Wednesday 14 March 2012

Why can't radical grace save ?

Radical grace is radical because people want it more radically. Do they want it more because they want to be more gracious or more holy ? Perhaps. Some are honest to tell us that they want it more because they want to be more prosperous. However, we know that the majority want it more not because they want to repent more, but because they do not want to repent any more. Why? It's because:
  1. They do not want to repent in the future 
  2. They do not want to confess any sins in the future
  3. They believe in over-payment or over-consumption of their sins by Jesus' sacrifice
  4. They believe in auto-mode repentance without any 'self-effort'
  5. They believe that as Jesus is sinless, so are they
  6. They believe that as Jesus died once and for all, so can they repent once and for all too
Hence, when they sin, they will not feel any need to repent any more and would still feel much better and less condemned. Hence, when they know that you are a radical grace preacher, they will lift you up.

Why sound doctrine can save?
They would always argue radically and blindly. They will say, "If radical grace cannot save, do you mean sound doctrine can save, repentance can save, or the law can save? Hence, those who are against radical grace are against grace. They are the law preachers.."
I will tell them, We are not against grace. We love grace but hate radical grace. Why ? It's because radical grace teach people to think radically and blindly. Yes, grace can save, so can sound doctrine, repentance, God's commandments, God's words, the Bible, God, Holy Spirit, and Jesus .. If they cannot save, who can save?
1Ti 4:16 KJV  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2Ti 4:2-3 KJV  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (3)  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Act 17:30-34 KJV  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  (31)  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  (32)  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.  (33)  So Paul departed from among them.  (34)  Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
The people did not accept Paul's message, mocked at him, and did not get salvation, not just because they rejected resurrection but also because they rejected repentance. Radical grace preachers will still argue, "Oh, you have misunderstood us. We did not say that sound doctrine, repentance, and God's commandments cannot save. We mean we cannot depend on good works or self-effort to obtain our salvation. Hence, God's laws or any other cannot save except God's grace ..." I will tell them,  Of course, we will not dispute that we are saved by grace. But it does not mean that we can therefore stop preaching sound doctrine, repentance, God's commandments, God's words, the Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God's warnings. On the contrary, we need to preach them all the more. Why? Grace comes from them and from the preaching of them. If we do not preach them, we could be preaching 'another grace', our own 'radical grace', or a 'grace' which is not from God. Hence,how can we say that only the preaching of grace can save; all others cannot save ?
  1. God's warning - Heb 10:26-29 KJV  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,..  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
  2. God's warning - Act 20:27-32 KJV  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  (28)  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  (29)  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  (30)  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  (31)  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  (32)  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 
I know that you may not like to agree with me, but do you agree that there is grace from God's warnings above. I have just shown you that grace can come from God's warnings or commandments too. In fact, we are more certain that it is the word of His grace when there is God's warnings. I rest my case.



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