Fake Grace or Real Grace?
Which Grace Did You Receive?
There are two kinds of grace but only one is authentic, the other is fake. First, there is God’s grace that saves, keeps, teaches, empowers, and connects us to God’s divine nature where we grow and mature in Christ. This is authentic grace. Secondly, there is a fake version of grace masquerading as God’s grace. It is a counterfeit religious grace that masks the reality of God’s authentic grace.
Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel (Jn. 16:7-11) about the ministry of the Holy Spirit coming into the world to convince us that we are sinners. Upon realizing that we are totally in the wrong, we repent and turn to God as the Spirit releases God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness into our hearts through faith.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
We understand God’s grace to be His unearned undeserved favor that makes salvation available to all who repent and confess Christ as Lord and Savior. Moreover, God’s grace continues in an active role assisting us beyond salvation as we begin to grow in the grace and knowledge of God. The Apostle Paul tells us in Titus chapter 2:
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14)
Grace teaches or mentors us to reject ungodly behavior and fleshly passions and how to live a self-controlled life. Grace actively supports us as we mature in Christ. His grace sufficiently and abundantly provides us with a highly favored relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who has promised to never forsake us. Grace gives us access to God’s presence. It keeps us through every shortcoming and failure. God’s grace is continuous and does not waiver. Grace is God’s consistent attitude toward us. Remember, God is for us (Rom. 8:31), assisting and empowering us to grow toward maturity through His divine favor—grace. Through God’s divine power and grace, we become participants connected to God’s divine nature.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
God’s grace creates in us the desire or eagerness to please Him and live righteous holy lives which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit stimulated by God’s grace. Our only standing with God is His amazing grace that came in the person of His Son who made possible this redeeming loving grace and our salvation. God’s grace activates a passionate desire to be Christlike in every thought, word, and deed. Through God’s grace and His Holy Spirit, we experience the divine nature of God in our inner beings. Words cannot adequately explain this miraculous connection because it is a supernatural experience.
When we wake up from the darkness of sin, God’s grace and mercy guide us into the light of repentance and salvation. Let us never forget that His grace (undeserved favor and assistance) provokes us to enter into His presence with confidence.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16)
There is a throne of grace, not condemnation, available. We are urged to draw near God’s presence with confidence in Him who loves us, who is for us, who died for us, who fights our battles, who empowers us, who gives us wisdom, knowledge, faith, mercy, grace, strength, and healing. It is in God’s marvelous infinite matchless grace we find life, peace, forgiveness, and eternal life. I feel like shouting thank you, Jesus!
Contrary to God’s grace we find the great deceiver, Satan, who has schemed to provide the religious community with a fake grace that is powerless and has no effect on saving, teaching, and assisting its believers. This phony grace is a flawed belief system void of an active ongoing experience with God’s authentic grace. This fake grace seems to be more of a profession of belief in God without actually knowing and experiencing salvation. It is a dead grace that neither requires nor provides anything for those who are under its’ spell. It is upon this group of religious folks, vast in numbers, the prophetic words of Jesus will come to pass.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Mat. 7:21-23)
Which grace did you receive? It really does matter.
How to Turn to God
Perhaps at this very moment, you have realized that you need the Lord in your life. Maybe you drifted away or need to be born again? If so, you can stop right now and begin talking to God. Ask Him to forgive you for being a sinner and for the life you have been living outside of His love. Surrender your life to Him, unconditionally. Call Him Lord and make Him Lord of every thought, attitude, and action. You can say, Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins and come into my heart and take full control of my life. I am your child from this day forward. Change my heart and mind to be Christ-like in every way. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior forever.
You may also want to read: Once Saved Always Saved
