Grace Through Faith
One of the keys to understanding the truths of the New
Covenant is having a revelation of the gift of grace. The apostle Paul gives us
clear insight in this matter in Romans chapter 5-6. Romans 4:13, "For the
promise that he would be heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed
through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith". Verse 16, "Therefore,
it is by faith, that it might be by grace, to the end that the promise might be
sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also
which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all". Here Paul
indicates the way we enter into grace is through faith.
We need a revelation of the grace of God to understand the New Covenant. We have
all heard that grace is unmerited favor. Well, that is true, but it is much more
than that. Grace is God's willingness to use His power and His ability on your
behalf, even though you don't deserve it. This definition of grace, will
challenge you to study the scriptures concerning grace. Paul tells us that it is
through faith that you can enter into grace.
Romans 5:1: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand. In other words, the only way that we have access into God's
grace (His willingness) is through faith in His Word and the blood of Jesus His
Son.
We cannot merit favor with God through good works as they did under the Old
Covenant. They were under the law and they had to keep the whole law or the
curses came on them and no one could keep the law to the letter. But under the
New Covenant it is no more the works of the law, but it is of faith that we
might enter into the promises through grace. Under the law they either measured
up to the law or the curses of the law came upon them and it was bad news all
over again. However, under the New Covenant (the days of grace) God through His
mercy and grace causes us to be justified by faith. We are not justified by what
we have done, or what we haven't done but we are justified by faith in the blood
of Jesus. It is through this faith that we access the grace of God for the
remission of sins.
"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are
under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law
and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus
Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the
law". (Romans 3:19-22,28)
You will notice in every letter that the apostle Paul wrote he says, "Grace to
you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus". You find that is usually
in the first two or three verses but no further than the seventh verse. Grace is
God's willingness. Paul wanted us to receive God's willingness toward us. That
is where many people miss it today. They have trouble receiving God's
willingness; oh they believe God is able, but they are not sure He is willing.
They need a revelation of the gift of grace.
Peter refers to grace in the beginning of each of his epistles and gives us more
insight in this matter. He says, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you through
the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord". Grace being God's willingness, is
multiplied through the knowledge of God. The more you know about what God will
do, the more willing God is to do it because it produces faith. It is not that
God is not already willing but God's willingness is multiplied when you know
what God will do on your behalf.
In Ephesians 2:8 we find a very interesting statement, "For by grace you have
been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God". What
gift is Paul referring to here? Many believe it is the gift of faith that Paul
mentioned in I Cor. 12:9, but I am convinced that he is referring to the gift of
grace. In the third chapter of Ephesians we find strong evidence that it is
grace. "If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given
me to youward". Then in verse seven, "whereof I was made a minister, according
to the gift of grace of God which was given unto me by the effectual working of
His power". It seems rather obvious that the gift he has referred to is the gift
of grace. (Eph. 3:2)
Then in Ephesians 4:7 Paul says, "But to every one of us is given grace
according to the measure of the gift of Christ". I believe we make a mistake
when we say that the scripture in Ephesians 2:8 is referring to the gift of
faith. The gift of faith is a special gift and is listed as one of the nine
Gifts of the Spirit in I Cor. 12:9.
More Evidence
The death of Jesus ushered in the dispensation of grace. In John 1:14 we see
that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth". Jesus was
full of grace. He was filled with God's willingness. Verse 16 says, "And of His
fullness have all we received, grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses,
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ". (v.17)
Acts 14:3 speaks of the Word of God as the word of grace. Acts 14:2-3, "But the
unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil effected
against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the
Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace and granted signs and
wonders to be done by their hands". Here it speaks of the Word of God as being
the word of grace.
Now let's put it together. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. The word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us - full
of grace and truth. For the Law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by
Jesus Christ. The Word of God is spoken of as being the word of grace. In other
words, the Bible is the Word of God's willingness toward us, for the Word of God
is God's will for us.
II Cor. 8:9 says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (or you know
the willingness of the Lord Jesus Christ) that though He was rich, yet for your
sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich". It was through
God's willingness that Jesus became poor that we might be made rich. That
includes financially, spiritually, physically and every way.
Now lets look at II Tim. 2:1 where Paul admonishes Timothy to be strong in
grace. That is why so many Christians are in trouble, they are not strong in
grace. They are strong in knowing God is able to do certain things but not
strong in God's willingness to do it for them at the present.
II Peter 3:18 tells us to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ". We must grow in grace. Don't stay where you are, as far as
God's willingness for you is concerned. As you grow in the grace of God, you
realize that God wants you to have the things that He has given you. Peter said:
"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of
Jesus our Lord. According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called
us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". (II Pet. 1:2-4)
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him". (Heb.11:6) The reason it is impossible to please God without faith is
because God is not pleased when you don't have enough faith to enter into the
grace that He has already given through the exceeding great and precious
promises.
I believe Hebrews 4:16 brings the whole thing into focus by saying: "Let us
therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, (don't come begging, hoping to God
that something will happen, but come BOLDLY) that you may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in the time of need". We shouldn't try to come on our merits. We
certainly don't want to come saying, "we want what we deserve", because we don't
want what we deserve. It is through faith that we can come boldly to the throne
of grace, and obtain.
Under the Old Law they were under a law of works. In Galatians 3:10 Paul said:
"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is
written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in
the sight of God, it is evident; for the just shall live by faith". Under the
New Covenant, we are not justified by works (we receive reward because of works)
but we are justified by faith. Justified means just as if I had not sinned.
Therefore, you can come boldly to God's throne of grace and obtain mercy and
find grace (God's willingness) to help in time of need.
In Galatians 3:21 Paul asks a question and answers it: "Is the law then against
the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could
have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the
scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus
Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept
under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a
schoolmaster. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be
Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise".
The conclusion of the matter can be found in Romans 5:20-21. "Moreover the law
entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much
more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign
through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord". So where sin
did abound, grace does much more abound. In other words, (grace) swallowed all
our sins. Where sin once did reign now grace reigns through righteousness unto
eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. "For if by one man's offense death
reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift
of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ". (Rom. 5:17)
You can allow sin to reign or you can allow grace (God's willingness) to reign
in life through righteousness unto eternal life that is in Christ Jesus. The
choice is yours and time is short. Enter into His grace through faith and trust
Him and His Promises today