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."

“THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT

A lot of times, people, especially Christians, are prone to say, “I thank God we’re not under law; we’re under grace”; and there is that tendency to sort of put down the Law of God. The Law of God is good; it is righteous; it is holy. The Law of God is the right way to live in your relationship with God and your relationship with other people. This world would be a much better place if everybody lived by the Law of God. It could be a beautiful place if everybody lived by the Law of God.

There is nothing wrong with the Law of God; we should seek to keep the Law of God. My faith in Jesus does not release me from the necessity of seeking to keep the Law of God. But the Law of God cannot make me perfect. That’s where people make a mistake---in seeking to be righteous by the Law of God or in seeking to have a righteous standing by keeping the Law of God.

Keeping the Law of God will not make you righteous. We are made righteous through our faith in Jesus Christ, apart from the works of the Law. But by coming into this relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and the subsequent infilling of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit within my life gives me the power to do what I could not do in my flesh, that is, to obey the will of God [and the will of God for us is found in the Law of God]. It’s not that God has set aside His Law or abrogated the Law or has now a whole new standard for us as Christians; the standard of God is still the Law. The power now to keep the Law is given to us by the Holy Spirit.”

[Written comment of Pastor Chuck Smith, quoted from page 616 of “The Word For Today Bible, New King James Version”. Pastor Chuck Smith is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, Costa Mesa, CA. Calvary Chapel is a very Grace oriented denomination.]