Volume 41      Number 3                                                                                  November 1998

Grace is without a doubt one of the grandest subjects of the Bible and those who love the Lord are deeply indebted to it, not only for our salvation, but for our very existence. When Paul teaches us that we are "saved by grace"(Eph.2:5,8), these words are music to the ears of weary sinners everywhere!

But we are also warned in the Word of God about evil men who will creep in and "turn the grace of our Lord into lasciviousness" - or, a license to sin; an excuse to follow our lust (Jude 4). Listening to those who teach in the Name of the Lord today, one gets a confusing array of ideas about God's grace. It becomes clear from what we hear that not everyone who talks about grace is telling the truth.

Much of the writings of religious men today indicate that they are either ignoring the Bible or just haven't read it yet when it comes to salvation. Not long ago, a man wrote an article about "unconditional" grace in which he used around three passages to back up this "Will you this moment His grace receive?" doctrine. One of the passages he used was in Titus 3:4-7 where Paul mentions the "washing of regeneration" in connection with our being saved by the mercy of God, yet the writer overlooks this very important condition for receiving God's grace.

Being baptized in water in the Name of Jesus Christ is a condition of receiving God's grace - or as the Bible says, being put into Christ (Romans 6; Gal.3:27) receiving the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), saving us (I Peter 3:20; Mark 16:16). This apparent fear of baptism is common among many modern religious teachers. It seems to be one of the main reasons we hear so much about God's "unconditional" acceptance. Yet these same teachers will often, in the very same breath, give at least one condition- believing, accepting, receiving, praying, or whatever term they use. One must wonder, "Is there a condition to receiving His grace or not? Isn't it still impossible to please God without faith? (Heb.11:6)

On one hand we hear men like this teaching ... "His grace is unconditional!" But then we hear them say that there is a condition .... "well, yes you do have to receive it .. but it is still unconditional" ... "well, yes, you do have to believe, but that's the same as receiving it" ..... "well, yes, repentance is good, too, but baptism has nothing to do with receiving it!"

If grace was truly "unconditional" as taught by many, would not everyone be saved? If God doesn't have any conditions that must be met in order to be saved by grace, why can't everyone be saved? Most will have to admit that being saved by grace does depend on what we do, even if they call God's grace "unconditional". There is a big difference between "unmerited" favor and "unconditional" favor. We will never earn the grace that was displayed by God when He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. But in order to receive this precious gift, there are conditions to be met, and there is no point in denying it since all who profess faith in Christ teach that there is something we have to do to be saved.

We should always keep in mind that salvation is a process; a living, growing process (II Peter 1:3-10) designed to change our eternal souls; a process which can be aborted, stunted, or killed. It has a beginning --- when we are "begotten" or conceived by believing the gospel - I John 5:1 - and if we do not love the world or the praise of men more than the praise of God (Jn.12:42,43) we will confess our faith, repent, and be baptized (Acts 2:38) at which point we can say, with Titus 3:5, "He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" When we are "raised with Christ" we can say we have been "born again" (John3:5). Salvation has an end --- I Peter 1:9 - "Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls." Please notice carefully how the apostle Peter puts the "receiving" at the "end", just like the farmer puts the harvest at the "end" of the season, when the crops are mature, and ready to be used for his good. God will gather into his barns, SAVE, those whose lives have been lived in harmony with what He desires.

Being saved "not of works" doesn't mean God hasn't commanded us to do anything to be pleasing to Him. It has a lot to do with having nothing to boast about when it comes to being saved, since it is GOD who is doing the work through us when we submit to Him. The humble disciple acknowledges that God gets the credit for the good in his life, and can only blame himself for the bad. The Pharisees were prone to think they were personally putting God in debt to them by their good works, as though they actually kept the law. Had a Pharisee truly been able to keep the law without ever failing in any point, he would not have been a sinner, and God would have OWED him salvation based on his perfect performance. Now the invitation is for those who don't have any confidence in the flesh or their own ability to be justified by keeping all of the commandments, because they are aware of their failure to keep the law and the consequent guilt they have incurred before God. Christ IS the only hope.

Both Peter and James taught us that, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble" (I Pet. 5:5; James 4:6). A very important condition for receiving God's grace is humbling ourselves under His mighty hand. It is a humbling thing to be buried with Christ in baptism, but it is the appropriate place for sinful man to start the new life in Christ: raised from the dead to walk in newness of life!

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4)

Why should men argue with God's terms for pardon? There are several reasons which could be given, but none of them are valid to God. How much simpler to obey what Jesus and His apostles said, not only about faith, but also about repentance and baptism?

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)