by Eldon DeBoer
A boy grew up with parents who were very dedicated Christian people. His mom and dad loved the Lord Jesus. No doubt about it. While still quite young, this boy’s mother shared with him the truth of Jesus Christ. His mother told him of Jesus’ love and His sacrifice for his sins and the sins of the world by His death on a cross. The boy believed in Jesus Christ as his Savior for life everlasting and deliverance from sin and death. However, something else was included in the message the mother shared with her son that day. She told him he must invite Jesus into his heart. Now who would not want to do that? Who would not want to invite the most loving and caring Person whoever lived into his life? So the boy did just that. He invited Jesus to come into his heart. But then confusion set in. As time passed the boy began to wonder, “What else do I have to do to know that I will live with Jesus forever.” He would hear such things as the need for “a salvation experience” and wondered if he had had one. With reference to eternal salvation, he would hear sincere people say such things like, “Surrender your life to Christ." "Make Jesus Lord of your life." Commit your life to Christ." "Give your life to Jesus.” "Give your heart to Christ." And of course he would hear the familiar, “Invite Jesus into your heart.”
Ridden with the guilt from knowing that he could never live up to the standards set before him, he became more confused and disillusioned about the Christian life. He very seldom talked about Jesus with others because he did not know where to begin or end in sharing His good news—if it was good news. But when the boy was about twenty years of age, he met some people who were excited about the teachings of a particular pastor. He began to listen to this pastor too and his eyes were finally opened to what must be done to receive eternal life. He learned from the Bible what soon became obvious to him that what God requires to be delivered from sin and death and to receive eternal life is that each individual person must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He reflected on this a great deal and came to the realization that he had believed this when he was a young boy. But then he immediately had become confused by what was added to the good news of Christ. He was thankful and remains appreciative of being blessed to have parents who loved the Lord Jesus and were sincere about sharing what they had been taught. But he could not help but be angry about being confused for so long concerning what the true grace gospel message is. Thankfully, however, the needful challenge to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved,” as told to a searching soul of old, had became crystal clear to him (Acts 16:31). He now could rest in the truth that Jesus Christ had granted him eternal life through faith in Him. Nothing more needed to be done. Jesus had come into his heart and life, not on the basis of an invitation, but upon believing in Him (Galations 3:26 - 4:6). Christ had done all the work on the cross of Calvary to provide for his eternal standing with God and what God asked him to do was to believe in Him. Now he could meaningfully share this truly good news with others with confidence so that they could have a truly biblical “salvation experience.”
The boy I’m talking about was me. It still saddens me and concerns me greatly when I hear dedicated Christian people add to the grace message of the good news of Christ Jesus. However, the confusion and possible disillusionment can be remedied. Like the pastor-teacher that the Lord brought into my life, we can be used of the Lord to clarify the grace message for the benefit of others so that they also can truly rest in Jesus’ love and grace.
The Grace Gospel Message and Making Disciples
Early on in the opportunity of making disciples of Christ Jesus it should be communicated to a believer that his or her possession of Christ's righteousness and eternal life did not come about because she or he asked Jesus into his heart, committed her life to Christ, gave his life to Jesus, surrendered his life to Christ, turned from sin, made Him Lord of her life or the acting out of any other work or deed such as being baptized, confirmed, participating in the Lord’s Supper or church attendance. While these things are important in the life of a disciple (with some possible exceptions concerning certain traditions), they do NOT communicate the good news of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus. Those who present such things as part and parcel with receiving deliverance from sin and death or, worse, as crucial in receiving eternal life, distort the true gospel and message of grace in Christ Jesus! While a person can truly be born again if the true grace gospel is included in a garbled message, typically confusion about the Christian grace-way of life results. Such emphases are not compatible with the grace message of receiving eternal salvation as taught throughout the Bible and especially communicated in the Gospel of John, Romans, Galatians and Ephesians. It should be communicated to a disciple that his or her eternal standing with God and the necessary requirement of the possession of the righteousness of Jesus Christ (justification) are received by believing in Him and nothing else. This is important so that the message of grace in Christ Jesus is the solid foundation upon which the ongoing growth of His disciple is built.
When an emphasis is placed upon doing a work as necessary in receiving eternal salvation as part of the good news, confusion about the Christian grace-way of life in a disciple’s walk with God may result right from the very beginning. The outcome of this may be a return to keeping the law or a set of rules to secure or maintain a right standing with God. When the emphasis from the beginning is placed upon something that must be done other than or in addition to believing in Christ Jesus, a believer may possibly become a slave to set of rules concluding that such activities are necessary in order to retain an eternal righteous standing with God (2 Corinthians 3; See earlier article in this blog.).
Committing one’s life to Christ, surrendering to Jesus, giving one’s life to Him, turning from sin and making Him Lord of one’s life certainly are the practices of a faithful disciple (1 Peter 3:15; Revelation 3:19-20). But these important good works are carried out NOT to receive or secure one’s eternal standing with God in Christ Jesus. These good works should characterize the life of a believer more and more out of gratitude to the Lord Jesus because it is understood that His righteousness and eternal life with God have been provided and received as gifts from God upon believing in Him (Romans 6:1 – 8:16; Ephesians 2:8-10).
Your questions and/or comments concerning these matters are welcomed (edeboer@tnics.com).
A boy grew up with parents who were very dedicated Christian people. His mom and dad loved the Lord Jesus. No doubt about it. While still quite young, this boy’s mother shared with him the truth of Jesus Christ. His mother told him of Jesus’ love and His sacrifice for his sins and the sins of the world by His death on a cross. The boy believed in Jesus Christ as his Savior for life everlasting and deliverance from sin and death. However, something else was included in the message the mother shared with her son that day. She told him he must invite Jesus into his heart. Now who would not want to do that? Who would not want to invite the most loving and caring Person whoever lived into his life? So the boy did just that. He invited Jesus to come into his heart. But then confusion set in. As time passed the boy began to wonder, “What else do I have to do to know that I will live with Jesus forever.” He would hear such things as the need for “a salvation experience” and wondered if he had had one. With reference to eternal salvation, he would hear sincere people say such things like, “Surrender your life to Christ." "Make Jesus Lord of your life." Commit your life to Christ." "Give your life to Jesus.” "Give your heart to Christ." And of course he would hear the familiar, “Invite Jesus into your heart.”
Ridden with the guilt from knowing that he could never live up to the standards set before him, he became more confused and disillusioned about the Christian life. He very seldom talked about Jesus with others because he did not know where to begin or end in sharing His good news—if it was good news. But when the boy was about twenty years of age, he met some people who were excited about the teachings of a particular pastor. He began to listen to this pastor too and his eyes were finally opened to what must be done to receive eternal life. He learned from the Bible what soon became obvious to him that what God requires to be delivered from sin and death and to receive eternal life is that each individual person must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He reflected on this a great deal and came to the realization that he had believed this when he was a young boy. But then he immediately had become confused by what was added to the good news of Christ. He was thankful and remains appreciative of being blessed to have parents who loved the Lord Jesus and were sincere about sharing what they had been taught. But he could not help but be angry about being confused for so long concerning what the true grace gospel message is. Thankfully, however, the needful challenge to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved,” as told to a searching soul of old, had became crystal clear to him (Acts 16:31). He now could rest in the truth that Jesus Christ had granted him eternal life through faith in Him. Nothing more needed to be done. Jesus had come into his heart and life, not on the basis of an invitation, but upon believing in Him (Galations 3:26 - 4:6). Christ had done all the work on the cross of Calvary to provide for his eternal standing with God and what God asked him to do was to believe in Him. Now he could meaningfully share this truly good news with others with confidence so that they could have a truly biblical “salvation experience.”
The boy I’m talking about was me. It still saddens me and concerns me greatly when I hear dedicated Christian people add to the grace message of the good news of Christ Jesus. However, the confusion and possible disillusionment can be remedied. Like the pastor-teacher that the Lord brought into my life, we can be used of the Lord to clarify the grace message for the benefit of others so that they also can truly rest in Jesus’ love and grace.
The Grace Gospel Message and Making Disciples
Early on in the opportunity of making disciples of Christ Jesus it should be communicated to a believer that his or her possession of Christ's righteousness and eternal life did not come about because she or he asked Jesus into his heart, committed her life to Christ, gave his life to Jesus, surrendered his life to Christ, turned from sin, made Him Lord of her life or the acting out of any other work or deed such as being baptized, confirmed, participating in the Lord’s Supper or church attendance. While these things are important in the life of a disciple (with some possible exceptions concerning certain traditions), they do NOT communicate the good news of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus. Those who present such things as part and parcel with receiving deliverance from sin and death or, worse, as crucial in receiving eternal life, distort the true gospel and message of grace in Christ Jesus! While a person can truly be born again if the true grace gospel is included in a garbled message, typically confusion about the Christian grace-way of life results. Such emphases are not compatible with the grace message of receiving eternal salvation as taught throughout the Bible and especially communicated in the Gospel of John, Romans, Galatians and Ephesians. It should be communicated to a disciple that his or her eternal standing with God and the necessary requirement of the possession of the righteousness of Jesus Christ (justification) are received by believing in Him and nothing else. This is important so that the message of grace in Christ Jesus is the solid foundation upon which the ongoing growth of His disciple is built.
When an emphasis is placed upon doing a work as necessary in receiving eternal salvation as part of the good news, confusion about the Christian grace-way of life in a disciple’s walk with God may result right from the very beginning. The outcome of this may be a return to keeping the law or a set of rules to secure or maintain a right standing with God. When the emphasis from the beginning is placed upon something that must be done other than or in addition to believing in Christ Jesus, a believer may possibly become a slave to set of rules concluding that such activities are necessary in order to retain an eternal righteous standing with God (2 Corinthians 3; See earlier article in this blog.).
Committing one’s life to Christ, surrendering to Jesus, giving one’s life to Him, turning from sin and making Him Lord of one’s life certainly are the practices of a faithful disciple (1 Peter 3:15; Revelation 3:19-20). But these important good works are carried out NOT to receive or secure one’s eternal standing with God in Christ Jesus. These good works should characterize the life of a believer more and more out of gratitude to the Lord Jesus because it is understood that His righteousness and eternal life with God have been provided and received as gifts from God upon believing in Him (Romans 6:1 – 8:16; Ephesians 2:8-10).
Your questions and/or comments concerning these matters are welcomed (edeboer@tnics.com).
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008
Challenged to lay down your life "by the mercies of God"
by Eldon DeBoer
In Romans 12:1-3 the Apostle Paul presents the following challenges:
Did you notice the "therefore" and "by the mercies of God" in the beginning of verse one? Without an awareness of the grace of God made available to us through Christ Jesus (Romans 3 - 11) and without the availability of His"mercies" to receive and apply the challenges from His Word, we are incapable of offering ourselves as a "living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God." As the Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to write in verse three above and elsewhere (Galatians 2:20; 5:1-16; Colossians 2:6-7), we must draw upon the Lord's grace and keep trusting in Him for the ability to apply His Word in our life.
The transformation into the likeness of Christ Jesus comes about as we renew our minds with the truth of His Word (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). And our minds are especially renewed as we keep before us the wondrous love and grace seen in our Lord Jesus Christ. By His grace our Lord Jesus will enable us to apply the challenges from His Word for His glory as we keep on walking with Him by faith.
So may we keep on laying down our life as a sacrifice to the Lord that is set apart to Him, drawing upon His grace and mercy to do so. (The word construction--especially the verb forms of the Greek text in 12:1--indicates that this is something we may resume every time we realize we have stopped laying down our life like God calls us to do.) Like the branches that produce grapes draw upon the vine for the needed nutrients to produce fruit, may our life produce spiritual fruit that is acceptable to the Lord Jesus as we draw upon His strength (John 15:1-13; cf. Philippians 4:13).
In Romans 12:1-3 the Apostle Paul presents the following challenges:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."
Did you notice the "therefore" and "by the mercies of God" in the beginning of verse one? Without an awareness of the grace of God made available to us through Christ Jesus (Romans 3 - 11) and without the availability of His"mercies" to receive and apply the challenges from His Word, we are incapable of offering ourselves as a "living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God." As the Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to write in verse three above and elsewhere (Galatians 2:20; 5:1-16; Colossians 2:6-7), we must draw upon the Lord's grace and keep trusting in Him for the ability to apply His Word in our life.
The transformation into the likeness of Christ Jesus comes about as we renew our minds with the truth of His Word (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). And our minds are especially renewed as we keep before us the wondrous love and grace seen in our Lord Jesus Christ. By His grace our Lord Jesus will enable us to apply the challenges from His Word for His glory as we keep on walking with Him by faith.
So may we keep on laying down our life as a sacrifice to the Lord that is set apart to Him, drawing upon His grace and mercy to do so. (The word construction--especially the verb forms of the Greek text in 12:1--indicates that this is something we may resume every time we realize we have stopped laying down our life like God calls us to do.) Like the branches that produce grapes draw upon the vine for the needed nutrients to produce fruit, may our life produce spiritual fruit that is acceptable to the Lord Jesus as we draw upon His strength (John 15:1-13; cf. Philippians 4:13).
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008
Grace or Law, Freedom or Slavery
by Eldon DeBoer
What follows are additional explanations related to what is stated at the top of the page of this blog.
The sad commentary on the lives of many believers in Christ Jesus is that while they once understood that they have been delivered from their sins and eternal death by God's grace in Christ Jesus, they now are living their life under the Law. Sadly, many believers have become confused about God's grace plan for their life much like the Corinthians to whom Paul wrote long ago. The result is that they do not have the joy of true freedom in Christ but, sadly, they are living a life of slavery to rules and regulations that they think they have to obey in order to know that they are secure in their eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Just reading through 2 Corinthians 2:14 – 6:2 should cause us to draw these conclusions:
> The Law of Moses can only bring death.
> The Spirit of God is the One who gives life.
> In Christ there is freedom to be transformed into His likeness by His love and grace.
Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 3:6:
"[God] has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant (the contract agreement God signed with the blood of His Son) --not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
What is Paul’s main point? The Law of Moses had its God-given purpose. It brought death and illustrated the reasons for death. It was a message of condemnation (3:9). We have disobeyed God’s Word. We have sinned against God and therefore we die. Left to ourselves we will live in torment and be forever separated from God.
What is it that kills? What is it that can only produce death? It is God's Law that "was engraved in letters on stone" (3:7). Only the Spirit of God is able to make us alive in Christ through faith in Him (2 Corinthians 4:13-16; cf. 3:16). Only through faith in Christ is the veil of the Law taken away with its fading glory (3:14).
At the very moment that we believed in Jesus Christ, we died with Him when God identified us with Him in His death (5:15; cp. Ephesians 1:13-14). God has reconciled us to Himself by means of Christ’s work in our place (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Christ Jesus took our sin upon Himself so that we might receive God’s righteousness (5:21). Paul clearly taught that this was appropriated to us not by any works or obedience to God's Law (His rules) but by believing in Jesus Christ.
Consequently whenever any human effort or obedience is presented as a requirement to remain right with God and as a requirement for deliverance from sin or maintaining one’s eternal relationship with Christ Jesus, only confusion can result. There is the real danger of the veil remaining over the hearts of believers who once understood the grace message of the gospel but have become confused. Any true transformation into the likeness of Christ Jesus is impossible as long as the believer views his obedience as necessary in order to keep what God says that he already possesses--namely eternal life.
But don't take my word for it. Carefully study and think through what Paul is teaching, beginning in 2 Corinthians 3. You will probably find that this is not easy reading material. You are in good company. The Apostle Peter admitted that Paul's writings were "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:15-16) But keep working at it. The reward is fantastic. You might realize once again the freedom found in God's grace message for your life.
The mirror of God’s grace in Christ Jesus is blurred by setting forth any requirement of obedience to the Law or God's rules for maintaining one's eternal relationship with Christ Jesus. The message of grace in Christ is distorted. And consequently believers return to slavery to the Law.
The only way the Spirit of the Lord ministers and gives life is by turning to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, believing that He and He alone saves and guarantees everlasting life. He can give us life with God forever because of who He is and what He has done for us on the cross of Calvary. Likewise, the Spirit of the Lord is the One who brings about our transformation into the likeness of Christ by His grace as we keep fixing our eyes on Christ Jesus in faith, keeping in mind His love for us as we continue to trust Him for His strength to apply His Word.
Is obedience and pleasing the Lord Jesus important? Of course!!! But we experience the freedom of His grace only when we obey Him in gratitude for His love and for the many gifts He has given, not because we fear that if we do not keep obeying Him He will take away what He in fact has freely given us through faith in Him.
Jesus Christ made it possible for us to enter heaven by His suffering and death in our place. By believing in Him we receive everlasting life with Him. The wondrous love that Christ Jesus has for us includes our position in Him, giving us resurrection bodies and rewarding us for faithful service. Paul brought this into view in 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:13. Then he explained (the explanatory gar in the Greek text introduces 5:14) to the Corinthians that he and Timothy did what they did because they understood the significance of Jesus Christ's love for them:
2 Corinthians 5:14. For the love of Christ constrains (or motivates) us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15. and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
The love that Jesus Christ so clearly demonstrated to us by His suffering and death on the cross provides real substance for the meaning and application of grace in our life. In verse 14 Paul uses the verb sunecho (pres.act.ind.). It is translated “constrains” or “controls” in other English versions. How Paul uses this verb elsewhere helps us understand its meaning. When we comprehend the love Christ has for us, it "hems" us in (Luke 19:43), it "presses" us to act (Philippians 1:23). The grace demonstrated by the love of Jesus Christ has everything do with being properly motivated to please the Lord when we obey His commands. This is how the grace of God revealed by the love of Christ for us instructs and trains us (cf. Titus 2:11-14).
The only way the Spirit brings about transformation is by God’s grace in Christ Jesus. It is all His work in us and through us. When this is not the emphasis, when this is not understood and applied, there is a real danger that believers have received the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
We should not put up with a message that is a message of death that kills. Study Paul's concern for the believers in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. The false teaching that declares that God's rules must be kept in order to retain one's eternal relationship with Christ is in opposition to the message of grace. This false teaching will keep people in slavery to those rules. How can anyone rejoice in a message of condemnation and death? Yet, many believers today continue to "put up with it easily enough" (2 Corinthians 11:4 in the NIV), as is evident by what is commonly taught and practiced by many.
What follows are additional explanations related to what is stated at the top of the page of this blog.
The sad commentary on the lives of many believers in Christ Jesus is that while they once understood that they have been delivered from their sins and eternal death by God's grace in Christ Jesus, they now are living their life under the Law. Sadly, many believers have become confused about God's grace plan for their life much like the Corinthians to whom Paul wrote long ago. The result is that they do not have the joy of true freedom in Christ but, sadly, they are living a life of slavery to rules and regulations that they think they have to obey in order to know that they are secure in their eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Just reading through 2 Corinthians 2:14 – 6:2 should cause us to draw these conclusions:
> The Law of Moses can only bring death.
> The Spirit of God is the One who gives life.
> In Christ there is freedom to be transformed into His likeness by His love and grace.
Paul puts it this way in 2 Corinthians 3:6:
"[God] has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant (the contract agreement God signed with the blood of His Son) --not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
What is Paul’s main point? The Law of Moses had its God-given purpose. It brought death and illustrated the reasons for death. It was a message of condemnation (3:9). We have disobeyed God’s Word. We have sinned against God and therefore we die. Left to ourselves we will live in torment and be forever separated from God.
What is it that kills? What is it that can only produce death? It is God's Law that "was engraved in letters on stone" (3:7). Only the Spirit of God is able to make us alive in Christ through faith in Him (2 Corinthians 4:13-16; cf. 3:16). Only through faith in Christ is the veil of the Law taken away with its fading glory (3:14).
At the very moment that we believed in Jesus Christ, we died with Him when God identified us with Him in His death (5:15; cp. Ephesians 1:13-14). God has reconciled us to Himself by means of Christ’s work in our place (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Christ Jesus took our sin upon Himself so that we might receive God’s righteousness (5:21). Paul clearly taught that this was appropriated to us not by any works or obedience to God's Law (His rules) but by believing in Jesus Christ.
Consequently whenever any human effort or obedience is presented as a requirement to remain right with God and as a requirement for deliverance from sin or maintaining one’s eternal relationship with Christ Jesus, only confusion can result. There is the real danger of the veil remaining over the hearts of believers who once understood the grace message of the gospel but have become confused. Any true transformation into the likeness of Christ Jesus is impossible as long as the believer views his obedience as necessary in order to keep what God says that he already possesses--namely eternal life.
But don't take my word for it. Carefully study and think through what Paul is teaching, beginning in 2 Corinthians 3. You will probably find that this is not easy reading material. You are in good company. The Apostle Peter admitted that Paul's writings were "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:15-16) But keep working at it. The reward is fantastic. You might realize once again the freedom found in God's grace message for your life.
The mirror of God’s grace in Christ Jesus is blurred by setting forth any requirement of obedience to the Law or God's rules for maintaining one's eternal relationship with Christ Jesus. The message of grace in Christ is distorted. And consequently believers return to slavery to the Law.
The only way the Spirit of the Lord ministers and gives life is by turning to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, believing that He and He alone saves and guarantees everlasting life. He can give us life with God forever because of who He is and what He has done for us on the cross of Calvary. Likewise, the Spirit of the Lord is the One who brings about our transformation into the likeness of Christ by His grace as we keep fixing our eyes on Christ Jesus in faith, keeping in mind His love for us as we continue to trust Him for His strength to apply His Word.
Is obedience and pleasing the Lord Jesus important? Of course!!! But we experience the freedom of His grace only when we obey Him in gratitude for His love and for the many gifts He has given, not because we fear that if we do not keep obeying Him He will take away what He in fact has freely given us through faith in Him.
Jesus Christ made it possible for us to enter heaven by His suffering and death in our place. By believing in Him we receive everlasting life with Him. The wondrous love that Christ Jesus has for us includes our position in Him, giving us resurrection bodies and rewarding us for faithful service. Paul brought this into view in 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:13. Then he explained (the explanatory gar in the Greek text introduces 5:14) to the Corinthians that he and Timothy did what they did because they understood the significance of Jesus Christ's love for them:
2 Corinthians 5:14. For the love of Christ constrains (or motivates) us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15. and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
The love that Jesus Christ so clearly demonstrated to us by His suffering and death on the cross provides real substance for the meaning and application of grace in our life. In verse 14 Paul uses the verb sunecho (pres.act.ind.). It is translated “constrains” or “controls” in other English versions. How Paul uses this verb elsewhere helps us understand its meaning. When we comprehend the love Christ has for us, it "hems" us in (Luke 19:43), it "presses" us to act (Philippians 1:23). The grace demonstrated by the love of Jesus Christ has everything do with being properly motivated to please the Lord when we obey His commands. This is how the grace of God revealed by the love of Christ for us instructs and trains us (cf. Titus 2:11-14).
The only way the Spirit brings about transformation is by God’s grace in Christ Jesus. It is all His work in us and through us. When this is not the emphasis, when this is not understood and applied, there is a real danger that believers have received the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
We should not put up with a message that is a message of death that kills. Study Paul's concern for the believers in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. The false teaching that declares that God's rules must be kept in order to retain one's eternal relationship with Christ is in opposition to the message of grace. This false teaching will keep people in slavery to those rules. How can anyone rejoice in a message of condemnation and death? Yet, many believers today continue to "put up with it easily enough" (2 Corinthians 11:4 in the NIV), as is evident by what is commonly taught and practiced by many.
We are delivered from sin and death and receive eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ. And we are transformed into His likeness by His Spirit as we keep fixing our eyes on Him and His Word with faith in Him to enable us to obey.
"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:1-18).
We are free to become more like Him only as we obey Him in response to His love and grace.
If you have questions about any of the above, send me an e-mail (edeboer@tnics.com) and I'll be please to do my best to respond.
Like Paul did for the leaders of Ephesus, I entrust you to God "and the message of His grace which is able to build you up . . ." (Acts 20:32). Only this wonderful message of grace is able to build you up in your relationship with God.
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