What is the “Grace of God”? What is
the “grace of God”, anyway? The
two major doctrinally distinct sides of the body of Christ--Torah observant
(whether Messianic or Sabbatarian) and the new covenant “faith in Jesus is totally
sufficient” group--have a wide difference in
how they define the grace of God. But
there is a real and very strange phenomenon found within both groups. There can often be found within both groups--many Holy Spirit led and inspired members
living the same identical Christian lifestyle!
How could this be? Next logical
question you might ask--“How could I come to such a conclusion, and
how do I know my conclusion is accurate?”
This would be the honest and logical question any Christian leader
might ask me. Well in order to
make such an observation, I would have to have been in a good position
to observe a good quantity of believers in each group, and to
have done so over a sufficiently long period of time. I have been in just such a position. I spent 25 years in a Torah observant Sabbatarian
Christian church [called a legalist church by many], and the last ten
years in churches (both Messianic and Gentile Christian) that come from
the “faith
in Jesus is totally sufficient” group. If I can observe believers in Jesus Christ from
both groups, all living the same basic Christian lifestyle,
then I can safely say that both groups have definitions of the grace
of God which are deviating from or at variance with the reality of what
the grace of God really is, as spelled out in the Word of God. That is my conclusion. How dangerous is it for a group of Christians
to have a false or insufficient understanding of the grace of God? It is very dangerous. Why?
Because very sincere believers can be led into wrong Christian
lifestyles by following wrong or insufficient teaching on the grace
of God, and those wrong lifestyles can then quench the Spirit of God
in those believers lives. In the final analysis, this can spiritually
weaken and sabotage a whole denomination!
So where would I look to find a proper Biblical description of
grace? The grace of God is not an easily perceived
doctrine that is clearly spelled out in Scripture, like some other doctrines.
So I would look for a Holy Spirit inspired man who sees the doctrinal
errors and misconceptions that each group has in their understanding
and definition of the grace of God. I have found
just such a man. Funny thing
is, I wrote an article about the grace of God before watching John Bevere’s
video “Holiness, Journey to God’s Presence”.
Basically--and here’s the amazing thing--we agree in our definition
and perspective of what the grace of God really is, 100 percent!
My article is basically at a school child’s level of understanding. His is at the college level. My article is titled “What is Grace?” His is titled “Holiness, Journey to God’s Presence”,
and is a transcript of his video by that same title. John’s ministry is basically non-denominational,
just like mine--one of those ministries inspired by the Lord to help
strengthen and unify the body of Christ across denominational lines
in these perilous times we live in.
Both groups I have described above have fallen into their own
particular doctrinal “ditch” in their misunderstanding and teaching
of what the grace of God is. Each
“ditch” can and does hinder and seriously endanger the spiritual growth
of the believers within that group.
Learn how by reading the articles in this section titled “What
is Grace?”. Your very spiritual existence and future eternal
life may be at stake here, it’s just that serious. So, what is the grace of God? You’ll have to read the articles in this section
to learn and get a true perspective on what the grace of God is. It’ll breathe new life into your walk with Jesus
and your whole Christian life! So
don’t hesitate. These articles
will re-enforce some of what you understand and remove some of the false
concepts that hinder your spiritual growth and walk with Jesus. To remain in either ditch is dangerous. Find out what those “ditches” are, to the left
and right of the road of “God’s grace.”
Sincerely,
the editor |
