Cheap Grace
About two weeks after the Lord saved me from my sins, my pastor confronted me one day and said,"You know, now that you're a Christian, you better clean up that mouth of yours." I was immediately convicted by this; by the grace of God, I was finished using foul language a few weeks afterward. This was one of my first tastes of the pure life that God desires for me to live. I see, however, many who profess to be Christians and still strongly sound the bell of worldliness. The Holy Spirit, of course, works at different speeds when it comes to sanctifying people, but there still is evidence...if indeed the Spirit does reside within a person. These people are not new to the faith, but rather proclaim to have a faith in Christ without any transformation. Such people have "cheapened" grace by simply wanting to escape the fires of hell and nothing more. Does God just save people to save them with also allowing them to live their lives as the world leads them? Most certainly not.
In the apostle Paul's letter to Titus, he explains in 2:11-14 what the supernatural occurrence of salvation brings into the lives of the saints:
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
According to this passage of Scripture, it is by God's grace that a born-again believer is trained to renounce the ways of the world and live a life that glorifies Him. What does that mean for people who say that they're Christians and yet speak foul language, are filled with crude humor, join in on drunken debauchery, or otherwise? Is there a such thing as a "carnal Christian?" Not at all; the words "carnal" is the antithesis of "Christian." Can darkness live together with light? No, for wherever the light shines, the darkness must flee. Of course, Christians still sin, but this must be followed by continuing confession and repentance, whereby the Christian is further sanctified to become more like Christ. If this is not happening in a person's life, how can the person have any assurance that he/she is even saved? In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the apostle Paul urges the Corinthian church to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith, since they were into all sorts of ungodly lifestyles.
When it comes to Christianity, there are three kinds of people: Believers, non-believers, and make-believers. Which one are you?
In the apostle Paul's letter to Titus, he explains in 2:11-14 what the supernatural occurrence of salvation brings into the lives of the saints:
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
According to this passage of Scripture, it is by God's grace that a born-again believer is trained to renounce the ways of the world and live a life that glorifies Him. What does that mean for people who say that they're Christians and yet speak foul language, are filled with crude humor, join in on drunken debauchery, or otherwise? Is there a such thing as a "carnal Christian?" Not at all; the words "carnal" is the antithesis of "Christian." Can darkness live together with light? No, for wherever the light shines, the darkness must flee. Of course, Christians still sin, but this must be followed by continuing confession and repentance, whereby the Christian is further sanctified to become more like Christ. If this is not happening in a person's life, how can the person have any assurance that he/she is even saved? In 2 Corinthians 13:5, the apostle Paul urges the Corinthian church to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith, since they were into all sorts of ungodly lifestyles.
When it comes to Christianity, there are three kinds of people: Believers, non-believers, and make-believers. Which one are you?
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