love above all
Why is it so common for believers to turn on each other when they don’t agree on doctrine? Shouldn’t God’s amazing grace towards us, motivate a more gracious spirit towards one other? The World sees how most Christians act and correctly concludes, “what hypocrites they are!”. The average Christian practices little “g” grace. On the surface they smile, but in the heart, the daggers are out.
The Saints have been fighting like children over non-essential doctrines for a long time. From the beginning of the Gospel’s spread, Christians have struggled to show God’s kind of grace. Much of Paul the Apostle’s time, was spent writing to believers who let little things divide them. Paul had to reprimand them for losing sight of the unity of the Spirit, and the Gospel of Christ.
Prayers for daily help with this weakness are needed. We should be walking in submission to the Holy Spirit. Our first prayer in quiet of the morning should be, “Forgive me Lord where I have failed to be gracious, help me to walk in your love and grace above all today.”
John Wesley expressed a heartfelt desire to walk in Christ’s love towards fellow believers when he made the following statement:
“Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.”
John Wesley
Had Wesley been alive during John Calvin’s time in Geneva, he could have faced a terrible punishment from pios leaders for such a “radical” statement. By Wesley’s time, hundreds of years later, strict camps of “Reformed” believers were well established. The battle lines had been drawn, the walls of separation erected. Those that gained notoriety during the Protestant Reformation had set the example of division. They missed the mark of Christ-like love set forth in God’s Word!
John Calvin, the State Church of Geneva, Martin Luther, and many who had “split” with Catholicism, continued to perpetuate the errors of the Catholic Church. One glaring failure, was the lack graciousness toward one another over minor doctrinal issues. History has recorded just how badly the Catholic Church persecuted those who questioned their established Church doctrines. Sadly and ironically, the Reformers, who were so harshly persecuted by the Church, also persecuted and killed believers who disagreed with them. This is our history. Some try to forget it or gloss over it, but it needs to be remembered. It is in remembering our failures that we instruct our Christian walk today.
brother against brother
Where did the “Reformers” go wrong? They say “everyone was doing it” , but this is the same lemming excuse that Adam used in the Garden. Christ did not teach his disciples to follow the crowd, that is for sure. We know that Christ would not have done what many Christian leaders did in those dark times. But, we are not to judge. God is the Righteous Judge, seeing clearly the heart of each one of us. Therefore, we will all answer for our conduct, even our great Reformation leaders.
The Reformers wanted reformation, not revolution. They originally sought to change the Catholic Church from within. They hoped they would bring about a better, more Biblical Catholic Church. Roderick C. Meredith (1930-2017) in his book, THE SHOCKING VIOLENCE OF THE REFORMERS examines the history of the Reformers. Modern Theologians still avoid the subject, so as not to damage the memory of our Reformation heros.
As I said, we need to remember the fallibility of our human hearts and acknowledge where we have failed in our Christian walk. Though we have been granted peace with the living God of Truth, and can approach His Throne of Grace, we can never stop fighting the old man. While it is no surprise that brothers stand against bothers, and sisters against sisters, it does not have to be so. Christ taught his disciples, and therefore all believers, a better way. It is a walk of love and grace.
Love Your Enemies
LUKE 6: 27-36
But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Sin can and does, find it’s way into our life, because of our flesh. We forget that the love of Christ should motivate all we say and do. What does God, through the Holy Spirit say to us, “love as I loved you, have mercy because I am merciful.”? Once God’s enemies, we have been made Sons and Daughters through Jesus Christ and the Cross. We do well not wander to far from the simplicity that is in the Gospel of Christ.
abound in this grace
Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthian church, calls for the believers there to abound in “this grace”. Notice Paul specifically tells them to, “SEE that you abound in this grace ALSO”, which means there are also other kinds of grace to abound in. Grace is a big deal for believers! How can we abound in grace? Paul’s is speaking of a specific grace in the context of this particular exhortation to the believers at Corinth. I will get back to that specific grace. But first, it should be helpful to explore what grace means, and how God demonstrates grace to all.
The Hebrew word chanan and Greek word charis, for grace mean “the state of kindness and favor toward someone, often with a focus on a benefit given to the object.” (Strong’s Greek 5485).
Grace is one of God’s attributes, it is part of who he is. Because he is gracious, all God’s works involve grace, from creation, to his plans for our future. Every aspect of God’s provision for us are rooted and inseparable from His grace. This includes our salvation, sanctification, and equipping for the ministry to which believers are called. Grace also extends to God’s chastisement, and his righteous judgement of evil. Every breath we take, and heartbeat in our chest, are part of God’s grace. God’s many graces towards us, should create hearts abounding in grace.
God’s Grace in Salvation
God’s wonderful grace is certainly seen in salvation. God offers a free gift, simply to be accepted. This gift is unmatched because of the awful cost to Jesus on the cross. God’s unmatched grace brings many good things to those who believe. Foremost is the Holy Spirit, our helper and equipper as we walk in Christ. We have no excuses, because God did not fail to provide all that we need, spiritually speaking, to offer grace in kind to everyone we meet. The believer can practice daily grace towards others because God’s grace flows through the Spirit in us. However, we must be mindful that our flesh can stifle our grace. As we grow in the Spirit, grace will naturally flow more and more freely from our gratefully redeemed hearts. This is the character of the life that God makes possible for us by His Son’s sacrifice.
- I Peter 3:18 (NKJV) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
- Galatians 5:24-25 (NKJV) And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
In the greater body of Christ, there is also a weakness of grace that hinders the growth of God’s spiritual kingdom. Churches and denominations struggle with God’s call to walk in His grace. Many “religious” organizations, in the wisdom of men, have corrupted God’s simple message to the World. We, the body of Christ on Earth, are not always practicing God’s grace the way we should.
the motivation of grace
Indignation boils up in us the moment we are “wronged” by someone. This ugly head of offence is part of our old self. It is to be let go of, rebuked by the Spirit in us. Our own heart’s attitude depends largely on whether we hold a high, fearful understanding of God. In the light of God’s demonstration of His grace, our selfishness should fall away, giving way to a Godly fear.
God clearly tells us the motivation for His grace, which came through the provision of Jesus Christ. It is His Love. God offers His love to all. In doing so God’s Grace, experienced in Christ Jesus, is all the more glorious, showing Christ to be in the preeminent position above all things. Christ is love, just as the Father is love. We see his love and provision in what he has created, and what he accomplished on the cross. This should be the pattern for our Christian walk.
- Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Titus 2:11 (NKJV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
As believers we are called to be practicing God’s grace in all things, toward all people. Just as God our Father did in His provision of Christ, and just as Christ did when he gave up his life on the cross, providing spiritual life for us.
- Hebrews 12:15 (NKJV) looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
- Galatians 2:21 (NKJV) I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
- I Peter 3:9 (NKJV) not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
- James 3:10 (NKJV) Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
god’s capital “g” grace
Was God’s primary motivation to glorify Himself when He provided a solution to our sin? I don’t see that. The Word tells us that It was because He loved us, that the creator of life died for His creation! (John 3:16) God could have simply started over once sin entered the World. Instead, God chose to give Adam and Eve a choice to obey, or not. Their choice was to ignore God’s instruction about the fruit of the Tree of Life. They rebelled and did eat, yet God still had in mind a way to redeem them, and us. God asks us to believe in, and trust in Him! Not only that, God looks for a heart that loves Him! He will not force us to love Him.
Jesus, one with God the Father, literally offered Himself on the cross, dying in our stead. This demonstrated the essence of God’s goodness, holiness and love. This is God’s amazing Grace! Grace with capital “G”. God did exactly what was righteous and it was self sacrificial. This is the kind of grace we are called to abound in.
- Romans 5:17 (NKJV) For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NKJV) But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
THIS Grace, is a self-sacrificing preference given to others. What God showed us blind sinners heading toward death, was the light of life. God, through Jesus Christ, gave us His righteousness, when we had no righteousness in us. We were redeemed to proclaim the Redeemer and to walk in this grace!
grace, not COMPROMISE
Although doctrines have been the source of conflict in the family of God, some conflict can be good as it can make right some truly wrong ideas. Conflict should never lead to persecution. It is important that one should closely examine all doctrine. There are important questions that need to be answered. Some of them are the following: How do we view the simple truth of the Gospel of Christ? Are we able to tell the lost, without reservation, that God loves them? Are we hung up on the concept of God’s election? Do we proclaim to the dying masses that God demonstrated His love by sending Christ, His Son to die in their stead? Must we simply believe!? And, what are the unbreakable promises of God? Does our doctrine fit with God’s Word?
Showing grace does not mean we should compromise or give preference to ideas that are in conflict with what God has revealed in His Word. Let’s repeat that, showing grace does not mean we should compromise on sound doctrine!
The Apostle Paul knew that issues around doctrine would arise in the church. He said that such corruption would come through the “craftiness” of men. Paul, and God, warned the Corinthian church, “do not let your minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
Paul, in warning believers, also called them to question new doctrines that come their way, to see if they present a different Jesus, Spirit or Gospel.
Many early church leaders, believed they had the God given authority to enforce their doctrines through the power of the State. We look back at that as a legacy of sinful men who fell short of Christ’s example of love to the lost, and care for the sheep. The name of Christ was corrupted, and the character of God the Father blackened by those who did not walk in grace. Because of this, our doctrines must be guarded from our old nature, lest we find that we ourselves are responsible for corrupting minds with ideas about God that come from the flesh. How do we avoid such error? We stay on a narrow path, looking at scripture in the context of when, and to whom, it was written. Every word is beneficial to us, however, not every word was written to all believers for direct application.
The Bible reveals Christ as the embodiment of God’s love to all people, Jew and Gentile. Because the Bible is God’s Word to the World, the flaming sword of the Spirit of God, we should never take it lightly.
worship god, not grace
There are a set of doctrines called the “Doctrines of Grace” and some of our faithful brethren seem to worship their systematic (doctrine), rather than God the Father. One should not look at God’s grace as a mysterious force, nor should it be worshiped. Grace is a characteristic of God. It is these “Doctrines of Grace” that caused me ask the question to God… “what GRACE is this?”. There was a sharp disconnect with what I thought I knew of God’s character.
So, looking closely at God’s character in His Word, I came to understand, with confidence, that much of the “Doctrines of Grace” did not work. There are impossible contradictions brought about by these doctrines. On top of that, I could not find adequate support in Scripture for them. The bottom line is this, God’s greatest commandment would be impossible, as well as a charade, if these doctrines were correct.
God declared His greatest commandment in the Old Testament and it was restated in the New Testament over and over. Jesus likewise, in replying to the question,”What is the greatest commandment?” from a Scribes, stated and clarified the scope this command and its place in the life of a believer. Jesus and God the Father command that we do the following:
Mark 12:29-31 (NKJV)
Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
I Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Colossians 3:14 (NKJV)
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
I John 4:8 (NKJV)
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Again, God does not make people love Him. If it were possible, and we could make someone love us, we would not recognize that love as genuine. Our God given common sense knows that such a “love” would be hollow. This is the problem with Irresistible Grace in the “Doctrines of Grace” , which holds that God must make us believe and love him. This is the charade, and it does not match up with God’s Word and His call for all people to believe in the Gospel.
I stand on Romans 10:17 and John 3:16, along with hundreds of other verses. These represent the true grace of God. A grace born out of love! A grace we can take to all people and walk in every day.
May God Bless You!!
