle is addressed to the Galatian church that abandoned a salvation by grace for salvation by keeping religious rules. Paul's biggest battle was in keeping the "perverted" or law-based gospel out of the Church. A law-based gospel requires the keeping of Old Testament law or man-made religious laws to gain salvation, maintain salvation or earn God's favor in some way. This "perverted gospel" is subtle and covert in its methods! Paul called it a system of bondage, torment and fear. Another name for it is "performance-based Christianity" because it persuades Christians that God isn't pleased with them unless they are at some level of "performance". In religion this law-based gospel is never advertised as "legalism" but covertly defended as "grace". This practice is one of the biggest threats to believers because of the unintended and maybe unknown consequences. The truly pure "Grace Gospel" as taught by Paul is rare in our day. This fact is particular troubling because any other gospel is a dangerous gospel.
This Scripture reveals the real miracle of the sacrifice of Jesus and the Gospel of Grace. Up until the cross all of mankind was appointed by God to die once and then face his judgment. Now, in Jesus we died at t he cross AND we were judged and punished for our sin in the body of Jesus Christ. Our death in Christ terminated the law's dominion over us and, at the same time satisfied God's requirement to "die once". The grace gospel is “good news” and the good news is we are living post-cross, meaning the other side of death and free from the law that empowers sin's dominion over us!
The dominion of the law (and therefore the dominion of sin) terminated at our death on. Sin is permanently remitted, which is why it can never be a barrier to receiving salvation under the Gospel of Grace. Our "death in Christ" is God's perspective of our current position and it's a finished and established fact in the mind of God. Yet, religious thinking robs us of the liberty and freedom of this truth. Few believers realize that religion (a counterfeit gospel of shame and blame) can't survive without the ability to use the guilt and shame of our sins to control us. The Gospel of Grace takes away this control, which is why it's under attack by leaders of religiosity. The Gospel of Grace is good news! It sets us free and establishes us in Christ.
It is a disgrace to the kingdom of God for law-keeping, program-driven believers to discredit and condemn the Grace Gospel because in so doing they are attacking the Gospel of Jesus and negating His accomplishment to set us free. These people, though a believer in Jesus, have never discovered or experienced the importance and freedom of God’s Grace.
Most attacks on the Grace Gospel is camouflaged by emotional manipulation, legalistic teaching, charismatic showmanship, pious rituals, “Christianized language”, hierarchy intimidation and high-powered church programs by people who say they are children of the King. According to Paul there's only one gospel that's valid (Galatians 1:7-9). Paul referred to it by different names such as: My gospel, the Gospel of Grace, the Gospel of Christ, and the Gospel to the uncircumcised. It is commonly known as "the Gospel of Grace". Yet, confusion exists because most spiritual leaders defend their brand of gospel as "the Gospel of Grace".
Religion has blurred the difference between law and grace...using the argument that "the end justifies the means". The law sets up an environment of fear and bondage, making it easy to control people (for their own good of course), so says the manipulators. Paul sounds a sober warning to those who modify the Grace Gospel. Paul repeats the warning twice, alerting us to pay special attention.
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Gal 1:6-9 KJV)
Paul used strong words beg our attention. First, he accuses those that preach a different gospel other than the one he preached as "perverting the Gospel of Christ". If that wasn't strong enough he continues to say that a curse is on those who practice such things. That alone should be enough. Yet, much of religion ignores the warning and preaches a contrary gospel.
Paul's epistle is addressed to the Galatian church that abandoned a salvation by grace for salvation by keeping religious rules. Paul's biggest battle was in keeping the "perverted" or law-based gospel out of the Church. A law-based gospel requires the keeping of Old Testament law or man-made religious laws to gain salvation, maintain salvation or earn God's favor in some way. This "perverted gospel" is subtle and covert in its methods! Paul called it a system of bondage, torment and fear. Another name for it is "performance-based Christianity" because it persuades Christians that God isn't pleased with them unless they are at some level of "performance". In religion this law-based gospel is never advertised as "legalism" but covertly defended as "grace". This practice is one of the biggest threats to believers because of the unintended and maybe unknown consequences. The truly pure "Grace Gospel" as taught by Paul is rare in our day. This fact is particular troubling because any other gospel is a dangerous gospel.
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