Millions have been asked this question — never realizing
that the question itself can be totally MISLEADING!
Did you know that millions who think they are "under grace"
are actually "under the law" — and don't know it!
“FOR by GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast . . ."! (Eph. 2:8-9)
How many times have you seen or heard these words quoted? Perhaps dozens or even hundreds! But are you sure you really UNDERSTAND these inspired words of the Apostle Paul?
First, what do WE believe? Perhaps some few have thought we of the WORLD TOMORROW program, and of the staff of The PLAIN TRUTH magazine, believe in salvation BY WORKS! So, at least, it has been said of us!
But we DON'T! WE BELIEVE, THOROUGHLY, EVERY LETTER of that scripture you just read!
What's more we DO NOT believe any individual can EVER be saved by keeping any law — whether Ten Commandments, or ANY OTHER law!
What Do YOU Believe?
But what about you? And how can you be sure? How can you come to really KNOW the answer to this vitally important question — one that has aroused almost endless controversy among professing Christians!
There is only ONE SOURCE to which you can go! There is only ONE way you can really be sure! That way is to check up — YOURSELF — in YOUR OWN BIBLE!
So right now, at the outset of this article, make up your mind to DO JUST THAT! Perhaps you don't really bother to "check up" on most of what you read — either in The PLAIN TRUTH or anywhere else! But just this once — for your OWN satisfaction — CHECK UP!
The Apostle Paul urges, "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good!" (I Thess. 5:21). "To the LAW, and to the testimony," orders God through Isaiah, "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20).
Be sure you READ each scripture you see quoted in The PLAIN TRUTH, and, for that matter, ANY publication! That way you'll know your belief and your faith does not rest in men, but in the Holy Word of God!
Just What IS Grace?
The place to begin is to understand the meaning of the terms with which we are speaking! What IS GRACE?
This is a vitally important question! Important because your Bible plainly foretold there would be a great conspiracy to deliberately change the meaning of this simple word — make it become CONFUSING to most people — UNCLEAR! Today, there is ENDLESS argument among many religionists over the meaning of the term "grace!"
What does it mean to you? Does it imply PERMISSION TO SIN? "Certainly not!" you might answer! Well, then — does it mean you DO NOT HAVE TO KEEP GOD'S LAWS? "OF COURSE!" many would immediately reply!
But wait a minute! What IS sin? "Sin IS," the Bible answers, "THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW" (I John 3:4). Well, then — if that's what sin IS, if sin IS the BREAKING OF GOD'S LAWS! SIN is, then, FAILING TO KEEP GOD'S LAWS!
Well, then — IF THAT IS TRUE — and your Bible SAYS it is — and IF "grace" means you DO NOT HAVE TO OBEY GOD'S LAW — then does not "grace" mean to many of you that you may SIN?
"OF COURSE NOT!" you might answer — but then — isn't it all a little CONFUSING?
It certainly is! Satan and his ministers (II Cor. 11:13) have CONFUSED the meaning of grace in most men's minds!
This whole world, according to your Bible, has been DECEIVED (Rev. 12:9; 20:3).
Just what, then, is grace?
Grace Is, according to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, "Favor, kindness, MERCY, etc.," and, the ecclesiastical usage, "DIVINE MERCY OR FORGIVENESS!"
Yes — that's just it! Grace is FORGIVENESS! Grace is MERCY! Grace is PARDON!
But forgiveness from what? Why, what is 'a Christian, but one who has, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, obtained MERCY and PARDON from his past sins? It is through the blood of Jesus Christ we must obtain GRACE! Christ died, then, to show GRACE toward us — didn't He?
"Of course," you would answer. Well, if this is true, and the Bible certainly SAYS it is — then may we go on sinning after Christ has shown us GRACE?
Let's let the BIBLE answer — NOT the ideas of men!
Paul was inspired to write, "What then? Shall we SIN [that is, shall we BREAK ANY ONE OF GOD'S TEN COM MANDMENTS] because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid!" (Rom. 6:15). There is the BIBLE answer! Paul plainly reveals that we must not think we may SIN, that we can ignore, or live contrary to God's Ten Commandments, just because God has shown us some of His great MERCY!
WHY did God have to show us His MERCY? Why did we NEED "GRACE?"
God answers, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned!" (Rom. 3:23)
Yes — every human being has BROKEN God's HOLY LAWS, the Ten Commandments! Remember, it is the breaking of these laws, as they are applied in principle, and as they are magnified by Christ in His teachings, that IS SIN (I John 3:4).
Every human being has, because of his very nature of basic hostility toward God's laws (Rom. 8:7) been convicted of God's law as guilty of sin! The penalty of sin is DEATH (Rom. 6:23). Christ DIED in order to ERASE OUR PAST SINS! (Rom. 5:8).
THAT IS WHAT GRACE IS! It is the unlimited mercy of our God — the unearned, unmerited. PARDON of our God, when we totally repent, of our past sins!
Notice it! "In whom (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS GRACE!" (Eph. 1:7).
Grace, then, is God's loving willingness to forgive us of our past sins!
The Modern Deception
Even before the close of the New Testament canon, Almighty God inspired Jude to write, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3, 4). The actual HISTORY of what happened from that time to this is now available! Remarkable, almost unbelievable discoveries are rapidly being made which shall amply PROVE that, true to the prophecies of your Bible, certain men DID creep in "unawares" — men who DELIBERATELY, with planned forethought, attempted to undermine the pure truth of God which was once delivered to the saints.
This, remember, was a prophecy of many centuries ago! Jude went on to describe these men as those who had a basic resentment and hostility toward all government, and the symbols of government, those in authority! "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, DESPISE DOMINION, and speak evil of dignities!" (Jude 8).
What is in the minds of most professing Christians concerning their relationship to God today?
Basically, it is simply this: they have become convinced that a person should live a "righteous life!" They have become convinced that they have been a "sinner" — which usually means a person who has lived an "unrighteous life." To most, an "unrighteous life" merely means having various "worldly" habits and interests, perhaps attending motion picture theatres, dancing, drinking, or playing cards. It may even involve the various modes and styles of apparel. There are dozens of different categories in the minds of men as to what actually constitutes SIN! But whether it involves various of these habits, indulgences, or "worldly acts" — most professing Christians would say that conversion, to them, means "living for God." It means living a "good" life, rather than an "evil" life. It means to think "good" thoughts, rather than thinking "evil" thoughts. In a sort of vague, nebulous way, most professing Christians realize there must be a certain change in their lives when they "repent" or receive, or accept Christ.
To most — GRACE is the STATE of a Christian who is "living for God!" GRACE has come to falsely mean, to most professing Christians, a CONDITION of the INDIVIDUAL, rather than a QUALITY of God!
In other words, instead of understanding the true meaning of the word grace as revealed in your Bible, MANY of you have come to feel that GRACE is merely a Biblical term which vaguely means the Christian is in a "saved" condition! It means that God has smiled on the individual, "chosen" him, put him "under grace" and made him a "Christian."
How have YOU thought about it?
Have you ever really been clear on the subject? Have you ever been able to really track down, in your own Bible, your beliefs regarding your present state? Have you ever really proved, in your own Bible, the true meaning — that is, the BIBLE meaning — of SIN?
Let's clear the air! Let's not be confused! Let's come to understand!