“Grace” and “Repentance”

Sadly, there is a very incorrect concept of “grace” that has crept into many churches and particularly into many ‘Pentecostal’ churches.

In reality what is taught/preached is at best a false understanding, at worst outright heresy.

Grace is not an excuse to live in sin – or to repeatedly do the same sins.

The Apostle Paul states this when he says: “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.” (Romans 5:20) and when he says: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)

God’s “grace” was in the act of allowing Jesus to be born human, take our sins upon Himself, die and resurrect from the dead.

God’s “grace” is also expressed in His graciousness of forgiving our sins and not holding them against us – if we truly repent.

In fact, Revelation states: “Outside the city are the dogs–the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshippers, and all who love to live a lie.” (Revelation 22:15).

Note this passage doesn’t specify between (those who think they are) “saved” or the “unsaved”.

The Apostle Paul backs this up when he said: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

“Grace”, as is often falsely preached today, dismisses these verses.

God’s “grace” was providing atonement for our sins, calling the human heart to hear His voice and become ‘born again’, the power of the Holy Spirit not to sin, and God’s forgiveness when we repent of our sins.

Anything else is NOT “grace” but deception.

We have no need to fear though when we GENUINELY repent of our sins.

The trouble is even the concept of repentance that is often taught/preached borders on heresy.

Repentance implies doing a u-turn. Turning away from our sin(s).

So, in genuine repentance there is:

1. confessing our sins (our part)
2. forgiveness from God (His part and true “grace”)
3. doing a 180 degree u-turn away from our sins (our part)
4. hating our sins so deeply we commit to not committing them again (our part) and relying on God’s “grace” and strength to enable us not to repeat those sins (our part through His enabling).

When we fail, we SINCERELY repeat the process.

I leave the final words with those great theologians, preachers and men of God, A.W.Tozer and J.C. Ryle:

“If we are not changed by “grace”, then we are not saved by “grace” – A.W.Tozer (In other words you are deceiving yourself if you think you are “saved” but your life hasn’t changed.)

“There are two ways of going to hell; one is to walk into it with your eyes open – few people do that. The other is to go down by the steps of little sins – and that way, I fear, is only too common. Put up with little sins, and you will soon want a few more.” – J.C. Ryle

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“Grace” and “Repentance”

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