Grace. It’s now all about grace — we hear over and over and over.
But what does the Bible really say? And what is grace?
There is so much misunderstanding about how the new covenant is different than the old covenant. Much of this is due to the misinterpretation of the word ‘grace,’ and it’s way deeper than that.
Here I’ve compiled a list of the false statements I’ve been hearing from the grace changers (the false teachers of our day), who are teaching these as being the truth — ruining the church.
And this is what is destroying America.
I may add to the list if I think of more. Please comment with your suggestions too.
– Jeff Fenske
onecanhappen.com
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13 Common Misconceptions About the New Covenant
[FALSEHOOD] The requirements in the new covenant are less than in the old.
[THE TRUTH] What did Jesus say in Matthew 5, and what did Paul say in Acts 17?
[FALSEHOOD] Abiding in Christ doesn’t require us to actually abide in Christ. We’re legally in Christ merely because of what Jesus did — Romans 1a without the 1b (without verses 4 and 12-17 too)
[THE TRUTH] “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
What did Jesus say in John 15 about abiding — the opposite of the song, “Never Let Go”? Read in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?
[FALSEHOOD] If born-again ‘Christians’ feel condemnation, it’s really only conviction. Condemnation is a lie from the Devil because: “There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus“ — Romans 1a without the 1b
[THE TRUTH] “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
[FALSEHOOD] People in the old covenant were under the law, but we are under “grace” — so they had to obey the law but we don’t have to obey anything (or Anyone).
[THE TRUTH] See: The meaning of “Grace” (χαρις) in the Bible: It’s not what you think?
[FALSEHOOD] The 10 Commandments were replaced by “grace + nothing.” Now we don’t have to do anything.
[THE TRUTH] Jesus superceded the 10 Commandments with the Greatest Two — a greater requirement, not less.
Matthew 22:
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
AND
Romans 13:
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not give false testimony,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
AND
John 15:1-14
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 2 Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. 8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. 9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. 11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.
[FALSEHOOD] Paul rebuked the Galatians for thinking they had to do works.
[THE TRUTH] Paul rebuked the Galatians for thinking they had to do the works of the law. In Galatians 5:13 – 6:10, Paul clearly explains what we now have to do in the new covenant. Read in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?
[FALSEHOOD] In Romans 7, Paul couldn’t overcome sin as a born-again believer — so if we don’t overcome sin that is normal.
[THE TRUTH] Romans 7 was the struggle that Paul had before he was born-again, before he had the Holy Spirit in him to empower him to overcome as he says we must do in the following chapter to even be called children of God. People don’t read far enough — or just read what they want to read.
[FALSEHOOD] Paul didn’t get right with those he hurt so we don’t have to either.
[THE TRUTH] See: Can ‘Christians’ use Paul’s “Forgetting the things which are behind…I press on” statement as an excuse to not get right with those they’ve hurt? Paul also said: “I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.”
[FALSEHOOD] The fear of God isn’t supposed to be fear but just reverence.
[THE TRUTH] Paul said “work out your salvation through fear and trembling. We should fear and tremble in what God will do to us if we don’t work out our own salvation by making sure we abide in Him.
Mt. 10:28 — “Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”
And is this merely reverence? Great fear came on the people when Ananias and Sapphira were killed by God. The people didn’t want to be also zapped. And many were added to their number too. Consider also what God said he would do to Jezebel and her children if she didn’t repent (Rev. 1).
[FALSEHOOD] It’s hard to lose one’s salvation.
[THE TRUTH] Read Revelation 3:1-5 in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? And the church in Sardis actually had a reputation for being alive, unlike almost every church today.
[FALSEHOOD] Once our names are in the Book of Life they can’t be removed.
[THE TRUTH] See how only a few in the church in Sardis would not have their names removed from the Book of Life. Read Revelation 3:1-5 in Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? And the church in Sardis actually had a reputation for being alive, unlike almost every church today.
[FALSEHOOD] We can be lukewarm and still go to heaven.
[THE TRUTH] Revelation 3:15-16 — “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
[FALSEHOOD] But Jesus didn’t really mean that. A pastor recently said from the pulpit that he doesn’t believe a Christian can be deceived enough to lose his/her salvation.
[THE TRUTH] Paul said in Galatians 6:7,8 — “Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
In Galatians 5, Paul gave two lists: those who are Christ’s have the fruit of the Spirit, having crucified their flesh.
And then there are those who are bound for Hell.
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
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Therefore Jesus upped the ante, increased the requirements for us who now have the Holy Spirit in us to help us overcome. And overcome we must:
“Those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God.”
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Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
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“Remain in Me….”
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“Work out your salvation through fear and trembling.”
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“If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
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“He who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
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“Remain in me, and I in you.”
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“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
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“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
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