THE PERVERSION OF GRACE (PART 6)

(True Grace Versus Counterfeit Grace)

INTRODUCTION

Many Christians seem surprised and disturbed that the world is growing darker and more dangerous as sin is applauded and righteousness is mocked and even laughed at. But Jesus warned us of these days of deception and how to prepare for His return.

The Church’s greatest danger is not from sin on the outside but deception on the inside. A great deception today is the message of God’s grace not requiring man’s repentance. But true grace always works true repentance if we are to experience the new birth and become new creations in Christ.

Past lessons on discipleship showed how Jesus always taught true repentance. When the Holy Spirit came in the Book of Acts, the message was the same: "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). We’re travelling through the New Testament showing the scriptural difference between false grace that says "Just believe in Jesus and how you live is not important” and the true grace of God that produces righteous living.

Lesson 83 covered five parts from Acts through 2 Corinthians. We then paused for a break to cover other subjects. Now we return to our Lesson 83 study with Part 6.

GALATIANS

Galatians 2:11, 14  Our walk must be "uprightly according to the truth of the gospel”.

"But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews’”.

Galatians 5:17-24  Unrighteous behavior and its tragic results are spelled out.

"For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires .”

Galatians 6:7-9  Excusing sinful behavior is attempting to mock God and brings tragic

consequences.

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

EPHESIANS

Ephesians 2:1-3  Practicing sin is the kind of life lived by children of God’s wrath.

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

Ephesians 2:8-10  True faith and grace result in a life of "good works” accomplished through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 4:1  To "walk worthy” is to live righteously.

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

Ephesians 4:17-32  Here is a rebuke of sinful living and an exaltation of godly living.

"This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness,  

But you have not so learned Christ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness,

Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another, Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, and all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

"Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God, Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience . Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.”

Ephesians 6:1-4  Here we see godly behavior encouraged in all of our relationships.

"Children , obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:13-17  And here is an "activated righteousness” that employs God’s grace and power in defeating Satan and living in victory.

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Ephesians 6:24  The book of Ephesians ends with Paul’s blessing on those who love Jesus Christ "in sincerity.” That obviously means those who walk in the light of God’s love and truth.

"Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”

to  be continued with part 7