Bob Cassell Messenger, RFTC
It is most important to know the meaning of grace, but it is equally necessary to realize the extent to which grace enters into the believer’s life. The entrance of grace into the life will provide the necessary background for understanding all that is essential for the correct function of God’s grace. What is the true meaning of the word grace? Grace is what God does for us and not what we have done, are doing, or will do. Grace is all that God is free to do for us on the basis of the finished cross work of Jesus Christ.
It is God’s work for man; it is not man’s work for God. Grace works freely because it is God who freely gives. His gift is eternal life through His son Jesus Christ.
“For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God and not of works lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9).
Many are persuaded that grace is merely the means God uses to forgive sin, but at the same time they fail to recognize that grace is God’s way of dealing with an individual who receives Christ, not only during their sojourn on earth but throughout eternity. God’s grace did not begin at creation; it continued, and it will continue throughout all eternity. Much harm and confusion has come from a limited conception of grace because of the absence of teaching it in its magnificent fullness. The present low level of a believer’s behavior is largely due to an incomplete communication of grace and inadequate, incorrect, and inconsistent teachings of the infallible word of God.
Many are persuaded that an over-emphasis of grace is irresponsible and will encourage a license to sin. This misconception would quickly be removed if grace were taught clearly and understood in its fullness. “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Truth cannot be separated from grace; it is the result of grace because grace is what God does for man and not what man does for God. You may be assured that what He says and does is always absolute truth. Only as grace has entered into every phase of a believer’s life, can truth successfully operate in that life. “And this fullness have all we received, and grace for (upon) grace” (John 1:16).
It is because of grace upon grace that fear is removed, and assurance, stability, and direction are possible in this difficult sojourn of life. It was by the grace of God that Jesus Christ tasted death for every man, and that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).
It is because of the operation of grace, that it is possible for every man to be saved, but only those who believe are saved. Salvation is by grace but only though faith. “For by grace are you 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).
There are at least three aspects to salvation: 1). From the penalty of sin, 2. From the power of sin, and 3. From the presence of sin; so also, there are three aspects to grace. 1. Grace provides a forever standing before God. 2. Grace provides for the believer’s daily life on earth, and 3. There shall be an exceedingly great demonstration of grace in the ages to come.
A standing before God The amazing first work of grace provides a sure standing before an eternal and Holy God.
This is fully accomplished the moment an individual receives Jesus Christ as the One who satisfied, on man’s behalf, the full demands of God’s righteousness and justice (His Holiness).
Please notice some real and eternal things that constitute the believer’s standing that are accomplished by means of His amazing grace and not by the energy or efforts of man. Because the believer is in Christ
“We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS GRACE” (Ephesians 1:7).
All who believe in Christ are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Through disobedience and rebellion in the Garden of Eden, the human race became enemies of God and children of wrath. Reconciliation has been made through the death of Jesus Christ, which He tasted by the grace of God.
“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death”, (Colossians 1:21, 22).
This amazing operation of grace and others that constitute the believer’s standing are directly or indirectly realized by the operation of God’s incalculable grace.
Grace for the believer’s daily life. Much is said in the word of God about His amazing and matchless grace. His grace is indispensable to the earthly life of a believer. It is our meat and drink indeed. To be sustained by it HIS infallible word must be assimilated, believed, and HIS promises claimed every day. Every believer stands and is sustained by this holy word that may be accessed by faith,
“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).
This amazing admonition is full assurance that God will act in grace in and through every circumstance of life.
God acting through grace reminds me of a conversation I exchanged with one of my best friends many years ago. After an enjoyable conversation at lunch, having discussed many doctrinal topics, it was time to go our separate ways. We exchanged good wishes for each other and with tears in our eyes attempted to leave encouraging parting words.
My dear friend Jack Lannom asked me “what do you want me to remember from our conversation today?” I hoped to encourage him with these words: “Jack, God is not always the way out of our unpleasant circumstances, but he is always the way through”. I posed a parting question of my dear friend Jack, “what are your parting words for me”? He instantly replied, “Bob, you are not in control, God is!” I said, “Jack, that is exactly what I needed to hear.” He immediately said and “yes, Bob what you said to me was exactly what I needed to hear.”
The comments of Paul about himself should be the realization of every believer. “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10).
This scripture is clear in declaring that all a believer is and every effective service from him is a result of the grace of God. Apart from His grace, nothing can be truly accomplished from our service to Him.
Paul suffered many hardships, trials, and tortures. Among them was a malady of what appeared to be a severe and uncomfortable health condition.
In response to Paul’s several petitions to be relieved from this “thorn in the flesh,” God said, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
It was here that God showed Paul that he indeed is the way through any trial, suffering, or circumstance. God’s grace sustained Paul during and through his time of great affliction. In and during these great sufferings and trials it may be seen that the grace of God sustains and provides sufficiency for all times and under all circumstances of life.
It is encouraging to know that the grace of God also delivers believers from the power and control of sin. “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but (thank God) under grace” (Romans 6:14).
It is only by means of grace that the believer is set free. Rejoice with me as I quote one of my early memory verses that freed me from legalism and the doctrines of man.
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17).
Many well-meaning but confused Bible teachers have been blinded by legalism and do not realize that we have been freed from the law and the self-imposed doctrines of man. How contrasting this is from the charge (which is erroneous human reasoning) that an over-emphasis on grace might cause a believer to become careless! I submit to you, there is not too much grace teaching; but not enough. Those that teach touch not and taste not insist they are keeping believers from discipline and damnation by preaching on sin/sins. They seem to think if they consistently admonish believers to abstain from smoking, drinking, dancing, cursing, and similar verboten behaviors they are stemming the on rushing tide of their bad behaviors.
Please fully know; every sin that may be mentioned has been paid for by the precious blood of Christ, and anyone who believes in Him is forgiven and made free from the curse of the law. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). To abstain from sin and to reduce the shock reactions of numerous shouting legalists, the growth path of believers should begin with falling in love with the written revealed word of God and by listening and learning the truths that will prepare him for living a productive and impactful spiritual life.
Notice what happens when a believer hears and believes God’s word and ignores the screaming invocations of an uninformed and legalistic misdirected preacher. “He that is of God hears God’s words; you hear them not, because you are not of God” (John 8: 47).
If an individual has not believed in Christ, that person must be born again. Unless the new birth has been experienced by believing in Christ there is no light in the soul, and the individual is lost being in darkness and cannot see. No manner of harping on sin or sins will cause a person to see what they cannot see in their lost Adamic and human condition. They need to be born again because they are dead in trespasses and sins.
A dead person can do nothing that can make them alive, as all power and ability terminate with death. But the alive individual who has not believed in Christ as savior is dead spiritually and can do nothing to come alive but to trust in Him who is the exclusive source of eternal life.
To come to the exclusive source of eternal life is to be quickened by the Holy Spirit who gives spiritual eyesight to believe in Christ.
The good news is it is through grace that a believer becomes spiritually mature and can understand the will and plan of God. Paul spoke of this subject perfectly. “Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).
The grace that is in Jesus Christ does not flow from the legalistic demands of anyone who is persuaded that their heated rhetoric is more persuasive than studying and applying the word of God and growing in his grace. The strength that must be possessed by the believer is to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). To be strong in the Lord is not accomplished by human performance nor a rigid behavior pattern that contains an arsenal of dos and don’ts.
Strength for the believer is not from himself but from the Lord who is his mighty fortress.
Closely related to the command to be strong in grace is another admonition. “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines, for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace” (Heb. 13:9).
The alternative to a heart “established with grace” is a restless and fearful heart. This is the sad experience of a large number of believers who do not understand the magnificence of God’s amazing grace. It is certain, if a believer is striving mightily in his own power, he is certain to realize many failures, along with the fear or possibility of thinking he may be lost. This sad result occurs because he is his own witness that all he does is not enough. It is certain, these miserable and erroneous things do not establish the heart.
To look within to the beating heart causes uncertainty, distress, and stumbling. These doubts diminish when it is seen that it is God’s amazing work of grace that fortifies the soul.
When we advance on the spiritual battlefield of life by growing in HIS grace it is because of Him! Behind His purpose is all of His infinite power and grace. Herein is where the mind learns to rest, and the heart becomes established.
When the heart is established by grace this amazing grace will enable the believer to serve God in an acceptable manner.
“Wherefore we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
A service blessed by God’s grace and bestowed on the churches of Macedonia is referenced in (2 Cor. 8:2) “in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” The extensive contribution by these churches is referenced as the grace of God being bestowed upon them.
Paul addressed his own teaching as being by the grace of God. He said, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). This reference was not only to his own teaching but to all that ministered to the Church, Paul declared to be of Grace.
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Eph. 4:7).
“And He gave some, apostles; some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11, 12).
The exhortation in Hebrews is to come to Him boldly. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
Yes, indeed this is one of the marvelous promises that He will provide His infinite love and fully supply our need in His own time. This is accomplished by grace and grace alone.
“Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work” (2 Thess. 2: 16, 17).
The truth in grace is everlasting consolation and hope that issues forth to comfort the heart and provide stability to produce encouragement and effective works. This hope and stability emanates from the much more grace that is added to grace for the believer’s life of service.
There is no place in the believer’s life where there is no grace. God’s grace is essential for every facet of the believer’s life. There is no danger in communicating grace. The danger lies in not understanding it and in not teaching it enough.
Nothing can exhaust the infinite provision of God’s love and grace. His purpose in saving man is:
“That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7).
The forgiveness of sins is according to the “riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7); but the grace that will be shown in the ages to come is the “exceeding riches of His grace.” It is only after the last vestige of sin, with the consequence of death that has been done away with eternally, will the grace of God find full manifestation. This unique time must surely be the fulness of grace upon grace.
The following specific scriptural reference summarizes the entire work of grace.
“Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
This scripture clearly expresses the meaning of grace upon grace. As such, it is not only God’s means of forgiving sin, but it includes all that He does with and for the believer. He raises him from his lost and condemned condition. He purifies and perfects him; and finally, He places him as a glorious eternal and forever being, far above all other created beings, in perfect union with Himself.
By means of God’s amazing grace the believer in Christ has been called out of the ungodly world and delivered from the condemnation that rests upon it. Also, by means of grace he is delivered from the compelling desire for the things of the world, as his new desires tend to become centered in Christ and the things that flow from of Him.
The teachings of grace do not compromise with the world nor permit irresponsible or cavalier living. Unfortunately, some few hold that there is a Christian liberty which permits a life of living as one so pleases. This erroneous mind-set is not liberty; it is slavery to the old sin nature and is entirely at variance with the teachings of grace that worldly lusts should be denied. The reality of Christlikeness and biblically supported liberty is deliverance from the law of sin in the body with its desires for all of the pleasures of the world and its satanic systems.
In closing, please know that the object of Biblical faith has no merit unless that faith is placed in Jesus Christ and His full and finished work on the cross. The merit that comes from this perfect work is the imputed righteousness that is received the instant the individual’s faith is deposited in the person of Jesus Christ.
This meritorious act of faith is meritorious because it is centered in the only one that can and will provide eternal merit. This merit is eternal because it is placed in the eternal Son of God who gives eternal life to the individual who receives Him as the exclusive and only savior.
“Then said they unto him, what shall WE DO, that we might work the works of God?” His answer….
“This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent” (John 6: 28, 29).
Working is not trusting; trusting is resting in Him who is the only source of eternal life.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
