Gates of the City

I hear it all the time, how God loves us all unconditionally. Over the years of having conducted services at a mandatory rehab for people whose crimes were drug related, ministered at homeless shelters and having countless conversations with “believers” who readily admit they are not walking with God as they should, I frequently run into those who enthusiastically confess to me how they know, absolutely know, that God loves them unconditionally and that He accepts them just as they are.

This has led me into many discussions with people about what it means to “believe” and what exactly this “grace” is that these people are boasting about since they know they are saved because of it.  Sadly, many have no real understanding of what grace really is, they simply repeat what they were once told, “It is unmerited favor.” It is as if people are convinced that when God looks at them He has on some special “Jesus only” colored glasses because they think God only sees Jesus when He looks at them and not themselves for how they truly are.

Grace is truly an amazing gift of God given to the believer, but there are four things about grace we can readily know from scripture –

1. Grace is sufficient

2. Grace can be frustrated

3. Grace while working similarly in all God’s children, still has a uniqueness to it purpose as it is given to each of us

4. Grace can be received in vain.

First, regarding grace’s sufficiency in the life of the believer, we can see how Paul was assure by God that His grace was suffice to see Paul through whatever he had to endure.

2Co 12:9 And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Here we see how Paul learned that he would rather place his confidence in God’s grace given unto him than have to rely on his own strength or power. Therefore Paul learned that it was in his weaknesses he was able to experience God to a fullness that he couldn’t experience in those areas where his own strength or wisdom were adequate, such as making and mending tents. But when it came to his salvation and doing the work of the ministry, fighting the fight and running the race, Paul knew full well he could not do those things apart from God’s grace given unto him.

Furthermore, the fact that God have given unto Paul such grace, he was fully aware of his need to take full advantage of it and not exhaust it lest he fall short of God’s calling  given unto him.

1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Often times I will use the example when speaking to people about grace that God’s grace towards us is not unlike this scenario.  Say someone has a need to be somewhere but they have no way or means to get there. They are at an impasse and do not know what they are going to do because they have to get there or the consequences will be severe if they fail to do so. Upon hearing of their plight I offer unto them my car, to which they say, “Great, but I have no money for gas.” I tell them no worries, I will fill up the tank and that will be more than sufficient to get them there.

They are now thrilled, because they are now confident that they can safely make the trip because they have been given all they need for the journey, but on their way they get side track. Since they believe there is more than enough time and “more than sufficient” gas, they decide to take the liberty to go elsewhere and sightsee other places along the way. Now, because they get caught up in the new found liberty, they are carelessly driving around and exhausting the gas. Soon they attempt to turn around towards their destination and suddenly to their surprise the car abruptly stops out of gas!

This is not unlike the parable of the ten virgins Jesus gave us or the warning in Hebrews 4 –

Heb 4:1  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

There was no more reason for them to run out of gas anymore than there was a reason why God’s promise to the Israelites to give them the promise land wasn’t realized by those to whom it was given. Yet we too are warned of like consequences, the possibility of coming short of our destination. But we can clearly see that God gave them a promise . . . and all the promises of God are yea and amen! How could it be that they didn’t have the promise fulfilled?

Nu 14:34 After the number of the days in which you searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall you bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know My breach of promise. 35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

What? God told them they would know His breach of promise? How could this be? Surely God did love them . . . and God is no respecter of person, correct? What did Peter say when God gave him his revelation concerning the Gentiles?

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feares Him, and works righteousness, is accepted with Him.

Secondly, scriptures clearly say God’s grace can undeniably be frustrated.

Ga 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Paul makes it clear; God gave unto him a grace that was sufficient to enable him to do all which God had called him to do. This grace given wasn’t because of any sacrificed animal under the Levitical priesthood or because of any of Paul’s own doing. Rather, this grace was founded upon what God did through Christ so Paul could be washed and justified of his sins and then filled with spirit of Christ in him, the hope of glory. It was this indwelling that enabled Paul to do and be all God required of him . . . just like God desires to work in us so we too can fulfill that which God requires of each and everyone who names the name of Christ.

Heb 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Ro 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.

Because of the blood of Christ, Paul was justified of his sins, forgiven and sanctified enabling him to be fit for the indwelling and empowering of the Spirit of Christ.

Ga 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

1Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Thirdly, grace while working similarly in all God’s children, still has a uniqueness to it purpose as it is given to each of us. Each of us, when we come to Christ, has been given a unique gift and measure of grace accordingly.  Now please do not confuse this “measure of grace” with that grace whereby we all are saved. However, be not deceived, that saving grace which sets us frees from our sins is what allows this added “sufficient” measure of grace to enable us to do and be that which God requires of us. Without it we could neither be saved by our own selves any more than we could fulfill the area of ministry assign to us by the Spirit of God.

Ro 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.

1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Notice the phrase, “the manifold grace of God.” That Greek word which as translated manifold is the same word used in the following verse –

1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.

Certainly, we would not assume there is only one manner of temptation, why then would we assume there is only one manner of grace given unto all of us? This same Greek word is only used ten times in scripture and only in Peter’s epistle is it translated “manifold,” everywhere else it was translated “divers,” or diverse, (see Mt 4:24; Mr 1:34; Lu 4:40; 2Ti 3:6; Tit 3:3; Heb 2:4; Heb 13:9; Jas 1:2; 1Pe 1:6; 1Pe 4:10).

God in His wisdom has done this in order to fitly join us together so we may work together in faith and love, doing the work of the ministry and so as lively stones placed together we could begin to comprehend what it the height, breadth and depth of His great love for us all –

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Beloved saint, God has saved, cleansed, filled and equipped you for a specific function in His body. This is crucial information, for we cannot afford to neglect the full working of the Gospel of Jesus Christ lest we too come short of what He has promised us . . . which brings us to our next point.

Point number four, God’s grace can be received in vain. Grace is so much more than “unmerited favor.” God’s grace is the power of God to deliver us from our sins and equipping us for our unique ministry unto Him and others. It is the divine indwelling of Christ Himself empowering us, moving us ever towards victory and making us overcomers. It is by this grace and grace alone we are what we are, (or can be when we mature in Christ), or as Paul said, “I am what I am.”

1Co 15:10 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.

2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Likewise, we all must be sober and recognize that the Kingdom of God suffers violence and they who take it must take by force. Not by our own force, but by the force/power which works in us mightily as we exercise our faith in Christ and do what He has called us to do.  Like James says, faith works. Faith works because it is the consequence of hearing God’s word and receiving His grace to enable us to be faithful. None of us would be content to have a friend or a spouse and lover who simply “believes” in us. We would expect and settle for nothing less than faithfulness, and rightly so, because that is the mature end of a love perfected by grace. Faith = works = faithfulness. It is that simple.

Sadly, some who believe that God loves them unconditionally and accepted that grace is merely “unmerited favor” will foolishly give way to the flesh and continue as friends of the world and not lovers of Christ keeping His words because they think it doesn’t matter since, after all,  God loves them unconditionally.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. 24 He that loves Me not keeps not My sayings: and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.

Right there in verse 23 is the biggest word in the bible, and often the most overlooked, “if.” Wherever there is an “if” in the scriptures there is also a “then.” That little word has enormous meaning; it is a qualifier, a condition. That little “if” is a razor sharp edge on the sword of the spirit that cuts through all the pretense and good intentions to the very heart of every man’s faith and belief in God. So much so that the Beloved Apostle John had this to say –

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, [then] we [God and us] have fellowship one with another, and [then] the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The very first act of faith is the work of repentance, faithfulness to the commandment of Christ to all men.

Ac 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world

1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy.

Sadly, many professors today who readily say Lord, Lord, concerning Jesus Christ, will one day find they have exhausted the sufficient grace of God, frustrating it by their faithlessness because they have neglected that measure of grace, or the proverbial “talent” Christ entrusted them with for His glory. These are they who will one day find they were actually goats and not sheep when the Lord returns to separate those professing Him.

This is a very serious matter, because God has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that more than enable us to be separate from the world, doers and not hearers only of His word, we are called to be glorious partakers of His divine nature, Christ formed in us.

1Pe 1:3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Let us not be as those that will suffer a greater condemnation than those who sinned in the Old Testament –

Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Lest any be given to a fear from which they cannot recover, or embrace a belief that has no power to free them, the “willful sin” in verse 26 was addressed to the Jewish Christians who because of their persecution by their own countrymen (consider these words carefully) were returning to animal sacrifices after coming to the knowledge that Jesus alone was the acceptable sacrifice for sins. However, many today also reject the grace given them out of fear, or peer pressure, or want and they too trodden underfoot the Son of God as they run off to commit sin because they have been taught to think the blood of the covenant is like some common unholy thing they can go back to anytime they want, just like they would to the store for a Band-Aid.  They go around doing whatever they want despite the Spirit of Grace which was given them to make them the children of God partakers of His own nature. Consider again what the Beloved Apostle John said –

1Jo 3:6 Whosoever abides in Him sins not: whosoever sins has not seen Him, neither known Him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. 8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.

Yes, it is true, God’s love is unconditional, which is clearly evident by the verse most often quoted –

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Note, God unconditionally loves everyone; He gave His only Son to die for their sins. But the benefit of that sacrifice only extends to those who believe . . .  and concerning those who believe Christ said they “should not perish,” not shall not, or could not or would not, reader beware. Jesus tells us by His word we are clean, not because He said, “Be ye clean,” rather because we have kept it by the grace He has given unto us.

John 15:3 Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Now listen to His prayer to the Father –

John 17:6  I have manifested Your name unto the men which You gavest me out of the world: Yours they were, and You gave them to Me; and they have kept Your word. 17  Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth.

Yes, yes, yes, God’s love is unconditional all, but not His promises . . . they are conditional, because He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness whereby they may be fulfilled in us.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as you know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Peace.