Amazing Grace
Introduction
Amazing Grace” is undoubtedly the world’s most popular hymn, but what do you really know about grace? The apostle Paul writes the following about grace in the first fourteen verses of Romans chapter six, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:1-14).
In our study we will explore three responses to God’s amazing grace.
I. We Encounter A Contradiction To Grace
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:1b-2a)
God does not give His grace for the promotion of license to sin or licentiousness. Don’t be a disgrace to His grace! Only a carnal man would make such a suggestion of “continu[ing] in sin that grace may abound.” Paul representing the spiritual man says, “Certainly not!” or as the Authorized Version puts it, “God forbid!” We must not presume upon God’s grace. May we pray with the psalmist, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, / And I shall be innocent of great transgression” (Psalm 19:12-13).
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “licentious” means, “lacking legal or moral restraints; especially: disregarding sexual restraints” or “marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness.”1
Dr. John Stephen Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, explains, “‘Licentiousness’ is a fancy word for ‘blatant sexual immorality’ -- sexual immorality with an arrogant (cf. 2:10, 18), debauched flare (see especially Rom. 13:13; 2 Cor. 12:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). Do you remember what happened at Corinth? In 1 Cor. 5:1 Paul says, ‘It is actually reported that there is immorality among you and of a kind that is not found among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife. And you are arrogant.’ This same attitude seems to mark the false teachers in 2 Peter.”2 Peter writes a divinely inspired expose about false prophets and false teachers in 2 Peter 2:18-22. False teachers are “licentious” and follow “shameful ways.” In 2 Peter 2:1-2 we read, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.”
The Authorized Version translates the phrase “destructive ways” as “pernicious ways”. Dr. Kenneth Samuel Wuest (1893-1962), professor of New Testament Greek at Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois, shares in Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament, “'Pernicious' is aselgeia, 'unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence.' The term, therefore, does not refer to the heresies of the false teachers, but to their immoral lives. The latter are the result of the former. 'Whom' refers back to the many who followed the false teachers. 'The way of truth' is more accurately, 'the road of the truth.' The word 'way' is to be understood here as a path or road, the road down which a person travels. It does not mean 'method' or 'manner,' but refers to the outworking of the truth in the life of the Christian, his behavior or manner of life. Thus, Christianity is spoken against by the world by reason of the ungodly lives of professing, and alas, sometimes of possessing Christians. 'Evil spoken of' is blasphemeo, 'to speak reproachfully of, rail at, revile, calumniate.’” Dr. Wuest offers the following translation of 2 Peter 2:2: “And many will follow their licentious conduct to its consummation, on account of whom the way of truth will be reviled at."3
Moses records the way to tell a true prophet from a false one in Deuteronomy 18:20-22. We read about false prophets in the following passages, Matt 7:15; 24:11,24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; Acts 13:6; 1 John 4:1; Rev 16:13; 19:20; and 20:10.
Jude warns, “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).
II. We Find A Contention For Grace
Romans 2b-14a
The term “contention” comes from the courtroom and according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “contention” is "an act or instance of contending" or "a point advanced or maintained in a debate or argument".4
The word “contention” is close kin to the word “contend” as we read in Jude chapter 3, “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.” Thus we could say Paul is here “earnestly contend [ing] for the [grace] once delivered to the saints.”
Dr. James Orr (1844-1913) shares the following definition of “contend; contention” by Dr. Henry Eyster Jacobs (1844-1932) in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, “The meeting of effort by effort, striving against opposition; sometimes physically, as in battle (Dt 2:9), or with horses (Jer 12:5), sometimes orally (Neh 13:11), sometimes spiritually (Isa 57:16). In the New Testament diakrinein, for the hostile separation of one from another, dispute (Jude 1:9), or epagonizomai (Jude 1:3), descriptive of the strain to which a contestant is put. The noun is almost universally used with an unfavorable meaning, and as worthy of condemnation, for an altercation arising from a quarrelsome disposition. ‘By pride cometh only contention’ (Prov 13:10). The contentions at Corinth (1 Cor 1:11) called forth the rebukes of Paul. Where used in the King James Version in a good sense (1 Thess 2:2) the Revised Version (British and American) has ‘conflict.’ In Acts 15:39, the noun has a peculiar force, where English Versions of the Bible translates paroxusmos (whence English ‘paroxysm’) by ‘sharp contention.’ The Greek word refers rather to the inner excitement and irritation than to its outward expression.”5
Paul writes, “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you” (Romans 6:2b-14a).
We read in Ephesians chapter two, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:1-10).
Dr. Ernest C. Reisinger (1919-2004) explains, “When Martin Luther said, ‘Love God and do as you please,’ his point was this: If you truly love God, you will do what pleases Him. But that still leaves the question, What is pleasing to God? Thus Luther's statement needs some explanation, lest the issue be oversimplified or confused.”6?
In Hebrews 11:6 we read, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We also find in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Paul writes in Romans 13:8 and following, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10).
Moses writes in Deuteronomy 6:5 and following, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ‘And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).
In Matthew 22:37-40 we read, “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:37-40).
Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. . . . He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. . . . Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me” (John 14:15, 21, 23-24).
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:12b, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” John writes in his first epistle, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:3). Jude concludes his letter in the following way, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, / And to present you faultless / Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, / To God our Savior, / Who alone is wise, / Be glory and majesty, / Dominion and power, / Both now and forever. Amen.” Referring to those who enjoy an eternal relationship with God, we read from Jude 21, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Dr. Henry T. Blackaby, author of Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, writes, “Holiness is God’s plan for our ‘fullness of life.’ In fact, God is our fullness of life! He is holy and He wants to be actively present in our lives both personally and corporately. He has created us for an intimate and personal love relationship with Himself. Jesus said, ‘This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent’ (John 17:3). So, we come to know God in all His holiness when we experience the love relationship for which we were created.”7
III. We See A Contrast With Grace
“. . . for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14b).
Paul writes in Galatians 1:6-10, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-10).
Paul continues in Galatians 2:16-21, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. ‘But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.’”
Paul further explains in Galatians 3:1-14, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? — just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written,’ ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Paul continues in verse 19 and following, “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:19-25).
Paul shares his testimony in Philippians 3:3 and following, “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:3-11).
This is the confession of a legalistic Pharisee, who trusted in himself that he was righteous and despised others. For many years Paul was much like the rich young ruler Jesus encountered, who looked at the law that should convict him of sin and said, “All these things I have kept from my
youth” (Luke 18:21). The difference is that Paul repented of his sin and believed the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the rich young ruler went away sorrowfully without Christ.
Conclusion
How would you characterize your life? Would it be licentiousness, legalism or love? More importantly, how will Jesus characterize your life at the judgment? When we speak of salvation, whether referring to justification, sanctification or glorification it is all because of God’s amazing grace!
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1 Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “Licentious”, Available from: http://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/licentious Accessed: 09/05/09
2 John Piper, “Destruction is not Sleeping” (2 Peter 2:1-10) (Minneapolis, MN: Bethlehem Baptist Church, May 23, 1982) Available from: http://www.soundofgrace.com/piper82/052382m.htm Accessed: 09/05/09
3 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader Three Volume Edition, Volume Two (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002), p. 48
4 Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “Contention”, Available from: http://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/contention Accessed: 09/05/09
5 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, gen. ed., James Orr, "Definition for 'CONTEND; CONTENTION'" (Chicago: Howard-Severance Company, 1915) Available from: bible-history.com - ISBE Accessed: 09/05/09
6 Ernest Reisinger, “God’s Law and God’s Love” (Part 1), Founders Journal, Issue 30, (Cape Coral, Florida: Founders Ministries, Fall 1997), Available from: http://www.founders.org/journal/fj30/article4.html Accessed: 09/05/09
7 Henry Blackaby “The Loss of the Fear of God” (Jonesboro, GA: Blackaby Ministries International), Available from: http://www.blackaby.org/FreshEncounterResources/assetts/The_Loss_of_the_Fear_of_God.pdf Accessed: 09/05/09