Moment of Truth: Casting Down Lies #17

“You can’t earn God’s grace.”

Are you believing this lie?

If there ever was an important article, this is it. God’s grace is God’s favor and you can absolutely earn it. The apostle Paul tells us how.

Most Christians know that God’s grace is free for the unsaved and cannot be earned to obtain salvation before becoming a Christian. However, after a person is born again of the Holy Spirit of God, they absolutely can abound in God’s grace through their work of obedience. They can be recommended to the grace of God by others because of their work. They can also abound in grace through their own sufferings. Christians can also lose grace with God by their disobedience. In fact, God has been telling us this from the beginning that if we obey, we will be blessed and if we don’t, we will be cursed. A blessing is God’s favor, which is grace.

Get the scriptural facts about grace here.

One thing to note: Working out our salvation is definitely not easy. It is very difficult as we are chastised by God.

[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: [6] For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” [7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? [8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. [9] Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us , and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? [10] For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. [11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. [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. ~Hebrews 12:5-13 KJV

Even though a Christian must work out their salvation with endurance and patience, we must always remember that it is ultimately God’s work and if we are smart, we simply accept and receive it by faith. Remember, faith without works is dead. God gets the glory because we would not have known how to repent were it not for His leading. Therefore, although we are working to survive it, He is really the One doing the mighty work and He must be sanctified; shown as holy.

Nearing the end of the Israelite journey in the desert, Moses had the grace of God and God told him to speak to the rock for the water to come forth in front of the people, but instead, Moses struck the rock twice. Moses could not enter the promised land because of this. Moses showed his work before the people rather than showing God’s work before them.

[11] And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also . [12] And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, “Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” ~Numbers 20:11-12 KJV

[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. [5] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. ~1 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV

So, if you want God’s favor to be abundant in your life, be diligent to follow His doctrine comprised of the commandments and ordinances that the apostle Paul brought as the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Our journey models the Israelite journey in the desert. If you are a born-again Christian, you’ve already been given your salvation freely by grace. Now, you must work that salvation out and learn to abound.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ~Philippians 2:12 KJV

Moreover, every Christian, born of water and then of the fire baptism of the Spirit, gets a measure of grace.  Paul explained that his measure hit its ceiling at a certain point. At this point, he suffered a thorn. It is the overcoming of this thorn— through glorying in his sufferings— that brought him abounding grace, which is also the power of God. The question is, will you endure the grievous, longsuffering journey of self-denial and bible immersion— and then the thorn— to bring you to the power of God?

[19]He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me. [20]The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me. [20]For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.[21]For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. [22]I was also upright before Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. [23]Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyesight. ~ Psalm 18:19-23 KJV