The greatest attack against the Gospel of the grace of God (2) in the first century was the fallacy that for one to possess initial salvation, one must be circumcised (3). Paul desired that the sponsors of this gospel would be “cut off” to prevent them from troubling his new converts in Galatia (4) with this incorrect concept involving works of human merit and human energy (5).
The great attack against the Gospel of grace today is even more subtle. Some will concede that we are saved by grace through faith without circumcision, baptism or any human merit. Therefore they confess that salvation is initially by grace, but will not concede that is totally by grace, from beginning to end. This philosophy subtly undermines a believer’s sense of security in Christ, and his or her sense of assurance and destiny. Our salvation is not only initially by grace, it is totally by grace. In Ephesians 2:8, the Word of God says that “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God.” The perfect tense here indicates a total salvation.
Being free from “trying to keep” this great salvation (6) leads to a life of true rest, power, genuine production, real spirituality, and love issuing from the heart. All of this is produced by the Holy Spirit who has engendered in us a perfect confidence in the total love of God toward us in Christ through the finished work (7).
- Atmospheric Cycles - January 30, 2018
- A Walk That Defeats the Enemy - July 14, 2017
- Don’t Be an Abstract Christian - March 18, 2017
