Perverted Grace

Wayne Jackson is the author of this piece which appeared in the December 1984 edition of the Christian Courier which was published by the Church of Christ in Stockton, California and was edited by Jackson.

The inspired New Testament writer Jude spoke of certain church heretics of his day who were, "turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness" (Jude 4). Such false teachers were apparently contending that since Christians are under a system of grace, their sexual conduct was not to be limited. Hence, they pursued the course of wanton indulgence. They mistook, "liberty in Christ" (Galatians 2:4) for license of the flesh!

In principle, a similar error is making an in-road in the Lord's church today. Some are suggesting that because we are under grace that we are not accountable to divine law and so, they allege, salvation is actually "unconditional." There is of course, nothing new about this. It has been advocated for centuries by a variety of denominational groups. It is though, a "new sound" among our brethren and it is patently false. Let us note one Bible example that speaks to this issue.

In Genesis 6:8, Moses informs us that, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Now here is the point: did the fact that Noah was a recipient of divine grace mean that he had no responsibility to obey the divine commands that were given to him? Had he ignored the instructions of Heaven, would he have been spared from the destruction of the flood? Absolutely not! And clearly the patriarch understood this, for concerning him the narrative says, "And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him" (7:5). Moreover, the New Testament declares that Noah, motivated by godly fear, "prepared an ark to the saving of his house" (Hebrews 11:7). Grace does not therefore, negate our responsibility to do exactly what God commands. Christ is the author of eternal salvation to such as "obey" Him (Hebrews 5:9).

The current notion of cheap grace is phony to the core and church leaders would be well advised to keep their ears open for this pernicious doctrine.