Grace

Grace

“By Sylvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.” 1 Pet. 5:12.

Even in the apostles’ days grace had become so perverted that it was necessary to testify that they were standing in the true grace.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward 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.” 1 Cor. 15:10.

Here we can see what true grace can accomplish. Jesus came full of grace and truth. John 1:14. Seeing that grace has such great power, we realize that it was important for Satan to pervert it. Therefore Jude considered it necessary to write to them and exhort them to fight for the faith that was delivered to the saints. “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4.

The faith that was delivered to the saints is the faith of victory over our opposer, the devil; in other words, victory over sin. Luke 18:2-8; 1 John 3:8.

Those who pervert grace use it in place of an overcoming life, but true grace chastens us to an overcoming life. Tit. 2:11-13. Their intention is to magnify grace so much that it doesn’t matter what we do. Then everything is grace. They are saved by grace, and they are going to be in the bride and be kings and priests—all by grace without overcoming, without being trained for such a life.

It is therefore quite plain to see that those who stand in this false grace never come to a life of victory over sin; they do not grow up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4:13.

Paul had become a great apostle by God’s grace, and by grace he had labored more than they all. The evidence for standing in the true grace is that we grow. 2 Pet. 3:18.

There are many different kinds of doctrines that lead people astray, and the evidence of it is that these doctrines which they defend do not profit them. They are not set free indeed from sin. However, we are strengthened by true grace. We receive strength to overcome. Heb. 13:9.