SWORDS Bible Study:  What Is the Grace Doctrine Part 3

by Mari

Many religions and so called Christian Churches teach mixed up or false doctrines.

We have been warned by our Apostle Paul many times to beware of false teachers and here is a good example:

Rom 16:17-18  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Paul also told us: Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Evidently the Galatians were being taught another gospel by false teachers within the group of believers!

It was the same with the Corinthians as Paul said:

2Co 11:13-15  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

We have been warned!

We need to be very careful who we study with and who ministers the doctrines of God to us.  Are they mixing up false doctrines with a bit of truth here and there? Or are they the clear, rightly divided, Biblical doctrines of God?  Are you taking what is taught and making sure for yourself it is true… “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”? (2 Tim 2:15)

False doctrines usually come from either a position of Bible doubt or a mixture of teaching law and grace.  Mixing up what was for Israel and what is for us today. Mixing up prophecy and mystery.  Often making Peter our Apostle and ignoring that the risen Jesus Christ raised up a new Apostle, Paul to bring a new gospel he received of the Lord Jesus, to testify to the world the gospel of the grace of God. 

Act_20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Often a pastor today has no idea what rightly dividing (2Timothy 2:15) is all about, nor do they have any idea what the revelation of the mystery is all about…therefore he is not teaching you according to the gospel of the Apostle Paul, the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has the power to establish you! You may be un-established and in a false gospel….but have a very social gospel that feels good and seems spiritual, but is without truth and saves no one.

Rom_16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

So on this basis, let us compare what Peter taught to the Jews and Israel, and what Paul was teaching the Gentiles which is our message for today.  What the grace doctrine is all about.  Let us make sure you are not receiving a mixed up gospel with no doctrinal truth!

When the Apostle Peter preached at Pentecost (Acts 2), he rightly accused his brethren of crucifying the Son of God (Acts 2:23; 3:14-15). How did the Jews respond? They were pricked in their hearts, frightened, and wanted to know what to do! (Acts 2:37).  What did Peter tell them to do?

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Jews being under the Law were first commanded by the Apostle Peter to repent of their sin of crucifying Jesus Christ the Son of God, their Messiah!  Second, they were commanded to do the work of being water baptized for the remission of sins! And third, they were to do another work of having hands laid on them to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

And with all of this… their salvation was still future! It is future because Jesus said to Israel that those who endured to the end would be saved. (Matthew 24:13) 

Let us contrast this to what the Apostle Paul taught and how our salvation is immediate today!

Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Today we do not do include any works we do or have done in attaining our salvation, we simply trust/believe on what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. He justified us and our faith is counted for righteousness.  So when we believe, we are immediately justified and counted righteous in Christ, being sealed by the Holy Spirit and saved forever! 

Eph_1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

We are saved forever. We are made a new creature. We are awaiting only the redemption of the body!

2Co_5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Of course as saints of God we should do the good works God wants us to do, but it is not our works that matter for our salvation, but the work that Christ has already accomplished for us on the cross. We today are saved instantly upon believing on the finished work of Christ.  It is our joy in God that we have now received the atonement!

Rom 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

See the tremendous difference? The Jews had to repent, be water baptized for the remission of their sins, hands laid on them to receive the Holy Ghost, and they still were waiting for a future salvation after enduring to the end.

We on the other hand, in this present dispensation of grace are saved by grace through faith alone! Not by any work we have done, else we would boast and not give the glory where it belongs, with God!

Simply believing on the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved! We are instantly upon believing, baptized into the death of Christ, as well as sealed by the Holy Spirit, made a new creature, a member of the body of Christ.  This is all done by the Holy Spirit through the operation of God!  We simply believed; God did all the work! (Col 2:12; Eph 1:3; 2Cor 5:17; 1Cor 12:27)

Our baptism is not in water for the remission of sins, our baptism is being buried with Him in baptism. Baptism into Christ is identification with Christ. We become crucified with Christ without ever touching water.  (Gal 2:20).

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Col_2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Gal 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.

Eph_3:2  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

This difference is the difference between law and grace!

Even the carnal Corinthians, who had believed on the work Jesus Christ did on the cross were saved and sealed by the Spirit (2 Co 1:22), because our salvation does NOT depend on what WE DO, it depends on what CHRIST DID for us at Calvary.

Listen to God’s clear warnings and instructions. Do not be taken in by false teaching and doctrines of men. The way not to be taken in is to study the word of God yourself and prove what is taught is good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 Rom_12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

To do less is to count others more important than God, and as we are the servant of Christ we certainly want to please God, not man.  

Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

(More contrasts next week)