Tag: Grace

Noting Can Separate Us From the Love of God

Romans 8:31-39

Key Verse: Romans 8:39

Introduction:

Recently I have had a rather disturbing discussion with a pastor and several of his followers concerning eternal security. In recent years this point of view, in my mind, is becoming more mainstream.  The question is often “there are too many verses that talk about losing your salvation in Scripture to be avoided.” I basically ask two questions. “Who is doing the saving and keeping?” and follow that question up with, “Is it you are or is it God?” To me, the answer is quite clear. I could never be good enough to keep myself in salvation. Only Jesus is the perfect offering. Only Jesus’ blood and righteousness can keep me saved.

Therefore, if Jesus is the One doing the Saving and the Keeping, then I cannot lose my salvation (see John 17). However, if I am the one who is doing the saving and the keeping, there is no salvation. It is only through the offering, once and for all, through the work of Jesus Christ, that I can be saved.

Note: Having eternal security does not give us a free pass to sin. For example, in Romans 6:1-2, Paul asks the question, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Is God for Us? 

  1. As you grow, one thing you will find is that mankind will let us down. Your “BFF” (best friend forever – I have grand kids) will let you down. You may be BFF’s one day and not speaking to each other the next. Human friendships are fickle at best.
  2. God’s love, on the other hand, is forever. Our relationship with Him and knowledge of His faithfulness will help us in our times of great need.
    • If our vertical relationship, the one we have with God, is correct and strong, our desire will be to be close to Him.
    • However, if our relationship with Him is estranged, then we will take exception to any interference in our lives by Him.
    • As I have matured in Christ, I have found that if God seems to be far away, it is because I have moved away from Him and not vice versa. In order to realize God’s faithfulness, we must remain in fellowship with Him.
  3. In my opinion, in Paul’s epistle to the Romans, chapter eight and verse 31, the phrase “If God be for us” has been poorly translated by some. Many have taken the “if” as a supposition. However, Paul is not giving a supposition, instead he is giving a certainty. “If” is not a question nor is it conditional.” Paul is giving a conclusion. “If” can also be translated as “when” or “as.” It should really read, “Since/as God is for us.” Because it is certain that God is for us, the conclusion follows, “who can be against us?” 

What did the Apostle Paul believe concerning the Gospel of Grace as the only means of Salvation?

It is very important to understand the history of Paul. In his own words, he describes himself as: “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.” (Acts 22:3-4).

Paul was not just a follower of Judaism; he was trained as a Pharisee and persecuted anyone that was not a devout adherent. This gives Paul great insight into the religion as well as describing his education. He was an enforcer of the Law. And yet now, he fully embraces salvation by grace as the only means of salvation.

Paul was God’s chosen vessel to proclaim grace to humanity and especially to the Gentiles. By his own words, it was by God’s grace that he was chosen for salvation and to be God’s messenger (Galatians 2:9).

Paul’s salvation (Acts 9) is well established by his first missionary journey in which he proclaimed the Gospel and started churches. His message of salvation is only by faith, by the Grace of God becomes the main point in all his writings.

The Apostle Paul, from the outset of the epistle to Galatia, is dealing with the heresy of adding requirements to the Gospel of Grace by faith. There is a great difference in believing that the grace of God is all that is required for salvation and those that would add works to salvation (circumcision in this case).

The Greek word for grace is charis. It is only found 13 times in the Gospels, but over 144 times in Paul’s writing. Paul’s epistles always use grace doctrinally, in connection with the dispensation of Grace.

The Apostle Paul goes so far as to proclaim; “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4)

Paul never said it was wrong for Jews to be circumcised. He never said that it was wrong to keep the Law or to observe the Jewish festivals. He said that these have nothing to do with salvation. While customs and practices may differ, salvation never differs. There is only one way to be saved and that is by the Grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.