"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)

The St. Paul School
with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Walter and Cecilia Contreras)

THE PERVERSION OF GRACE (PART 2)
True Grace Versus Counterfeit Grace)

The word "Christian" is used only three times in the New Testament. It appears to be a word invented by the enemies of Christ and His followers-mocking the early believers as a band of "little Christs" or identified as belonging to the crucified Jew. Those disciples took the name as a badge of honor. The name "Christian" would not make them ashamed but, on the contrary, bold in their witness and proud of their Lord.

Two thousand years later, the word "Christian" has lost much of its original meaning. Millions of people call themselves "Christians" who have never experienced a spiritual rebirth. They have "head belief" in some biblical facts but no "heart belief" that would make them new creations in Christ. So they continue to practice sin even while calling themselves "Christians". Sadly, this turns much of the world against the "real Jesus" because they have never seen Him in "Christianity".

That's why this study called "The Perversion of Grace" is so important. We must see the biblical connection between the true grace of God and His gift of faith that works in us a sorrow for sin that leads to repentance and total trust in Christ. It is all the work of the Holy Spirit through the death and resurrection of the Son of God that leaves us "justified" ("just as if I had never sinned") in the eyes of God the Father. Let's look at the book of Romans and see how the true grace of God leads to a true change in hearts and lives.

THE BOOK OF ROMANS

Note that justification by faith leads to righteous behavior.

"...through whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name." "...being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

Romans 2:3,4 The goodness of God is what leads to true repentance for our sin.

"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"

Romans 3:31 Faith does not cancel God's law but energizes us to strive to keep God's commandments through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law."

Romans chapters 4 and 5 You will see that the message of "saving faith" and "gracious grace" lead to righteous behavior and never excuse sin. This is proven by our next point.

(Study these chapters carefully.)

Romans 6:12,13 Our old sin-loving nature was nailed to the cross with Jesus. True repentance for sin and true faith in Christ make "new creatures" (2 Corinthians 5:17) and true examples of the grace of God. Then instead of sin being excused and tolerated, it will be hated and resisted.

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."

Romans 7:12-18 The law is holy, just and good. The problem is our powerlessness to keep it. But here comes Jesus!

"Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If then I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find."

Romans 8:4 Christ perfectly fulfilled the law of God. Now He fulfills it in us through the power of the Holy Spirit that causes you and me to choose to obey Him rather than our flesh.

"...that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

Romans 8:9-14 These scriptures speak of righteous behavior that marks the life of one who has received Jesus Christ and now possesses the power and life of the Holy Spirit

"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."

(to be continued in part 3. Click here to begin that part of the study)