Rev Dr Colin Hurt
At the present time there is an emphasis concerning the grace of God that is spreading around the world. Often there is an imbalance because only one aspect of grace, unmerited favour, is being taught. Let us examine four aspects of grace that are found in God’s word.
ASPECT ONE – SAVING GRACE
Eph 2:8-10 NIV (8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— (9) not by works, so that no one can boast. (10) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
This salvation is entirely by grace. There is no work we can do to merit it, or it would not be by grace. Although this salvation is not procured by good works, its purpose is to produce good works.
There are two concepts being taught which distort the New Testament truth about saving grace. The first one is that God’s love is unconditional. That is not the teaching of Jesus.
THE CONDITIONAL LOVE OF THE FATHER FOR THE SON
Jn 10:17-18 NIV The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. (18) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Please note carefully what Jesus is saying. There has always been an eternal love between the Father and the Son. The continued love of God was contingent upon Christ obeying the commandment of the Father. The commandment was that he should lay down his life. Please note that this did not initiate the love – it maintained the love.
THE CONDITIONAL LOVE OF THE FATHER FOR THE SONS
Jn 14:21 NIV Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
This is very important. The only way to demonstrate our love for Jesus is by obedience. This is the only way to be loved by the Father. It is the only way to be loved by Jesus. We see that in the New Testament the love of God is conditional not unconditional.
The second concept being taught which distorts the truth of salvation by grace is that all sins, past, present and future are already forgiven. This is not stated anywhere in the New Testament. In fact there are several conditions given. I will quote only two:
(i) 1Jn 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
(ii) Mat 6:14-15 NIV For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (15) But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
This means that sins are not forgiven unless we first of all forgive others and demonstrates that Jesus had no concept of future sins already being forgiven.
ASPECT TWO – STRENGTHENING GRACE
Act 20:32 NIV Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
God’s grace not only saves us, it also builds us up. This shows that grace is not only unmerited favour, it is also the active power of God in our lives.
2Co 12:9 NIV But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
This is another facet of the strengthening grace of God. It enables us to cope with situations which in the natural would be beyond our ability to endure.
ASPECT THREE – SANCTIFYING GRACE
Tit 2:11-12 NIV For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. (12) It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
True grace gives us instructions. Once again, this is far more than unmerited favour. It is the sanctifying effect of grace. Firstly it gives us negative instructions. It tells us to reject ungodliness and worldly passions. Then it gives us positive instructions on how to live, with self control, uprightness and godliness.
ASPECT FOUR – SERVING GRACE
Rom 1:5 NIV Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
1Co 15:9-10 NIV For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (10) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
2Co 8:1-2 NIV And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. (2) Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
All of the above texts demonstrate that the genuine grace of God will produce within us the desire, ability and energy to serve God in his world and church. If we do not demonstrate this service in our lives, we have no evidence that we really have received the grace of God.
These four aspects of grace show us that it is far more than just unmerited favour. We can be certain that we have received the true grace of God only when all four aspects are evidenced in our lives.