What is the most obvious difference between true grace and false grace?

There are many differences between true grace and false grace. I don't think I want to repeat all those radical grace promises which are false, radical, controversial, and non-scriptural. Yes, radical grace today has managed to escape the detection of most churches because most of the radical grace or hyper grace preachers could quote many Bible verses to justify why they must preach grace radically, like it is license to sin, until everyone misunderstood them. Yes, radical grace has really become so confusing that everyone, including the radical grace preachers themselves and their followers, cannot tell the difference between the grace of God and the license to sin (lawlessness) now. Hence, it is not easy to take them to task for preaching grace or license to sin (lawlessness) today. It is not my purpose to repeat what I've known about the teaching and thinking of lawlessness in radical grace philosophies and convict them either. I write this just to remind ourselves to stay focused and know the main difference should we have forgotten the error of the lawless that is found in most of the radical grace beliefs.

The main difference: Find out what does the true grace teach?
Ok, back to the main point: What is the main difference between true grace and false grace ? I will summarize the main difference into two sentences:

• Radical grace is generally preached to the believers (not the sinners) to do nothing, whilst
• True grace is always preached by the Lord and the Apostles to do more in obedience to God's words, God's doctrine, and God's commandments.

True grace would teach us to do and teach more godly living
The following Bible verses tell us that the grace of God would teach us to do more, instead of doing nothing:

• Luk 13:5-9 KJV  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  (7)  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  (8)  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  (9)  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
• Tit 2:1-15 KJV But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: .. (7) In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, .. (10) Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.  (11)  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ..  (15)  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 

These Bible verses are telling us to do more, teach more, and preach more with grace. Hence, I don't understand why radical grace preachers can promise the believers that grace would teach no more doing or good works in Christ. Isn't is clear that Paul told us to do more good works, teach more sound doctrine, and live more godly lives? When Paul said, These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority in (v15), he did not mean that we should speak deceitfully or evasively. He told us to teach these things with the authority of God (or the rods of God). Of course, we don't have to teach the laws of God in commandment style like 'No1. Thou shalt do this.. No.2 Thou shalt do that ..". However, we can preach God's words without hypocrisy or lots of beating around the bush. Sound doctrine does not have to give people the good feeling; it must give people the good foundation in God's words.

Hence, the true grace of God would always have sound doctrine and teaching of doing more in the Lord instead of doing nothing in the Lord. If we find that the teaching of grace by a certain preacher is in the opposite direction of doing more, we know that he is not preaching the grace of God.


Law demands, grace supplies? But does grace demand too? 
Next, what does it mean if we agree that the teaching of grace would always have the teaching of sound doctrine? It simply means that teaching of grace will never reject the teaching of God's laws and commandments. Why do I say so? Please think, How do we know that the teaching or the preaching of God's words is sound doctrine from God? It must be based on the clear instructions from the words of God, and clear instructions from the words of God are always God's laws and commandments. That's why I would never accept the definition of grace as purely based on the words of God which has no more God's laws and commandments. The grace of God is not just effortless belief, mind changing philosophy, or teaching of doing nothingness as defined by the radical grace preachers.
Many radical grace preachers argued, "But law demands; grace supplies. This should be the Biblical foundation of grace teaching for the believers. It means that anything which is from God under grace must be received by the believers in grace. Anything more or less is self-effort.." I will ask them, Law demands? And grace supplies? What are your trying to prove? I won't find this teaching from the Lord in the Bible. If you agree that Paul told us that grace would teach us to do and teach more godly living, you would agree that grace can be quite demanding too. But does it mean that if we find it too demanding, it can never be the grace of God? I think that it is ridiculous. If it is true that grace cannot be too demanding, all the sinners and the lawless who think that Paul's command (for us to speak and exhort with sound doctrine and grace) is too demanding would have problem preaching it honestly. They would just twist Paul's words in Tit 2:1-15 and lie that Paul's teaching of grace has no more law, no more sound doctrine, no more instruction for godly living, and no more demand for good works. Hence, I find that the way radical grace preachers about God's laws and God's grace is confusing. The motive behind the preaching of 'law demands Grace supplies'  could be their hidden hatred against all the words of God which have God's commands for them to repent to do and teach godly living.


Do we preach grace or just the definition of grace?
They will still argue, "Do you know the definition of grace? Grace is something which is received without doing or working for it. It is unearned, undeserved, and unmerited favor.." I will tell them, Yes, I know. I agree. I have no problem with the definition of grace. But the problem is: we are not arguing about the definition of grace; the problem is: what do we preach with grace? It's because what we preach or teach with grace will determine if we are preaching the true grace of God:

• 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.

I don't think Peter, Paul, or even Jesus Himself had given us the definition of grace, although they preached grace. Peter said that he had written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that it is the true grace of God. He had not defined grace either, but he knew that he had preached the true grace of God by writing, exhorting, and testifying about it. What did he write, exhort, or testified in his letter? Hence, we need to read what he had written or testified earlier (in 1 Peter 4) too:

• 1Pe 4:1-11 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.  (7)  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.  (8)  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.  (9)  Use hospitality one to another without grudging.  (10)  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (11) If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Peter did not define what is grace; he preached grace. He preached the manifold grace or true grace of God. Of course, Peter and every man knew that the grace of God is a gift; it cannot be earned or deserved by our works:

• 1Pe 4:10 KJV  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Hence, Peter did not define grace for everyone; but he did write, exhort, testify, teach, and preach the grace of God. He knew that everyone (the sinners) has received grace. If we preach or speak of the manifold grace of God, we ought to preach grace as God's preachers who know, minister, teach, and exhort one another with words and oracles of God.
Was Peter a grace preacher? I don't see any reason we can deny it. He received the most grace having denied Christ for three times, he preached the manifold and true grace of God, he is saved by grace under the New Covenant, he is the apostle who holds the key of Christ, and most important of all, his letters are still considered the brief utterance and oracles of God. 




Do we preach the gospel that Peter preached or Paul preached?
Those who argue vehemently that we CAN ONLY preach 'the gospel that Paul preached' and that we must condemn or mock at the other Apostles have one very clear undivided motive: They want to divide the body of Christ with their heretical view on the 'gospel of grace' or the 'gospel that Paul preached'. They are thinking carnally like the believers of the Corinthian church. They will divide the body of Christ with their canal philosophies or revolutions. I will ask them,  Do you think that you are better because you can preach like John (or the disciple whom Jesus loved)? Do you boast and preach that you have more grace just because you believe or preach like Paul or John? Yes, of course, I do believe that we should preach like Paul or John. But it would be too radical and hypocritical if we just want to compare and boast that we are better because we can preach like Paul or John. We are not preaching grace or 'doing grace' if we become so puffed up that we think that we can condemn all other believers, who do and teach the laws of God, or those who do not preach or think like us:

• 1Co 1:11-13 KJV  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.  (12)  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas (Peter); and I of Christ.  (13)  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
• Mat 18:32-33 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?

Hence, I don't think it is acceptable for us to use one tiny part of the scripture, gospel, or letter to condemn the whole scripture too. it can never be God's will for us to use the teaching of 'radical grace' to condemn all His laws and commandments too. If we do that we will lose our garment and face the sharpest rebuke of the Lord from the sword His mouth. 

• 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...  (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:
• Mat 22:11-14 KJV  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  (12)  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  (13)  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (14)  For many are called, but few are chosen.
• Rev 1:16 KJV  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Rev 19:15 KJV  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
• Act 20:28-31 KJV  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.

I will tell them, Before you make ridiculous or radical guarantee to all the sinners and believers that none of you can fall or die, please study the Bible thoroughly. If the Lord and Paul would still warn the believers who are purchased by the blood that they can lose their garment, lose their call, or lose their salvation, it would be unwise for you to accuse all God's preachers or repentance preachers who preach God's warnings as condemnation preachers or negative preachers. I don't like to make comparison, but if you would always boast about your radical grace, compare against others, mock at them, and argue, "Paul or Peter? Radical grace or God's commandments? Which is greater? Who will win?", I can certainly tell you without the slightest doubt or shame, "God's words and His sword !"



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