THE TRUTH ABOUT SIN A BIBLICAL STUDY ON SIN AND SALVATION

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1 SESSION 2 SIN AND THE GRACE OF GOD I. SIN AND THE HOLINESS OF GOD A. God is Holy and He has holy standards. The Holiness of God is the central revelation of God in all of Scripture [Is. 6:3; Rev. 4:8]. The knowledge of God s holiness is the foundation by which we become aware of the exceeding sinfulness of sin and our need for redemption. Isaiah 6:1 5 I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple 3 One cried and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" 5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." a. When believers see Christ apart from His holiness we begin to view sin as something light and insignificant. Any lesser or incomplete revelation of God within our heart will open the door to compromise. All other attributes (such as God s love and grace) can only be understood rightly when we see God first and foremost as Holy. B. Sin is to break God s law (or righteous standards) in act, attitude, or nature. 1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin C. God has laws, or holy standards, by which He holds humanity accountable to [Is. 33:22; Jam. 4:12]. God s laws do not change and His standards will not change, because He does not change. He is immutable and His holy values and standards will always be his holy standards. A. God s holy nature will never change. The God of the Old Testament is NOT different from the God of the New Testament. Some falsely teach that the God of the Old Testament is an angry, judgmental God; and the God of the New Testament is one of mercy and grace. B. This ancient heresy is called Marcionism. Marcion taught that the OT God Yahweh was too harsh and is different from the Good Father of Jesus. He took out all of the NT references to the wrath and judgment of God and was called a heretic. Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change (immutability) Psalm 102:27 [God] You are the same, And Your years will have no end. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 1 P a g e

2 C. Gods holy standards never change. A popular catchphrase today says Jesus is perfect theology. This is said to imply that God doesn t think of sin the same way He did in the OT because of the grace Jesus revealed in the Gospels. D. God still hates sin and His holy standards have never changed. Yes, Jesus is the perfect image of the Father but the Jesus of the Gospels is not the only revelation of Him in Scripture [See Rev. 2:16; 2:21 23; 5:5; 6:16 17; 11:6; 15:3 4; 16:5 7; 19:11 16]. He is a Lamb and a Lion! Revelation 19:11 15 Behold, a white horse. And He [Jesus Christ] who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God 15 He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. D. God s moral law is the plumb line that stands in judgment of sin. God s law is both the written law given to the Jews [Rom. 2:17 29] and the unwritten law that operates in the hearts and consciences of all men [Rom 2:15]. Romans 2:15 [Gentiles] show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them, II. THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW A. The law was never meant to be a series of steps that lead us to heaven. It was given by God to show man their inability to merit heaven. Jesus affirmed that no one completely fulfills the law. Why? Because if you break one law you are guilty of all. John 7:19 "Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law?" James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. B. God gave the law to show man how Holy He is, and how depraved and sinful our hearts are [Rom. 5:20]. The law is the righteous standard of God by which we will be judged. 1 Timothy 1:8 10 The law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, C. God s law shuts every mouth and displays to the world the universal guilt of humanity [Rom 3]. Romans 3:19 Whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 2 P a g e

3 D. The law reveals our sin to point us to the way of faith. We cannot redeem ourselves or meet the perfection of God s standards. Therefore, we must turn and trust in Christ alone for salvation. Galatians 3:21 24 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. E. God always purposed that man live by faith, not seek to be justified (or earn God s righteousness) by His law [Rom. 4; Gal. 2:16,21]. Galatians 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." F. God s standards are so holy that Jesus as the God man had to come to fulfill the law for us. Man could not fulfill the law and thus save himself. As one who fully obeyed God s law, yet was without sin, Jesus met the righteous requirements of the law for us. Now through faith in Him we have access into God s holy presence. Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh [in making people righteous], God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. G. Jesus fulfilled the law for us, however He did not altogether do away with it or replace His holy standards with love and grace. In the same way that we do not follow the law to earn God s righteousness, neither are we to use grace as a license to exempt ourselves from His holy standards. Matthew 5:17,18 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. III. THE DECEPTION OF FALSE GRACE A. Today a false message of grace is emerging that that tells us God does not see our sin because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Rather than using grace to empower wholeheartedness; we have used it as a license to continue in compromise and darkness. Jude 1:3,4 NIV Contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God s holy people. 4 For certain individuals have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Lord. 3 P a g e

4 B. False grace teaches that because of what Jesus did on the cross God now only sees humanity through eyes of love and grace, not through His holy and righteous standards. In other words, there is no punishment for sin (or judgment) because God is love and Jesus took all sin upon Him. * To speak of sin, holiness, and judgment is labeled as being judgmental and unloving. C. The Bible never teaches an instant grace that excuses all past, present, and future sins regardless of how we live. We must grow in the grace of God, and anticipate the grace that will be brought to us at the Second Coming of Christ [1 Peter 1:13]. 2 Peter 3:17,18 Beloved beware lest you fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the wicked; 18 but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus... D. The love of God and the judgment of God are not in contradiction. Because God is love and He loves righteousness, He judges wickedness and sin [1 Jn. 4:8,16]. If you love that which is holy, you will hate that which is unholy. This is the nature of love. It does not rejoice in evil. Psalm 45:7 You [the Christ] love righteousness and hate wickedness 1 Corinthians 13:6 [Love] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; E. As believers we are not under the wrath of God because of what Jesus has done for us [1 Thes. 1:10; 5:9], but God still has wrath towards sin. This is a clear teaching in the New Covenant. John 3:36 "He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, Ephesians 2:3 We all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath Ephesians 5:6 (Colossians 3:6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things [sin] the wrath of God is coming upon the sons who are disobedient. F. The wrath of God is the Biblical teaching that God is radically opposed to sin. Those who practice sin are storing up God s wrath (or anger) unless they turn from sin to Christ. God s wrath is accumulating until the Day of God s righteous judgment. Romans 2:2 6 We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things [sin] 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your unrepentant heart you are storing up for yourself wrath in the Day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds" 4 P a g e

5 G. False Grace is a replacement theology for God s Law. The law came through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus. However, Jesus taught the law and Moses spoke of God s grace [Matt. 4:4; 4:7; 4:10; 5:17,18; 9:13; 22:36 40; 23:23; Ex. 34:6 9]. Any Gospel that removes God s law (righteous standards) in the name of grace will pervert the message of the Gospel. John 1:17 The law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. H. We must not confuse God s law and legalism. The New Testament tells us that God s law is good. Legalism however is not good. Because God loves us we seek to obey God s commandments (law), but we resist legalism which tries to earn God s love and favor through works [Matt. 5:17 19]. Many wrongly reject obedience to God s righteous standards because they equate it with legalism. Romans 7:12 The law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. 1 Timothy 1:8 The law is good if one uses it lawfully, IV. NINE MARKS OF FALSE GRACE 1. False grace minimizes the holiness of God. At the core of false grace is the watering down of God s holy nature. God is looked at as an all forgiving Daddy rather than seen as Our Father in heaven, whose name is Holy [Matt. 6:9]. God is restoring the revelation of His holiness in our generation. Psalm 50:21 These things [evil] you have done, and I kept silent [delayed judgment]; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes. 2. False grace minimizes the seriousness of sin. False grace never teaches the dangers of sin in the life of a believer [2 Tim. 2:19]. They ignore sin by saying God doesn t see your sin; He only sees Jesus! Revelation 2 & 3 is the clearest glimpse of how Jesus views His Churches in their sin. An unbiblical view of our identity in Christ will quench the Spirits sanctifying work. Proverbs 24:24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him. 3. False grace ignores Scriptures that speak of God s judgment against sin. God will hold all of humanity accountable for sin that is not brought under the blood of Jesus. In Acts 4 & 5 great grace was upon all the disciples when God struck down Annanias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit. Acts 4:33 5:11 With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all 5:5 Then Ananias [after lying to the Holy Spirit] fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things 10 Then immediately she [Sapphira] fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. 5 P a g e

6 4. False grace promises the forgiveness of sins without the need for repentance. We can only receive God s forgiveness when we sincerely repent and seek to walk wholeheartedly before Him. The Bible never teaches forgiveness without repentance. Acts 3:19 "Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 5. False grace gives people a false confidence of Gods approval of them. It teaches that believers need to be confident with God regardless of how they are living. Our position in Christ does not exempt us from living a life of obedience to Jesus. Revelation 3:17,19 You say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' [overconfident of their position in Christ] and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked [their actual condition] 19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous and repent. a. Jesus warned that many believers will stand before God on the Day of Judgment overconfident of His grace and presumptuous of His approval of their lives [Matt. 7:21 23]. They assume that power and success in the ministry exempts them from pursuing sanctification. Matthew 7:22,23 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied cast out demons and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 6. False grace confuses condemnation with conviction. A wrong view of grace sees the guilt of our sinful deeds, motives, and actions as condemnation from the enemy rather than God s conviction. Condemnation is feeling guilty from something you did but are forgiven of, whereas conviction is feeling guilty for something you are guilty of yet you have not repented. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus John 16:8 "When He [Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin 7. False grace overemphasizes our identity in Christ. Many teachers never go beyond Justification (what God has done for us) onto sanctification. Salvation however is a lifelong process: We have been saved (justification), are being saved (sanctification), and will be saved (glorification). Colossians 3:3 6 For you died [justification], and your life is hidden with Christ in God 5 Therefore put to death your members [sanctification] which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons who are disobedient, 8. False grace claims liberty in Christ to justify compromise and sin. Lukewarm believers wrongfully see liberty as the freedom to do whatever they like and neglect what they don t like, while accusing wholehearted believers of legalism. 6 P a g e

7 1 Peter 2:16 As free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Galatians 5:13 You have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh 9. False grace breeds Universalism. Universalism says All people will be saved. When God s extravagant love for all people is taught without the revelation of His holiness we begin to believe the lie that Love Wins! [Matt. 7:13,14; Matt. 25:41,46; Rev. 14:9 11; Rev. 20:15] John 3:16 18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 7 P a g e