Some men who claim to be believers in "Free Grace" say that one need not know that Jesus is The Christ in order to be saved. These same men lift the Apostle John's testimony of Our Lord's humiliation and resurrection above the rest of Scripture. They say one must "Believe in Jesus for Eternal Life" to be saved.
My dear friends, brethren and others reading if we claim to be believers in "Free Grace" we must acknowledge Who brought us this Grace. Let us read and hear what the dear Apostle John says in his first chapter.
John 1:14-18Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ, who the Apostle makes very clear IS God in the flesh.
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.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
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. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
John 1:1-4Today, if we claim to believe in "Free Grace" but deny the Truth we make ourselves liars do we not? It's a question I ask you to consider.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
I'm reminded of Paul's question in Galatians 4:21 and myself ask this. "You who wish to limit Evangelism to John's testimony do you not hear John's testimony?"
7 comments:
Kev,
Thanks for writing this, I am thinking heavily about it today. Remember I mentioned a neighbor for whom I did not stake a political sign in my yard? Since December she's been coming back to church and her two sons only this month.
Last night the 13 year old came with, and he is mentally disabled so instead he has the capacity of about a five year old. But five year olds get saved everyday and I don't think it matters. But I say this so you might see that because of this and his poor and broken family, he is very unpopular and lonely, just the sort of person Jesus is seeking to save.
Yesterday evening I was privileged to lead him to the LORD. He wanted to come alone with me to church and there was a baptismal service, so I asked him why they were doing that and if he knew what Jesus did for him? No. So I led him through the Wordless Book by CEF (you can read their official script at my blog). I realized, afterward, that I made no mention at all of "Christ" "Messiah" "Son of God" or "God the Son." Yet he could not have been more aware and agreeable to each color and what it meant. He rejoiced to know that as John 1:12 says, "For as many who received Him, He gave them the right to become children of God, to those who believe on His name."
Now I think about how I forgot to mention Jesus' identity. However, "the work" was made crystal clear, and so was this boy's need. Do you think he is not saved, or is saved?
I know you care about what the scriptures say but at some point people make mistakes even while sharing the gospel....
Thanks for listening,
Michele
Hi Michele,
I can't possibly tell if someone is saved, maybe he's had the Gospel preached to him before and he's now got all the pieces put together. However, what does Scripture say?
Rom 10:11-14
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
It is the Gospel of Christ that saves, nothing else, for it is the power of God unto salvation. Nothing else, no mater how emotive, or creative saves.
What good would my flash judgment of this child's state with God do you?
If you know what the Scriptures say then simply obey God and preach the Gospel to the child. If he really does understand then he will surely call on Him Who the Scriptures declare. Who knows who he's called on now?
This doesn't have to be any big soap-opera deal. The Scripture says preach the Gospel so just do it. Why would you think man could come up with a better way? This is the most bizarre thing about the whole CG, God gave us the Gospel and spelled it out for us.. why try to invent something else?
The child's eternal salvation is at stake... are you going to trust the reasonings of man with that or the God of the Bible?
Kev
Kev,
Thanks, so you're saying why take any of these things away? ...It causes you to feel alienated or perhaps offended that it might change (through subtraction), I think I understand that.
Thanks for expressing your mind,
Michele
Hi Michele, my offense or alienation should be the least of anyone's worries. We KNOW that the Gospel saves, because God says so. Why would we use anything else and just hope the child is saved?
Such a tactic makes no sense to me...
Kev
Kev,
I planned on mentioning His identity, but somehow I didn't by mistake. I'm being tested to speak His identity.
For awhile I've doubted if it's necessary, I'm not hiding that. Help me out, doesn't Christ mean the common noun 'Messiah'? That's what I read in Strong's....
This is why I wanted your opinion. Have you experienced a time when you were preaching the gospel in the moment and left something out, but the person got saved?
You asked why would someone use anything less, well, free grace exists to cut the stuff out from the gospel that doesn't belong. We all share a quest of purity, meaning we want to exalt both the object (Jesus) and the means of appropriation (faith). That's the reason. I've been concerned over purity in the gospel, for years because it mattered to me all this time too.
Whatever self-education made me 'bright' to catch most the free grace banners, now all of a sudden is not good enough for myself. I knew nothing of dispensationalism, or hermeneutics, and boy I'm not going to rely on my own skills to answer this question till I know more. Since reading here (and JP) I refrain from preaching the kind of gospel that my self-education gave/gives me. Just to show you that while I'm tempted to follow my convictions that no doubt come from the Word of God, I have more respect than that for the scriptures, and I also believe Christ is compelling my caution in consideration of you, my brother.
Does this make sense?
Compassionately,
Michele
Michele it is not my intent to be offensive to you. It is surely not my intent to persecute you, or to bring undue charge. However, this conversation has left my comfort zone.
Because of some recent events that I do not wish to bring attention to I can not discuss on this level with you.
Kev
I'm sorry about that Kev, no worries. Michele
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