Being warned by Peter regarding twisters of Paul’s letters in his second epistle, Jude, a brother of James, gives a very clear warning for Christians. Let us therefore use his letter to discern the doctrines which preach a licentious grace.
Jude 1:4-5 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
Law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
So what is this grace that came through our Lord Jesus Christ?
Grace doesn’t give but brings salvation
Jesus Christ explained to us about His grace through several parables:
Luke 13:6-9 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground? But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”
You being a fig tree planted by God in His vineyard is unfruitful for three years. Christ pleads for you to the Father, He Himself dig around you and fertilized you hoping that you will bear fruit. You being unworthy to even exist in God’s vineyard had now received grace through Christ. But remember, you only have one more year to produce fruits.
Matt 22:8-13 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
You being an unworthy and uninvited from the highways, are now being invited. We did nothing to get invited because of His grace. We respond to His invitation which is Faith in Him. But the wedding dress we need to make ourselves ready and prepare to stand before the King is works.
As you can see, grace which is a free gift of God brings salvation. Grace itself doesn’t give salvation but brings salvation. It is our responsibility to bear fruits and wash our garments white within the grace of God given to us through Christ.
1Pet 1:10-16 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully,who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into. Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
Peter teaches us about salvation, the prophets prophesied of the grace that would come to us:
Be alert in mind and sober
Rest our hope fully upon the grace
Grace is to be brought to us at Jesus Christ’s second coming
Be obedient children
Be holy
Impartial judgement to everyone according to their work
Conduct ourselves throughout the time here in this world in fear
Grace is only for those who submit to God
Jas 4:4-10 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
We have heard that God resists the pride but gives grace to the humble. Hence, grace is not for all. In the parable of the unfruitful fig tree, Christ will plead for you and gives you grace only if you are humble. However, many misunderstood what humble means.
God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. In order to be humble we are to do the following:
Submit to God.
Resist the devil
Draw near to God
Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts
Lament and mourn and weep
Hence, you are not going to get grace from God unless you had done all the above. However, if you do as mentioned above as James says, you will get more grace.
Heb 12:14-15 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 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;
Let us therefore submit to God completely, pursue peace and holiness so that we may not fall short of the grace of God.
Grace turned to Licentiousness
Many don’t realize that grace is the delay of their destruction that was pleaded by Jesus Christ to the Heavenly Father hoping that you will bear fruits to Him. But if you didn’t bear any fruits, you insulted the grace that was given to you.
Heb 10:28 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.
Therefore, do not insult Jesus Christ for the grace which He had given you after pleading for you to the Father.
Many people today, turn this grace into licentiousness. They receive grace, make the Son dig all around them, get all fertilizer but then produce no fruits.
Heb 6:4-8 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
In other words, these men receive grace from God, receive all blessings through His Son yet no fruits found or produces bad fruits.
How about you? Did you turn grace of God into licentiousness without bearing any fruits? Do not be deceived! Bear fruits to the kingdom of God and do be falling short of His grace.
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