Many people in the world try to live good lives to get to heaven. Unfortunately, living a good life by man’s standards is not good enough. People have different meters about what is good and what is bad. Therefore, God gave us a path to salvation through Jesus Christ. In fact, He decided to be incredibly generous by giving it to all people without them doing good deeds for it. All they had to do is to have faith in the Savior Jesus Christ whom God sent, who died for us and rose again defeating death for us.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ~Ephesians 2:8 KJV

Here is the Apostle Paul’s explanation.  He explains his life before Christ, his life discovering what Christ did for him, and then explains how Christ used him as the first example to show the world the pattern of how they should believe on Him,

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Remember, God chastises his own children to correct them.  This is longsuffering for God when dealing with you and longsuffering for you because chastisement hurts and you suffer for a while.  However, it produces good fruit and holiness.  We are thankful for faith giving us all access to the Holy of Holies because of what Christ did for us.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ~Romans 5:2 KJV 

The Bible tells us that death reigned from Adam until Moses because God’s law was not given until Moses. It was the law on tablets that pointed to sin.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. ~Romans 5:14 KJV

This is why the sin of one made many dead, but the grace of One, who is Jesus Christ, caused many to have the grace of God so they could be saved and also have the gift by grace. The gift by grace is the Holy Spirit of righteousness.

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. ~Romans 5:15 KJV

Apostle Paul explains that because of what Christ did for us, many—rather than few like in the Old Testament— are able to receive righteousness and walk in it.

Paul continues to explain grace telling us how grace might reign through righteousness.

[20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. ~Romans 5:20-21 KJV

Now many pastors have preached the “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” leaving the hearer thinking that sin makes grace abound. Furthermore, Paul says right after this, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”

[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ~Romans 6:1 KJV

 

Paul is making the point that sin abounded because the law was introduced, but grace abounds more where sin used to abound because righteousness through Christ is introduced.

Notice the past tense.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: ~Romans 5:20 KJV

Another part to notice in the previous Romans 5:21 scripture, is the
word might. Grace might reign through righteousness by Jesus Christ. So we know grace can reign, but the question is, how do we continue in righteousness so that grace may abound? First, we already learned that it is not by sin,

[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ~Romans 6:1-2 KJV

This whole chapter in Romans covers why we should no longer sin. This is where we learn that grace is not an excuse to be an imperfect Christian— nor a hopeless, sinning Christian. For if men could obtain grace to find perfection before the law was fulfilled, how much more should we acknowledge the righteous path granted to us.

[8] But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord . [9] These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. ~Genesis 6:8-9 KJV

Yes, Noah was perfect and there are other men who found it too— by faith. So it is possible to be perfect, but God just made it easier by granting us One sacrifice forever rather than yearly sacrifices.  Again, this also gave access to many to be righteous rather than few.

He did this by putting the law into the Spirit, which might live in us teaching us to walk in righteousness. It began with grace, giving us the salvation we received when we accepted Christ by faith.

[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. [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? [17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. [18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. ~Romans 6:14-18 KJV

Notice that Paul clearly states that “obedience to righteousness” and “obeying the doctrine (his doctrine) from the heart” is how a person becomes a servant of righteousness. We received grace to obtain salvation. Now we remain and abound in the grace of God through obedience to righteousness and adhering to the doctrine.

Also, notice what law Paul is referencing in the above passage. It is the law of sin and death. Not God’s holy law because God’s law is holy and not removed. We are delivered from the law of sin and death.

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. ~Romans 7:6 KJV

Paul makes a distinction regarding the containment of the law. The law was on tablets known as the letter, but now it is in the Spirit.

Read more about why people misinterpret the laws here.  

Did you know that it was possible to fail the grace of God?

First, you can fail the grace by claiming imperfect Christianity as I explained above.

Second, you can fail the grace by not being God’s chastised child.  As we read further in Hebrews Chapter 12, we are told to “run the race” and endure the punishments from God.  If you are not punished, you are not His child. His chastisement yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

This is what we wanted to know from the beginning.

 

The answer is to have faith in Jesus because He is our righteousness, walk in His Spirit, endure the chastening of the Lord and get your life right by following peace with all men and holiness so that people will see the Lord. This comes through our adherence to the doctrine.

Third, you can fail the grace by not striving for holiness and godliness.  We are reminded to look diligently [to the Lord’s ways]— so that we do not fail the Lord’s favor. Looking diligently will prevent bitterness because being a Christian can be difficult and even lonely.

[12] Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; [13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. [14] Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: [15]  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God ; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you , and thereby many be defiled; ~Hebrews 12:12-15 KJV  

Next, you can fail the grace by frustrating or falling from grace.  The apostle Paul rebuked the Galatians because they returned to worldly observances of times and seasons and they returned to the circumcision of the Old Testament law.  Christ is our circumcision made without hands.  Paul ultimately says to them,

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. ~Galatians 5:4 KJV

Paul also rebuked Peter for the same thing.  Peter moved from the uncircumcised Gentiles and sat with the Jews because they were circumcised.  Paul said,

“I do not frustrate the grace of God:  for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” ~Galatians 2:21 KJV

Read more about other examples of self-righteousness here.

Finally, we are warned about losing what has been given to us,

[16] Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. [17] For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. ~Hebrews 12:16-17 KJV

Esau lost the favor of God. We are encouraged to continue in grace, the favor of God, so that we may serve Him with reverence and godly fear.

[28] Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: [29] For our God is a consuming fire. ~Hebrews 12:28-29 KJV

Then, in the book of James, we learn to whom God gives grace.

[6] But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. ~James 4:6-10 KJV