God grace leads the believer into good works!
The Fullness Of Grace Leads Us Into Good Works
Romans 1:5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
Through Jesus Christ we have received grace and the gifts we need for obedience to the faith. Divine influence justifies us freely; justification is given to enable us to walk in obedience to the faith. Grace brings us freedom from sin; grace brings us freedom to walk in righteousness and holiness. Grace frees us to fulfill the destiny God has called us to.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. … 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses,but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Jesus came with the glory of the Father; it is from the bosom of the Father that Jesus declares truth about Him. Jesus came full of grace and truth; from that grace and truth is the only way to receive from God! As verse 16 declares it is grace for grace! It is divine influence upon divine influence that we receive from God. We in this covenant of grace and truth can not receive from God on any level except it be through the divine influence of God upon our lives.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Let there be no confusion we are made right with God by grace. If one could be made right with God by works there would be no need for the covenant of grace and truth to replace the law of Moses for the way of righteousness.
Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."
Each of these first 8 verse in Romans 4 are packed with revelation knowledge about how the better covenant established on better promises is established between God and the believer. If our works can make us right with God; we could claim our righteousness was due to our good works. We could lay claim that God owed us. However the object of our faith would be miss placed! We would be trusting in our own actions as opposed to trusting in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Righteousness of God can only be given to those who do not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly. That man’s faith is accounted for righteousness. This righteousness that abounds to the believer has resulted in justification. The one who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ is the man who is blessed to the degree that the LORD does not impute sin. What an awesome covenant we who have faith in Jesus are birthed into.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Those under the law give sin strength; those in Jesus Christ have victory by Him! Though we do not believe in works for our righteousness; we surely believe those who come into righteousness by faith will walk in good works. Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord! Your labor is not in vain; you will fulfill the destiny and purpose God has for you!
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The scripture makes clear time and again by grace you have been saved through faith and not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. It can not be of works or man could boast. It is time for the church to walk in the full counsel of God. We must declare salvation by faith and not of works for righteousness. However, we must not fail to declare there is a purpose for God bringing us to such a great salvation. Indeed we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Baby Christians need to hear the saved by faith message loud and clear. However, if ever they will fulfill the destiny and purposes of God they too need to hear God prepared a work for them to do before the foundation of the world. God calls His children to walk in the good works. It is my hearts desire that every believer will know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and fulfill the purposes of God.
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 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, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Not by works of righteousness that we have done but by the kindness and the love of God our Savior! His mercy saved us washed us and renewed us. We have been justified by His grace so we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying and we should never depart from it. Those who have come into this marvelous grace and have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men! This truth needs affirmed constantly according to the word of the Holy Spirit. There is the camp that wants to preach righteousness by works and then the camp that wants to ignore that God has called us to walk and maintain good works. Both camps are in extreme positions that do hurt to the body of Christ. We must walk in the full counsel of God and teach it is exclusively by grace you are saved and not by your own works. However having obtained righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ let him lead you into the good works that are prepared for you.
Titus 3:14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 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.
I have heard it said that if you preach grace too much people will have a mentality to sin; however the grace that Jesus brings, is a grace that teaches us… Jesus redeems us from by grace from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. This is the fullness of His grace.
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