The Price Of Grace

January 15

We live in an age that seems to be described in II Timothy 3:1-7. Here the Apostle Paul says to his young apprentice, “This know also, in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts. They are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

This passage suggests that unbelief will be rampant in the last days before Christ returns according to Acts 1:11 which says, “…why stand ye gazing up into the sky? This same Jesus who is taken from you will return in like manner as ye have seen Him go.” Paul states to Timothy that whatever religion exists at the time the Lord returns will be perfunctory, that men will be “hearers of the Word, but not doers of the Word,” James 1:22.

In his commentary on Matthew, Chapter 7, Matthew Henry says, “Christ shows that it will not be enough to own Him for our Master, only in word and tongue. It is necessary…that we believe in Christ and that we repent of sin, that we live a holy life, that we love one another. 'This is His will, even our sanctification,' I Thessalonians 4:3. Let us take heed of resting in outward privileges and doings, lest we deceive ourselves, and perish eternally, as multitudes do, with a lie in our right hand. 'Let everyone that names the name of Christ, depart from sin,'” II Timothy 2:19.

In His GodThoughtsWired, Pastor Brad expounds a most significant word study regarding the inter-connection of true belief in the Lord with obedience:

pisteuo (Greek) verb: "believe, have faith in, be convinced of, trust, rely on, have confidence in."

apeitheo (Greek) verb: "disobey, be unpersuaded, be disobedient or disloyal." Implies a willful rebellion against or a resistance to obeying God.

"He who believes (pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life; but he who 'does not obey' (apeitheo) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." -John 3:36

One of the greatest lies in today's church is that salvation is available without the willingness to obey...

It is not.

"By this we know that we have come to know Him, IF we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him." I John 2:3, 4.

In this matter, the Bible is quite clear, quite precise, quite emphatic. In John 3:36 (see above), "belief" and the willingness to "obey" are synonymous.

Now consider Acts 5:32: peitharcheo (Greek) verb: "obey, follow, submit to."

"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who 'obey' (peitharcheo) Him.”

The immutable Word of God is quite clear! The hallmark of every Christian is the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit as Ephesians 1:13 says, “When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” and the Holy Spirit is "given to those that obey Him," Acts 5:32.

In Hebrews 5:9 we see the Greek verb hupakouo which means, "Listen to, obey, follow, be subject to."

"He became to all those who 'obey' (hupakouo) Him the source of eternal salvation." And what of those who "do not obey?" What happens to those who "do not believe?" What about those who are willfully "disloyal?"

Of them Jesus said, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" -Matthew 3:7 And John declared, "He who does not obey the Son will not see life, the wrath of God abides on him,” John 3:36

And Paul, the "apostle of grace, " wrote, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness...because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God...Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience...For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience." (see -Romans 1:18; 2:5; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6.)

Salvation is free, but grace is not cheap. There is a cost and the price that must be paid by those of us who profess to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is that we are obedient to His ever holy, never-changing, immutable Word.