(Writer : Dessy Ariadna – Stand To JESUS)
Romans 3:23-24 (IMB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but by His grace they are justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ JESUS.
Romans 3:23-24 (ESV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (IMB) By grace you have been saved through faith, not by yourselves, but by the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith; it is not the result of yourselves, but it is the gift of God, it is not the result of works: let no one boast.
There are many Christians who are afraid to hear about the Gospel of Grace even though this is the teaching of the New Testament law. They have difficulty accepting that we are saved because of grace, they have difficulty accepting that we are justified because of faith in JESUS, they have difficulty accepting that the salvation we receive is a free gift from God and not the result of our efforts. Why is that? Because they try to add their deeds to it so that if asked why they were saved? They have the opportunity to boast about themselves that it is all the result of their efforts and their piety and not to boast in God because everything is God’s gift.
For those of you who today are afraid to hear the gospel of grace, for those of you who today reject the gospel of grace, for those of you who today boast of your deeds, I say to all of you, there is not a single godly deed you who are able to take you to heaven, you can only be saved and enter heaven through one way, namely through faith in JESUS Christ. You cannot bribe God through your good deeds, even in Isaiah 64:6 it is said that human piety is like filthy rags, no human piety is perfect before Father YAHWEH. That’s why we all need a Savior, we all need JESUS Christ.
Everything we have today, everything is a gift from God alone, if we want to boast, it is better to boast in God. There is no point in boasting about yourself.
I know there are some of you who think that if the gospel of grace is taught, it will give people a way to be free from sin, but what does the Bible say? The answer from the Bible is No! Grace (grace) does not make people free to sin and live as they please, instead the spirit of grace (grace) will guide believers to righteousness. Let’s look at the following verses :
Romans 6:15-16 (IMB) So what? Can we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not. Don’t you know that to whom you submit yourself to obey as a slave, you are a slave to the one you obey, whether it is sin that leads to death or obedience that leads to righteousness?
Romans 6:15-16 (ESV) So what? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Never mind! Do you not know that when you submit yourself to someone as a servant to obey him, you are the servant of that person, whom you must obey, both in sin which leads you to death, and in obedience which leads you to righteousness?
Titus 2:11-12 (IMB) For, God’s grace that saves everyone has already appeared. This gift educates us to abandon wickedness and worldly desires, to live wisely, justly and piously in this present time.
Titus 2:11-12 (ESV) Because God’s grace that saves all men has appeared. He educates us so that we abandon wickedness and worldly desires and so that we live wisely, justly and godly in today’s world.
So where does the formula come from that God’s grace leads people to be free to sin? That’s not Biblical at all, don’t go beyond God’s word. People who live in repentance, who realize that the salvation they obtain is a gift from God, then they will become individuals who know themselves and know how to be grateful to God, they will not be arbitrary towards their own lives.
Grace (grace) actually gives those who live in it the Divine strength and power to reject sin and all its actions, we have the power to reject all sinful desires and actions. Even the Bible records that sin no longer has power over us because we are under grace.
Romans 6:14 (IMB) Sin will have no power over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:14 (ESV) For sin will no longer be dominated by you, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
So are you still afraid of the Gospel of Grace? With reasons that can make people free to sin?
