Grace Is Mercy, Not A Mandate By Steve Finnell

 

GRACE IS MERCY, NOT A MANDATE by Steve Finnell over at Christian-With-A-View

 

Grace is an unmerited favor from God. Grace is not a mandate from God forcing men to have faith, so that they may receive salvation. God does not impute a saving faith to a few selected individuals. Faith is by choice.

 

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

 

A. Because of God's grace men are afforded the opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, that would be saved through faith.

B. Ephesians 2:8 does not state or imply that men are saved by grace alone.

C. The gift mentioned here is salvation. The gift is not, imputed faith, from God to those preselected by God, for salvation.

 

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.....

 

Does this mean the grace of God promises universal salvation? Of course not, it means all men have the opportunity for salvation through Jesus Christ. YES, all men.

 

Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

A. God saved us according to His mercy. How? By the washing of regeneration (water baptism) and renewing by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

 

B. Men are afforded grace, only through Jesus Christ.

 

C. We are justified by God's grace. Without God's unmerited favor of forgiveness through Jesus Christ no man could be saved.

 

GRACE IS NOT EARNED. GRACE IS NOT MANDATED FOR A SELECT FEW. FAITH IS NOT IMPUTED, AS A PRODUCT OF GRACE, TO THOSE PREDESTINED FOR SALVATION.

 

ALL MEN HAVE A CHOICE TO ACCEPT GOD'S GRACE BY FAITH THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

 

TERMS FOR PARDON BECAUSE OF GOD'S GRACE.

1. FAITH: John 3:16

2. REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19

3. CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:37

4. WATER BAPTISM: 1 Peter 3:20-21, Mark 16:16

 

GRACE IS MERCY, NOT A MANDATE!