Galatians Chapter 5, Verse 1 — False Grace Vs. True Grace (Part 1 of 2) (Long Version)

Galatians Chapter 5, Verse 1 — False Grace Vs. True Grace (Part 1 of 2) [Print Document]

Galatians 5:1

“[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Today, there are many teachers that say or imply through their sermons that God’s grace (or liberty) is the whole of the Gospel. They ignore the fact that without a justice system, which requires there be a penalty for rebellion against God, sin would increase and would only grow like yeast rising through dough.

They ignore the truth that if Christians continue living in sin, they would be resisting (i.e. hardening of the heart) God's conviction to repent from sin (Hebrews 3). They ignore the truth that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), which is not just physical death.

Mark 9 and Removing the Offense

They also ignore the truth that Jesus Christ told His 12 disciples (Mark 9:33,47-48) that if something leads them into sin, they must get rid of it, lest they be hardened through sinning, and be cast into the fires of Hell. In Mark 9, Jesus said:

[Mark 9:47-48]

"[47] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: [48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." To give you the context, verse 33 shows how Jesus was speaking to His disciples in a house. Earlier, they had argued about who would be the greatest among them. That is when Jesus instructed them to become like a child (in humility and faith) and to forsake sin. In Mark 9:33, we read: "And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?" As we saw in verse 47, Jesus taught His disciples that if something offends them, they must get rid of it, lest they be cast into hell fire. The word for offend is skandalizó in Greek, and it means "to entice to sin" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). According to Webster's 1828 dictionary, "offend" means: "7. To draw to evil, or hinder in obedience; to cause to sin or neglect duty." So, Jesus, in essence, is telling His disciples that if, in the future, they go after something that leads them into sin, and do not forsake it, they would be cast into hell fire. This is crucial doctrine that the Church is missing in sermons, Bible studies, and Christian books.

The Foundation of God’s Grace

Let's talk about God's grace now. If sin did not exist, there would be no need for Jesus Christ to die on the cross. But, as we know, Jesus came to earth in a man’s body to pay the penalty for our sins. We know that the devil had a legal right to us when we were non-Christians. But, Jesus paid in full our debt so that we are free from the debt of sin, which results in damnation. This is what liberty and grace is all about. Grace exists to keep us from being in bondage to sin. It does not exist to bring us into the bondage of sin. Let’s look at Romans 5. We will lay this scripture as a foundation for the rest of this article.

Romans 5:1-5

“[1]Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: [2] By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Paul wrote in verse 3 how tribulation (difficulties) works patience in us. This patience results in experience. And, because we have seen Abba Father God work in our lives, we have hope. In verse 5, Paul writes how Abba God’s love is poured out in great amounts (i.e. “ekcheo”) into our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which God gave us. Then, Paul explains how God demonstrated His love for us.

Romans 5:6-11

“[6] For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. [8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

[10] For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. [11] And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

Abba Father God commended (See Footnote 1) His love toward us by having Jesus Christ die in our place, and Jesus took all the punishment for our sins, while on the cross. He was grieved to see His Only Begotten Son suffer, but Abba God knew that Jesus dying on the cross was the only way to pay for our sins. That blood atonement made us clean in God’s eyes. Here is Abba God’s grace demonstrated beautifully for us (who had been sinners) to be reconciled to God (See Footnote 1).

God’s Grace Is Not a License to Sin

But, Abba God’s grace is not meant to give us a permit or license to sin. It is far from a license to sin. Abba God’s grace is so that we can be delivered from sin and can fellowship with Him. Paul writes these words in the next chapter of Romans:

Romans 6:15-16

“[15] What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. [16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Please stop and think about verse 16. That is something to pause over. This article can wait.

Romans 6:16 (a.) says: “[16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; …”

If we yield ourselves to sin, and give it room in our lives, we would be serving sin. Then, we would be a servant of sin. The consequences of serving sin — what are they? Romans 6:16 (b.) says: “...whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

The result of sin, when it is not dealt with by repentance from sin (which is forsaking sin), is death, and not righteousness. So this verse in Romans is saying that sinning, and not forsaking sin, will produce death?

That is exactly what it and other verses in the Bible actually teach. Many teachers today ignore the plain meaning of the verses, or don’t teach them at all. In the part 2, we will look at how many teachers and pastors teach that once you are saved from sin (through Jesus Christ), you will always be saved. But, is this teaching biblical and correct? We will look at that, in depth, in part 2.

One thing to mention is that believing you can sin with no consequences is like leaving a loaded gun in the hands of a child, and thinking that there will be no consequences if the child pulled the trigger. The consequences are eternal because a hardened heart's choice to resist God is eternal. That is why Jesus told His 12 disciples that forsaking what leads us into sin is necessary. To not forsake sin would mean being cast into hell fire. That is what Jesus Christ taught in the Gospel accounts.

If you are coming here as a non-Christian, I encourage you to read this. God desires to have fellowship with you, as you make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior.

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References:

Webster, Noah. American Dictionary of the English Language. United Books Press, Inc., 2009. (i.e. Webster's 1828 dictionary).

Biblehub.com.

Footnote 1:

Defining Commend

According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary, “commend” means: “1. To represent as worthy of notice, regard, or kindness; to speak in favor of; to recommend.” God saw that we were worthy of His kindness and favor. Otherwise, God would not have sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins.

(The Greek words for “commend” are sunistémi and sunistanó. They mean to approve or commend.)

Defining Reconciled

The Greek word for “reconcile” is katallassó. It means to reconcile or receive into favor. Websters 1828 dictionary defines “reconciled” as: “Brought into friendship from a state of disagreement or enmity; made consistent; adjusted.”