Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Cheap Grace

Cheap Grace is the "Christian" faith that accepts the forgiveness and salvation of God but rejects repentance, holiness, and obedience. These individuals attempt to call the latter legalism and try to associate it with works-salvation. Apparently these people have never read their Bible, or have never paid any attention to what it was they were reading. If they read their Bible they way they ought, they would see plenty of evidence, especially in the New Testament, for repentance, holiness, and obedience. All three are key to genuine Christianity.

People who believe in Cheap Grace like to condemn what they have dubbed "Lordship" salvation, again attempting to associate it with works-salvation. One of their most favourite verses they like to quote in their belief toward a person's salvation is Romans 10:9. This verse evidences the fact that they clearly do not pay any attention to what it is they are reading from the Bible. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord..." (Romans 10:9). Not Saviour; Lord. "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). Again, not Saviour; Lord. If Jesus is not Lord of your life, He will not be Saviour of your life. The two go hand in hand.

Cheap Grace is a heretical faith. It is held by individuals who love their sin and are only seeking for fire insurance and want nothing of Jesus. These individuals would do well to read Matthew 7:21-23 and meditate on it carefully. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven [will enter]" (v. 21). These people reject obedience, but what did Jesus say? "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). There are plenty more verses to back that one up. These people reject holiness, but what did God say? "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). There are several more verses to back that one up, too. These people also reject repentance, but what does Scripture say? "Repent and believe the Gospel" (Mark 1:15). Again, there are a number of verses to back that up. Their rejection of repentance, holiness, and obedience is either deliberate or else they fail to pay attention to and understand what they read from the Bible, if they read it at all.

The Christian faith is not limited to the forgiveness of sins and the receipt of salvation. Such a belief is Cheap Grace and it is a heresy. People who hold to Cheap Grace are either ignorant of the truths of Scripture or else they are not saved. If it is the former, when discipled with the truth they ought to conform their beliefs in accordance. If they reject discipleship and become contentious, they have a rebellious spirit and you can be sure they are not genuinely saved. Grace is not cheap and it does not neglect the full Gospel and what it means to be a Christian. Either a person accepts the whole of Christianity or they reject it all. One cannot pick and choose what they want to be part of it.

If your "Christian" faith does not include repentance, holiness, and obedience, you had best re-examine your faith and claim to salvation. More than likely your faith is a sham and you are still dead in your sins.