Grace

Though we are born sinners we are being made saints who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, Jude 3 says, contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” based on the finished work of Christ. We are saved by grace, nothing added. 

The apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans is the “benchmark” on grace. Grace frees us from the dominion of sin. 

I was challenged to rethink the grace of God, so to speak, having read a profoundly meaningful article on grace entitled License to Grace. The usual response to this free grace is  “Just remember, grace is not a license to sin.” It set me thinking about Martin Luther’s phrase Simul Justus et Peccator,”  I believe that the law of God has condemned us to hell. By what means of righteousness can one be declared righteous to avoid the fires of hell if they are so concerned? And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

One’s concerns are swallowed up in The faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” It is the doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus Christ.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Does that mean that we can go on sinning?   Believe what Martin Luther said. We are at the same time sinners and saints. ‘Simul Justus et Peccator,” saints washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. Dominick Santorne, in his article License to Grace does a masterful job in making the meaning of the doctrine of justification by faith clear.

It is not a righteousness we perform and those evangelists who so preach are not preaching the gospel. The righteousness Santorne, Luther, and other faithful’s preach is an imbued righteousness. It is not a righteousness we perform, John Piper writes in his blog, The Doctrine of Justification by Faith.

There is the doctrine of Sanctification–performing righteousness. But we will always be lost sinners. Just because you have been forgiven does not ever free you from being a sinner. That is because God demands a perfect righteousness.  My sanctified life might be an indication of Christ’s righteousness in me “but” I will always remain a forgiven sinner, from the time of baptism, throughout my life and in heaven forever.