There is a widespread if not nearly universal error in present-day Christianity which has been successfully promoted by none other than Satan, known as the “father of lies” (John 8:44). When this error entered the theology of the Church is not clear, but may very likely have been during the reign of Constantine when many unbiblical if not idolatrous practices were embraced by the Church including the idea that salvation can be obtained through a practice of infant baptism. The error discussed here relates to an understanding as to the meaning of “grace” by which a person is saved through faith: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). A misunderstanding of what is meant by grace is a if not the major cause for the “lukewarm” state of many who profess belief in Jesus Christ.
They profess to believe in Jesus, yet there are no works bearing witness to their faith seen in their lives. In a sense, they are no different than Satan’s army of demons: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble” (James 2:19). Such persons have been misled by a partial truth that they are saved by faith alone despite clear biblical teaching that faith without works is but a dead faith: “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (2:17,20,26). Such is an error which centuries later would lead to the heresy of cost-free salvation designated as “cheap grace” by a Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer prior to his murder in l945 by the Nazis in Germany.
It was boldly preached by Bonhoeffer that “When Christ calls a man, He bids him to come and die” (The Cost of Discipleship). This statement is totally consistent with the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself that the call of Christ is to lose one’s life for His sake so as to save one’s life…and nothing less. Any well-informed student of Scripture is sufficiently familiar with the teaching of Jesus contained in the gospels as to not require repetition of relevant passages here. Should one have difficulty with Bonhoeffer’s statement above, it is a strong indication of either biblical ignorance or having been influenced by false prophets about whom Jesus warns. If one’s final destiny is to be eternity spent in the glorious presence of God in heaven, there is to be unreserved devotion to the lordship of Jesus as evidenced by obedience to His commandments as enabled by power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
How did we arrive at the false impression that “Anything is ok once a person is saved since all thoughts, words, and actions are covered by grace.” The explanation, at least in part, is found in a failure to appreciate the difference between words translated as “grace” in the OT versus the NT. The Hebrew chen or gratis translated as “grace” in the OT (see Strong’s Concordance #2580) means to be free or devoid of cost. The usual use of grace according to this definition is that of unmerited favor shown to man by God.This is fully consistent with events described for the Israelites in their deliverance from Egypt as redeemed people led by Moses (Exodus 15:13). They were not only unrepentant of unfaithfulness toward God. They even left Egypt carrying idols of silver and gold as they were set free of bondage under Pharaoh by the unmerited favor of God.
Delivered by the grace of God, they shortly arrived at Mount Sinai where the law and the commandments were received. Despite promising to obey what God commanded (Exodus 24:3), disobedience and unbelief followed as the Israelites despised the ways of God and rebelled against His revealed will. Eventually they were rejected as being redeemed and were cut off from their inheritance (1 Corinthians 10; Romans 11). What they’d received as a free gift in deliverance from Egypt (a type of the world today) was treated exactly like what they had paid for their freedom. What had cost them nothing in terms of repent-ance and conversion was treated as something worth nothing. So now let us contrast this example of grace in the OT with grace as described under the new covenant in the NT.
The Greek which is consistently translated “grace” in the NT is the word charis (Strong’s Concordance #5485). And nowhere in the lexicon definitions of charis is there found any suggestion whatsoever of the idea of unmerited favor. Charis is divine influence on a heart which becomes reflected in the life of one receiving grace. It involves the convicting work of the Holy Spirit which brings godly sorrow followed by repentance leading to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10). Unlike the OT grace of unmerited favor, NT grace produces a very clear response on the part of one redeemed, namely that of repentance and conversion which is reflected in a radically changed lifestyle.
It is biblical grace of the NT charis which enables a believer to overcome strongholds such as generational iniquities by “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obed-ience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). So it is the apostle Paul describes grace as having a greater role than just salvation in his letter to Titus: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11,12).
Charis enables those coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus to be overcomers, and in so doing to inherit the promises He describes as waiting only for those who have overcome (Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12). Peter likewise describes the receiving of grace as a process fully dependent upon the divine influence of God on the hearts of those drawn to Jesus by love of the heavenly Father (John 6:44). “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ who was preached to you” (Acts 3:19,20). We are not only saved by grace but influenced by grace to “cleanse ourselves from all filth-iness of of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Such grace must never be confused with the OT grace of unmerited favor.
Do not be misled by those who, whether maliciously as false prophets or out of ignorance, promote a saving faith based on unmerited favor. Such is a distortion of truth as taught by Jesus Himself, Savior of our eternal souls. Those who have failed to teach the difference between grace in the OT (Hebrew chen) and grace in the NT (Greek charis) are strongly encouraged to correct their error lest their teaching be a stumbling block for those sitting under their leadership. Have long suspected a cause for so much sickness and premature death in our churches results from many nonconverted believing they are saved by cheap grace. Thus they partake in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner and the suffer the consequences as warned by the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). So examine your-self lest you too find yourself unknowingly trampling on the Word of God.
