Grace
The Divine Side and
Human Side of Salvation
by: Ivie Powell
I know of no subject that is being tossed about and abused as much as God's grace. Many toss out the word grace as some kind of magic word to solve any and all problems. God's grace is also used as a panacea for all of the ills of the human race. Some have even gone as far as to say that if God's grace will cover doctrinal sins it will cover moral sins. Of course, if that is the case then why preach the gospel to a lost and dying world?! Why try to get erring brethren to repent? Besides that, where in the Scriptures does it state God's grace will cover either moral or doctrinal sins without one doing God's will?!
The Greek word for grace is charis and can be found almost 200 times in the Scriptures. It's meaning is "unmerited favor." In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul writes, "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." These verses do not teach salvation by grace only not do they teach salvation by faith only! Some would have us to believe that God's grace eliminates obedience, but such is simply not the case. The Hebrew writer informs us: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:8-9). Peter says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth..." (1 Peter 1:22). What causes one to repent of his sins but the love, mercy and grace of God, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4)?
The sustaining power of God's grace, when properly understood, is that which motivates the child of God. By properly understanding the grace of God, I do not mean one can fully comprehend such marvelous love, but one can understand the teaching of God's grace as revealed in Scripture. Far too many, however, want to "juice up" the worship services and the life of a Christian to some kind of Pentecostal pep rally! An example of one truly motivated by the grace of God was the apostle Paul. "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 laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).
Our hearts are truly stirred by such passages at 1 Peter 1:18-19, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." And 1 Peter 2:24, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." When one sees what God's amazing grace did at Calvary, he (if he truly loves God, John 14:15) will respond by faith (John 8:24), repentance (Acts 2:38), confession (Matthew 10:32), and baptism (Acts 2:38). Not only will he do that, but he will live the Christ like life (Colossians 3:1-2).
While Scripture certainly teaches that a child of God can fall from grace: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4), this does not mean there is no security for the child of God! Our heavenly Father does not want us to live a life of doubt and fear. He assures us that: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1). Observe Romans 8:1 carefully. He is not stating that simply because one is a child of God he is not condemned! Rather, the child of God "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" is the one that is not condemned! Such a one can lay his head on the pillow each night safe and secure because he has the assurance that as he has walked in the light (1 John 1:7), Christ's blood has cleansed him of his sins, and he has the hope of eternal life (1 John 5:11-13).
Some have erroneously concluded because we are not under the law of Moses that we are not under any kind of law. When Paul said: "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14), he is not stating that we are without law or a lawless people! For if we were without law we could not sin: "Because that law worketh wrath, for where not law is there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15). Again Paul says: "For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed where there is not law" (Romans 5:13). The gospel of Christ is itself "a law of faith" (Romans 3:27) and is referred to as "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25). Brother Rex A. Turner commenting on grace and law wrote: "As for the affirmation that grace excludes all law, how does such an assertion comport with Isaiah's statement that 'out of Zion shall go forth the law,' and with Paul's statement, 'Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ?' (Isaiah 2:3, Galatians 6:2)." ("Saved By Grace," The Spiritual Sword, January 1976, p. 21).
The grace system includes, not excludes, the law of Christ (Romans 3:27)! God's grace demands works of obedience (Titus 2:11-12, James 2:24-26). Furthermore, "the law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:2) is the gospel of Christ. Therefore, grace and law are not mutually exclusive!
In discussing the grace of God, many are too ambiguous, inconsistent, and confusing. Some just out right teach false doctrine concerning the grace of God. It is true that "When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10), but that is not to say there isn't a part man plays in his salvation! Note Philippians 2:12, "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." No, one does not merit salvation: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). In man's salvation there is the Divine side, which is God's grace in sending His Son to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16), and there is the human side - man's faith responding to the will of God (Acts 2:37-38, Philippians 2:12). one cannot become a child of God by simply relying on the love, mercy and grace of God. One must do God's will (Matthew 7:21-23). Note Acts 9:6, "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go unto the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." It was in the city of Damascus that Ananias told Saul, the sinner, what to do to be saved. "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). The conversion of Saul clearly sets forth the Divine side and the human side in man's salvation.
Beloved, the "God of all grace" (1 Peter 5:10) and "peace" (Romans 15:33) sent forth "The prince of peace" (Isaiah 9:6), who in turn gave the "gospel of peace" (Romans 10:15), which is "the word of his grace" (Acts 20:32), that if obeyed (Hebrews 5:8-9), will give one access to "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) which will result in "the God of love and peace" (2 Corinthians 13:11) being with them.
Yes, we are saved by faith, but not faith only; by grace, but not grace only; by baptism, but not baptism only, and by works, but not works only. The amazing grace of God has made salvation possible, not because we deserve it or can merit it. Through man's obedience of the gospel (Hebrews 5:8-9) and by "walking in the light" (1 John 1:7), heaven will be his.
Have you accepted the grace of God by obeying the gospel of Christ? If not, why not do so as Saul and every case of conversion recorded in the book of Acts - believe that Jesus is God's Son (John 8:24), repent of your sins (Luke 13:3), confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 10:32), and be immersed for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38) and the Lord will add you to the church wherein are the saved (Acts 2:47)?