God's Undeserved Grace

“Are they Hebrews? I also! Are they Israelites? I also! Are they the seed of Abraham? I also!” (2Corinthians 11:22)

This is Paul’s “foolish boasting.” “What I speak, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this boldness of boasting.” (2Corinthians 11:17) False prophets and teachers had crept into the church in Corinth. They boasted of their identity and descent as the credibility of their teachings. Paul, who humbly hadn’t boasted of his heritage and background in sharing the love of Christ, now speaks and proclaims that he will foolishly boast to show that these false teachers are not so special that they require attention and allegiance based on their pedigree, since many of the Corinthian believers were turned away from the true Gospel because of this. “Since many glory according to the flesh, I also will boast. For you gladly bear with fools, being wise.” (2Corinthians 11:18-19) The believers in Corinth were impressed with the credentials of these false teachers. Paul tells the church that they are not unique. If that’s what impresses them, Paul is of the same ancestry. This was not the only time Paul had to speak about his lineage. He defended himself in Jerusalem when he was not judged as a Roman citizen, which he was. (Acts 22:3) He also spoke about himself when he spoke of the remnant of Israel. (Romans 11:1) And again he spoke of his heritage when he wrote to the Philippians about the false teachers who insisted on circumcision to be saved. (Philippians 3:5)

These false teachers used their ancestry as a basis for their credibility to “enslave” them to rituals of the Law that Jesus fulfilled for us. They taught salvation by human effort and works. And their teachings stripped them of the freedom in Christ.  (2 Corinthians 11:20) The Galatians also had this problem with false teachers. Paul also addressed the issue. “But because of those false brothers stealing in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus; they desiring to enslave us; to whom not even for an hour did we yield in subjection, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” (Galatians 2:4-5)

 In those days, the beginning of Christianity, “The Way,” as Christianity was first called, was known as originating from Jews. Some Christian Jews, still clinging to Judaism, wanted to keep the rituals especially circumcision. But Paul’s argument was that salvation was by faith and not by works or the performance of any ritual. “For the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is made of no effect; because the Law works out wrath, for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith so that it might be according to grace; for the promise to be made sure to all the seed, not only to that which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it has been written, "I have made you a father of many nations") —before God, whom he believed, who makes the dead live, and calls the things which do not exist as though they do exist. For he who beyond hope believed on hope for him to become the father of many nations (according to that which was spoken, "So your seed shall be").” (Romans 4:13-18) Paul’s words may be a little difficult to understand. Essentially, he wrote that the promise God made to Abraham was before the Law. It was by Abraham’s faith. If they had to perform some works, then it’s not faith. And without the Law, there is no sin because the Law points to our sin. The promise was fulfilled by faith, believing in the gift of God’s grace. The promise is for all, for those who follow the Law and those who do not. Faith transcends the Law which makes Abraham the father of all nations, the Jews who follow the Law and the gentiles without the Law, both need faith, believing without doubting in God’s gift of unmerited favor, receiving the promise through faith. So following the Law to gain God’s favor cancels faith in God’s gift of grace.

We cannot do anything to get God’s favor. He has poured out His favor through the love of Jesus on the cross. We could never top that. Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice and took all of our death. This is the gift of God. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17) And to the Galatians Paul writes, “And I say this, A covenant having been ratified by God in Christ, the Law (coming into being four hundred and thirty years after) does not annul the promise, so as to abolish it. For if the inheritance is of Law, it is no more of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by way of promise.” (Galatians 3:17-18)

This was the struggle between some Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. Paul emphasized the promise through faith, not works. Some Gentiles conceded, being deceived by the false teachings by the credentials of these false teachers. And even today there are churches which require works for salvation. I will not mention any but you will recognize them by the hoops people have to go through to receive the promise of salvation. Some of these denominations do not even ensure salvation if certain works are not performed.

Let’s talk about works because I am not saying we should not have works. But I am stating clearly that works do not save us. Works are the product of our faith in Jesus and His work of salvation. They are the product of the born-again new nature and the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Works are the product of the character of Christ in us. Works are the proof of our faith. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6) It’s the reason for being. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) If we have faith and no works, we are deceiving ourselves. Works naturally will flow out of our faith. “My brothers, what profit is it if a man says he has faith and does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and if one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them those things which are needful to the body, what good is it? Even so, if it does not have works, faith is dead, being by itself.” (James 2:14-17) Abraham believed on the promise. The proof of his faith was that he was willing to sacrifice his son, believing that God was faithful in His promise. “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Do you see how faith worked with his works, and from the works faith was made complete?” (James 2:21-22)

To summarize, we receive the promise just like Abraham did, through faith, believing without doubting in God’s undeserved gift and not through anything we may do.

Let us pray:

Father God, I thank You for Your gift of salvation. I thank You Father that Jesus completed the Law which no man could keep. But Jesus did. I thank You that it’s accounted to me and to an unimaginable number of believers. I am so grateful that Your promise is for all mankind, Jew and Gentile because I am part of that mankind. I thank You Lord that You opened the eyes of my understanding so I could understand the Gospel. Thank You, Lord, for Your grace that although undeserved, You offered it to me and gave me new life. Now Lord, help me to prove my faith in the works You have prepared for me that You may be glorified in everything by all who see these good works. I pray Lord that they will not see me but You working in me and through me. Be glorified my Lord. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.