By: Stephen Johnson
Key Scriptures
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- Titus 2:11-14
- 1 Peter 2:11
- James 1:14
- James 6:7-9
There is a lot of confusion around the subject of Grace, what it is and what it isn’t. There is a true grace as well as a false grace message that has filled churches and social media ministries. There are views and doctrines that are contradictory to one another.
In this article we will look into saving grace and how the Grace of God “trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives..”(Titus 2:11-14 ESV).
To know and understand Grace, we must look to the Word of God and depend on the Holy Spirit to “rightly divide the Word of truth”(2 Timothy 2:15). We must be as wise as the Bereans mentioned in Acts 17:11:
Acts 17:11
Amplified Bible
11 Now these people were more noble and open-minded than those in Thessalonica, so they received the message [of salvation through faith in the Christ] with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
What is Saving Grace?
Ephesians 2:8-9 AMP
8For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].
It is established in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are saved by Grace alone and NOT by works. The works that we do as a result of our salvation should be our response to the grace that we have recieved, and those works should come from the heart, not obligation. Our love for Christ should be the motivating factor in the works that we do in His name.
Colossians 3:23-24 AMP
23Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
We have nothing in ourselves that will commend us to God (Romans 3:10-11)—we have no “saving grace” on our own. Being fundamentally unacceptable to God, we ask, along with Jesus’ disciples, “How can we be saved?” Jesus’ answer is reassuring: “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:26-27). Salvation is God’s work. He gives the grace we need. Our “saving grace” is Christ Himself. His work on the cross is what saves us, not our own merit.(1)
What is Enabling Grace?
Titus 2:11-13 AMP
11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Enabling grace refers to the power of God’s grace to enable Christians to live godly, obedient lives. Through enabling grace, God not only saves us, but gives us new hearts, strength, and everything we need to follow and honor Him.
The key idea behind enabling grace is that keeping God’s commands and living righteously is only possible through God’s supernatural help. As humans, our sinful nature constantly pulls us from God’s ways and makes obedience difficult. But in His mercy, God equips us through His Holy Spirit working within us and empowering our choices.(2)
What opposes the Enabling Grace in our Lives?
The short answer to this questions is, our carnal nature.
In the Bible, the carnal nature is a term that refers to a person’s self-centered and selfish way of living, and is said to be the root of sin:
Meaning:
The term “carnal” comes from the Greek word sarkikos, which means “fleshly”. It describes a state of arrested spiritual development.
Romans 6:15-16: The Grace of God is not a ‘license’ to sin and not walk in a lifestyle of repentance.
Romans 7:19-25: Describes Paul the Apostle’s struggle with the carnal nature.
Romans 8:5-6: Describes being carnally minded as setting your mind on the things of the flesh.
Romans 8:6: Describes the carnal mind as an enmity against God.
2 Corinthians 10:4: Describes the weapons of warfare as not carnal, but mighty through God.
1 Peter 2:11: Describes the war that is waged on the soul.
James 1:14: Describes the leading away by our own fleshly desires.
Galatians 6:7-9: What are we feeding the most in our daily lives….the flesh(carnal nature) or our spirit?
Conclusion:
We have established the fact that we are saved by Grace and not by our own works. We have also established the real purpose of the Grace of God. It is NOT a license or excuse for us to sin with no heart of repentance. For those who struggle and are caught in addictions and desire with their whole heart to be sanctified, His enabling Grace is made available to you. Remember that we read in Titus 2:11 that His Grace “trains us”. Training is not done overnight. It is a process…the process of sanctification powered by the Grace of The Holy Spirit.
In this article we focus more on the FALSE grace message that is prevelant in our society and culture today. We will look into the ‘Greasy’ and ‘Hyper Grace’ doctrines.
