It is the grace of God because it is written in the Bible for us:
- 1Pe 5:10-12 KJV But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (11) To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (12) By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
The true grace of God is the grace that we know through the teaching and the words of Jesus
They will argue, "Why do you think that Peter had preached the true grace of God just because he wrote "this is the true grace of God" in 1Pe 5:12 ? No, only Paul could preach the true grace of God because he was the chosen Apostle, the chief of all sinners, to preach abundant grace or radical grace (1Ti 1:15). The rest of the disciples had not really preached grace; they preached repentance and remission of sins. Since Peter was rebuked by Paul for being a hypocrite with the law believing Jews (Gal 2:11-14), Peter was least likely the Apostle to have preached grace. Hence, we are saved by the gospel that Paul preached, not the gospel that Peter preached or anyone else preached .. "
I will tell them, Ok, you do have a point. But, are you saying that Jesus had never preached grace too ? Do you conclude that just because Jesus had never mentioned the word 'grace' in His preaching ? Don't you think that remission of sins or forgiveness of sins is considered as grace too ? If Jesus and all His disciples had preached the forgiveness of sins, they would have preached the gospel of grace too, even though they might not have mentioned the word 'grace' or 'unmerited favour' in their preaching. Don't you think that Jesus had preached grace when He preached the parable of the Prodigal son ? How about the servant who was forgiven but was ungracious to his fellowservant in Mat 18:32-34 ? He received grace too. Zacchaeus, Lazarus the beggar, the Samaritan woman at the well, the servant of the centurion, the adulterous woman accused by the Pharisees, the publican in Luke 18, the thief, the blind, the lame, the lepers, and many others had received grace too. Although all these people did not hear Jesus preaching 'grace, grace', they received 'grace' or 'unmerited favours' after Jesus had preached repentance for about three years (Mat 4:17-18, Mar 1:15-16). The ministry of Jesus has shown us that the sinners can still receive grace without the preaching of grace. However, Paul had to preach grace to the Jews because, the Jews, unlike the sinners, had been taught by the Pharisees that they were saved under "the law" or by the works of "the law". Their laws would frustrate the grace of God because the Jews and the sinners under their law would never repent and receive grace.
The true grace of God that Paul preached must come from the words of God too
I will tell them, If you do not believe the true grace of God that is preached by Peter in 1 Pet 5:10-12 from the written words of God, I can go with you to Paul's letters and find out what is the true grace that Paul preached. Let us go to any Bible verses that you think Paul had preached "radical grace", "abundant grace", or "pure grace" now. However, after searching for the words, I could only find "abundant grace" from the following Bible verses:
- 1Ti 1:14-19 KJV And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (15) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (16) Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (17) Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (18) This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; (19) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
- 2Co 12:6-10 KJV For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. (7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: 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.
The true grace of God that Paul preached was patterned to show true humility
The true grace of God that Paul preached was:
- humble and non-revealing (v6 - not performed like a showmanship)
- self-constraint and non-radical (v7 - not puffed up because of the abundance of revelation)
- contented and non-boastful (v9 - not shameful to confess any weaknesses, infirmities, or sins)
The true grace of God that Paul preached was fashioned with the mind of Christ
They will say, "Why do you argue laboriously like the Pharisees who stuck closely to their law and fashion? Yes, Paul may have preached grace in a pattern you think it is right. However, that pattern was driven by a higher law which came from his motive. His motive was to turn the wrath of God from the people by preaching grace. Hence, if our motive is to turn the wrath of God from the people by preaching grace, we are preaching the true grace of God too. You must have misunderstood us or falsely accused us .."
I will tell them, You said that we have preached like the Pharisees because we have argued laboriously in the same manner or fashion like that of the Pharisees. However, have you forgotten how you had argued laboriously and radically about your 'radical grace' or 'pure grace' in your gospel revolution too. If you have raised much controversies and confusion to the churches, you are now in no position to complain that we have argued too much in reply to all your radical doctrines and oxymoron arguments against the others.
I will tell them, Ok, since you believe that there is a pattern or fashion in the preaching of grace, you should know what kind of pattern we should follow. Of course, it is a known pattern, not a free pattern or any pattern governed merely by our motives or desires. It must be governed by the words of God. If the words of God have given us very clear pattern or fashion on the preaching of the gospel and we have stuck closely to it, how can you say that we have preached or argued like the Pharisees:
- Php 2:1-22 KJV If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: .. (12) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. ..
- Rom 7:24-25 KJV O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
- 1Co 2:15-16 KJV But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (Have we asked, Why he that is spiritual can judge all things ? It is because of the mind of Christ. But how can a person know that he has the mind of Christ ? Is it by thinking of Jesus Christ day and night only ? No, it is by having God's laws in his mind by obeying and keeping all the words of Christ. And hence, the mind of Christ will teach him to know all things and judge all things.)
- Heb 8:10-11 KJV For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (That's why when we have God's laws in our mind, we have the mind of Christ. When we have the mind of Christ, we can judge all things, know all things, and discern all things. Heb 5:13-14 KJV For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.)
- 1Pe 1:13 KJV Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (you need the right mind for the grace of God)
- 1Pe 4:1-6 KJV Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (2) That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (3) For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: (4) Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: (5) Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. (6) For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (I will ask them, Are these Bible verses for you ? Yes, you can't deny it. Life is not effortless if there is still the struggle of sins in flesh. You will still suffer in the flesh if you would still resist sins and temptations with the mind of Christ. But, the moment you give up, you will not suffer in the flesh any more. You may think that you have made it with a better 'grace' or a more effortless gospel. But you could have actually departed from the mind of Christ and preached a different gospel.)
We cannot turn the wrath of God based on our motives or our preaching
I will tell them, You said, "We have preached the true grace of God because we have preached with the motive to turn the wrath of God from the people. Hence, if our motive is right, all our preaching should be right also .."
Yes, you would be a perfect man's preacher if you have such a noble motive, but you may not be a God's preacher at all. There are many 'good' preachers in the world, who are faithful husbands of one wife, responsible fathers with disciplined children, popular keynote speakers of many good Christian seminars, and notable ministers of many charitable organisations. I do not doubt on any of their good motives to contribute, to love, and to share with their communities. However, I would question them, If they would say that all their doings and motives is to turn the wrath of God from the people. I will tell them, You cannot turn the wrath of God by doing, saying, or preaching your own things based on your motives. You must find out what God wants you to preach. If God wants you to preach His love or His grace, I have no problem with that. But if you preach it as something which replaces the voice of God, the call of the Lord, or the conviction of the Holy Spirit for men to repent, you are not turning the wrath of God from the people; you are only blinding the people from seeing the wrath of God that may come in the future. You can never turn the future wrath of God from men if they do not know repentance or hear repentance now. Jesus preached repentance as the gospel, so did all the Apostles and the disciples of Jesus Christ. Please think twice, If you cannot turn the wrath of God from the people, you would turn the wrath of God upon yourselves. Why ? It's because you are the preacher. You have greater responsibility to help the people.
- Mat 3:7-8 KJV But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
What will turn the wrath of God from a sinner ?
What will turn the wrath of God from a sinner ? Is it the gospel of Jesus Christ or his repentance ? Of course, we should not preach one to replace the other. The gospel of Jesus Christ would not turn the wrath of God from ALL the hearers or the sinners. It will turn the wrath of God only if they will hear, repent, believe, and do the words of the gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ is the gospel, not because it prospers all the hearers or sinners but because it is the gospel which will turn the wrath of God from them. To turn the wrath of God, we don't just preach grace, love, peace, security, prosperity, glory, self-control, contentment, and many good things. Of course, we can preach all these good things because they are all in the Bible. But we do not preach the good things to turn the wrath of God or to replace the Bible verses which point people to repent and turn to life. We must find out what Jesus said when He pointed the sinners to the kingdom of heaven and life. He did not say, "Christianity is just about hearing or knowing grace, love, joy, peace, or prosperity. Preach only these good things as the gospel !" No, instead, He pointed the sinners to God's commandments and the preaching of repentance. He showed us that God's words and commandments are life and the gospel to the sinners:
- Mat 19:16-17 KJV And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? (17) And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
- Joh 6:63 KJV It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
- Rev 22:12-16 KJV And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (13) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (14) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (15) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (16) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
- Mat 4:17-23 KJV From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand .. (23) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. .. Mat 9:12-13 KJV But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. (13) But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
- Luk 24:46-48 KJV And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And ye are witnesses of these things.
Jesus would point people to know their sins, to know their sins, or to know that they are sinners
Of course, when Jesus pointed the sinners and the Jews to their sins or to their sin conscience, He did not point them to wrath and condemnation; Jesus pointed them to sin conscience to repent and to repentance and repentance would turn the wrath of God from them:
- Luk 13:2-3 KJV And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? (3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
- Mat 5:20-21 KJV For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (21) Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: (Jesus did not say that we should be as righteous as the Pharisees, but He said we should be more righteous than the Pharisees who were hypocrites. In another words, 1. All the Jews must still repent even though they thought that they were as righteous as the Pharisees, 2. All of us, who are now in Christ should never follow the deceivableness of unrighteousness (2Th 2:10) that is in the Pharisees or hypocrites too.)
- Mar 1:14-15 KJV Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
- Rom 2:2-9 KJV .. (2) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? (4) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (5) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (6) Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (8) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
- Eph 5:5-8 KJV For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
- 1Th 1:5-10 KJV For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (6) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (7) So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. (8) For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. (9) For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (10) And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
- 1Th 5:3-9 KJV For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. .. (6) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. .. (9) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Rom 5:8-9 KJV But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
- Luk 19:7-10 KJV And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. (8) And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (9) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- Joh 10:3-11 KJV To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (4) And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ..(10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
- Mat 13:18-19 KJV Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. (19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
- Luk 8:9-12 KJV And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? (10) And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. (11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (12) Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
The goodness of God might not lead all people to repentance
They will argue, "Why do we still preach repentance ? Didn't we read that the goodness of God would lead us to repentance in Rom 2:4? Hence, if we preach the goodness of God, it will automatically lead the sinners to repentance. Without the preaching of repentance, the goodness of God and the glory of God would be magnified so much so that the sinners couldn't help repenting."
I will tell them, This is not true. You have quoted Rom 2:2-4 out of its Bible context again. Paul gave a strict warning to the Romans who knew that the goodness of God should lead them to repentance and repentance would turn the wrath of God. But if they despised the riches of God and continued to do what they did, God's judgement would surely come even though they might know the goodness of God:
- Rom 2:1-9 KJV .. (2) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? (4) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (5) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (6) Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (8) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Secondly, Paul did not say that we should preach only the goodness of God that repentance may come. On the contrary, Paul preached that true repentance must be there, in spite of knowing God's goodness.
Thirdly, we don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that most of the people today do not just know; but they believe, the goodness of God. Please let me know if there are still religions who say that God is bad. Hence, most sinners of different religions do know and believe the goodness of God. But how many of them know that they are sinners who need to repent and believe in the name of Jesus Christ ? Hence, the goodness of God alone will not lead them to repentance.
- Mat 5:44-45 KJV But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
- Luk 24:45-48 KJV Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (46) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And ye are witnesses of these things.
- Act 20:16-21 KJV For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, .. (18) And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, .. (20) And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, (21) Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ... Act 26:19-20 KJV Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: (20) But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
- Heb 6:1-6 KJV Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, .. (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Some of you may argue, Why must we preach repentance AND remission of sins ? Why can't we just preach remission of sins or forgiveness of sins ? I will ask them, Does it make sense to just repent or to change your mind without knowing what you are repenting from ? No. Similarly it would be ridiculous to tell people that they can receive any kind of remission or forgiveness without telling them about the remission of what?. Hence, there are two type of repentance preached by the churches today: one type would show people why they need to repent; the other type would just tell them to repent or change your mind because they need to believe
- Repentance from sins and lawlessness - Those who have such repentance will repent as sinners and knows that they must practise repentance as a lifestyle.
- Repentance to believe in 'lawlessness' - Those who have such repentance will repent as radical grace believers and think that they are too righteous to confess any sins and do anything; Repentance to them is only changing their mind from their unbelief to believing more prosperity and to thinking of 'no more laws'. If this were true, the Pharisees would have all 'repented' because of their belief in the promises, favours, and goodness of God too. However, God did not accept them:
- Mat 3:5-10 KJV Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, (6) And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (9) And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (10) And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.Luk 18:11-14 KJV The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Jas 2:19 KJV Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
We should not hide the wrath of God with lies or radical grace
We should not hide the wrath of God with lies or radical grace if we cannot turn the wrath of God from all sinners. However, radical grace preachers always say that we should never preach the wrath of God or eternal judgement to any sinner or believer. They said that God told them not to do so in their dreams, in their visions, in their holidays, in their pianos, or in their lies. I will tell them, If God told you not to preach the truth, He was not God no matter how He spoke to you. He could be the inner 'voice' in you or your inner 'God' you worship but it is not the God of my Bible. My Bible tells me that God is the judge. Jesus will also be the judge when He comes back too. There will be wrath to come when they judge the world and those who believe not His call to repentance:
- Joh 3:36 KJV He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
- 1Th 1:9-10 KJV For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (10) And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
- 1Th 5:9 KJV For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Rev 11:18 KJV And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
- The gospel of Jesus Christ tells us that we are saved from the wrath of God, which will be poured out onto the sinners and the world in the end time. However, we are saved because we repent and believe.
- The gospel of Jesus Christ
tells us that we are saved
from the wrath of God, which will be poured out on the sinners and the world in the end time, because we can just 'change our mind' and believe.. Hence, wrath is deleted and will no longer be mentioned in the true gospel of Jesus Christ .. - The gospel of Jesus Christ tells us that we are saved because
God loves all sinners, murderers, thieves, hypocrites, and false
preachers, regardless of what they do and whether they will repent or
not. God is not offended by our sins or lies. God loves us too much to be offended even by our future sins, future
wrongdoings, future lies, or lawlessness .. Haha, no more wrath for us in the gospel of Jesus Christ ! We can never fall. Haha, we can never die .. we will prosper, we can fly, we will .., we will live like christs, like gods, like Adam, .. like the good old days (in the garden) !
Those who have unrepentant spirit will try to hide the wrath of God
I will tell them, Yes, if you hide the wrath of God or say that there is no more wrath, you may help many people to feel less condemned, but you may also have the hidden intention to make the repentance preaching of the Lord of none effect. Please think, If you argue vehemently that "there is no more wrath of God or no more preaching of wrath" to all the sinners, do you think there is still a need for you to preach salvation to them ? No. This is common sense. If there is no more wrath of God to everyone, everyone is saved. If everyone is saved and not under the wrath, what's the point of preaching salvation or repentance ? Everyone can still be saved by just hearing the 'prosperity gospel' too. Hence, telling the sinners that "there is no more wrath, no more judgement, no more commandments, no more our obedience for us, no more teaching of godly or moral instructions for our children, no more doing good for the believers, or no more .." is like telling the sinners today (and the sinners in Nineveth; and in Sodom and Gomorrha) that there is no more need to do repentance, keep God's commandments, or do anything, but just HEAR the 'radical grace' gospel ONLY (or just meditate on all the 'positive' Bible verses from their Facebook only). This reminds me of the Lord's warning again - It can never be the gospel of Jesus Christ:
- Mat 7:20-24 KJV Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
- Luk 6:46-48 KJV And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (47) Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: (48) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)
- Mat 13:23-25 KJV But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (24) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: (25) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
- Joh 14:23-25 KJV (23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (24) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (25) These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
- Mat 24:4-26 KJV And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. .. (10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (15) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) .. (23) Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (25) Behold, I have told you before. (26) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (False prophets may have blocked us from their secret 'chambers', 'podcast', 'chat rooms', or 'internet accounts', where they would boast that they are the 'christs', the 'very anointed', or the 'very favoured ones'; or that as Christ is, so are they. But not all God's elect will believe this nonsense.)
However, a true believer will not listen to your radical grace arguments, excuses, and lies. They will not just believe and do nothing. They will not just change their mind from thinking of unbelief to believing. They will not just change their mind from feeling condemned to feeling of no more condemnation without any conviction of the Holy Spirit (or the sin conscience) to repent from all their former dead works, lifestyle, thinking, and hidden sins. They will not just hide the wrath of God by trying to lie about their repentance and blaspheming the conviction of the Holy Spirit as the conviction of the devil and the condemnation from Satan. How do we know that some radical grace preachers do not have the real intention to repent or to preach repentance from sins or lawlessness ? We know that when they find all kinds of excuses and arguments:
- to mock at other repentance preachers
- to advise the sinners and believers to repent later. Zacchaeus did not only repent with his mind immediately but he also repented with his action too. Jesus immediately said, "This day is salvation come to this house" Luke 19:9. What does this Bible verse show us ? It shows us that Jesus would never tell the sinners to repent later at their own convenience.
- to encourage the sinners to delay repentance; but expect and demand for God's goodness now. Do you know that Jesus would preach eternal and irreversible judgement because He did not want the sinners to delay repentance ? He taught us that there was no turning back for the rich man and Lazarus who died (Luk 16:30); the moment they died, no amount of repentance will work.
- to reverse the order of repentance and forgiveness of sin. If the sinners are all confused about the order of repentance, I don't think there will be any sinners who will repent. This is common sense. Please think, If we rewrite the Bible so that the order of repentance in Act 2:38 and all other Bible verses are changed, what will happen ? eg. Act 2:38 KJV Then Peter said unto them, Be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and then repent ??, .. Everyone will just want to be baptized and forget about repentance, after they have been baptized.
- to belittle the importance of the doctrine of Christ on repentance
- to repent insincerely or casually by believing only or by changing their mind only
- to receive grace merely as their indemnity against the wrath of God (in the future) without any repentant spirit or humility (the servant in Matt 18 was a clear example of such radical behaviour and mentality) Mat 18:32-34 KJV Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: (33) Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. The servant above shows us that those who desire grace and receive grace may not have true repentance, whilst the publican in Luk 18:13-14 showed that those who have true repentance will always find grace. Now if you were a preacher, will you tell the sinners to focus on grace and think like the servant in Matt 18; or to focus on repentance instead and repent like the sinner in Luk 18 ? You decide, Which one will you preach: grace will lead to true repentance or true repentance will lead to grace ? If I were you I will decide on the later.
- to radically misinterpret all the Bible doctrine against unrepentant spirits as applicable only to the agnostics (eg. confession or admitting of sins (1 John 1:9), conviction of the Holy Spirit (Joh 16:8), warning against unrepentant spirits (Heb 6:4-6, Heb 10:26), warning against false liberty (2Pe 2:19-21), warning against license to sin (Jud 1:4), and warning against false doctrines (2Ti 4:2-3)).
- 2Ti 3:13-17 KJV But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
- 2Ti 4:1-5 KJV I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) 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; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
They will hide Bible verses from the believers and those who will believe
I will tell them, If 1 John 1:9 is not for us just because it was not written to us, many Bible verses would not be for us too because there were many Bible verses which were written to the Romans, Jews, and Hebrews only. Hence, I am not surprised that they would use this kind of lies and excuses to convince many ignorant people that confessing of sins in the Lord's prayer and the teaching of the Lord is not for them too:
- Luk 11:1-4 KJV And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (2) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (3) Give us day by day our daily bread. (4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
- Mat 5:1-3 KJV And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: (2) And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, (3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ... (Matt 6:6) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (7) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
- 1Jn 1:7-10 KJV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (John said, If we do not confess or admit our sins, the blood of Jesus Christ cannot cleanse us. Hence, we would be lying if we preached that we can never sin or can never have sin.)
- 1Jn 2:1-6 KJV My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (3) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (John said, He wrote these thing so that the believers sin not. However, they sin, they will still be cleansed if they confess their sins. It is ridiculous to think that John would write to the agnostics that they sin not. Do you know what ? The agnostics would not be bothered to listen to John and keep God's commandments. Obviously John wrote to the believers !)
- 1Jn 2:22-24 KJV Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (23) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (24) Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
- 2Jn 1:7-12 KJV For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (12) Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. (False prophets would convince many that they can never be the antichrist just because they have always confessed Jesus as their Lord, as the centre of their lives, and as God who came in the flesh. However, we know that it is just their ways of deceiving the believer. We know that they would never tell you that the antichrist is also a former believer who is now a 'lawless' believer that confess not that the Word or God's commandment has come in the flesh (See my explanation of antichrist in my previous post here).
The gospel which does not give the full picture may not be the true gospel
I have heard radical grace believers who said, "We are interested only in the positive grace teaching of God's words, such as radical grace or the grace revolution. No more condemnation, please. It's because today no one would be interested to hear the 'badnews' any more. If we preach the negative things, we are not preaching the 'Goodnews' or the gospel of Jesus Christ; we are preaching the 'badnews' and condemnation. However, my Bible tells me that those who preach condemnation against the gospel of grace would be doubly cursed:
- Gal 1:6-9 KJV I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
- Jud 1:3-4 KJV Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude said that believing or preaching the wrong grace to people will affect their salvation.)
When a preacher preaches only the 'positive' side of the gospel and makes it appear even more positive by 'deleting' all the Bible passages which contain the words "wrath of God" or by 'blocking' others from preaching the wrath of God, he reminded me of the way most radical grace preachers would block their blogs, internet websites, forums, or facebook accounts from receiving any negative comments, except the positive comments from their own fans and friends. Does it ring a bell to you ? Yes, their websites may be very 'positive' with tons of positive comments, praises, songs, jokes, videos, or testimonies, but they do not present the full picture or true picture. If they do not present the full picture or true picture of their websites, neither will they present the full picture or the true picture of the gospel.
The true gospel which gives the full picture of the gospel must embrace all the important principles of the doctrine of Christ
Today we have many preachers who want to preach the glorious salvation or the gospel which can save more 'positively'. We can easily classify them into 3 main categories based on what they preach:
- Those who preach and tell people to believe ONLY and be saved because of these Bible verses which tell them to believe only: Act 15:11-12 KJV But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (12) Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Act 16:29-31 KJV Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, (30) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Rom 10:9-10 KJV That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
- Those who preach and tell people to call the name of the Lord ONLY and be saved because of these Bible verses which tell them to call only: Act 2:21 KJV And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10:13-14 KJV For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
- Those who preach and tell people to be baptised ONLY and be saved because of these Bible verses which tell them to do so only: Mar 16:15-16 KJV And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Act 2:38-42 KJV Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. .. (41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Act 10:47-48 KJV Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. .. Act 11:15-16 KJV And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. (16) Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Act 22:16 KJV And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Gal 3:25-27 KJV But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
- Now I will ask them, If we are saved by believing only, calling the name of the Lord only, or being baptised only, does it mean that I should also preach and tell people to repent ONLY and they will be saved because of the following Bible verses too ? Act 11:18 KJV When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 2Co 7:10-11 KJV For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. (11) For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
- whether there is the word 'and' in the same Bible verse orOtherwise, we are not helping the people to see the full picture. Now, does it make sense why we said that the true gospel is the gospel which will give people the full picture and true picture ? Of course, we do this, not because we want to find fault with all the lazy or slothful preachers; but because we want to save people with the true gospel and full gospel. This is not finding fault; but finding truth in the doctrine of Christ:
- whether there are other Bible verses, above it, below it, in other chapters, or in other parts of the Bible.
- Mar 1:14-15 KJV Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
- Act 19:4-7 KJV Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
- (6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (7) And all the men were about twelve.
- Rom 5:9 KJV Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
- Gal 3:25-27 KJV But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
- 1Th 1:10 KJV And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
- Heb 5:12-14 KJV For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (6:1-3) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation:
- of repentance from dead works,
- and of faith toward God,
- (2) Of the doctrine
- of baptisms,
- and of laying on of hands, (of the ministries of healing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit)
- and of resurrection of the dead,
- and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit.
- 2Jn 1:7-12 KJV For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (12) Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. (The antichrist is also a former believer who is now a 'lawless' believer that confess not that the Word or God's commandment has come in the flesh (See my explanation of antichrist in my previous post here).
True repentance preachers may sometimes give much demanding repentance doctrine
They will argue, "Why must we bring out so many laws, principles, and doctrine which put people under the bondage of law-conscious 'obedience' ? However, under grace, we are free. We have no more law and doctrine; we have only Jesus. Why can't we just simplify it for everyone ? Don't you think that 'believe in grace' and 'do nothing' is the best doctrine ? Grace is better than doctrine. Grace is God. Grace is Jesus Christ. However, many legalistic people would tell you to follow many laws and doctrines .. They think that the more they do, the more they will become perfect. No, it is just their Old Testament mentality .."
I will tell them, We have to pay attention to more Bible verses which explain God's doctrine and salvation, not because we are more perfect or we like to create many legalistic, rational, and unnecessary demanding rules for the people; but because there are many different type of people and sinners in the world. Some of the people may need to see things differently before they can see the need to repent and believe God. Many of us may have misunderstood John the Baptist as a 'fire and brimstone' preacher who was legalistic and angry at the people because of his much demanding repentance message and condemnation against the Pharisees. However, I would think that John the Baptist was one of the meekest and greatest preachers on earth who had the most compassion and love for the sinners; he preached true repentance, and risking his own life, he preached it boldly with the perfect wisdom of God:
- Mat 3:7 KJV But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ...
Luk 3:2-15 KJV Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. (3) And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; .. (6) And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (7) Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. .. (10) And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? (11) He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. (12) Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? (13) And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. (14) And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. (15) And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
Obviously, preacher who always deny the Lord's calling and twist it to their own advantage and teach it deceitfully to hide or suppress their sin conscience to repent could be on the road to perdition:
- 2Th 2:1-17 KJV Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. (7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (13) But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (16) Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, (17) Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
The gospel which blocks all others from speaking may not be the true gospel
They will argue, "You are very unreasonable. You have not experienced spam comments from your critics and opponents yet. So, you would never understand our situation. There are too many people who are jealous of our grace message. Hence, they would spam our websites beyond 'recognition', to release their frustration and anger on our websites. You would find that only the law believers or law Pharisees would do such despicable things. But you would never find the grace people who would do such things on your websites. Hence, I don't find any wrong to delete the spam messages and make good what we have posted for the convenience of our grace readers .."
I will tell them, Firstly, of course, we can block spam and those who spam; but that does not mean that we should block all others or silent everyone who disagrees with us.
Secondly, if I do not receive much criticism or many comments, it does not mean that I have no critic or opponent. I do not receive much criticism because I would try to answer every genuine criticism and help them to see the full picture or true picture. Hence, those who just want to spam or criticise unreasonably would think twice before they would spam. However, I would never need to block or erase genuine comment or reasonable criticism even if they may appear to be negative to me. It is because I believe that all of us including our readers can learn from our critics and opponents. We don't have to 'erase' them, 'terminate' them, or 'delete' them away. We can learn from our critics because we can see the full picture with their negative comments as long as they do not spam.
Similarly if God would want us to read His words, He would not hide the warnings of the existence of the false prophets too. He would not 'erase' the existence of all the false prophets or false doctrines too. He would not block all their comments or criticism just because they may appear to be negative against His words. As long as the false preachers do not 'spam' (or corrupt) His gospel, His New Covenant, or the Bible, God will not shut their mouths and prevent them from speaking to the end time rebellious generation. God will still allow them to speak, argue, and even say negative comments against His words, principles, and commandments. However, only those who belong to Him will see the full picture and the true picture in the last days. The true believers will hear, know, meditate, keep, compare, discern, and do His words:
- Mat 11:10-26 KJV .. (13) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. (14) And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. (15) He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (16) But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, (17) And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. (18) For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. (19) The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. (20) Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: (21) Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (22) But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. (23) And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (24) But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. (25) At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. (26) Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
- Mat 13:12-19 KJV For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. (13) Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (14) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: (15) For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (17) For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (18) Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. (19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side ...
The gospel without God's warning and judgement is not the true gospel of Jesus Christ
Hence, contrary to the belief of the radical grace preachers or those who believe that the gospel must be preached with only the positive words without condemnation of sins and judgement, the gospel of Jesus Christ is full of God's warnings eg. warnings against wrong hearing, wrong beliefs, wrong doctrines, and false preachers who preach lies.
- Mat 13:22-26 KJV He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (24) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: (25) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. (26) But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
- Mat 7:15-24 KJV Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? .. (20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
- Luk 6:46-48 KJV And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (47) Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: (48) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)
- Mat 24:4-26 KJV And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. .. (10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (15) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:).. (23) Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (25) Behold, I have told you before. (26) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (This tells me that in the end time, preachers have the 'power of life and death'; they can save you or destroy you with their words. If you hear God's preachers, believe, and do the words of God, you will live; however, if you hear the wrong preachers, believe, and follow their 'lawless' teaching, you will suffer. I don't think Jesus would tell you that you can still have a 50-50 chance of survival if you hear and believe the false preachers. No, you will not be saved even if you think that you are still His disciples; He had spoken. I used to wonder why Jesus said that false christs would appear in the secret chambers (Mat 24:26). Later I realised that they are not ordinary preachers who made occasional mistakes in their preaching. Instead, they deliberately lies against the six fundamental principles of the doctrine of Christ in a certain 'platform' (secret chambers), but they would preach and declare sound doctrine in the open platform (desert). This explains why many God's elect could not discern that they are the false prophets.)
False preachers could turn the grace of God into licentiousness
However, many of them would still lie and argue vehemently, "No, grace can never be turned into licentiousness or license to sin. Those who give such warning are liars. If you tell me that you have more faith to believe in the sins and condemnation of the people, I will tell you that I have more faith to believe in the grace of God or the goodness of God. And the goodness of God will lead people to repentance without us preaching any warning, judgement, or condemnation of sins."
I will ask them, Who is the liar ? The one who preach God's warning against lies or the one who preach against God's warning ? How can we lie if we tell you that the Bible has given us such warning clearly. In the whole epistle of Jude alone, we can see clearly how God's warning has been brought to our remembrance by Jude himself, Enoch, and the Apostles. They all wrote, preached, prophesied, and told that there would be mockers, ungodly sinners, and false preachers who will come preaching a different grace (or gospel) and argue with us. That's why Jude said it was needful for him to exhort us, to preach, and to remind us of the warning so that we will earnestly contend for the faith:
The Epistle of Jude
Jud 1:1-19 KJV (1) Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: .. (3) Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
a warning from Jude
(5) I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord,
- having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
- (6) And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
- (7) Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
- (8) Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. (9) Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. (10) But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
- (11) Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (12) These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (13) Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
a warning from Enoch
(14) And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (15) To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (16) These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
a warning from the ApostlesHowever, if we insist that all the believers are saved and sound, and they should not be reminded of these warnings or condemnation to those who pervert God's words and turn the grace of God into licentiousness, we could be showing the believers that Jude's warning is redundant, thereby making the words of God of none effect too. We would be making the warning of Jude, prophecy of Enoch, and all the Apostles' teaching of none effect too. We would have denied Christ and the words of Christ too ..
(17) But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; (18) How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. (19) These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
God gave us a better grace covenant, not because it has no more laws, but because it has better laws
They will say, "You have been talking about the true grace of God from the Lord's perspective which is mostly from the teaching of repentance. We are tired of hearing repentance and we will not dispute with repentance. However, if we look from Paul's perspective, true grace of God is pure grace which has no more law. It should be 'lawless' in the positive sense. No more law means no more judgement. When there is no more judgement, we are all saved and forever saved. Isn't this a better gospel and a more powerful gospel revolution. Long before the Israelites received the laws when they were in the wilderness, they were the most heart-hardened and stiff-necked people in the world. They always complained, murmured, rebelled, worshipped idols, and lived in all kinds of immoral sexual sins, but God was very merciful to them. None of them died or were judged. Instead, God always gave what they desired while they were yet rebellious sinners. Why ? It's because they were living in a type of 'grace'. But the moment they told Moses, "We want to have more laws. We can obey God's commandments, we can do this.. and that ..". That's why God said, "Ok, do you all want to boast in the law ? Good, if this is what you want; Nah, these are the ten commandments. Ok, I will see how well you can obey the commandments. But I can predict how badly you all will fail and be destroyed by the laws, haha." That's why God destroyed 3000 of them at the foot of mount Sinai the moment they broke just one law by worshipping the golden calf. No grace and mercy for them this time. This shows us that giving people the laws and commandments is not God's solution.
I will tell them, If God were to give the ten commandments to the Israelites with such an intention, He was not a good God; he was a evil God. Please read your Bible properly or choose a Bible translation that speak more clearly to you. But my Bible is clear enough to tell me that God did not give the ten commandments because they asked for the commandments, loved to obey many laws, or boasted about their ability to obey the laws. On the contrary, God gave them the commandments before their asking for it or without them asking for it. And God gave them the commandments with the intention see them as a peculiar people or obedient people:
- Exo 19:3-20 KJV And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; (4) Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. (5) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (6) And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (7) And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. (8) And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. .. (20) And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up .. Exo 20:1-4 KJV And God spake all these words, saying, (2) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: ...
- Firstly I don't think Exo 19:8 tells us that the people were boasting and asking for God's commandments. They were just replying to Moses who told them that God was going to give them His commandments.
- Secondly, Exo 19:5 shows us that God gave them His commandments with the intention see them as a peculiar people or obedient people. He did not give them the commandments with the intention to see how they would fail.
- Thirdly, you said that the Israelites were under a kind of 'grace' or 'lawlessness' which worked well initially for them. I would 'bet' to differ. They had already failed terribly when they were under that kind of 'grace' or 'lawlessness' before the laws were given (because they still murmured and worship idols). That kind of 'grace' did not solve their problem at all. That's why God had to give them the ten commandments. When they still failed after receiving the ten commandments, that should not prove that the ten commandments had failed. It only proved that the ten commandments could not solve their problem. The real problem was not because of the ten commandments or the laws of God. The problem was because of the sinful nature of mankind. By now, we should know that God has prepared a better covenant, not because it has no more laws, but because it has better laws and commandments than the ten commandments which were written on stones. God's laws and commandments are now written on our hearts and mind instead. When the Bible says, this is a better covenant, it does indeed tells us that this is better because of God's laws and commandments and that this is the still God's 'solution' and covenant for mankind.
- 2Co 3:2-7 KJV Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: (3) Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (4) And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: (5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (6) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (7) But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
- Heb 8:6-12 KJV But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (7) For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. (8) For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: (9) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. (10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
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