There are different considerations or connotations one could give to the
subject of GRACE but in this writing we will concentrate on one important
aspect: that of GRACE in connection with the INITIAL SALVATION of man.
"The gospel of THE GRACE OF GOD" is also spoken of as "the gospel of
YOUR SALVATION." Eph.1:13. The gospel message of salvation from sin is
commonly presented as being CONDITIONAL upon human ACCEPTANCE,
or upon human REJECTION. But whether you believe it or not, the full
truth of the gospel is--that there is no power BUT OF GOD that can
DETERMINE the beginnings of saving grace in humanity. Speaking to the
ecclesia Paul states, "Now to each one of us was given GRACE IN ACCORD
WITH THE MEASURE OF THE GRATUITY OF CHRIST." Eph.4:7 [Conc.
Literal]. There is no means other than the operation of God's grace which
brings salvation unto mankind - Tit.2:11.
You are CALLED BY GOD INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST (Gal.1:6) to
become "heirs together of THE GRACE OF LIFE." 1Ptr.3:7. It is an
unmerited ACT and PROCESS OF DIVINE FAVOUR which contains the
elements necessary to set mankind free from sin and death. Like GRACE,
salvation is FREE AND UNCONDITIONAL and entirely DEPENDENT upon
God. It is in no way DEPENDENT upon man as is commonly taught.
Personal salvation is not CONDITIONAL upon personal human faith in
order to APPROPRIATE its ACCOMPLISHMENTS upon an individual. It is
by "the FAITH OF CHRIST" that we are justified and made righteous
(Gal.2:16; Phil.3:9) lest any man should boast - Eph.2:8,9.
Through the God created agency called GRACE , 'God-created' salvation is
BESTOWED upon man by the Spirit of the Lord according to the
OMNIPOTENT and OMNISCIENT timing of God's own will. This happens
in a divine order according to His own wise counsel and His own sovereign
purpose. God's Spirit comes and goes when He wills, bringing with it
DIVINE ENABLEMENT. So it is with everyone that is born again of God's
Spirit - Jn.3:8; Jn.1:13. Spiritual rebirth is not CONTINGENT upon human
faith nor is it CONDITIONAL upon the work of any self-willed ACT in our
ACCEPTANCE of Christ. It is contingent upon Christ's sovereign work of
making Himself acceptable to us. There is nothing that man has nor can
do of himself to CONTRIBUTE to God's saving GRACE.
Saving FAITH, as A RESULT OF GRACE, is also the result of an individual
having been sovereignly predestined and chosen to salvation by the
Creator. The manifest evidence of this CHOOSING and CALLING is found
in the God ORDAINED timings and RECEPTION of His ALLOTMENT.
Salvation is not an ENTICEMENT or a mere ALLUREMENT. Neither is it a
mere OPPORTUNITY OR CHANCE that is ultimately left up to man to
ACCEPT OR REJECT according to his own self will. Rather, it is an
ALLOTMENT, a preordained and predestined ASSIGNMENT ordered OF
GOD. It is GRACE WHICH CAUSES RECIPROCATION and not at all human
reciprocation which causes grace.
Both the CAUSE and the EFFECT of our RECEIVING salvation ORIGINATES
solely and entirely from the merciful Spirit of the Lord's GRACE. His Spirit
alone is the divine agent producing the EFFECT of our salvation. The fact
is, the unregenerate spirit of man contains not one iota of effectual power
that can regenerate his spirit. This point cannot be stressed enough. In
truth, there is no room at all for any kind of boasting or pride on the part of
man. There is nothing in us or of us that justifies nor could ever
WARRANT, much less ACTIVATE, the power of God's INITIAL SAVING
GRACE toward us. Our salvation comes to us in a manner and way
wherein there is absolutely nothing OF OURSELVES that we have, nor did
to boast about - Eph.2:8,9. It is God's WORK entirely which PRODUCES
THE GRACE of salvation - Jn.4:34. And it is also HIS WORK entirely that
brings personal salvation through HIS GRACE. Our salvation is the FRUIT
OF HIS GRACE.
HUMAN WORKS, whether of the body or of the mind, are NEGLIGIBLE in
every aspect and nature of GOD'S MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS ACT.
GRACE involves the divine providential works of God and is one hundred
percent OF (FROM) HIM. We have no ACTIVE PART in DETERMINING our
salvation. All effectual and necessary DETERMINING is done OF HIM and
none is done of us. It is wholly A DIVINE DETERMINATION! GRACE
encompasses God's acts of loving-kindness and goodwill towards
mankind.
Even FAITH TO BELIEVE, if it ORIGINALLY stemmed from us, would be
WORK on our part for it takes soulish mental ACTIVITY OF SELF to make
DECISIONS. Grace, the god given, GOD IMPARTED ABILITY TO BELIEVE,
has its ORIGINS from a SOURCE apart from the human spirit and psyche,
and can be compared to a seed that is planted into the ground, which in
FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS RESULTS in newness of life. The HUMAN
WORKS of true CONFESSING, BELIEVING, and CALLING evident in such
scriptures as Ro.10:9-13 are the IMMEDIATE RESULTS AND EFFECTS of
elective GRACE. They are not the CAUSE! No man can CONFESS Jesus is
his Lord and Saviour except that it be FREELY GIVEN him to do so through
the ABILITY AND ENABLEMENT of the Holy Spirit - 1Cor.12:3. Grace is
wholly A DIVINE ENABLEMENT.
We do not suddenly DECIDE that we need salvation. The Saviour
determines our need for salvation. Our salvation has already been
DECIDED BY GOD from before the foundation of the ages. He DECIDES it
and HE DETERMINES AND IMPLEMENTS IT. It is not OUR FAITH in
Christ's work that saves us, but rather salvation from sin is found to be
entirely in the IMPUTED WORK OF CHRIST - 1Cor.1:30. We are saved
because we are CHOSEN OF GOD TO BELIEVE and WE BELIEVE
BECAUSE WE ARE CHOSEN OF GOD TO BE SAVED. We are not saved
because WE CHOSE OF OURSELVES to BELIEVE in God. The whole
process whereby we begin to believe is entirely through GOD'S ACT OF
GRACE - Ac.18:27.
It is not any outward or even inward INITIAL ACTION or WORK on our part
that QUALIFIES us for salvation, or brings us salvation in RETURN for
BELIEVING. It is all the ACTION AND WORK OF GOD'S GRACE that
FREELY grants and imparts to us THE FAITH OF CHRIST whose imputed
righteous faith contains the only ACCEPTABLE power to believe - Ro.3:22.
The GRACE and FAITH that accompany salvation are totally UNEARNED,
UNSOLICITED GIFTS OF GOD. ALL of this is TRUE GRACE!
Our BELIEF does not constitute the fulfillment of any REQUIREMENTS or
CONDITIONS for our initial salvation. The ONLY REQUIREMENTS and
CONDITIONS for human salvation were already provided for and completed
through the works of Christ as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
earth. These works were attested to through Christ in His life, death,
burial, resurrection and ascension. Salvation itself is ATTAINED, not
through our own natural faith or belief in the redemptive works of Christ,
but rather by the completely righteous and untainted faith generated and
IMPUTED TO US from and through the now ACTIVE REDEMPTIVE WORKS
OF CHRIST....which were ordained even before the world began. The
power to ACCEPT and RECEIVE the RESULTS and to fulfill the purpose of
these divine works also comes from Him and is contained in part in the
written and spoken word of the gospel of grace. GRACE is an
UNSOLICITED GIFT and not a REWARD for anything we might think, say or
do.
The manifest saving and delivering power of God is found in the preaching
of the cross and is made EVIDENT and brought to light in us who are saved
- 1Cor.1:18. It becomes a personal truth, a revelation. How then the Bible
asks, shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? It answers
that one must first read or hear something before they believe it. But yet,
even when they hear, many cannot and do not believe and obey. It is
evident then, that this saving BELIEF called FAITH comes as a FREE GIFT
of truth to some (Col.1:16) as they are given UNCONDITIONALLY of the
Holy Spirit's rhema word to RECEIVE AND ACCEPT of that salvation truth
of God's gospel of grace and peace. The Lord must first reveal His Grace
to us BY HIS SPIRIT - 1Cor.2:10. His Spirit then is bearing witness with us
that we are the children of God - Ro.8:16. All of "this is THE WORK OF
GOD THAT YOU BELIEVE." Jn.6:29. Grace is dependent upon God's work
and acts, not ours!
God alone, was the SOURCE OF FAITH. The truth of this is evident. The
Lord was found of them that sought Him not. He was made manifest unto
them nationally and individually that asked not after Him -Ro.10:16-20.
Through the QUICKENING power of the gospel, through God's
QUICKENED WORD of love toward us, we are individually given to
ACCEPT AND BELIEVE the gospels OFFERING. Actually, our heavenly
salvation IN GRACE is present and comes not in the form of an OFFERING
that looks or begs for human ACCEPTANCE. Rather, it comes in the
reality of divinely aided human ACCEPTANCE of God's heavenly
OFFERING...even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
GRACE APPREHENDS us. We do not and cannot APPREHEND GRACE.
GRACE is not a BENEFIT that we, at any time, may take ADVANTAGE OF or
just leave alone. GRACE is a God given ADVANTAGE AND BENEFIT which
cannot help but become ours to APPREHEND and accept when the Lord in
His omnipotence first lays hold of us. Omnipotent GRACE in the form of
SUPREME LOVE...GIVES. It TAKES AND DEMANDS NOTHING in return.
Revelation of its BENEFITS, in the INSPIRED AND DESIRED will to
ACCEPT, originates with God.
Christ OFFERED Himself as the OBJECT of our saving FAITH. The Bible
declares that the right[eous] FAITH that is found in Him must first be
IMPUTED to be found in us, in order for us to QUALIFY for eternal life. It is
true that we must QUALIFY for salvation. However, the qualifications were
fulfilled and are to be found in Jesus Christ alone. He OFFERED Himself
freely without spot to the Father, in order that the Father would OFFER
AND GIVE Christ freely without spot as a completely QUALIFIED GIFT of
life to us.
The TERMS of saving GRACE are not in the form of a CONTRACTUAL
AGREEMENT where man must DO something in EXPECTATION or in
EXCHANGE for its FAVOUR. Many look at GRACE as and "If you will do
your part God will do His part" type of deal or CONTRACT. It does not
work that way. Initial salvation in GRACE is a promised and GUARANTEED
COVENANT that does not RELY on the unreliable and often unpredictable
nature and will of fallen humanity. TRUE GRACE is rather a FREELY
RENDERED, GRATUITOUS, UNCONDITIONAL UNMERITED FAVOUR,
VIRTUE, and CHARITABLE POWER of God's Holy Spirit, perfectly designed
by its Creator to be ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS IN ITS ABILITY to initiate
and restore true fellowship once again between God and mankind.
One is FAVOURED or granted GRACE and first brought to the realization of
his salvation and SELECTION, not according to his own ACT or
SELECTION, but totally according to a timely and holy ACT OF GOD which
is IMPARTED AND IMPLEMENTED aside from any HUMAN REQUIREMENTS
or QUALIFICATIONS. GRACE is DIVINELY IMPARTED to each individual in
the exact timing of God's perfect will, though man's will is at enmity with
the mind and will of God - Ro.8:7. Our will is strictly SELF-will apart from
the INTERVENING ACTIVE OPERATION of God's GRACIOUS will, whereby
He chooses in His omniscience, when to actively begin His work within
each one to do of His good pleasure. HUMAN FAITH in itself does not in
any way merit any form of GRACE whatsoever.
The POWER of GRACE is in the form of DIVINE OMNIPOTENT SPIRITUAL
INFLUENCE for the purposes of REGENERATION and SANCTIFICATION.
GRACE is the METHOD OF SALVATION whereby man is freely pardoned
and forgiven of his sins so that he might progressively benefit both
naturally and spiritually from this divine heavenly ENDOWMENT. The
BLESSING and ENDOWMENT from on high is SHARED with man, NOT
BECAUSE WE CHOSE TO FIRST LOVE our Maker, but because it is our
Creator's nature to share of His Spirit of love with his creatures. It is
because HE FIRST LOVED US. He loves us with an UNCONDITIONAL
LOVE which is RENDERED AS UNCONDITIONAL GRACE. It is
IRRESISTIBLE in its power and UNIVERSAL in its scope.
The WORKINGS OF GOD in bringing new creation life unto mankind, is as
much HIS OPERATION as was His original creation of the first man Adam.
Mankind misused their PRIVILEGE of life, consequently falling from that
GRACE for a span of time. Now, GRACE is all the work of God's sovereign
MERCY, His divine COMPASSION...whereby according to His
predetermined plans and purposes, all men have been CONCLUDED in
unbelief. This is in order that God can manifestly show the power and
glory of His MERCIFUL GRACE, in a loving display of majestic restoration
unto the whole of His creation - Ro.11:32.
One of God's main concentrated purposes, for this age at least, is to visit at
His own will, the Gentile nations of this earth to take out of them through
HIS ELECTION OF GRACE, a people for His name- Ac.15:14. This He is
doing without hindrance, through no other doings than that of Jesus Christ
the Saviour of all men. The Lord is only in the firstfuit stage of this first
ago of His allotted time period of the eons. Herein, through the sure
PROCESS OF GRACE, He is PROCEEDING to command "all men
everywhere to repent." Ac.17:30. "The GRACE of God and the GIFT BY
GRACE...which is by One man, Jesus Christ, hath ABOUNDED unto many"
(Ro.5:15)...unto "as many as were ordained to eternal life" (Ac.15:48) and as
many as the Lord has called - Ac.2:39. These are the exact number "such
as should be saved" (Ac.2:37) at any specific time and will include "every
man in His own order." 1Cor.15:23.
In this age, and from God's perspective, the purpose of EVANGELISM is
not to try to get everyone saved as orthodoxy claims, but merely to
effectively inform mankind that God in HIS GRACE, calls people to be
saved. The rest is up to Him and not up to us. God saves through HIS
GRACE which involves HIS WORKS and not the self inspired works of
man. The urge to evangelize should arise from the goodness of the good
news gospel, which the elect are given to specifically hear through the
agency of GRACE. Evangelizing is simply PROCLAIMING the basic truths
of the evangel, including the ELECTING GRACE of personal salvation. The
true motivation for proclaiming God's GRACE, is not out of fear that God
cannot save people without our and their help. Nor is it in
over-zealousness for fear that time is about to run out. The true
motivation should be simply because of our God activated desire to speak
of His wonderful GRACE. Even though the mechanics and true revelation
of GRACE might be lacking in the evangelist's understanding, BECAUSE
OF GRACE, the divine OPERATION AND RESULTS OF GRACE continue
unhindered.
According to the will of the Lord, GRACE will FIND us before we find
GRACE. In the Old Testament, GRACE or divine FAVOUR, as a type and
foreshadow of New Testament FAVOUR of God's calling, was also
something that was said to be 'FOUND.' Initially, "Noah FOUND GRACE in
the eyes of the Lord."Gen.6-8. So did Joseph (Gen.39:4), Jacob
(Gen.47:29), Abram (Gen.12:1-3; Ac.7:2,3), Moses (Ex.33:12,13) and many
others-Ex.33:16. So did we who are saved. INITIAL GRACE was not
FOUND, in man searching for--and then finding God. It was FOUND in
God revealing Himself in a measure of glory to man!
GRACE begins when it is revealed to us as it was to Moses..."thou hast
also FOUND GRACE in my sight." Ex.33:12. It was God that initiated it for
His own purposes. There was nothing that Moses did to merit it. Moses
had RECEIVED the GIFT of God's FAVOUR, even that very strong presence
of His Spirit and Life. Then the Lord in His grace said, "My PRESENCE
shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." Ex.33:14. This puts man in
the recipient position of TRUSTING AND DEPENDING upon God. And that
involves FAITH. Moses RESPONDED to God saying, "If thy presence go
not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here
that I and thy people have FOUND GRACE in thy sight? Is it not in that
thou goest with us? [and His word has assured us even today, "Lo I am
with you alway"]. So shall we be SEPARATED, I and thy people, from all
the people that are upon the face of the earth."Ex.33:16. So it is through
GRACE we enter into sanctification, through sanctification of and by the
Spirit unto obedience to Christ-1Ptr.1:2. Not because WE FOUND AND
CHOSE HIM but because He made Himself know in choosing of Himself, to
reveal the presence of His love to us. OBEDIENCE is a PRODUCT and
RESULT OF GRACE, not a prerequisite to it. Likewise, GRACE is a gift and
not a REWARD of obedience.
"In this is love, not that we love God but that He loves us, AND
DISPATCHES His Son, a PROPITIATORY SHELTER concerned with our
sins." 1Jn.4:10. "For God does not DISPATCH His Son into the world that
He should be JUDGING the world but that the world my be SAVED
THROUGH HIM." Jn.3:17. "Thus God loves the world, so that He gives His
only begotten Son, that everyone who IS BELIEVING IN Him should not be
perishing, but may be having life eonian." Jn.3:16 [Conc. Literal]. Just as
FAITH is lifeless and of no spiritual effect without the accompanying
righteous WORKS to make it effectual, so GRACE is not REAL GRACE
unless it is ACTIVATED in the LOVE AND MERCY OF GOD, beginning the
PROCESS of new life in the divinely chosen recipient. GRACE is not mere
ethereal HOPE. It is God's ACTIVE CHARITY. It is His APPLIED MERCY,
His GRANTED FAVOUR. This is both the Old and New Testament basis of
GRACE. FAITH is an EVIDENCE, not A REQUIREMENT of GRACE. GRACE
however, is a REQUIREMENT in the presence of FAITH.
Again the Lord said, "thou hast FOUND GRACE ...and I know thee by thy
name." Ex.33:17. It was a personal relationship as is our salvation. And
Moses said to the Lord, "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory." And the Lord
said, "I will make all my GOODNESS to pass before thee; and will be
GRACIOUS [give my grace] TO WHOM I WILL BE GRACIOUS, and will shew
mercy ON WHOM I WILL SHEW MERCY." Ex.33:18,19. And so He has
shown His glory. He has and still is making His goodness to pass before
all men in many different forms, the completed Bible, not one of the least of
them. And Paul reveals that He is still showing His GRACE, MERCY AND
COMPASSION in the form of a new covenant salvation to chosen
instruments.
All of this leads one to ask, "Is there unrighteousness with God? God
forbid. For He saith to Moses, I will have MERCY ON WHOM I WILL HAVE
MERCY and WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I WILL HAVE
COMPASSION. So then, it is not of him [depends not at all upon man] that
willeth [simply desires in himself], nor of him that runneth [produces
human effort in doing the action], but [it is totally an action, even the grace
and salvation] OF GOD that sheweth mercy." Ro.9:14-16.
The KINDNESS OF LOVE of our Saviour has appeared to us, "not by works
of righteousness which we have done, but ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY He
saved us" (Tit.3:5) by showing us, then giving us "THE GIFT OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS." Ro.5:17. In this manner are we "justified BY HIS
GRACE" (Tot.3:7; Ro.3:24) to the praise and glory of HIS GRACE-Eph.1:6.
And for this purpose we "whom He has called" (Ro.9:24; Gal.1:15)
"according to His own purpose and GRACE" (2Tim.1:9; 2Ths.1:12), are His
chosen vessels of GRACE "according to the ELECTION OF GRACE"
(Ro.11:15)..."that He might make known the riches of His glory on the
VESSELS OF MERCY, which He had afore PREPARED unto glory." Ro.9:23;
Eph.2:7; 2Ths.1:12. "For OF HIM and through Him...are all things"
(Ro.11:36), especially those things that pertain to the GRACE, MERCY and
GLORY of our salvation.
In brief, GRACE is God's way of RECOMPENSE for man's original DEMISE.
It is God's designated method of RECTIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION,
whether we DESERVE it or not. We stand in awe of this glorious and most
wondrous POWER OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
Though we were once as sheep lost and gone astray (Isa.53:6), and
dwelling in imputed death (Eph.2:1), "YET GOD being rich in MERCY,
because of His VAST AND ENDURING LOVE with which He loves us (we
also being dead to the offenses and lusts), vivifies us together IN CHRIST
(IN GRACE are you saved!) and rouses us together and seats us together
among the celestials in Christ Jesus, that, in the oncoming eons, He
should be displaying the transcendent RICHES OF HIS GRACE in His
KINDNESS to us in Christ Jesus. For IN GRACE, through FAITH, are ye
SAVED, and THIS IS NOT OUT OF YOU; it is God's APPROACH PRESENT,
not of works, lest anyone should be boasting." Eph.2:4-9 [Conc. Literal].
WORKS are the RESULTS and not the MEANS of GRACE.
So then, if our salvation be according to the work of God's ELECTION OF
GRACE and according to HIS WORKS, HIS WILL, HIS CHOICE, HIS
FAITHFULNESS, not ours, then it is no longer anything of man's works or
choices that saves us: otherwise the pure GRACE in God's election is
meaningless. But if the election to salvation be any of man's work,
thought or choice then it is no more God's Grace. Otherwise the work is
also no longer God's work-Ro.11:16 [paraphrased]. If any man be elected
of the Grace of God, he is a new creation (2Cor.5:17) and OF His fullness
have they received; and this of God's GRACE, only BECAUSE OF HIS
GRACE - Jn.1:16.
There are many ways to describe the purposes, processes and results of
GRACE. A practical and effective way to remember some of these, is to
use each individual letter in the work GRACE, as the first letter of any
descriptive words used in a five word phrase that sums up some meanings
of GRACE. A common example is....."Gift Received At Christ's Expense."
The following are some more truth conveying phrases revealing different
aspects of this most wonderful of all gifts.
THE PURPOSE OF G R A C E is...God Restoring all creatures Everywhere.
...God's Regenerative Ability Cures Eternally
...God's Returning Approach Causes Embrace
...Gifted Recipients Are Christ's Elect
...Goodness Received Affecting Change Everlasting
...Guilt Removed And Cleansed Entirely
...Granted Revelation Accomplishing Certain Expiation
...Genuine Righteousness Accompanying Christian Evangel
...Governing Rebellion Abolished Creating Equity
...Grand Remedy Appointed Captivated Enemies
...Gratuitous Rectifying Atonement Consuming Enmity
...Great Rescuing Agent Canceling Estrangement
...Glorious Rebirth At Calvary's Encounter
...Gracious Reconciliation Absolving Condemning Evils
...Guaranteed Release Assuring Creation's Escape
...Generated Redeeming Action Called Election
Beloved, as Paul said to his brethren, I say to you also. "And now
brethren, I commend you to God, and TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE,
which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all
them which are sanctified." Ac.20:32. "GROW IN GRACE in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2Ptr.3:18. BE STRONG IN THE
GRACE which is in Christ Jesus" (2Tim.2:1), who by the GRACE OF GOD
tasted death FOR EVERY MAN - Heb.2:9.
And now, may "THE GOD OF ALL GRACE who hath called us unto His
eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you
perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever...I have written briefly, exhorting and testifying that "THIS IS
THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD WHEREIN YOU STAND." 1Ptr.5:10-12.
