Grace Doesn’t Give You License to Sin
Summary
The episode delves into a troubling trend within Christian communities, where a distorted interpretation of God's grace is circulating. This teaching suggests that grace provides a blanket pardon for all sins, past, present, and future, thereby absolving believers from the need to uphold God's laws. However, the speaker presents a compelling argument against this notion, offering five biblical reasons why this perspective is flawed.
To begin, the episode references prophecies from Jude and Peter, which forewarn of false teachers who manipulate the concept of grace, leading believers astray by promoting licentious behavior. This serves as a cautionary tale against misinterpreting the true nature of grace.
The discussion then shifts to a critical examination of faith, emphasizing that genuine faith is evidenced by deeds. Drawing from passages in Matthew and Titus, the speaker challenges the idea of "faith alone," exposing the incongruity between verbal profession and practical obedience.
Next, the episode elucidates the true essence of grace, portraying it as a costly yet unmerited gift from God. Through verses from Titus and Romans, grace is depicted as an expression of God's love and mercy, underscoring its pivotal role in salvation.
Furthermore, the episode issues a stark warning to those who abuse God's grace, citing Hebrews to illustrate the grave consequences awaiting those who persist in willful sin. This serves as a sobering reminder of the accountability inherent in receiving God's grace.
Finally, the episode emphasizes the transformative power of genuine grace, highlighting its capacity to inspire believers to lead lives characterized by righteousness and holiness. Through passages from Romans and Titus, the speaker underscores the intrinsic connection between grace and righteous living.
In conclusion, the episode rejects the notion of "cheap grace" propagated by false teachers, urging believers to embrace the true essence of God's grace, which empowers them to live in obedience and gratitude. As the episode draws to a close, viewers are encouraged to remain vigilant against deceptive teachings and to continue growing in their understanding of God's grace.
Full Transcript
There’s a destructive teaching going around in Christian circles. It is this: God’s “grace” gives you license to sin, because Christ has already paid for your past, present, and future sins. And because you are now “under grace,” you do not have to keep God’s laws.
Does the Bible teach this? In this episode, I’ll give you 5 reasons why this popular teaching is FALSE. Let’s discuss.
In last week’s episode, we saw that “faith alone” — that is, a dead faith devoid of any good works — will not save anybody. But there is another false dichotomy — an either-or fallacy — that we will expose today. This is called “grace alone.” Those who believe in this fallacy believe that there is no more role for the law, because we are now under grace.
Here are five biblical truths about this controversial subject called “grace.”
1. The Bible predicted that false teachers will pervert the grace message and turn it into a license to sin.
False teachers have crept into the church turning God’s grace into unbounded license to do as they please. This has been prophesied in the Bible by both Judah (Jude) and Peter.
Jude 1:3-4 — ...Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lewdness means indecency; vulgar sexual character or behavior. It also means unbridled lust, licentiousness, lasciviousness, or wantonness.
Licentious means lacking in willpower or moral discipline, being prone to random sex or unwilling to conform to accepted rules.
Lascivious behavior is sexual behavior or conduct that is considered crude and offensive, or contrary to moral or other standards of appropriate behavior.
Wantonness is the trait of lacking restraint or control; reckless freedom from inhibition or worry; being lewd and lascivious.
2 Peter 2:1-2 — But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
How will they deny the Lord who bought them? With their words? No, not with words!
2. You can profess to know God with your words, but the question is, are you denying Him by your works?
Notice these very sobering and frightening words of our Savior:
Matthew 7:21-23 — "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
These people were doing “good works.” But they were practicing lawlessness — they were breaking God’s commandments and were teaching people that God’s laws were “nailed to the cross.” You can profess Christ all you want, but when all is said and done, do you keep His law?
Luke 6:46 — "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?
Titus 1:16 — They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
These are the people who believe in “faith alone.” They profess to know God (much like the demons), but they deny Him in works — by their very actions. These are the same people who believe in “grace alone.” They teach a distorted kind of grace that gives people license to sin.
3. Grace is free (to you), but it’s not cheap (to Him).
Titus 3:3-5 — For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and 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…
Kindness, love, and mercy are all synonyms for GRACE. Grace means free, unmerited pardon.
Romans 5:6-8, 10 — For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a [wicked, original Aramaic] man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
4. Those who deliberately abuse the grace of God will be severely punished and eternally destroyed.
God’s grace is wonderful and amazing. As long as we are humble, teachable and repentant, His grace and patience will always be there for us. But if we sin willfully and deliberately, beware:
Hebrews 10:26-31 — For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses...
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
5. True saving grace will motivate us to live a holy life.
Romans 3:23-25 — ...For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed…
Notice what it says — “sins that were previously committed,” not “sins that they will still commit in the future.” What Christ covered is our past sins and even our present sins, not our future sins. Those future sins will have to be dealt with as they come.
Sure, Christ’s one perfect sacrifice is more than adequate to cover all our future sins, but there is no such “license” to sin — no blanket, automatic forgiveness of future sins. We have to confess and forsake them!
Proverbs 28:13 — He who covers [conceals] his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy [grace].
1 John 1:8-10 — If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
Romans 6:1-2 — What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Romans 6:15 — What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
Clearly, the apostle Paul says grace doesn’t give us any license to keep on sinning in the future!
Titus 2:11-14 — 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, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Yahshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ)...
who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Conclusion
In conclusion, imagine a convicted rapist and murderer on death row. He clearly broke the law. And because of his crime, he deserves death. But suppose he receives a pardon from the president. Does that mean he is now free to rape and murder more and more people? Of course not.
It should be clear that grace doesn’t give us license to sin. When we stop sinning — when we stop breaking God’s laws — and start keeping His commandments — we are not in any way, shape, or form “earning our salvation” by works...
We are simply living as we should — out of love and gratitude to the One who gave us His amazing grace! Please don’t allow false teachers to deceive you into believing the lies of cheap grace.
In our next episode, we will examine a third false dichotomy, between love and obedience or commandment-keeping. So until next time, this is Daniel Macaraeg of BiblicalTruths.TV, reminding you to always be growing, to always be giving, and to always be grateful.
