The word grace has many different meanings. Many Christians have sung the popular hymn Amazing Grace with its lyrics including “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me …” You have probably heard people say such things as, “We’re not under the law, but under grace.” Stop for a moment and think what is meant by last phrase of the preceding sentence. Why was it given? Sadly, that’s the response that is often used when people are unwilling to deal Biblically with sin. Let’s look at some ways grace might be used as illustrated below:
The correct definition of grace would depend upon the context in which it is used. For example, if you have an aunt named Grace, that choice would be correct for you: “Grace is my aunt.” If you pray before you eat, the third option above might be selected: “Grace is what we say before we eat.” Being a sinner saved by grace, you might feel that God’s unmerited favor has allowed you space to repent – his unmerited favor toward you.
The reality, however, is that much conversation regarding grace does not reflect the biblical concept of grace. Grace cannot be understood aside from repentance. Grace and 
repentance are like a two-sided coin. God’s unmerited favor toward us is dependent upon our turning from sinful lifestyles and to that modeled by Jesus Christ. If we don’t repent, we aren’t really living under His favor.
The sacrifice made by Christ on the cross was not to provide an atonement for unrepentant sin but to pay the price for sin from which we decide to turn. That’s because when we sin we create a debt that can only be “retired” by the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross for that sin.
Grace includes God’s loving patience to give us the opportunity to turn from sin but it’s not meant for us to trample upon and abuse.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1,2)
“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:15,16)
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SIN = DEATH
OBEDIENCE = RIGHTEOUSNESS (LIFE)
GRACE IS NOT A SCAPEGOAT
TO ALLOW REBELLIOUS PEOPLE
TO LIVE IN SIN.
Isn’t it wonderful that we have a Saviour who understands our hurts, our disappointments, our challenges, our weaknesses? What did He do but leave for us a history of His grace toward man. This is recorded in the sixty-six books of the Bible. By studying it from cover to cover, we can learn biblical principles from people’s failures, successes, disappointments and victories to apply to our lives. God’s grace/patience is recorded through a chosen nation, Israel, who repeatedly rebelled against biblical principles. His grace was waiting, but only extended if they chose to turn from sin. He waited upon them to repent, however, most did not. We must not wrongly interpret God’s waiting upon Israel to turn back to him – which she still hasn’t – as license to sin. All those from this chosen nation who fell away from Him ended their lives in that state – fallen away.
- We are told that these people were “saved” out of Egypt, were
ALL baptized unto Moses … - ALL did eat the same spiritual meat …
- ALL did drink the same spiritual drink – that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ.
But with MANY of them, God was not well pleased because of their sin; thus, they perished in their stubbornness and sin. Notice the repeated warnings throughout Chapter ten of First Corinthians:
“NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES …”
6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit, fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
(I Corinthians 10:6-11)
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12
The same holds true for us today. He does give us time, but we don’t know how much time. The danger of people not turning from sin is that they don’t realize that continuing in sin also brings upon the rebellious person God’s “punitive judgment.” When we refuse to turn from sin, our hearts become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (We think we can always repent.) and we become blinded to Truth.
“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (II Thessalonians 2:10-12)
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient”
Notice the behaviors of those whom God has turned over to a reprobate mind …
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:28-32)
Take the time to mediate on the “working” definition of grace that many might not have studied:
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
