BALANCE: THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE

What does the devil stand to gain in that temporal moment a saint indulge in sin?

 I weighted the theme I am about to address for weeks. I had written it half way and left it in my notes indefinitely until now. At first I could feel my reluctance to put my thoughts into words, I guess because such theme would seem like introducing the concept of the Old Testament during this Grace Revolution. Or perhaps it is a theme in scripture many would wish it disappears from the pages of the New Testament.

Is the wages of sin DEATH under grace? Can believers still suffer consequences of sinful habits under grace? Do believers fall short of God's glory or virtue when we trifle with sin? How did the apostles communicate this gospel of grace?

"We must hold

dear and

reverently the

teachings of

the apostles"

These questions are straightforward but answering them may not be. I am sure it will set us on different paths, soul searching and debates. What proves a teacher or preacher approved unto God (not man) is the ability to rightly (accurately) disseminate the Word of Truth. One cannot therefore help but give thanks to God for the manner the apostles conveyed the gospel of the grace of our Lord with such precision it was beautifully balanced. To bow to the Lordship of Jesus is submit all arguments at the revealed teachings of the pages of the New Testament. Therefore, we must hold dear and reverently the teachings of the apostles.

God is the author of balance. It is a universal principle in nature and spirituality. We have the earth but also water bodies. There is death but life as well. We have gravitational fields but zero gravity fields exist as well. Construction of ships requires both the knowledge of metal and sea depths if the ship would stay afloat. Balance is the anchor of safety as God ordained it. In all seasons –though the devil is already defeated, he hasn't stop at his tricks. He couldn’t stop the force of God’s grace from prevailing but now he seeks to pervert the grace of our Lord and to put the saints at a disadvantage. The Mighty God who has called us to grace and virtue would bruise him under our feet shortly. Amen

Thank God for the grace that saved us and gave us a right standing before God. The grace that made us sons of the Living God. Not by our moral impute but the acceptance in the blessed First Born as it is written, “There is none good. No not one." The apostles taught these things and we should too because it is true.

But if this is all we teach or preach about grace, we are unintentionally but directly presenting an overly-balanced gospel.

"These apostles

included warnings

against

trifling with

sin in their

letters"

Every believer constantly flipping the pages of the New Testament himself would agree altogether that at the heart of apostolic teachings, whether it is Paul expounding on the theme of grace and faith, or Peter who enunciating on Christian character and hope, or John who described the perfect love of God among the saints; these apostles included warnings against trifling with sin in their letters. Testifying about the damnable consequences of sin for any saint toying with it (under this grace we stand).

Does it not surprise you that the devil can suggest this line of thought to a believer?

"Do it (engage in a sinful act) then ask God for forgiveness. He will forgive you."

Undeniably God forgives sins (all kinds) but what does the devil stand to gain in that temporal moment a saint indulge in sin? That is food for thought. Words laid on a marble board. All saints can be sure of one thing, the counsel of the devil will always lead towards a sloppy and deadly path. He is the father of mischief.

"We

don't want

to admit the

devil quotes

scriptures

if it favours his cause"

A writer once said the devil is the god of human reasoning. He lures men into the realm of reasoning so he can lord over their reasoning. This is why quoting one scripture and then relying on our reasoning to counter the devil is an untactful approach to resist him. The holistic understanding of scriptures is what gives us the edge. When the devil said to Jesus, jump and God will give his angels charge over you, that is a recorded promise of God in scripture. But Jesus placed that promise as subject to the whole theme of scriptures, and therein lies, thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God. But here lies our error.

We don't want to admit the devil quotes scriptures (if it favours his cause) and if we do, we don't subject scriptures to the test of several themes of scriptures. To avoid errors we must holistically look at the word of God on all fronts about any biblical theme. Does sin have adverse implication on our lives under grace? Answering that would lead me to a thought I want to leave you with first.

If we for one second admit that sin is without consequence under grace, we are undoubtedly asserting at least two things which is not in touch with the entire scripture:

• God will never judge sin among the saint.
• Abstinence from sinful lifestyle(s) has no merit or positive effect on Christian living.

Both points would then indicate that all New Testament scriptures, verses and chapters that warn about fleeing lusts and sin were mere waste of God's inspiration, apostles' ink and altogether a useless venture. If sin is without consequences under grace, let's just indulge in sin and ask God's forgiveness thereafter. Did the apostles warn/teach about the consequences of sin under grace? What did they teach the churches about it?

TWELVE (12) APOSTOLIC WARNINGS ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN

1. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFILING THE BODY

[16] Know ye not that ye (believers) are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [17] If any man (one) defile the temple of God, HIM SHALL GOD DESTROY; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. [18] LET NO MAN DECEIVE HIMSELF. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 1 Corinthians 3:16-18

2. CONSEQUENCE OF SIN AT THE COMMUNION TABLE

[28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. [29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation or to (condemns) himself, not discerning the Lord's body. [30] FOR THIS CAUSE (reason) many are WEAK and SICKLY among you (BELIEVERS), and MANY SLEEP (ARE DEAD). 1Corinthians 11:28-30

3. THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH

[13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and SIN, WHEN IT IS FINISHED, BRINGETH FORTH (leads to) DEATH. James 1:13-15

[19] Brethren, if any of you (SAINT) DO ERR from the truth, and one convert him; [20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way SHALL SAVE A SOUL (THAT SAINT) FROM DEATH, and shall hide a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20

4. FLESHLY LUSTS AFFECTS THE SOUL ADVERSELY

[11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS, WHICH WAR AGAINST (TROUBLE OR ENDANGER) THE SOUL. 1 Peter 2:11

5. CONSEQUENCE OF WRONG USAGE OF THE TONGUE

[10] For HE THAT WILL LOVE LIFE, AND SEE GOOD (LENGTH OF) DAYS, let him REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL, and his lips that they speak no guile. 1 Peter 3:10 

6. CONSEQUENCE OF LIVING IN THE FLESH

[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] FOR IF YE LIVE AFTER THE FLESH, YE SHALL DIE: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:12-13

7. REBELLION AGAINST ESTABLISHED AUTHORITIES

Romans 13:

[1] Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. [2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: AND THEY THAT RESIST SHALL RECEIVE TO THEMSELVES DAMNATION. [5] Wherefore ye must needs be subject, NOT ONLY FOR WRATH, but also for conscience sake. [6] For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

8. CONSEQUENCE OF NOT BRIDLING THE BODY

[26] Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. [27] But [like a boxer] I BUFFET MY BODY [HANDLE IT ROUGHLY, DISCIPLINE IT BY HARDSHIPS] AND SUBDUE IT, for fear that after proclaiming to others the gospel and things pertaining to it, I MYSELF SHOULD BECOME UNFIT [NOT STAND THE TEST, BE UNAPPROVED AND REJECTED AS A COUNTERFEIT]. 1Corinthians 9:26-27 Amplified

9. CONSEQUENCE OF AN UNCOUTH TONGUE

[6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members (body parts), that IT DEFILETH THE WHOLE (HUMAN) BODY, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:6

10. CONSEQUENCE OF DECEPTIVE ACTS AMONG THE SAINTS

For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice, that Each One Of You Should Know How To Possess (Control, Manage) His Own Body In Consecration (Purity, Separated From Things Profane) And Honor, Not [To Be Used] In The Passion Of Lust Like The Heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will, THAT NO MAN TRANSGRESS AND OVERREACH HIS BROTHER AND DEFRAUD HIM IN THIS MATTER (sexual relations) OR DEFRAUD HIS BROTHER IN BUSINESS. FOR THE LORD IS AN AVENGER IN ALL THESE THINGS, AS WE HAVE ALREADY WARNED YOU SOLEMNLY AND TOLD YOU PLAINLY. FOR GOD HAS NOT CALLED US TO IMPURITY but to consecration [to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough purity]. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 Amplified

11. CONSEQUENCE OF SEXUAL SIN

Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); FOR GOD WILL JUDGE AND PUNISH THE UNCHASTE [ALL GUILTY OF SEXUAL VICE] AND ADULTEROUS. Hebrews 13:4 

12. CONSEQUENCE OF DISTORTING THE GOSPEL OF GRACE

[8] But even IF WE OR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN SHOULD PREACH TO YOU A GOSPEL CONTRARY TO AND DIFFERENT FROM THAT WHICH WE PREACHED TO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED (ANATHEMA, DEVOTED TO DESTRUCTION, DOOMED TO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT)! [9] As we said before, so I now say again: IF ANYONE IS PREACHING TO YOU A GOSPEL DIFFERENT FROM OR CONTRARY TO THAT WHICH YOU RECEIVED [FROM US], LET HIM BE ACCURSED (ANATHEMA, DEVOTED TO DESTRUCTION, DOOMED TO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT)! Galatians 1:8-9 Amplified

When we can no longer admit or teach that sin has deadly consequences, we have lost half of the truth of the gospel. And we are deliberately distorting the gospel of grace. Also, if we embrace the apostolic teaching on the consequences of sin without proclaiming the grace of our Lord, we are yet to teach the Good News. Many believers may be unwilling to accept that indeed sin has consequences because they have overdosed on some preachers or teachings but if we deny these scriptures, we have no cloak for our ignorance.

"Each epistle

was written to

address specific

problems;

hence forming

the context"

Presenting the balance of the gospel would mean that I would not tell a brother/sister who committed fornication and repents that God will destroy him or her for defiling the temple of God. Rather to such person it is more edifying to declare the forgiveness of God, they should come boldly to the throne of grace. But if a brother/sister embraces that sinful habit as his/her way of life, acting in defiance to admonition, unrepentant and proudly rejoicing in that sin, I can tell that brother/sister that such act is not without consequence according to New Testament teachings. It is in such a scenario that the study of 1Corinthians Chapter Five becomes a prerogative. We must understand that each epistle was written to address specific problems; hence forming the context.
When Paul is writing to legalistic saints, he beautifully presents the grace of our Lord as we read through his epistles to Rome and Galatia. But as he addressed the church of Corinth who indulged in sin, he preached the consequences of sinful indulgence. Once believers acknowledge this they have found the heart of the gospel.

All the apostles unanimously taught to that effect. Many times it is not even about God stepping in to mete out judgement (though He sometimes does) but most times it is just cause and effect. A drunk is still the righteousness of God; God will forgive him as often as he requests but we know that there are more than 60 percent chances that his excessive drinking habit would put his liver in danger which may cause him to die prematurely.

"When

people overdose

on distorted

teaching

of grace

they cannot

grow in

grace"

The Bible declares that sin is the sting of death (1Cor 15:56). Trifling with sin can be likened to a deliberate act of stepping on the tail of a rattlesnake –there is a consequence of being bitten. The work of grace is likened to a medic administering anti-venom vaccines to kill the venom, and administering anaesthetic to relieve you of pain. The medic then offers you tips and safety precautions that guide you to avoid such painful and horrific experience from reoccurring. But if that man receive such help and go on stepping on every snake he sees, we know that he is deliberately toying with death.

When people overdose on distorted teaching of grace they cannot grow in grace. We must teach the grace that saves us always, we must teach growing in grace and we must teach the consequences of sin. The whole counsel of God is that we are rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Let every man take heed how he communicates this Gospel of the Grace of our Lord. Shalom.

Look well to yourself [to your own personality] and to [your] teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1Timothy 4:16 Amplied