THE PURE GRACE DOCTRINE

Atty. Adriel B. Gran

Is there such a thing as Pure Grace teaching? Who taught about it and in what basis should be such teaching?

Pure grace- is there such a thing? Who taught about it and in what basis should be such teaching? A Philippine missionary to Africa once wrote about the absence of such term “pure grace” stating that grace is always pure no matter what. He even suggested that the most appropriate term would be “fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:4).

The writer might be stressing a good point there in the light of what the God-given grace as a dispensation and as a provision for salvation is concern, but short if we mean the believer’s standing in the teaching of the doctrine of God’s grace.

Yes, God’s given grace is always pure! That’s why we call it “Pure Grace”, no question about that. But, is it not also true that there are those, who wanted to be called “grace believers” yet love to mix doctrines either deliberately or ignorantly with the old law, human traditions, and even the amended truths within the dispensation of grace? Are they not making the grace doctrine “mixed”, “corrupted” or “adulterated”?

BUILDING THE GRACE CHURCH:

When we say “pure grace”, we are referring it to the teachings of the pure grace doctrines of the apostle Paul and not to the God-given grace. We did this because as his ministers, we are cautioned to behave well in the church.

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).

The Body of Christ is likened to God’s habitation being “all building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple (Eph. 2:21-22).

As its members, we are told to build it in accordance with the prescription laid down by the master builder.

“According to the grace of God which is given me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon” (1 Cor. 3:10).

The apostle of the gentiles (Rom. 11:13) merely laid down the foundation of the church for its members to build. This will continue until its completion vis-à-vis “the fullness of the gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:25).

What if a member- saved by grace, builds on it materials not intended for such a building? Could it strengthen the entire construction? That could be the reason why Paul said, “Take heed”.

Paul confronted the same problem during a grace crisis in Galatia. Though he told the believers there that the Lord Jesus Christ had already given himself for their sins, and that they had received the Spirit, and was given liberty (Gal. 5:13), they were still reminded no to be “entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1).

The real problem was about grace believers walking under the auspices of the law. Although they have “begun in the spirit, they wanted to be made perfect by the flesh” (Gal. 3:3).

NOT UNDER THE LAW:

Apostle Paul was cautious about the pureness of grace doctrine. He said, “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (gal. 6:9).

A mixture of little law, traditions and other fables with grace teachings corrupt the pure grace message, which was kept and preserved by God through the apostle Paul.

We should rather adhere to his distinctive message for the edification of the church, the Body of Christ.

As often quoted, we are not under the law.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14).

So why teach doctrines pertaining to the dispensation of law for the application in this age of grace?

APPLYING PRINCIPLES:

Unperturbed by our actions, most of us today entrenched our belief that we could still get principles from the teachings of the past dispensations for our present application. “Only the principles, not the doctrines”, they say. But, is that what the bible teaches?

Ironically, however, the Hebrew people- after the casting away of the nation Israel, were told to leave (not apply) the elementary principles of the doctrines of Christ.

“Therefore LEAVING THE PRINCIPLES of the doctrines of Christ, let us go on unto perfection: NOT LAYING AGAIN the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on the hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Heb. 6:1-2).

What were told to be left are the “principles of the doctrines of Christ”, which most workers are eager to collate and apply for our present teaching.

The above passage is candid enough to show that embracing those “principles” would contravene with the position of the Holy Scriptures.

Now, how come that we won’t budge at our stand on this “principle” issue? Are we following sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3), or just the long accepted tradition (Col. 2:8)?

It must be noted, however, that leaving the principles of the doctrines is limited only to some dispensational doctrines, such as the manner of salvation and the walk of believers, among others. It did not touch on doctrines about the personality of the Godhead, for they are always immutable.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever…I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (Heb. 13:8; Rev. 1:8).

What is interesting is that, the kind of teaching a believer has in relation to the reception of the old truths, or principles gauged his spirituality and maturity before God.

“But if ye are led of the spirit, ye are not under the law…For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God (Gal. 5:18; Rom. 8:14).

A spirit-led and mature grace believer then is one, who adhered to the pure grace doctrine and allowed not himself to be muddled with the past principles and traditions of men.

THE GRACE PATTERN:

Apostle Paul was known for his sanguinity. His writing speaks much of himself for best describes who he really was. His strong personality, being a former Pharisee and an avid student of the law must have goaded his firm conviction of the grace doctrine.

When he said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1), he meant there to follow everything he told us.

“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions…” (2Tim. 3:10, 11).

He did not give any order or any hint whatsoever to glean some “principles” in the past dispensations for our teaching, exhortation or admonition today because the teaching of grace is sufficiently abounding for our learning.

The apostle Paul is straightforward enough to set himself the pattern of our doctrine. He stressed this for he was the first to have obtained it directly from Christ.

“howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that IN ME FIRST Jesus Christ might shew forth all suffering, FOR A PATTERN to them which to life everlasting’ (1 Tim. 1:16).

No doubt, Paul was the dispenser of grace.

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit” (Eph. 3:2-5).

Thus, he worked, stove, and labored for it according to God’s enablement.

“Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Col. 1:29).

PRESSING STATEMENTS:

The following pressing statements of the apostle Paul must be considered by us to come towards purity in grace doctrine.

“As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they TEACH NO OTHER DOCTRINE” (1 Tim. 1:3).

So, what doctrine are we going to teach? He goes on to say, “according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, WHICH WAS COMMITTED TO MY TRUST” (1 Tim. 1:11).

When he wrote the Philippians, he has these things to say,
“Those things, which ye have both LEARNED, and RECEIVED, and HEARD, and SEEN IN ME DO: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:9).

He also penned the same urging when he confided the young Timothy for the ministry.
“And the things that thou hast HEARD OF ME among many witnesses, THE SAME commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

The above passages must be the bases of our teaching and preaching. We were not told to get “principles” from other dispensations. Instead, he encouraged us to duplicate and teach the grace doctrine, which he directly received from Christ.

The problem is that, some of us are not contented with the teaching and explanation of the apostle Paul. We wanted to strengthen grace by mixing it with other doctrines.

It is indeed true that terms such as “corrupted grace”, “mixed grace”, or “adulterated grace” were not mentioned by him– in letter, during the grace crisis in Galatia or from any of Paul’s other epistles. However, in spirit, the not mentioning of the same cannot disprove the existence of its proliferation in the church today.

SINCERE PREACHING:

The apostle Paul, in brushing aside corruption in the grace teachings told Corinthian believers,

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:17).

Paul was sincere with his teachings. Sincere in the since that his teachings were not taken from any man.

“But I certify you, brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither I was taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:11-12).

He further told believers that he was doing well in the ministry, and did not resort to any craftiness in teaching.

“But have renounced the hidded things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God’ (2 Cor. 4:2).

“Pure grace” could be taught by anybody, who would cast his faith in subservient to the pure grace teachings of the apostle Paul.

We must therefore “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Studying God’s word rightly divided is the most essential in understanding the doctrines of Christ for this present age of grace. Let us, therefore, take into consideration the change of Paul’s presentation of Christ in his teachings.

“Wherefore henceforth know we know man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet NOW henceforth know we him NO MORE” (2 Cor. 5:16).

This is very important, for us not to be found lacking “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ ACCORDING TO MY (Paul’s) GOSPEL” (Rom. 2:16).

When a Christian taught about a mixture of “law and grace”, “tradition and grace”, or even a “fable and grace”, we could not help but state that he is teaching a “corrupted grace”, a “mixed grace”, or an “adulterated grace”. In other words, he is not a minister of “pure grace”, bringing with him the pure message of grace.


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For more information, please contact:

Pure Grace Ministries

E-mail: pgmadriel@yahoo.com.ph

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