Goodness Gracious!!!!!!!! (Part 1)

I am happy to have a blog because it can be a great way to reach out to my family and supporters, share what I have learned with others, and express biblical ideas outside of the arena of school, thought this is a school project. Right now I have a topic that has been on my heart for a couple of days, and it is the topic of God's grace.

I was having a discussion with someone a couple of days ago who has a very unhealthy view on God's grace. This person is clearly heading into a downward spiral physically and spiritually. But when I talk with him, he is fine with his state of being now, and what it will be in eternity. His argument is based on God's grace, and that is so great that it will save all men from sin.

Let me first state a disclaimer. The only thing saving mankind from sin is God's grace. Nothing more. I would never say anything but this great truth. God's grace is sufficient. But upon the foundation of God's grace can we conclude we can have no involvement in our salvation, since we will be saved regardless? The Bible, coupled with common sense, emphatically says NO!!!!

The idea that you cannot fall from grace, also known as 'once saved always saved', does not originate from the Bible, but denominationalism. Among denominations there is a plan of salvation known as "The Roman Road" to salvation. In this plan several verses (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:13, 10:9, 10) are used to lay a path to being a Christian. If this plan had not been neglecting the necessity of baptism in Romans 6 this would be a great plan! But how can any religious group claim to map out a plan of salvation in Romans and still believe in the false and dangerous doctrine once saved always saved?

Romans 6:1,2 are such key verses when we are trying to understand God's grace. It reads "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" What powerful words. Paul here has acknowledged that taking advantage of God's grace is most definitely unacceptable. Romans 6:12 says "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey it's lusts." Consider Jesus' statement in Matthew 6:24 "no one can serve two masters."

Romans 6:15, 16 wrap up this argument quite nicely. It reads "What then, shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of he one whom you obey, either sin resulting in death, or of the obedience resulting in righteousness?"

Now no one could deny what these scriptures are saying, right? Paul makes it very clear in the book of Romans: God's grace is sufficient to save us from our sin, but there is also a standard Christians are to live by.

Next time we will examine another section of scripture that is abused, claiming that God will save you from your sins, regardless of your involvement.