So, are we saved by grace, by fruit, or by repentance? Actually I am not concerned which can really save or which can save better.
If we want to be very precise, we might end up arguing that some are saved by God, some are saved by Jesus, some by the Holy Spirit, some by the Bible, by His commandments, by His words, by faith, by blood, by good opinion of Him, .. and etc. Of course, we may debate and find out who (or what) has really saved us, but at the end of the day, we must always keep in mind that our motives must be pure. A true preacher of God do not preach grace revolution at the expense of other important doctrine or by putting down others who preach repentance. Neither do we argue vainly just to prove that Jesus is more important than God or vice versa (or God is more important than Jesus). If our motive or fruit shows that we only create confusion or revolution so that we can secretly capitalize on it to falsely accuse those who do not believe like us or believe in our (radical, evasive, lascivious, insidious, deceitful, snaky, confusing, intimidating, and misleading) doctrine, our revolution is in vain. A true preacher of God will only preach simple, strait-to-the point, and clear doctrine based on the principle, law, and commandment of God and Jesus Christ:
Joh 14:10-21 KJV Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. .. (21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ..
2Co 11:3-4 KJV But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel ..
Many insist that only grace can save. They insist that they have believed and defined grace correctly and precisely as unearned, undeserved, and unmerited favours. I will tell them, Yes, I agree that grace can save and I have no problem about the definition. But, what's the point to believe and preach it correctly when you have forgotten why grace is given? GRACE IS GIVEN FOR SINNERS TO REPENT. If all your believers and followers would think that grace is given only for them to feel less condemned, to feel loved, to feel less stressful, to be healed, to be more favoured, to be more successful, to prosper, ... and many other reasons, do you think that they know that they must repent? No, instead of repentance, they will just want to feel less condemned or less stressful. If they will just do so, can grace save?
We are truly saved by grace only if we bear fruit in repentance through Christ
I will say, Yes, we are saved by grace to bear fruit in repentance through Christ. However, there are preachers who argue that we are saved by grace only and full stop. Some would even emphasize the FULL STOP. For some known or unknown reasons, they do not want to preach, explain, or mention anything other than grace in God's salvation plan.
However, the Bible shows us clearly that we are saved only if there is the grace of God AND repentance from us:
1. The grace of God has been given and made available to every sinner (but not every sinner will repent). Only those who repent will be saved; they are the ones who obey and do it in God's way. Grace HAS BEEN GIVEN to all the sinners two thousand years ago.
Luk 13:8-9 KJV 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.
Hence, the sinners today do not need to repent so that grace will be given again. They will just REPENT TO BE SAVED now.
2. Repentance must be done by men. However, if all the sinners who receive grace refuse to repent, they are still not saved. Hence, the grace of God that they have received cannot save them, unless they repent.
Luk 13:5 KJV I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Jesus has said clearly that they were saved only if they repented. He will say that to us too (not because He does not love us; but because He came to call sinners to repentance). Yes, the sinners are saved by grace, but the believers who are saved must still abide in His words, or else they become the dead branches. Hence, the sinners cannot bear fruit. But after they are saved by grace, they become the believers who must have fruit which indicates or shows that they have repented; or else they become the dead branches too.
What is fruit?
Jesus said that He is the true Vine, the Father is the Vinedresser (John 15:1), and we are the branches, and hence, we must bear fruit. What is the fruit? Although we are not saved by the fruit, the fruit is the natural evidence that we are saved and that we are still abiding in grace, in Him, or in the true Vine. Without the fruit, we are the dead branches in God's eyes.
The fruit is not just the thoughts which are quite abstract. It could be something 'small' (or not visible) which is initially translated or grown from the thoughts of our minds, for example:
Gal 5:22 KJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith ..
Eph 5:8-11 KJV For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
But the 'small' fruit (or the fruit which is not very visible) should grow and mature into something more visible or tangible in the form of obvious good behaviours, actions, and good works; or else it cannot be called 'good' fruit or 'much' fruit.
So, what can we say if the churches would do much fruit, focus on the fruit, and teach much fruit too? We can never say that they are the law churches. It is because they can show evidence that they abide in Him and in His words. Do we get suspicious of them if they still teach and do many laws, commandments, instructions, do's and don'ts, spiritual principles, and foundational doctrine of Christ? No, certainly not. All those laws, works, efforts, and doings could be fruit because of their abiding in the words of God or in the vine. It should be clear to everyone to know if the churches have the fruit of the law or the fruit of the Spirit. If they do not abide in the words of Jesus Christ, whatever they do or preach is the fruit of the law; but if the words or commandments of Christ are in their hearts, whatever they do or preach is the fruit of the Spirit. So, you may now judge, If the churches have preached and done many good works by abiding in His words or commandments, how can they be the law churches?
When we have the fruit, it shows that we walk in the law and Spirit of God
I have just mentioned about the fruit of the law and the fruit of the Spirit. They are the opposite of one another. To make it clearer, I will differentiate it by saying that the works (or the fruit) of the law and the fruit of the Spirit are from two different laws. Actually Paul is the one who explained it clearly. Paul had explained that there is a fight or war between the two different laws - one in his mind and the Spirit; the other in his flesh and sin:
Rom 7:21-25 KJV I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) 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.
Obviously there are two laws:
1. one law is the law of God or the law of the Spirit in Paul's mind, and he made it quite clear to us that the spiritual mind must be subject to the law of God or the law of Spirit in Rom 8:7;
2. the other law is the law of the flesh or law of sin in his members or body, and it was such a struggle that he would thank God when he found the solution in Christ. But how ? He said it clearly that it solved the problem because he believed in the law of God which is also the law of the Spirit:
Rom 7:25 KJV 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. (8:1-8) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Do you know that Rom 8:1 cannot be a standalone Bible verse because of the word 'therefore'. It must refer to whatever that is said earlier to explain why is there 'therefore' no condemnation? It is because in Rom 7:25 Paul had become settled in his mind to serve God with the law of God or the law of the Spirit; but in his flesh the law of sin and death. It does not mean that he gave in to the lust of his flesh; it means that he would let the law of sin and death take only his flesh which he would crucify on the cross in Christ.
Rom 8:3-4 KJV For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
So, THEREFORE (that's why) there is no condemnation now (to him and to those in Christ who walk not after flesh, but after the Spirit.
The law of God is the Spirit of God - to walk in righteousness
It means that the law of God or the Spirit of God is not to walk in sins, but to walk in righteousness, do good, and stop sinning. This law does not save us, but it is the law which must be present in the believers who are in Christ. It is the law and Spirit of God, and the Word, who came in the flesh, which brings the fruit in those who believe.
I must say this now, Many churches cannot bear fruit today, not because they are the law churches or because they do not want to abide in Christ, but because they have listened to the wrong spirit - it is not the spirit of violence or terrorism; it is the spirit of fruitlessness (Mat 7:20-23), lawlessness (Mat 7:20-23), and foolishness (Mat 25:1-13). I have explained it in K101, but now I know that there is one more spirit which still working furiously against the words of God in the end time - it is called the spirit of deceitfulness. It may not kill the believers physically; it 'kills' the fruit. It 'kills' spiritually. It tries to 'kill' the words of God in the believers:
Mar 4:18-20 KJV And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, (19) And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (20) And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Why did I say that the spirit of deceitfulness will 'kill' the words in the believers; and not the sinners? The sinners can never bear fruit. Only the believers who have the word can abide in Him and bear fruit, and hence, it is a clear warning to all the believers; not the sinners, to bear fruit.
What is abiding in Him?
I will ask some radical grace preachers, Is it just thinking of Him or having good opinion about Him? No, Jesus said it clearly, that we must do what He said; or else, we cannot be truly saved. Did Jesus explain what is abiding in Him? Yes:
Joh 15:6 KJV If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:10-14 KJV If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love .. (14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:22-23 KJV If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. (23) He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
Jesus has explained it very clearly. Abiding in Him means doing His words, commandments, or doctrine. If any preachers today still preach or believe that all or some of the Lord's teachings have become obsolete (replaced by 'new doctrine' or by the 'gospel that Paul preached'), it is hard for me to believe that they are still abiding in His words! They could be the 'antiChrist', not because they preach against Christ, but because they preach like another 'Christ' (to replace the words of Christ):
1Jn 2:18-19 KJV Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (19) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
They do not confess that Jesus or the Word came in the flesh because they do not want to abide in His words. They will unknowingly create many 'antiChrist' doctrines which replace the words of Christ and deceive us that Jesus or the Word did not come in the flesh to teach us anything, and therefore, we must listen only to their 'ding dong bell' doctrine which is confusing and misleading. But, unknowingly, their doctrine is quite similar to what Jesus teaches; they have only stolen it from Christ and labelled it as their new revelation, new grace revolution, or new hyper grace doctrine. I do not want to judge if they are saved or not. I will just tell them, The words of Jesus or The Words of God are still necessary for us to abide in Him. The Words are not obsolete: Luk 13:5 KJV I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. It is still not too late to repent.
Are the sinners saved by grace, repentance, or repentance works?
Jesus has given us many clear parables or examples of how sinners repented. In the following Bible verses, all of them (eg. the prodigal son, Zacchaeus, and the sheep) did show repentance works or fruits:
Luk 15:17-19 KJV And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (18) I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, (19) And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luk 19:8-9 KJV 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.
Mat 25:34-37 KJV Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, .. (35) For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: (36) Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Do we preach, 'Grace saves us' or 'we are saved by grace' ?
Of course, Jesus did not say that the sinners or believers above were saved by their works; neither did He say that they were saved without doing any work too. Hence, those works which they did may not save them; but their repentance which produced those works might save them. "Why?" Many would ask, "How can you say that repentance can save when Paul said that grace can save?"
I have searched the Bible and I can say that Paul did not say that grace can save too. He did say that we are saved by grace. Of course, there is a difference when we said "Grace saves (us)" or "we are saved by grace":
1. Grace can save - When we said, "Grace can save, grace is more 'aggressive' in saving us. It CAN save irrespective of whether we can repent or not. If grace can really save irrespective of whether we repent or rebel, grace would be God, it could be more powerful than God, and everyone will be saved whether we like it or not. If Grace can save everyone aggressively and grace is better than God, then there will be no more hell for any sinners. But this is impossible.
2. We are saved by grace - But when we are saved by grace, grace is in the passive role of our salvation. In another words, we could be saved by grace (because of something or after something was done). I would say that we are saved by grace because of the goodness of God AND He would still accept us if we repent. Hence, we are saved by grace after we have repented.
Many will argue, "Why did you say that it is impossible? Jesus said, With men it is impossible; but with God all things are possible (Mat 19:26) ? Everything in Christ is yes and amen (2Co 1:20); everything is possible, including the salvation of every rich man, every carnal man, or every sinner. There are more sinners saved in heaven than sinners condemned in hell. It is possible to have an 'empty' hell .. haha .. praise the Lord !"
I will tell them, Please do not argue out of Bible context. When Jesus said it was 'possible' for the rich to be saved in Mat 19:26, He did not say that there is no hell for any sinner or rich man. When He said 'with God all things are possible', He simply meant that there is the possibility for all things to happen in both ways. Do you know that Jesus has also confirmed, in another parable, that there was hell for the sinner or rich men who did not repent (Luk 16:20-31) ?
I love to believe that there is no more hell; however, I hate to believe it if it is a lie. Please do not preach it just because we love it; preach it because it is what Jesus preached, please.
What is the true gospel that Jesus preached?
Is it grace and full stop? Or grace and much fruit and more fruits ? However, many still argue, "No, we interpret it differently. You said that we are saved by grace (because of something or after something was done). Yes, we are saved by grace; but it is all because of Him. But, after His finished work has done everything for us, we just do NOTHING to be saved."
I will tell them, Yes, it sounds very logical to you from the way you understand, analyse, and dissect the meaning of 'pure grace', 'radical grace', or 'hyper grace'. But, if you read all the teaching and doctrine of Christ, this type of grace is non-existent in the gospel and the parable of Jesus Christ. You may argue it from Paul's perspective. But even Paul would still preach about the believer's part in the gospel of salvation or the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is called the gospel of grace because it is given by grace (by God) and because we can still be saved (by the grace of God), but it does not mean 'pure grace' which has no more repentance works (by men) or no more righteous walk (in obedience to the commandments of God). Yes, I agree that Paul did focus on the grace (which can only be given by God); however, he mentioned much more in his teaching about the repentance works (by men) and the believer's obedience (to God's words and commandments) too. How can we dispute ?
Many will still argue, "You said that we must repent before we are saved? But Jesus forgave the adulterous woman before she repented. Joh 8:11 KJV .. Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
I will tell them, Since you quoted the Bible verse, I will show you another Bible verse: Joh 5:14 KJV Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
However, can we conclude from these Bible verses that God MUST FORGIVE before (or after) we repent? No, we can only conclude that all sinners MUST REPENT and sin no more whether it is after grace or before grace.
The true gospel of Jesus Christ would not teach the sinner to ask for grace; but to repent
Many may claim that they can teach .., they are teachers .., or they are God's preachers .., but how many can really teach? Although I dare not boast to be a good teacher, I know some basic teaching principles. For example, good teachers will never tell their students to ask for grace or think of grace when they are late; good teachers will ALWAYS tell the students to COME PUNCTUALLY - this is common sense and the most fundamental principle in the schools even though most of them are gracious and would give some grace allowance for slight unpunctuality. If the worldly teachers can teach the basic principles correctly in the schools, it would be a shame for God's preachers to miss all their fundamental principle or doctrine in Christ. The teachers in the schools would not teach the students to ask for grace or to expect grace, neither would Jesus tell us to ask for grace or to think of grace in His fundamental doctrine too. The teachers in the schools will just ask the students to come punctually; but Jesus calls the sinners to repentance. Hence, it is an utter shame for God's preachers not to know God's fundamental principles for the believers (Heb 6 must be read as the continuation after Heb 5). It is impossible to ask the sinners, believers, or preachers, who were fallen to repent again if they would only want grace without repentance (after they have known or 'tasted' the wonderful truth about the words and the grace of God):
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. (6:1-6) 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, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit. (4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (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.
Sinners who truly repent will not ask and argue for grace
Because of irresponsible teachers or preachers, many late students and sinners today could have forgotten that grace or grace allowance is given for them to change and become a better student or a mature person who can produce 'fruit' in the society or in the kingdom of God. However, instead of understanding this basic principle and behave like a student, many try to act like they are the teachers. They try to reason with the teachers on why they should be treated with special care, privilege, favour, or grace for being late. Well, we know that many students may come up with very good reasons and principles on their rights and entitlement, but it can never take away the fact that they are the students, they were late, and they should NEVER ARGUE for it. Most of them realise that they can never get what they want if the argue. Grace is not just something given to them to continue to behave as though they deserve it if they are late. Hence, GRACE WILL NOT BE GIVEN if they expect it, ask for it, or argue for it.
Similarly, grace will not be given to the sinners or believers if they behave like the students who argue for it. Grace is not just something given to the sinners to continue to behave as though they are the 'kings'. It is not just something given to them to help them to feel less condemned if they do not repent too. It is not given to prosper them. The grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ is given only for one purpose - it is given to ALL the sinners; only the sinners who repent, change, and bear fruits will really respond to grace. If the sinners or believers would just want grace, refuse to repent, or find all kinds of excuses not to repent, NO MORE GRACE WILL BE GIVEN to them. This is not only common sense; this is also the fundamental principle of the doctrine of repentance or the doctrine of Christ.
If the argument for more grace without the humility to repent or to confess sins is the main basic principle of the 'hyper grace' doctrine, it is not the grace of God
Jud 1:4 KJV 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.
Over the years, the grace of God has been slowly, subtly, cleverly, and deceitfully defined, twisted, abused, perverted, and replaced by a 'different sets of flavours or favours'. That kinds of 'flavours or favours' is not the grace of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. But many are still trying to explain their own version of grace without the humility to repent or sincerity to turn away from their sins. They still keep saying that they are very humble or humbled by grace. So, how do we know that they have no humility to repent? We know it from 'the way they argue again and again for grace' which is similar to the behaviour of those students who have no humility to admit wrong.
However, all the believers in the early church knew that they must repent, do good, and obey the commandments of God, and it was too fundamental to teach it again and again. Hence, I find that it is a shame for us to write so much to explain why a believers who is saved by grace must still do good and have good works today. It is because there are too many 'believers' who still want to argue against doing good and keeping God's commandments. Why do they keep arguing that "they are not saved by works or repentance; but by grace"? I am afraid the real motive or reason behind is not because they want the true and honest belief in the doctrine of Christ or in every word of Christ; but only the consolation, excuse, or false assurance that they can be saved without doing any work or repentance in Christ. If that is so, we can still say to them, That is not safe, unless they repent.
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