By Arthur J. Licursi

Comparing Grace, Law, and Works

The Biblical Christian faith ‘freely’ saves believers from ‘perdition’ ‘by grace… through faith’ according to Paul’s Acts period “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). This freely offered salvation is the most consequential difference between the pure Biblical Christian faith and that of Christianity’s many divided and confused groups, sects, and denominations.

“For by GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is The GIFT of God: ⁹Not of [religious] works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

Only the Biblically PURE Christian faith of Paul’s gospel operates based on Salvation as “the Gift of God” called “the Grace of God.” God offers this FREE Salvation from Perdition to ALL mankind based upon faith in Jesus Christ alone. This offer is to men of any race, gender, or status as the free “gift” of God.

“Being Justified Freely By His GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Romans 3:24 (KJV)
“He [Father God] that spared not his own Son [Jesus Christ], but delivered him up [as a sin sacrifice] FOR US ALL [for our sins], how shall he not with him also freely give us all things [all blessings]?” Romans 8:32 (KJV)

God’s “Grace” working “through faith” is the basis of our freely having ‘salvation from ‘perdition’ – that is we will never see the angry face of God in judgment unto “Everlasting Destruction” (2Thes. 1:9). For Christ was all-sufficiently judged for us, paying our sin-debt at the Cross.

“[Christ will return] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not [Gk. eido, refuse to hold the knowledge of] God, and that obey not the gospel [good news] of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” 2 Thess. 1:8-9

As genuine Christians who believe and trust in the “death, burial, and resurrection of Christ” (1Cor. 12:3-4), we have thereby attained to a Righteous Standing before God, with Eternal Security, while now possessing Christ’s resurrected Eternal Life. We have entered a loving, ongoing, eternal relationship with God our Father. Again, this salvation is given freely, ‘by GRACE alone through faith alone in Christ alone,’ not owing to any manmade group or denomination.

“Therefore being justified [declared righteous] by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1 (read Romans 5:1-10).
“[Christ] In whom ye also TRUSTED, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel Of Your Salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed [secured] with that holy Spirit of promise,” Eph. 1:13

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell IN YOU. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰ And if Christ Be In You, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of [Christ’s] righteousness.” Romans 8:8-10)

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery [secret] among the GENTILES; which is Christ IN YOU, the hope of [heaven’s] glory:” Colossians 1:27 (KJV)

“Now the Lord [Jesus Christ] is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [freedom from Moses ‘Law,’ v15].” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV)

“But he that is joined unto the Lord is One spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)

That is, Christ’s Spirit … in our spirit.

Thus we are in a permanent, unbreakable, union with the divine Godhead by “the Son of God” … having Christ IN US with His Eternal Life. (Read Isa. 9:6, This Christ is “the everlasting Father”).

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth IN ME …” Gal. 2:20a

How we should we look to Scripture.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God Hath Revealed Them Unto Us By His Spirit: For The Spirit Searcheth All Things, yea, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD.” (1 Cor. 2:10)

Reading the Bible on the surface can lead one to belief and salvation in Christ as Savior with eternal life and blessings ‘somewhere.’ But to know “where” and what “hath [God] prepared for them that love Him” requires going beneath the surface and discovering “the deep things of God.”

Sadly, most of the members of man’s religion that is called “Christianity” are treading in the turbulent and dangerous waters on the surface of Scriptures where false doctrines and traditions of men thrive. But to discover the whole substance of God’s eternal purpose, one must dive below the surface into the deep things to see the truth of God’s plan and purpose for the ages. Very few will discover and enjoy “the deep things of God.”

The Holy Spirit can give you the inspiration (‘oxygen’ to breath). The atomic number for oxygen is 8. Eight is the Biblical number for resurrection, and new beginning, which has to do with the Lord’s work. Paul says be “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph 4:23). Then “Put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him” (Co 3:10). This knowledge comes to us only from Scripture by revelation of The Holy Scripture.

“All scripture is given by inspiration [the Spirit] of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect [complete in understanding], throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

“All scripture” containing God’s eternal plan and ultimate purpose was given to men by the Holy Spirit in the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic languages, recorded and preserved for our study and profit. We are to use it to learn correct doctrine (i.e., His calling and hope for us) for our time. It is also used to reprove [expose] incorrect doctrine, to correct false doctrine, and to instruct in attaining to the state of being approved of God, in order that all our genuinely good works may be acceptable. (2Tim. 3:16)

Note below how that the Father “purposed IN HIMSELF” (Eph. 1:9) is that which He “purposed IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.”

“Having made known unto us the Mystery [secret] of his [God the Father’s, cf. Eph. 1:3] will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:” Ephesians 1:9 (KJV)
“According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Ephesians 3:11

To attain a status of “being approved of God, as a workman (is a laborer in ‘the word of truth’)” must “rightly divide the word of truth [the Bible].” (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15, below) All scripture, the Bible, is “the word of truth.” The Scriptures pertain to God’s dealings with different peoples of our world at different times under different administrations, called “dispensations.”

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Today’s dispensational age since the total “fall of Israel” (cf. Act 28:28) is called “the dispensation of the grace of God” “for ye Gentiles” (Eph. 3:2).

There are yet future implications as to how we understand and acknowledge these differences. This requires an awareness and acknowledgement of things that differ. Different hopes are administered according to different gospels, for different people groups; i.e., One for Israel and one for the Gentile church called “body of Christ.”

Our failure to take these things seriously will result in a condition of shame and blessings of a lesser degree; because “the deep things of God” include a special hidden secret, which once discovered grants those who find it every blessing that is spiritual in “the heavenly places.” This is a special hope and calling available in our time. Things changed with Israel’s total fall in Acts 28:28. We need to dive into the Apostle Paul’s Prison Epistles where this hidden treasure is found.

“He [The Lord Spirit] revealeth the deep and secret things: he [the Lord] knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (Dan 2:22)  

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct [rightly divide] thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“Unto me [Paul], who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the GENTILES the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the administration [or ‘dispensation’] of the Mystery [secret], which from the beginning of the world hath been HID in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” (Eph 3:8-9)

“Whereof I [Paul] am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me [Paul] for you [Gentiles], to fulfill [Gk. pleroo, complete] the word of God; even [that is] the Mystery [secret] which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest [revealed] to His saints” (Col 1:25-26)

Thus we have the way to know the truth of God for us today.

The “sects,” divisions, or denominations of religious Christendom have their manmade ‘religious laws and traditions’ which put people hopelessly into bondage. Note that the word ‘religion’ is from the Latin ‘religio,’ taken from Old French “re-ligare” which means “back into bonds” (‘re’ meaning ‘to go back’ and ‘ligio,’ as a ‘ligature that binds.’ Most seek ‘religion’ in hope of getting relief from the world’s bondage to fear and insecurity. But most religious adherents trade bondage to the world for bondage to religion. Paul says “ye are NOT under the LAW, but UNDER GRACE.” (Rom. 6:14)

But our faith union is with Christ, who died for our sins to save us from perdition, to give us peace with God in His unconditional love, and thereby peace of heart. This salvation is accomplished totally apart from man’s religious “laws” and apart from Israel’s religious law. Rather we live under God’s pure, 100%, grace, outside of religion, We are not bound to any religion, for we have an indissoluble living union with our Savior, Jesus Christ based upon the written “word of God” and His Spirit NOW IN US. He in us is the living indwelling “Word of God” (cf. Jn. 1:1).

As “the word” the incarnated Jesus gave visible expression to God... making God seen and heard before He then was crucified, died, was buried, and rose to become “the lifegiving spirit” (cf. 1Cor. 15:45). It is this risen life of Christ that is our new and eternal life the moment we first believe.

Today, after Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, His resurrected “spirit of life” (cf. Rom. 8:2a) indwells the human “spirit of man” (cf. Zech. 12:1) in every believing child of God. We “… he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Cor. 6:17) living in us. He then is as close as our breath. (The Greek word ‘pneuma’ is translated both “spirit” and “breath.”

Now as genuine believers our motive to follow and ‘walk’ with Him is not related to any ‘law’ but rather out of a thankful heart of love that automatically responds to the love and grace of God, which literally came to us in the person of the indwelling Jesus Christ. When His love takes hold of our hearts, we can’t help but respond in kind.

“For the love of Christ constraineth [compels] us; …” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

Knowing His love, we are ‘sealed’ securely for eternity. (cf. Eph. 1:13)