Ep. 232 - What is Grace Really All About?

When you grasp that which I praise God , the Lord has been using our ministry to help people grasp , as God gave Ray this message the understanding of the utter sinfulness of sin , the utter holiness of God . And when you take those two and you line them up side by side , man , god's grace shines .

Yeah , recently , here at Living Waters , we've been talking about what our next movie is going to be , because we love producing movies that inspire and equip Christians to fulfill the Great Commission . But , guys , I think I've got the answer for us . Let's hear it . I would love , love to collect a third being her .

Thank you for being a podcast my kids can listen to also . The favorite is Ray's evangelism videos , but they will listen if it's what I've got on if they must . Thanks again . Wow , thank you , that's really nice . Thank you so much . I wish I could say your name PCBY Shelby , shelby , shelby . Maybe it is Shelby Shelby .

Thank you , and what a blessing that you're equipping your kids in the word . We're blessed to be a part of that journey .

The apostle Paul had an abundant life , was wonderful , full of beating , stoning , breaking , prism and martyrdom , and so it's important to tell the truth . Christianity , as someone said , doesn't offer a smooth flight , but it does offer a safe landing . Amen , and that's the gospel .

If you haven't listened to them , go back and check them out . These are vintage , but we didn't want to deprive you of them . So , without any further ado , here is Grace Alone .

So , to get us started , it just so happens to be about 500 years since Martin Luther penned his 95th thesis up on the wall , which was the accumulation of , or I should say , the beginning of , the Reformation , and at the core of the Reformation was grace alone and faith alone . Now many people would argue that grace alone is done and over with that .

It doesn't matter anymore that it was something to argue with the Catholic Church 500 years ago , but I think we would all agree that grace alone is still incredibly valuable , especially of understanding the gospel and what God has done for us . So , to start , the first question at the beginning how would you define grace ?

A friend sent me a video just last night , maybe the night before , I can't remember exactly when it was and it doesn't matter , so it's ridiculous to even talk about it . Why are you talking about that ?

Anyway , it was a video and it was one of those courts those reality court shows where someone's in court facing a real judge and he called the video court grace or an example of grace in a court , and it was a real sweet lady . She was in like early 40s and she had got a stack of parking tickets . And the judge says you've got five parking tickets .

And she said I didn't know I had that many . And he said I don't care what you don't know . She said ignorance is no excuse . You've got these parking tickets $500 .

And she says , judge , she says my 17 year old son just died and I had to go and pay his $75 ticket when I was paying and I came out with a $100 ticket in my car and she said I don't know how I'm gonna get this 500 , I don't have $500 . And she burst into tears and wasn't crocodile tears , she was very genuine . It was very , very moving .

And the judge was very moved and compassionate . He says ma'am , what a horrible thing you've been through . He said I'm just dismissing this case . And I thought that's not an example of grace , that's mercy . That's mercy . He could have . Says lady , I'm sorry to hear about your son , it's really sad , but you've got five fines here . You can't go parking .

You're really so responsible . I'm teaching you a lesson . They went $500 . But he didn't . He was compassionate . Now , if he had said lady , you owe 500 , takes $500 , but you know what ? I'm gonna pay that fine myself and I'm gonna put $10,000 in your bank account , just so you're gonna have things easier in future .

That's grace , and there's such a difference and it gets mixed up by so many and we don't realize that we haven't had mercy , just mercy extended . We've got grace . We've not only had our fine paid for us , but we've got our eternity mapped out for us , more than $10,000 put in our account , and we've got pleasure for evermore , everlasting life .

And that's why grace is breathtaking and it's why I can't stop whistling amazing grace in the last few days .

How much has been elaborated on in terms of grace since that time ? And one of the most common definitions is grace is unmarried , unearned , undeserved favor , and oftentimes what's tagged on that is to the infinitely ill deserving . And oh man , how true that is .

I love what Paul said to Timothy , and second Timothy 2 , you therefore , my son , be strong in the grace as in Christ Jesus . And that's the reason again why we've seen the revival that's spread across the globe over the past 500 years , because men of God dared to be strong in the grace of God , and so I hope we continue that .

I'm sure Mark has more to add to that definition .

Matthew Henry said that you are at the nearest point of receiving God's grace , mercy and forgiveness when you begin to realize you cannot do anything correct , when you are at that place , I can't do anything right .

You're at that nearest point of actually receiving God's grace because it is unearned , it is unmerited , and God takes delight in giving his grace to people . So God does not give his grace by calculated measure .

And you're at the nearest point of receiving God's grace and we've defined it properly here just a moment ago at that moment when you begin to realize , man , I can't do anything right , I need help enter grace .

You've been given the common grace of God , but saving grace is the work of Christ that is unmerited , undeserved and with no strings attached .

It's a total misunderstanding of the nature of sin in the sight of a holy God .

When you grasp that which I praise God , the Lord has been using our ministry to help people grasp , as God gave Ray this message the understanding of the utter sinfulness of sin , the utter holiness of God , and when you take those two and you line them up side by side , man , god's grace shines .

But as Eze was discussing earlier the Reformation , that came with the thrust of Martin Luther at the beginning , at the front there , nailing his 95 thesis to the door , he brought in a new ideology that the church was not expecting .

And as the church taught then , the Roman Catholic Church , that is grace , faith , scripture , christ and to the glory of God , alone , to the glory of God . They did not teach this , which was alone , alone . It is grace alone . Through faith alone , because of Christ alone . We stand on , scripture alone and this alone will bring glory to God alone .

So this is what the reformers had preached , this is what they had heralded and this is what we need to remember that it is all of these things faith alone , grace alone , christ alone , scripture alone , to the glory of God alone . And so our focus here today is the fourth battle cry of the Reformation Solagratia right .

So this is Solag , meaning alone Latin , for alone Gratia , grace in Latin . It is grace alone that is the focus .

Like when I study scripture , when I look at the plain texts God has given us in His word , I'm absolutely , utterly baffled by the fact that anyone would argue against this doctrine . And if you're gonna err in terms of maybe misunderstanding something , why would you not wanna err on giving God all the credit , all the glory ?

Why would you ever want to , for a second , even insert yourself Again ? It's a blindness to our own depravity and sinfulness to think we can contribute anything to our redemption . It's a total misunderstanding of the entire tenor of scripture as far as what salvation is all about .

I could see it was like he glazed as I shared it with him . So it's a blindness and that's why it's so essential . You ask why it's important ? So , essentially , use the law .

Because we get antinomianism abounding throughout contemporary Christianity , people who think they can live lawless because they don't understand how much we've sinned against God , how holy God is . That salvation is beyond our reach , it's infinitely beyond , and all we can do is call upon God's grace to save us .

And I held my Bible out and I began to read and I said for by works have you been saved , through great efforts and that completely of yourselves . It is your paycheck from God as a result of your labor , giving you reason to boast . And he looked at me and he goes yeah , that sounds right .

I mean , I was shocked because I was expecting him to go come on , that's not what it . He goes yeah , that sounds right . And I was stunned for a second and I go actually , it says the exact opposite .

But because of the watering down of God's word , because of the twisting of scripture , something that is the exact opposite of what scripture actually says sounds to you like it's the truth . And yeah , the sunshine and sweetness quickly went out . The way . I got pretty upset .

So when we talk about antinomianism , you also have to talk about legalism , and when we talk about grace , it's the perfect balance between the two .

You think about what it says in Titus , for the grace of God has appeared to all men , teaching us that , denying ungodliness and all worldly lust , we should live soberly , righteously and godliness present age . So scripture is clear what the grace of God does ? It teaches us to deny ungodliness and all worldly lust .

The grace of God doesn't lead to , as Ray mentioned , antinomianism or living a life of licentiousness . But there's also the balance of the whole grace and works issue , because I think those words good works , have become by words , unfortunately because of the fact that they've been twisted .

So the church now kind of bristles when they're heard , like as if , though they're unscriptural . But God's word gives us the perfect balance . I mean , think about it . We just quoted Ephesians 2 , 8 , 9 , for by grace you've been saved through faith . That not of yourselves , it's a gift of God , not of works . Us anyone should boast . What about verse 10 ?

For we are his workmanship , created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them . He just totally made it clear it's not of ourselves , it's a total gift , but we're his workmanship , created in Christ Jesus for good works .

You think of Titus 3 , 3 through 8 , says for we ourselves were also once foolish , disobedient , deceived , serving various less than pleasures , living in malice and envy , hateful and hating one another .

But when the kindness and the love of God , our Savior , toward man appeared , not by works of righteousness , which we have done , but according to his mercy , he saved us through the washing of regeneration

and renewing of the Holy Spirit , whom he poured on us abundantly through Jesus Christ , our Savior . Having it justified by his grace , we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life .

And then he says this this is a faithful saying and these are things I want you to affirm constantly that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works . He just said not by works of righteousness we have done .

Then he says I want you to exhort them in this that they should be careful to maintain good works , why these things are good and profitable to men . Those two passages , I think , strike the perfect chord of how grace and works , work together . We're saved , totally independent of our works . But if we're saved then naturally we should be producing good works .

And so here's where I think you put it so well by reading those verses which is works is a response to grace , not in addition to grace , so that when you hear a pastor say Bible before breakfast , or when we talk about repentance , or when we talk about the Great Commission , yeah , we are giving good advice , we are not adding to grace .

That is good advice . That's not the gospel , it's good advice . Yet if grace has truly taken effect , that's the natural response . Good works is a response to grace , not in addition to grace .

And that's why that was so important , Izzy , that you went over those texts , because grace actually teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live sober and righteous . In this present age . That is so key . People must listen , they must hear that aspect of it . I'm really glad that you touched upon that .

Let me say this that we must affirm to the fact that grace actually saves . We have to . If you don't come to that conclusion that grace saves , well then you are believing another gospel . We have to come to that as our foundation . So it's grace alone means grace at the start , all the way until the end .

There's grace in the middle , grace without fail , grace without mixture , grace without addition , grace that allows no boasting and grace that stops all glorying , but in the Lord , it stops every minute . Grace is going to stop every mouth and come to the conclusion Wow , is God , because I can't do anything .

He has to do it all and if there's anything I can do to it , well then you changed the definition of grace , just like the Colts .

And I think there's confusion when it comes to the function of God's law , in the sense the law came by Moses , but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ . That word but isn't in the original , it wasn't there in the Greek . It's just as the law came by Moses , grace came by Jesus . It's not a negative thing , the law .

It's a positive thing because what it does is it shows us our need of God's grace . It makes us hunger and thirst after righteousness .

This is the clear passage on the fact that you can't intermingle the two . If it's of one , it's impossible that it's of the other .

And he hears from the governor that he's had his sentence commuted . He's gonna be bursting with sheer joy .

But if the priest comes and takes a criminal right up to the gallows and he puts a hood over his head , he puts the rope around his neck , he hears the creek draw a trap beneath him sorry , the trapdoor creek beneath him and his heart beats within his chest . And then he hears a pardoness come from the governor . I said he is the one who collapses .

And sheer joy . And someone called out he just hung himself because he had a rough breath as the neck collapsed . But it's such an illustration of the more the law is applied to the conscience . The more we tremble , the more we like Felix who trembled , the more we're gonna appreciate God's grace .

Maybe this true biblical definition of grace is missing , but grace is not missing , by and large , from the pulpits . So we use the law of God to bring the knowledge of sin and we need to warn people to stop using life enhancement as a draw card for salvation .

And because we're given such a short amount of time in certain venues churches and conferences we hone in on these aspects and we get people that come up against us and say , come on , how about a balance ? Well , you don't need a balance , we don't need to go off on God's grace .

Once people recognize what a depraved individual they are , the moment you bring in the answer , bring in the solution and the cure , they grasp for it , they reach out to it and they are so thankful for it . And that's exactly what you're addressing here , boy .

We love God's grace , we love mercy , we love forgiveness , but I think that our church , when people have to our ministry , what people need to recognize is that these things , by and large , are not missing .

It's the law being heralded that is missing , and sometimes people don't hear that other side and they begin to think no , it's all about the law , it's all about the law . Well then , you're missing the point of the law . The law is to drive a sinner down on his face , to cry out to God , to say have mercy on me .

So then , when grace comes in , it brings a hidden smile of God above the dark cloud inside someone's life , which is all they've done their whole life is eat , drink and slept in equity . We have to get to grace . We have a love for God's grace .

While the law paves the way for the gospel , it paves the way by revealing our plight and the gospel proclaims the good news to those who are struck down by the law . Right , and that's the balance between the two .

Right , he said , look , if it's by his works and he can boast , I did it , but not before God . For what does the scripture say ? Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness . Now , to him who works , the wages are not counted as grace but as debt .

But to him who does not work but believes on him , who justifies the ungodly , his faith is accounted for righteousness . And that's really what it comes down to , right ? I mean , that was at the heart of the Reformation the just shall live by faith , right and receiving that imputed righteousness of Christ .

Because , apart from his perfect righteousness , we're doomed before a holy God , and people underestimate that . You know we look at sin in its extreme form by our perspective , but a man and a woman ate a piece of fruit in a garden thousands of years ago , and here we are today .

Sin is atrocious in the sight of God , not so much in its expression per se , but at its root rebellion against him .

So salvation is not the result of anything that we do . I like this quote that I read earlier , and it was God offers grace as a free gift . It's not a free opportunity to work hard for our salvation , but a true free gift that needs no additional contribution on our part .

So the distinction's critical and it separates cults such as Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness from Christianity not as separate denominations but as a completely separate notion about the nature and the saving work of Christ .

They're gonna say to you , oh no , we're saved by grace . But then they're gonna go to there , right , like Mormonism , you're saved by grace after all that you can do .

And so no , the scriptural , biblical , historical Christianity perspective of grace is that you are saved by grace , despite anything you ever could even attempt to do , because there's nothing you can do .

You're so far removed from a holy God that only he alone can save you , because you're not someone that has a spark of life in you and can somehow regenerate yourself . You are dead , and a dead person can only be made alive if they're quickened by an external being .

They are and use the Lord to bring the knowledges in and put them up the river Niagara without a paddle , remove from the false hope , so they'll trust in the true Christ and the true grace of God .

I mean , I think about the woman walking down Madison Avenue and all of the man-made laws that are being pushed upon her ashes , just simply walking down the street . Thou shalt be skinny , thou shalt be successful , thou shalt be independent , thou shalt be self-actualized To the men , thou shalt be financially wealthy , a woman , conqueror , strong . Look a certain way .

All these things are laws given to us by man and we have this desire to self-authenticate our own selves by these laws . Right and in a certain way , everybody loves the law , because law promises us agency . It puts the keys to our wellbeing in our own hands . If I can just do X , y or Z , then I get the results that I want .

If I can just be a kind of person , project certain qualities publicly , then I'll be loved . People who are addicted to control are addicted to the law , and we're all addicted to control . So the irony of our lives is that our desire to be in control almost always ends up controlling us .

You might say that our relationship to the law is a fatal attraction and it controls our behavior . And then in walks , grace , where God says you don't have to be skinny or attractive or you don't have to be controlled by the expectations of your society . So when we talk about grace , we shouldn't just talk about it when it comes to the cults .

We should talk about it to any person walking down the streets that's never read a Bible , that doesn't understand the cults . There's an element of grace that's for them as well .

But this is what you do you get drunk , you have a good time , you're trying to conquer , blah , blah , blah , and you come home and you feel sick the next day and it was like being set free by the grace of God .

You know , I may have shared before , I don't remember , but I witnessed a guy in an airport whose name was George Whitfield and when he told me his name I laughed and he didn't show any response or expression . I go here , joke and he goes . No , my name is George Whitfield Was that in Australia ?

When we think we can contribute something to our salvation , and it's amazing how many people I've heard say I have to do it on my own , I need to save myself , I need to , and it's such a again ignorance when it comes to how sinful we are and how impossible it is .

God is merciful as he sees fit and God has a long fuse when it comes to his mercy and he has a long fuse when it comes to grace . He has a long fuse when it comes to extending

a hand to humanity . But we must not mistake that long fuse , as that fuse will always exist . God has common grace for people , he has a saving grace for people and we think , well , because that grace is available , it will always be there , even perhaps , as some people believe , after I die and I can have a second chance , because God is love .

That grace will always be available , even after I die and I'm in the grave and I'm rotting . No , the only obligation that God has is to act consistent within his nature . He gives according to his nature and it is absolutely appalling to us to think that it will always be available to sinful humanity .

No , god does whatever he wants to do , whenever he wants to do it , to whomever he wants to do it , and he answers to nobody . And now that ushers in the word sovereignty . God sovereignly saves those whom he desires to save and he uses the measure , the means of grace , to do so .

It is finished and for me , as a Christian who sins and continues to fail , my only anchor is the grace of God , knowing that the grace of God is inseparable it's inseparable from the gospel , and there's no longer that fear . Oh , maybe today I'm gonna be cast into hell .

I talked to someone just yesterday who's in torments because they continue to fail and sin and struggle and they've come across some bad teaching on YouTube . What a dangerous , dangerous minefield it is , especially when someone is weak and struggling .

They go on there and they hear these heretical people that have no understanding of the doctrine of salvation and grace , and I had to help walk him through that and explain to him that it's not based on him keeping the law . Christ lived the perfect life , as we've talked on other segments . He fulfilled the law in our place .

He's a propitiation for our sins and by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified .

And then he goes on and he says listen , if anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to that which we preach to you or contrary to that which you've received , let him be accursed , anathema . And those are strong words . Paul says listen , even if we ourselves come back and do it , if an angel from heaven does it .

And he's affirming that the gospel which was originally preached as a true gospel 1 Corinthians 15 , one through three , paul makes clear what the gospel is the death , burial , resurrection of Christ . And then he says this by which you are saved , what's Ephesians tell us for by grace you've been saved through faith and out of yourselves .

When you deny so la grata , you're denying the gospel , which means that you're accursed , and you're going to then have to stand before God holding up your filthy works , right Like filthy rags , trying to say to him God , look what I did , save me . What a terrifying thought . What a reproach that is on the work of Christ on the cross .

So it's a horrible thing when any criminal stands before a judge condemned and yet continues to hold on to his self-righteousness .

You know even God's abounding grace toward us as his children , beyond just the common grace , the grace benefits that are a part of our salvation are innumerable , and everything comes from the Lord . There's no room for boasting . Amen , amen , amen , amen . Amen .

And to bring it full circle back to Martin Luther , one of the very first and memorable expressions of his great discovery came in his 26th thesis , in which he wrote the law says do this , and it is never done . Grace says believe in this and everything is already done .

And those words remove the pressure of self-justification and it's replaced with freedom , the freedom to die and yet live , to fail and yet succeed , the freedom to love , to serve , to wait , to laugh , to cry and to glorify our God in heaven . Amen , amen . Thank you guys so much for joining us again . I hope this has been a blessing to our partners .

I wanted to also mention , if there's ever any questions that come up I'm thinking maybe at the end of this eighth one , on a ninth one or maybe an additional CD we can kind of do questions that came in .

So , with that said , I wanna say , if you guys have any questions at all , you can email me directly , onovaro at livingwaterscom , and if we get a chance , we would love to be able to address any questions that come up . Can't promise anything , but if we have time maybe we can do something like that .

May the Lord bless you guys and use this time to edify you and to provide a more clear and better understanding of the good nudes of God's amazing grace . And until next time and I'll see you guys next time .

God's unmerited favor to the infinitely ill deserving . Yeah , if you're gonna major in a subject , how about major in the study of God's grace and be quick to give grace to other people . We love to receive grace , sell them like to give it to other people , and we talk about salvific grace , god's grace on how we get saved .

Man , let that become your best friend in life to understand that and give that to other people .

Remember podcastatlivingwaterscom with your thoughts , questions , criticisms of my co-hosts , and don't forget to subscribe on whatever platform you listen on and to tell people about it . Don't forget your comments too . We wanna hear from you . Thank you for joining us , friends Whoa . Is that a voice . That was an attack of the frog .

Something's going on in my voice Frog the frog on the throat . Thank you for joining us , friends . We'll see you here next time on the Living Waters podcast . The ultimate cure for insomnia golpe rappers .