The Truth About Grace
The Lord has made His own name to be a litmus test. One may examine himself at any juncture, to determine his own heart feelings toward Jesus Christ.
The wicked will dismiss the King of glory all day long, denying His deity, His power, or even His existence. When trouble visits them, however, they do not think twice about questioning where God was in that tragedy, or cursing in His name, with His name.
Love for God, that is, love for the truth is devoid in the worldly-minded, who are without the Holy Spirit (2 Thess 2:10; Jude 1:19). For one to have the Spirit of God is a sovereign act of God (Jn 14:26), who has mercy upon whom He wills to have mercy (Rom 9:15). Everything that ensues is grace to the believer.
The regenerate, spiritual man understands grace (1 Cor 2:15; 2 Cor 8:1, 9; 2 Pet 1:2). He looks for it in everything that God does to benefit His people. He prays, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, after Thy manner with those who love Thy Name (Ps 119:132).” God is gracious to His people, Israel, those who love the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 6:24; Rom 8:28), whose love is incorruptible.
Love and grace originate with God (Ps 84:11; 1 Jn 4:7, 19), and are found exclusively in Jesus Christ (Rom 8:39). It is an error to ask the totally depraved reprobate to self-generate love for God or manipulate God to give grace, in exchange for works of obedience. Grace is also not an enablement for sinners or saints. It is God at work. The Christian loves God and her neighbor because God first loved her (1 Jn 4:19). Who has poured out His love in her heart (Rom 5:5)? Who is living in her, so that her life might be a grace-worked life of faith (Gal 2:20)?
Grace is from God, in Christ, and worked by the Holy Spirit. It is the work of God for the benefit of His beloved. The church of Jesus Christ is the object of God’s grace. Every good gift and perfect gift comes from God (Jas 1:17), who freely gives, expecting nothing in return. He does the work, and His work brings glory to Him.
Foolish Galatians (legalists), who wish to be back under the Law, preach blessing for obedience. They are ever putting a yoke of bondage on other Christians. They are detected by their articles, books, and sermons that have checklist titles, like, “7 Requirements for a blessed life,” or “5 keys to making revival happen.” They have Christianity utterly backwards.
In truth, grace makes it happen for the saints. What is “it”? It is everything in the Christian’s life. Blessing is a product of grace, but so is obedience. Scripture is clear that Christian faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Sadly, many Christians will take credit for their righteous works, claiming these works come from a heart of worship. They love the game of performance, which makes them look good in the eyes of men. They deny God, in this, and they deny it is His grace at work, doing the work. Otherwise, they would be quick to give Him the credit and the glory. In truth, God is willing and doing His good pleasure, in the Christian and for the Christian (Phil 2:13).
The agent of grace is the Holy Spirit, who is fully committed to the sanctification of the justified before God (1 Thess 4:3; 1 Pet 1:2). God makes His called out ones to be holy, by His gracious work (sanctification). The Bible tells the Christian to, “fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:13).” In the meantime, the Holy Spirit causes believers to walk in His statutes (Ezek 36:27), by His wisdom and power (1 Cor 1:24). He is the Potter; and the saints are His redeemed clay pots, undergoing an extreme makeover (Jer 18:1–4; Rom 9:21).
The failed operation of man, especially in government, is obvious, by endless examples from history. When a believer is caused to be born again (1 Pet 1:3), he submits to one Lord and one Leader, who is Christ (Mt 23:10; Eph 4:5). The slave of Christ is waiting attentively (Is 40:31; Eph 6:6), even as the Spirit has been teaching him (Jn 14:26). Men do not do good works, but God does all things well. When God is at work in one of His elect, redeemed, regenerate people, then good works prepared by God beforehand (Eph 2:10) begin to manifest, with all credit being given to God (Rom 15:17–19).
Just as justification is not a self-designed, self-generated, self-motivated, self-directed, nor a self-adjudicated enterprise, to gain right standing before the Holy God, so sanctification is all of God (Jn 17:17; 1 Thess 4:3; 1 Pet 1:2). Popular are the endless books by Arminian authors on the Christian life. Their “how to” approach to Christian living is as man-centered as their books on free will decisionalism. They spare little paper in exalting man, his choice, and his obligation to be obedient to God, without mention of grace. Or if they do mention grace, they pervert its meaning to be “enablement.”
When it comes to the judgment of God, the Arminian points to God grading on a curve, unless they are so brash, as was John Wesley, in teaching the false doctrine of perfectionism. In contrast, those lovers of grace rest in Christ’s person and work, to attain and maintain their position of righteousness. Lovers of grace also delight in giving credit to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit for every development in their Christian walk. His name, which they love, is everything to them.
Christian, is God’s glory primary in your thoughts, words, and good works? Examine yourself. Are you working for God’s favor and blessing? Then, you have turned Christianity upside down. You must repent and reorient. God’s love and grace, as motive and outworking, position you as heir and beneficiary (what kind of work do heirs and beneficiaries do?). You have received all His spiritual blessings without working for them (Rom 4:5; Eph 1:3). They are a gift that you do not have to decide to receive. God wills and works for you to have them; otherwise, you do not have them.
What must you do now? The same thing you did at first. Trusting in Christ has afforded you justification, and now, you must trust in the Spirit of Christ, who is accomplishing everything that concerns you (Ps 57:2; 138:8). Your narrow path to the glory of heaven is secure because you have this promise from His Word (Phil 1:6), and you also have the promise of His Spirit, from heaven, richly dwelling in you (Rom 8:9, 11). Ask for His Spirit to teach you and guide you into the truth of grace (Jn 16:13). Ask for grace from God, who alone works grace, and behold the manner in which His love will manifest in you and through you for His glory and your delight.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 2, 2022
