Beth-El Baptist Church

06/17/2012

Greg Tomlinson


What is the effectiveness of God's grace?


The issue of the effectiveness of God's grace ultimately has to do with whether or not someone who believes is secure in the knowledge of their salvation or whether God might remove His hand of grace upon a person so that he in effect loses his salvation.


  1. How is God's saving grace extended to a person?

Ephesians 2:8-9 Romans 1:3-6

Romans 5:16-17 Romans 4:1-5, 23-25


God's grace is extended to a person as a gift from Him. The scriptures clearly identify that salvation is NOT the result of the actions (or work) of an individual but it is acquired through believing God and believing in the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His resurrection.


  1. To whom does God's saving grace extend?

Acts 18:27 Romans 10:13-17

Exodus 33:19 Romans 9:15-18

Acts 2:21 Acts 15:11

Romans 3:21-22 Romans 4:11-13

Romans 8:28


God extends His grace to whomever He intentionally desires to extend it. It is recognized to having been granted because of the faith and understanding of the individual. This means that to whom God extends His saving grace toward is God's business. He extends His grace for His purpose and not for our own purpose.


  1. How long does God's grace remain?

Romans 11:28-30 Ephesians 1:13-14

John 10:27-29 Hebrews 6:4-6

Galatians 5:3-6


When a person believes in the person and work of Jesus Christ, he receives the Holy Spirit which remains upon him until “the day of redemption”. The salvation of the individual depends upon the power and the grace of God which has nothing to do with the functioning of the individual.


There are a few verses though that need to be understood. It is important to understand every passage of scripture in its immediate context (paragraph, chapter, book) as well as the full context of the scriptures. The essence and flow of Hebrews 6 is that theology and doctrine are important and when someone attempts to rely upon something more than Jesus Christ and Christ alone (vv1-3) although they have heard and understood the preaching of Christ, they have no where else to turn because there is nothing more than faith in Christ. Furthermore, the message of Galatians 5 (as is the whole book of Galatians) is that there are those who begin by understanding the word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but have become convinced that more is required of them in order to be saved beyond believing in Jesus Christ. Paul's argument is that when one expects that his ability to carry out some provisions of the law are necessary in order to be saved, then he is obligated to carry out ALL provisions of the law and as a result he has fully rejected grace in preference to obedience which cannot save.


  1. What are some ramifications of God being willing to withdraw His grace?

Romans 11:5-6 Numbers 23:19

1 Samuel 15:28-29 Psalm 15:4

Romans 4:1-5


If God is willing to withdraw His grace so that an individual loses his salvation then it would mean that God has lied – for He promised salvation to all who believe but then he changed His mind which is contrary to His divine character. Furthermore, this would mean that a person's salvation is NOT the work of grace but the work of a man's efforts. If it were the work of a man, then the question of what sins that a man makes would be the appropriate sins to constitute a break in relationship with God. Remember that to break any law of God is the same as though he broke them all (James 2:10-12).


  1. What are some ramifications of God being unwilling to withdraw His grace?

Hebrews 7:24-27 Romans 8:35-39


If God is unwilling to withdraw His grace, then the person is free to know that he can never be separated from God through sin. This does not mean that he has a license to sin but he knows that God will never throw him away because he has sinned. This encourages the person who is caught up in a sinful act and continually confesses and repents because he knows that although he has sinned, he is still loved and accepted by God because of Christ.


  1. How does ones view of persistence of God's grace affect ones interaction with others?

1 John 1:8-10 Luke 18:18-20

Ephesians 4:32


The persistence of God's grace unto eternal salvation greatly affects our ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with another because it does not matter what sins they have had in the past, all can be forgiven. There is no sin that a man has committed that is beyond the loving grace of God. Confess your sins before God and cry out to him for salvation and God will forgive and heal. It also helps us to reach out to others and be kind to them because I too did not know Christ at one time so I am able to forgive another for whatever wrong I believe he has done to me simply because God has forgiven me of much greater sin.