Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came

by Jesus Christ.

works, holiness, fear of God, repentance GRACE

BALANCING GRACE

GRACE

GRACE BALANCINGUS

Critics of Grace

• Grace may be misinterpreted as freedom to sin.

• Grace leads to a reduction of commitment• Grace doesn’t accept responsibility for sin • Grace leads to a de-emphasis of holiness• Grace will lessen church giving. • Grace will lead to a reduction of church

attendance

• Grace has an appearance of weakness instead of strength

• Grace must be balanced with good works, and responsible living.

• Grace must be balanced by preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word.

When professing Christians proclaim ‘God doesn’t see my sin, only Christ’ what we are really doing is

laying a cracked foundation of unbiblical, and therefore false, reasoning in order to hold on to those sins we favor above Christ and His finished

work on the cross.

Some See Grace preaching As A license To Sin

I am convinced that many preachers don’t think that grace can conform the life to Christ better than dutiful, self effort, and legalistic preaching. Rules and the possibility of punishment conforms one to godly living more effectively. The law keeps us in line.

If we are afraid that we won’t be seen a s good Christians by our peers, then the standards of the law help us to conform to others that have already conformed. Thus acceptance by performance is effective.

BE STRONG IN GRACE

2Ti 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ

Jesus.

Rom 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of

grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

WORKS CAN NEVER MIX WITH GRACE FOR SALVATION OR SANCTIFICATION

Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise

grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more

grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,

(9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.

REDEMPTION AND FORGIVENESS

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his

grace;

CHRISTIAN LIVING

Tit 2:11-15 For the grace of God that brings salvation has

appeared to all men, (12) teaching us that having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts,

we should live discreetly, righteously and godly, in this

present world

GOOD WORKS

2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

1Co 3:10-13 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. (11) For no other foundation can a man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

GIVING

2Co 8:1-2 And, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given among the churches

of Macedonia; (2) that in much testing of trouble, the overflowing of

their joy, and the depth of their poverty, abounded to the riches of

their generosity.

2Co 8:3-6 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability; they gave

willingly; (4) with much beseeching, begging us that they might receive of us the grace and

the fellowship of the ministry to the saints. (5) And not as we hoped, but first they gave

themselves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God, (6) for us to call on Titus, that even as he began before, so he would also

complete this grace to you also.

2Co 8:7-8 But even as you abound in everything, in faith, and in word, and in knowledge, and in all earnestness, and

in your love to us; you should abound in this grace also. (8) I do not speak

according to command, but through the eagerness of others, and testing the

trueness of your love.

TRUTH AND SOUND DOCTRINE

Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart

be established with grace; not with meats, which have not

profited them that have been occupied therein.

Christian service

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may

serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

1Co 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called

an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (10) But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which

was with me.

WORSHIP, PRAISE, AND SINGING

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one

another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace

in your hearts to the Lord.

Fear of the Lord

Jer 32:40 And I will make an

everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from

them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Repentance

Rom 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the

forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God

leads you to repentance?

Joh 16:7-8 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go

away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I

will send him unto you. (8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

HOPE AND STRENGTH

2Co 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my

strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory

in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10)

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in

persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I

strong.