SALVATION BY GRACE - Pastor J. C. O'Hair

SALVATION BY GRACE
Pastor J.C. O’Hair

The apostle Paul was the outstanding messenger of grace. It is true that we read in John 1:16 and 17 that grace came by Jesus Christ and of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. But after we leave these statements, the word “grace” is not found again in John’s Gospel. There is abounding grace in that Gospel, but not the word “grace” after the first chapter. And in Matthew, Mark and Luke (68 chapters), in the sinner’s salvation, the word “grace” is not used. In fact, our word “grace” is not found in Matthew and Mark; only once in Luke 2:40, referring to the Lord Himself. In the Gospel of Luke, the Greek word is several times translated “favour”, but this is not in connection with the sinner’s salvation. Of course, there was plenty of grace in Christ’s messages to sinners while He was on earth. There was grace for Abel, Noah, Abram, Jacob and Moses and David, but not as we have it in this “grace” dispensation (Ephesians 3:1 to 4).

In the Four Gospels, and the New Testament Writings, other than Paul’s, the word “grace” is found 27 times: whereas Paul, in his “Acts” ministry and in his Epistles, used the word “grace” 101 times, also using the word in the “verb” form. Believers are accepted (graced) in Christ, the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:6 and 7).

Note Paul’s testimony in I Corinthians 15:10 and in Romans 11:6. “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain; But I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more of grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

In Romans 5:21 Paul tells us how grace operates: “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Immediately following this statement Paul asked a very important question and followed it up with another question in Romans 6:15. To both questions he answers, “God forbid.” Note the two questions: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” “what then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?” (Romans 6:1 and 15).

Grace is not license or permission to sin. Grace, by no means, excuses spiritual inactivity. After the Holy Spirit permits us to look into God’s “saint” factory, in Titus 3:3 to 7, to see the human material out of which God makes saints by grace and the Divine process, which is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, after we see the finished product, then the Holy Spirit adds is verse 8, “that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain (practice) good works.”

Note how the Holy Spirit states this truth, by the pen of Paul, in Philippians 2:12 and 13, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: For it is God which, worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” This is explained in Ephesians 2:10 - “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” No man’s good works will be accepted by God for salvation; no not until man is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus. And then “whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Colossians 3:17). Read the All-sufficiency of God’s grace in II Corinthians 9:8.

Paul headed the list of “good workers”; but he gave credit to the grace of God. (I Corinthians 15:10 - II Corinthians 9:8).

We have God’s unmixed “salvation by grace” message in II Timothy 1:9 and 10, Romans 4:4 and 5 - Titus 3:5 to 7 - Ephesians 2:8 to 10 and in many other Scriptures, including John 6:47 - John 6:29 - John 6:40. The mixed message, such as Luke 13:24 - Matthew 24:13 and 14 - Acts 2:38 - Mark 16:16 - Acts 10:34 and 35, can only be applied in this present age of grace, as we study them in the light of Ephesians 2:8 and 9 - “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, less any man should boast.”

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What is THE GOSPEL

Believing Christ died, that's HISTORY.

Believing Christ died for YOU and ROSE AGAIN, that's SALVATION.

Read 1. Corinthians 15:1-4

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