Category Archives: Calvinism

Are the Disobedient Saved?

Calvinism, Church, Church Bulletin, Doctrine, Grace, Salvation, Sin, ,

We recently wrote of the alleged clash between grace and works. Our conclusion was that a man cannot be saved apart from God’s grace. We also affirmed that there is a response, an obligation on the part of man which is also essential. Today, I want to pursue that idea a bit further.

It is common among some to assert that man has no role in his own salvation. They claim that there is absolutely nothing required of a man in order to be saved. That is a popular view and a view that holds some comfort in that we can live any way we desire without consequence. Our eternal salvation is fatalistic occurrence far beyond self. What does the Bible say?

[bctt tweet=”Is our salvation fatalistic? Is it already determined? Surely not!” username=”Preachers_Study”]

Obedience is commanded

God’s word commands obedience. As the Israelites gathered at Sinai, God commanded them, saying, “if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples…” (Exodus 19:5). Again, “And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,  he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil” (Deuteronomy 11:13, 14).

Peter declares that the salvation gift of the Holy Spirit is given to those that “obey him” (Acts 5:32). The writer of Hebrews speaks of the glorious Christ, who, “being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him (Hebrews 5:9). John says obedience is confirmation of our love for the Lord and our place in his family. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:2,3).

Disobedience is condemned

Even more prevalent in Scripture is the condemnation of the disobedient. Instead of asking if obedience is required for salvation we should ask if a man can be saved in his disobedience. Again, it is the Bible that gives the answer.

[bctt tweet=”Instead of asking if obedience is required for salvation we should ask if a man can be saved in his disobedience. ” username=”Preachers_Study”]

Israel was warned of its own demise if they did not obey. Moses warned, “Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:20). He repeats, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse;  the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). There is no question that God’s people were required to obey God and were warned of punishment if they did not.

Perhaps the clearest warning against disobedience is from Paul. He writes that Jesus will return and will inflict “vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Peters wonders of the end result of those who “do not obey the gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17). The Bible student must see that obedience is required and disobedience is condemned.

It is only because of God’s stunning love for a lost creation that we have a plan of escape from coming doom. It is only because of his extreme love that we have a savior. It is no blow to his glory that we comply with his commands. Instead, our obedience reflects his goodness and his glory throughout creation!

 

Grace Vs. Works

Calvinism, Church Bulletin, Doctrine, Grace, Sin, ,

There is no clash between grace and works. Both are undeniable biblical concepts. Christians are “saved by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). They are also created to do good works and must be obedient to the Lord’s commands (Ephesians 2:10; Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Romans 6:17). Any clash between grace and works is man-made and just plain wrong.

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It Begins With My Personal Sin

We all sin. It’s not absorbed from someone else; it is not hereditary. “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). All have sinned (Romans 3:23) and none is righteous (Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 53:1-3). Sin is the horrible dark bond that every person shares.

The upshot is that we are neither deserving nor worthy of salvation. We are corrupt and saturated with sin and cannot be in the presence of the Holy God for even one second, not to mention an eternity.

[bctt tweet=”The upshot is that we are neither deserving nor worthy of salvation.” username=”Preachers_Study”]

 

My Sin Cannot Be Overcome

It’s natural, especially in our culture, to think that with enough work we can overcome and fix almost any problem. Advances in science have given us the idea that we can conquer any obstacle. It’s a nice thought, even comforting, but it is just wrong. We cannot fix everything. Just like there are some illness that cannot be overcome even with the finest healthcare, there is a spiritual problem that cannot be overcome. That illness is sin.

 

Speaking of our salvation as a work of grace, Paul says “this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Our works do not justify us as worthy for salvation (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5). When all is written we are still unworthy. Jesus said, “Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?  So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:9-10). The servant’s work and obedience were expected; that was their duty.

 

My Obedience is Expected and Necessary

As the servant in Jesus’ parable above, we do our duty. When God determined to bring a massive flood to destroy the terrible wickedness on the earth, he made Noah the object of his grace (Genesis 6:8). Then, God gave Noah a plan of escape. He warned him and told him how to escape. However, it was up to Noah to obey. God did not tell him where to find an ark, nor did he remove him from the earth. Noah survived because God showed him grace by giving him a plan and then because he obeyed the plan (Genesis 6:22; 7:5, 9). Consider Abraham who was the object of God’s love and affection. Abram was told to leave his home and travel to a place that God would command. What did he do? He obeyed (Genesis 12:1-4).

 

It is by his grace that God teaches us to avoid the coming destruction (Titus 2:11-14). Like Noah, we humbly and gratefully accept this grace and are trained to obey. Could Noah have thanked God for his grace and then refused to build the ark? Would he have been spared? Could Noah have graciously accepted God’s direction to move but remained in Ur? Would he be called the father of the faithful? Can anyone be called faithful who lives in rank disobedience to God? Of course not.

 

How horrible to divide God’s plan by removing grace or by knifing obedience from what God has said! John was clear: “whoever does not obey the son shall not see life…” (John 3:36). The Holy Spirit is given to the obedient (Acts 5:32). Put negatively, those who do not obey will face wrath (Romans 2:8). Those who do not obey the gospel will face the judgment of the returning Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8).

[bctt tweet=”Those who do not obey the gospel will face the judgment of the returning Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8).” username=”Preachers_Study”]

 

Let us handle God’s word with respect and seek to understand it all.

 

We Must Obey God

Bible General, Calvinism, Church Bulletin, Doctrine, ,

A doctrine of convenience has descended upon the religious world. People are told to believe on Jesus and that alone will save your soul. This is a false doctrine contrived by man. Belief is certainly essential for salvation, but it does not bring salvation when left alone. To believe in Jesus as the only Son of God is the beginning, but it does not reflect the totality of salvation. In some circles, it is anathema to suggest that man has any part whatsoever in his own salvation, but Scriptures loudly teach that man, while unable to be saved by his own works, is, in fact, a participant in his own salvation.

Isaiah declared that we are separated from God by our own sins:  ”Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). The Weeping Prophet, Jeremiah, cried: “Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you” (Jeremiah 5:25). The Psalmist wrote that a beautiful land had been turned into a “salty waste because of the evil of its inhabitants” (Psalm 107:34). Sin is man’s problem. It is caused by each man and plagues us all (Romans 3:23). Without God, I am justly condemned. Only the God of the Bible has the solution for sin. Without the grace of God; I cannot be saved. Without the mercy of God; I cannot be saved. Without the love of God; I cannot be saved, etc.

But is there anything I must do to be saved? Is there any human action required for salvation? All but the most dedicated disciple of Calvin will acknowledge that man must believe that Jesus is the son of God. To believe is a human act. That hardcore Calvinist, to be consistent, will demand that human belief is only caused by God in those he has chosen. He would say that such an urging from God is irresistible and there is no free will. The depravity of that teaching is probably best seen in Adam and Eve where he would say that God willed the sin of Adam and Eve thus spoiling his own spotless creation. But, most would accept that belief is a necessary contribution of man towards his own salvation.

The Scriptures teach more. Paul sets a contrast between those who do not obey the truth but instead obey unrighteousness (Romans 2:8). If belief alone is necessary to please God then how, we pled, is it possible to obey unrighteousness? We all believe that unrighteousness exists. Does such a belief make us unrighteous? No, it does not; no more than believing in Jesus makes us righteous! Biblical belief always produces action (James 2:14-26).

To be pleasing to God and to ensure his own survival, Noah not only believed God but worked to build an ark of safety. Abraham believed God and repeatedly acted upon God’s instructions. Lott believed God but also fled Sodom to avoid destruction. The people of Acts 2 obviously believed God but were obedient to Peter’s command to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38) and then continued to live righteously.

More directly we note four important Bible passages, John 3:36; Romans 10:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 1 Peter 4:17. All four verses are cast in the negative. Each asks the same question: What is the condition of those who do not obey the gospel? We ask the reader to observe the word “obey.” It means to comply with some directive or command. Paul and Peter ask what happens to the one who does not comply with the commands of the gospel?

Other passages are set in a positive tone. For example, in Acts 5:32 Peter says the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God. The Hebrew writer says that salvation comes to those who obey Jesus (Hebrews 5:25. John says we can know that we please God when we “obey his commandments” (1 John 5:2).

We beg our readers to consider that there is more to salvation than a one-time acknowledgment that Jesus is the son of God. We remain totally dependent upon God for our salvation, but we must comply with the truths he has revealed to us in his Scriptures.

 

Luke 17:7-10: The Unworthy Servant

Calvinism, Church Bulletin, Doctrine, Luke, Salvation, ,

Truth comes in all sizes in Scripture. Some truths are pleasant and enjoyable while others are terrifying. It is true that the righteous will live eternally in heaven; that is a pleasant truth. Likewise, eternal damnation is a truth most horrifying. Consider the truth of Luke 17:7-10:

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?  Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?  So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ”

Even on our best day, when we have done as commanded, we are unworthy. Let us unpack this short passage and draw out the lessons.

There is a difference between the master and the servants. The servants do the work given them by the master. Here, they tend fields and flocks, they serve the master and standby while he eats and drinks. Only then do they enjoy their meal.

The Christian has a marvelous relationship with Jesus. He calls us brothers (Hebrews 2:11) and friends (John 15:15). But he also asserts authority over us. Jesus is our instructor (Matthew 23:10). A prudent man will always remember his place before the Lord.

Next, there are commands to be obeyed. It is remarkable that some today affirm salvation apart from any obedience. The Bible has examples of both obedience and disobedience coupled with the requisite curses and blessings. Adam and Eve disobeyed and were cursed. Noah was blessed because he did as instructed. Jesus says “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:14). In our text, the servants are expected to obey commandments. Today, you and I must be obedient. We do not decide what is right or wrong. We obey.

The last sentence is the one that is most sobering: “We are unworthy servants.” Even after completing everything commanded by the master, we remain unworthy. We have earned nothing more. There are no promotions, no accolades. We are not worthy. We only did our job. This passage is a death knell to those who believe in earning salvation. We cannot. It was always the sweet grace of the Lord that brought salvation.

But obedience is required. The passage assumes we have “done all that you were commanded.” Christians are to obey their master (Acts 5:29, 32; Romans 6:16; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Hebrews 5:9,  et al). Within the many verses teaching obedience are those passages which specifically note that we “obey the gospel.” How curious! The pendulum wildly swings from those that earn salvation to those that do nothing (except giving mental assent of Jesus) for salvation. The truth lies in the middle. We cannot craft our path to salvation. But we can follow or obey the path set before us. Those who deny the necessity of obedience should carefully consider 1 Thessalonians 1:8 and the warning that Jesus will take vengeance on those who “do not obey the gospel.”

Out of God’s immense love for me, I can be saved. My Lord has handed me the route through the fires of life to the glories of heaven. A million lifetimes could never discover the way of truth. But now, revealed in Holy Writ, I have a path to follow. I will be saved by obeying the gospel!

 

Spoiled Fruit: The Sin of Eve

Calvinism, Doctrine, Genesis, Sin,

The greatest disappointment in global history came when Adam and Eve sinned in Eden.  From within the borders of God’s perfect garden came an act of treason so horrible that all of mankind suffers from its consequences. God may have known she would sin but God did not cause her sin.

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6).

Although this verse tells us why Eve took, ate and then gave to Adam, it really only scratches the surface. Did Eve have any choice in the matter? Did some unseen force compel her to violate God’s direct order (Genesis 2:16-17)? I argue that Eve was in total control of her choice and that she was not compelled to eat the forbidden fruit. But some notable theologians argue that Eve was compelled by God to eat the fruit because her sin was a part of God’s divine plan.

Speaking of the doctrine of predestination, Boettner ((Loraine Boettner (1901-1990) was a noted Presbyterian theologian who is often quoted as a defender of Calvinism.)) argues that even the tiniest act of man is part of God’s plan of predestination. “Even the sinful acts of men are included in this plan. They are foreseen, permitted and have their exact place. They are controlled and overruled for the divine glory.” He continues. “plainly the fall of Adam and all other sins which made that sacrifice necessary (sacrifice of Jesus – jbe) were in the plan, no matter how undesirable a part of that plan they may have been.” ((Boettner, Loraine, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, 1932, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, Philipsburg, NJ, pg. 24))

Let us ask some questions of the text and see if Boettner’s ideas hold up under close scrutiny.

What was the Setting?

Adam and Eve were the first couple. They were specially created beings crafted from the very had of God. Neither was the result of human procreation. Man was created from the earth (Genesis 2:7) and then the woman was created from man (Genesis 2:21-22). After creating man, God looked upon his world and declared that it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31) It cannot be reasonably argued that sin was lurking somewhere in the world. All that God created was good and without blemish. Regarding man, he was made in the image of God and therefore would be as pure as God (Genesis 1:26).

Among the plants in the garden were two particular trees. The Tree of Life was necessary for their continuing life without death (Genesis 3:22). There was no restriction of access to this tree. The second was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It was this tree, located in the garden, which was not to be touched. The fruit Eve ate and gave to Adam was from this tree. It did precisely what the name implied; it gave the first couple a knowledge or accountability for sin.

Why Did God Make It Possible to Sin?

This is an important question. Without the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, man could not have sinned. Why would God place such a temptation in their path? The answer is that God decided to give man a choice.

God could have created the world without allowing man any choice. His actions and behaviors would be pre-programmed much as an assembly line robot. Man would not sin anymore than your internet browser can sin. To disobey would lie beyond the possibilities for the robotic man. Of course if man could not sin he could not freely love either. His response to God would be determined by his pre-creation programming.

By giving man choice, it made him able to love freely but also, inherent in that choice, was the possibility that man would sin. But in God’s eyes, that which is freely given is superior to that which is compelled.

What is the Evidence that Eve Had a Choice?

From Genesis 3:1-13 we learn several important facts concerning Eve’s choice.

Eve was Intellectually Challenged by the Serpent

Eve was confronted intellectually by the serpent. The text records a dialogue between Eve and the serpent which called upon her mental faculties to make a decision. The serpent asked of God’s commands and Eve correctly responded with God’s prohibition against even touching the tree. Such would be unnecessary if Eve were compelled, beyond her will, to sin.

Eve was Deceived by the Serpent

Not surprisingly, the Serpent lied to Eve. Such a lie was necessary in order to coax her into sinning. Genesis 3:13 has Eve placing blame upon the Serpent for that deception. ((Although she was deceived, she was still responsible for her sin as is clear from verse 16.))

If a person is compelled to do anything, their mental state is irrelevant. In World War II many citizens of Eastern Europe were captured and compelled to work in the industrial machine of Germany. Whether they cared to or not and whether or not they agreed with the German cause was not important. Such is the nature of compelling a person to work. If Eve were compelled to sin because of some divine plan, her mental assent would be of no importance.

Eve Wanted the Fruit

Eve was negatively impacted by the serpent’s lie. But she was inclined to sin because of her own desires. James reminds us that sin comes from within the man:

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

Likewise, Eve’s sin came from within herself, not from some outside force or compulsion.  According to Genesis 3:6, Eve “saw that tree was good for food, that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desired to make one wise.” It appealed to her bodily, through the normal sense of sight and to her mentally for wisdom. These factors enticed her to sin just as James would warn millennia later. Now these temptations do not come from God.

“ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16)

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one” (James 1:13)

If temptations do not come from God then certainly an irresistible force to sin would not either. Eve sinned because Eve chose to sin.

The Unanswerable Question

If, as Boettner claims, the sin of Eden was the result of God’s plan, we are forced to ask “why?” Why would a pure and holy God create a perfect world and then, of his own volition, ruin that world? Why would a Creator with “eyes too pure to look on evil” (Habakkuk 1:13) actually force his creation into sin? Why would the Holy One who planted every tree of the garden spoil his own fruit? The biggest question is why would God force sin into his world knowing beyond question that his action would cause Jesus to be offered at Calvary?

Boettner is just wrong. And if he is wrong here then his entire concept is also flawed. By showing that Eve sinned of her own choice we demonstrate that there are some things God has left in man’s hands. Man does have choices and is judged accordingly.

Is There Common Ground?

We do not mean to suggest that every Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran and so on believes that God caused Eve to sin. Many who worshipper in Calvinistic based faiths have never plumbed the depths of its doctrine and do not know what is taught. Sadly, many are Biblically illiterate and simply ingest whatever their preacher offers on Sunday.

But would say that there are some things we can agree on, perhaps. First, God can know a thing without causing it to happen. As one of our Bible teachers here recently taught the youth, you can watch an apple fall from a tree and know it will hit the ground without ever causing it to fall. The fact that God did not cause Eve to sin is no limitation on his power and certainly only brightens his purity and glory.

We can further agree that we need to all be students of the word. You have read all the way to the end of this lengthy post because you at least have a curiosity of the word. I hope you are provoked to study more and more.

Know or Cause?

Calvinism, Church Bulletin, Doctrine, , ,

God has a plan for your life. There are things he desires and hopes for you. A recent bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life, argues that we all have a purpose and ought find that purpose in to be pleasing to our maker. I know of few people who would argue that God has no plan. Loraine Boettner, a renowned Presbyterian scholar says that God’s plan is precise and that even the most minuscule aspects of your life are pre-planned by God in the long ago. In Boettner’s way of thinking, those plans are immutable, that is, they cannot be changed. It is this idea in which Boettner  finds the basis for his view of predestination, a Biblical doctrine which he morphs into a kind of divine fatalism.

The Boettner view of predestination is often used to support the varied tenets of Calvinism, a collection of doctrines which underlie almost all of the Christ believing religious world today. In the future, we will address these more fully. For now we examine the question of whether God’s knowledge of the future is the same as God causing all future events. Does God know or does God cause the events of your life?

We can dispense with any discussion of whether God knows our future as that question is settled with our disputants. Fulfilled prophecy is evidence enough of his ability to know the future.  Even the hairs of our head are numbered (Matthew 10:30). God knows anything and everything he chooses to know. There are no limits to his knowledge, hence, God is omniscient.

The question before us is whether it is necessary for God to cause the events which he foreknows. For example, God did foreknow and did plan the crucifixion of Jesus. (Acts 2:23). A harsh truth but nonetheless accurate. But because God did know and have some hand in planning an event, it does not follow that he causes all sin.

Boettner says, “…plainly, the fall of Adam and other sins which made that sacrifice necessary were in the plan, no matter how undesirable a part of the plan they may have been.” ((Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, 1932, page 24) It is here that Boettner’s idea begins to unravel. Boettner believes that the sin of Adam and Eve was “predetermined” by God. Notice, he says “predetermined” and not “foreknown.” He effectively lays the blame at the feet of Jehovah for man’s sin. It is one thing to say that God planed for the salvation of men, including the sacrifice of Jesus, because God knew man would sin, but something else entirely that God planned and thus caused the first sin to happen. It does not stand to any reason that God would create a “very good” world (Genesis 1:31) and then willingly make his world corrupt so that he would have to send Jesus to save the very world he tainted. Such an idea strikes at the very heart and glory of God. No person would come to such a conclusion unless he were searching first to confirm some doctrine.

Back in the my youth we played with Hot Wheels racing cars and  tracks. Many children would lay out the track and, after placing an obstacle on the track, laugh heartedly as their car slammed into the obstacle and careened off the track. In that case, we knew the collision would occur because we planned that collision. But who has not witnessed the seconds before a real accident and knew that someone was going to be horribly hurt. We did not plan or cause the accident although we did know what was about to happen.

God does not cause your sin just as he did not cause the sin of Adam and Eve. Our sin is our responsibility. No matter how good we fancy ourselves, we are sinners and in full rebellion against God (Romans 3:9, Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). It is to God’s glory that he knew we would choose to sin and so provided a means of escape from the terrible penalty of sin. God’s love is great. His love is evidenced by the giving of the precious Son who died for sinners (Romans 5:8). How will you respond to that gift?

Grace: A Working Definition

Bible General, Calvinism, Grace

Grace is grossly misunderstood by many. It is not a blanket forgiveness which allows, condones or encourages rebelliousness. Paul is clear about that (Romans 6:1-2).

Grace was always described to me as “getting what you need but do not deserve.” That’s still pretty close but it is not nuts and bolts. It is not an everyday working definition.

Grace is God providing me with a way to get what I cannot get on my own. Examples:

Noah

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). Mankind was on the verge of destruction and there would be nothing Noah could do. However God gave him a divine plan. He told him to build a boat (Genesis 6:14 ff). Indeed, the flood came, all was destroyed except Noah and those in the grace-given ark (Genesis 8:18). But in the middle of all this Noah had something to do. God gave him a command to build and Noah did so as God said (Genesis 7:5).

Between the prediction of certain destruction and Noah’s glorious deliverance we find a task. Is this story any poorer because Noah obeyed?  Is there even a smidgen less glory to God because Noah did something? Did Noah earn his place in the ark? No! But he was obedient.

Abraham

Abraham lived among idol worshipers. Like all of mankind Abraham was in need of salvation. God chose Abraham as the venue for that grace which would come to all men (Titus 2:11). God made promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham obeyed (Genesis 12:4; Hebrews 11:8-10).

Abraham never saw the blessings God promised; they came much later. He was obedient. He did as he was told to do. Is Abraham any less of a great Bible character because he obeyed? Is his reputation harmed because he did something? Is the glory of God tarnished because he used a man to bring salvation to mankind? Did Moses deserve or earn his place before God? No! But he was obedient.

Paul

Paul (Saul) was a devout Jewish man on the fast track to success and notoriety in Judaism. Jesus stopped him on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:3 ff). By a direct intervention in his life this man was changed. He turned from executing the church to encouraging it. He stopped persecuting and began preaching. Paul was a walking testimony to the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

Paul could say near the end of his life that glory awaited him (2 Timothy 4:6-8). He was a recipient of grace and bound for glory. But in the middle Paul was simply an obedient servant (Acts 26:19). But even with the thousands to whom Paul preached and even with the multiplied beatings and finally death, would any one say God owed salvation to the chief sinner (1 Timothy 1:15). No! Is God less glorious because Paul was obedient? Never!

In every case, men were given the required knowledge. In every case their unforgivable sins were forgiven by the grace of God. But God has always demanded obedience from his people. As lowly servants we ought comply.

Grace then is simply God giving us the gospel and the chance to obey that gospel (Romans 10:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17).

Grace is a much deeper topic than can be covered in a single article but maybe this will whet your appetite and help answer the search for a working definition of grace.