Preachers love to talk about Grace
Everybody does
Grace is where it’s at
If you want the people to like you and what you’re saying,
talk about God’s grace and the gift of Salvation and how you can never lose it:
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. Ephesians 2:8-9
That does not mean
we can accept the gift of salvation and do whatever we want.
We are to follow Christ.
Though we can never pay Him back,
We must revere Jesus and His sacrifice
Shall we continue in sin because of grace?
What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin,
live any longer therein? Romans 6:1-2
Let us remember His sacrifice
and though He paid the price for our sin,
ur lives will bear witness of His work in us.
He is the vine and we are the branches John 15
I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing. v5
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit;
so shall ye be my disciples. v8
This is not to say that we can pay God back for His gift.
We absolutely cannot nor should we try.
To do work toward salvation is an insult to God and Jesus’ work on the cross.
The evidence that we are saved comes from His work in our lives,
which is demonstrated by the fruit of doing His work.
His work is through His Holy Spirit,
not fleshly works or works in the law that mean little to nothing.
In other words, humility before God, laying down our lives
and obeying whatever He commands.
People get confused with this.
They want to think that they just once go to the altar
and receive forgiveness and then salvation is a done deal.
They think can pretty much go on living as they have been
and because they believe on Him, will get them into heaven.
The problem with this line of thinking is that
there is no incentive to go further,
sitting in the church pew every Sunday,
being considered a good person is not enough.
We must have fruit in our lives
that is, evidence of our salvation and our relationship with Christ.
II must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day:
the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4
What work is Jesus talking about?
If He does work and we are His followers,
then, we must also do work, His work,
not work the way man considers work,
but actions toward Christ’s will out of dedication to Him.
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do:
for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 5:19
What doth it profit, my brethren,
though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?
can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked,
and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them,
Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things
which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:14-17
James continued, Chapter 2:
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith,
and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works,
and I will shew thee my faith by my works. v18
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? v20
Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? v21
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works,
and by works was faith made perfect? v22
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith,
Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness:
and he was called the Friend of God. v23
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. v24
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works,
when she had received the messengers,
and had sent them out another way? v25
For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also. v26
So, where does that leave us?
In a sort of a quandary.
Yes, salvation is a gift.
We don’t have to work for it.
But faith without works is dead.
We accept His sacrifice on the cross.
He tells us He will remove our sin as far as the East is from the West.
He is gracious.
He molds us and changes us as we allow.
Let’s remember that Jesus said that in the last day,
He will reward every person for what they have done:
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me,
to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:12
That means, our actions, our deeds will be rewarded and judged.
There are times in scripture when God says if you do this, then I’ll do this.
I can think of several but I cannot think of all of them.
There are probably many more.
The Ten Commandments contain one:
Honor thy father and mother that thy days might be long Exodus 20:12
If you fast, my light will break forth as noonday Isaiah 58:8
If God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face
and turn from their wicked ways
then will He hear from heaven,
forgive their sin, and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
But if ye do not forgive,
neither will your Father which is in heaven
forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:26
Please do not take this lightly
Jesus warns us of many things
Unforgiveness is one of them
It is spiritual work to forgive when we have been offended.
I would venture to say it is impossible to truly forgive,
the way He requires, from the bottom of our hearts,
without the help of God Himself and His Holy Spirit.
Jesus is pretty clear about this but I can’t say I have ever seen this taught.
Jesus tells us that if we are not able to forgive neither shall we be forgiven:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15
That is big because our salvation is all about us accepting His forgiveness:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Forgiving and relinquishing Vengeance to God is a type of spiritual work.
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels;
and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Matthew 16:27
Who will render to every man according to his deeds: Romans 2:6
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies,
do good to them which hate you,
Bless them that curse you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you. Luke 6:27-28
There are all sorts of work for God we can do.
Let us not excuse ourselves from doing good
because we think we already have salvation
and we aren’t supposed work our way into heaven.
Let the work we do be done unto the Lord out of love and adoration for Him.