GRACE Its relation to sin, truth and forgiveness

2 Revealed (Acts 20:24, 32) Saves (Eph. 2:5, 8) Stand in it (Rom. 5:2) Can fall from it (Gal. 5:4) Can be received in vain (2 Cor. 6:1) Conditional (Eph. 2:8) Teaches (Titus 2:11-12) True grace of God (1 Pet. 5:12)

3 Why Study Grace?  False views of grace lead to… False doctrine being taught & defended False doctrine being taught & defended Sinners being comforted Sinners being comforted False hope being offered: False hope being offered:  Faith only…grace only  Impossibility of apostasy  Divorce & remarriage  Innovations in worship, organization & work of the local church  Plan of salvation

4 Grace and Sin Romans 5:20-21; 3:20-26  Grace does what law cannot, Acts 15:11 (13:38-39) Law condemns, Gal.3:10 (Rom. 3:20; 4:15) Law condemns, Gal.3:10 (Rom. 3:20; 4:15) Justification by faith is due to God’s grace, Rom. 3:21-24 (Gal. 3:11-14) Justification by faith is due to God’s grace, Rom. 3:21-24 (Gal. 3:11-14)  God’s grace is superior to man’s sin, Rom. 5:20-21

5 Grace and Sin Romans 5:20-21; 3:20-26  Gospel of grace teaches us to give up sin as our way of life, Rom. 6:2 (1, 15) Deny sin & live upright, Titus 2:11-12 Deny sin & live upright, Titus 2:11-12 Sin no longer rules over us, Rom. 6:14 Sin no longer rules over us, Rom. 6:14  No longer live in…or be slaves to sin, 6:2, 6-7  Dead to sin, 6:11  Sin does not reign…do not obey it, 6:12  Do not present your body to sin, 6:13  Willful sin insults Spirit of grace, Heb. 10:29

6 Grace and Truth (Companions)  Jesus is the fullness of both, Jno. 1:14, Cannot be saved by grace & reject truth, Tit. 2:11 Cannot be saved by grace & reject truth, Tit. 2:11 Cannot stand in truth with false view of grace Cannot stand in truth with false view of grace  Standing in grace means we walk in truth, Rom. 5:2; Gal. 1:6-7; 5:4-7; 1 Jno. 1:5-7

7 Grace and Forgiveness  Grace is conditional, Titus 2:11-12; 3:4-7; Gal. 5:5-7  Grace does not save in spite of one’s sins (Rom. 6:16, 23) “Once saved, always saved”! (6:1, 15) “Once saved, always saved”! (6:1, 15)  Grace does not provide automatic forgiveness of sins (“continual cleansing” even as we sin), 1 Jno. 1:8-9

8 Grace and Forgiveness  Christians continue to be cleansed when we continue to walk in the light, 1 Jno. 1:7, 9  Attempt to nullify conditional nature of grace: Christian sins & dies, no chance to repent: Lost? Christian sins & dies, no chance to repent: Lost?  This is used to justify sin without repentance  Walking in the light…sinning less & less (1 Jno. 2:1)  God will judge  What does this have to do with you?

9 Grace and Forgiveness  If standing in grace means automatic forgiveness (“continual cleansing”), then… How can Christians ever sin? 1 Jno. 1:8 How can Christians ever sin? 1 Jno. 1:8 Why are Christians told to confess sin, repent & pray when they sin? 1 Jno. 1:9; Acts 8:22 Why are Christians told to confess sin, repent & pray when they sin? 1 Jno. 1:9; Acts 8:22 Why is fellowship with God conditional? 1 Jno. 1:7 Why is fellowship with God conditional? 1 Jno. 1:7

10 Grace and Forgiveness  If standing in grace means automatic forgiveness (“continual cleansing”), then… How can Christians fall from grace? Gal. 5:4 How can Christians fall from grace? Gal. 5:4 How can saints “fall short” of grace? Heb. 12:15 How can saints “fall short” of grace? Heb. 12:15 Why deny worldly lusts? Titus 2:11-12 Why deny worldly lusts? Titus 2:11-12 Why obey God? Jno. 14:15 Why obey God? Jno. 14:15 Why are Christians urged to continue in the grace of God? Acts 13:43 Why are Christians urged to continue in the grace of God? Acts 13:43

11 Save from unrepented sin (Acts 17:30) Make sin righteous (Rom. 6:1-2; Jude 4) Make doctrine secondary (Gal. 1:6-10) Eliminate need to obey (Matt. 7:21-23; Lk. 17:10) Minimize / Overwhelm truth (Jno. 1:17; Acts 20:32)

12 Grace: Sin, Truth & Forgiveness  Saves us, Eph. 2:8-9  Teaches us to live in truth & righteousness, not in sin, Rom. 6:1, 15  To be saved by grace we must obey in faith, Gal. 5:6-8