The three essential principles which cannot co-exist with grace. Principles which hinder and frustrate the principle of pure grace are set aside in this dispensation for the sole purpose that grace may prevail unrecompensed, uncomplicated, and uncompromised. The divine removal of every opposing principle to pure grace is not only natural, but necessary, if the supreme divine purpose of this dispensation is the manifestation of grace and that purpose is to be realized.
1. Any Trace of Human Sin.
GOD must be free to exercise grace without the slightest limitation because of human sin and unworthiness; for grace would no longer be grace if its benefits are withheld from the sinner in the least degree because of sin. Grace can only be exercised where every question of unworthiness has been banished forever.
This GOD has accomplished in the Cross, and for the purpose that His supreme manifestation of grace may be realized unto infinite perfection. The Lamb of GOD has taken away the sin of the world (John 1:29), and GOD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isa. 53; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). By these and many other Scriptures it is revealed that the grace-opposing principle of sin and unworthiness has been removed from before the eyes of GOD for all men. Thus, and only thus, could divine grace be exercised toward all men. But since GOD through the cross-work of CHRIST has, in the absolute sense, dealt with the sin of the whole world with finality, He is now free by the exercise of grace, in the absolute sense, to lavish its riches upon the chief of sinners without reservation and limitation (I Timothy 1:15).
Divine grace thus awaited on divine justice to be satisfied; for only as the last demand of infinite righteousness against sin has been paid can divine grace be exercised (Romans 3:24-25). There can be no admixture of these principles wherein divine justice is partly satisfied and to such an extent GOD is partly free to act in grace. Every trace of unworthiness must be removed before GOD can exercise grace. The operations of divine grace can never overlap or share in any aspect of the operations of divine justice; but when divine justice has finished its work and abandoned the field forever, divine grace is free to occupy the field alone in the full blaze of its infinite glory .
Thus grace now “reigns through righteousness”; but it is grace alone that reigns (Romans 5:15-21). A righteous throne of awful justice, wrath, and blasting judgments has become “a throne of grace.” Such is the marvel of GOD’s infinite grace. Such is the good news which is to be proclaimed to a ruined world; for it is grace alone that is now offered to hell-deserving sinners. Only by the absolute removal of the condemnation of all sin could the way be made clear for the absolute manifestation of the grace of GOD.
2. Any Involvement of Human Obligation.
No more can grace remain grace, if by its benefits there is created and imposed the slightest obligation for payment. Grace is purely unrecompensed kindness. Its riches must be bestowed and received only on the ground that it is a free gift. “I give unto them eternal life, “and “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (John 10:28; Romans 6:23).
In order that the field might be absolutely clear for the manifestation of uncomplicated divine grace, GOD has perfectly eliminated every work of man – past, present, and future – from the terms of salvation by grace: “not of works, lest any man should boast”; and, “if by grace, it is no more works”; “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted [reckoned] for righteousness”; “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.
Man must take salvation as a gift. He need only to believe in order to be saved. The complete setting aside of human obligation as payment for divine blessings is the only ground upon which GOD can be free to act in unlimited divine grace toward sinners; but every human work and obligation is now set aside, and pure grace is offered to all men in the Gospel of the grace of GOD (Acts 20:24).
3. Any Recognition of Human Merit.
This third opposing principle to divine grace has been disannulled by the fact that humanity is now stripped of every conceivable merit before GOD.
As has been stated, revelation concerning the present relation of fallen man to GOD goes far beyond a disclosure of the fact that man is a sinner both by nature and by practice. This of itself would be a sufficient cause for condemnation; but, beyond all this, GOD has now pronounced an all-inclusive, judicial, condemning sentence on the whole race, both Jew and Gentile (Rom. 3:9; 3:22-23; Gal. 3:22). By this universal sentence every individual has been reduced to the lowest level, so far as human merit before GOD is concerned.
In the affairs of men, there is a legitimate field in which they may compare themselves one with another as to relative moral character and action; but such comparison is now completely eliminated from all divine estimations of unregenerate men. This important fact is one of the characterizing features of this dispensation and forms an essential factor in the present supreme purpose of GOD in which He purposes to manifest His grace.
The following Scriptures disclose this present universal decree of divine judgment against all men, and in considering them it is important to note that this universal judgment is not a mere estimation of the various degrees of human guilt; it is an arbitrary leveling of every human being to a basis which is absolutely without merit or standing before GOD.
“For we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin” (Romans 3:9); “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” (Galatians 3:22); “For God hath concluded them all [Jew and Gentile] in unbelief [disobedience] that he might have mercy upon all” (Romans 11:32); “That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” which indicates that man is a sinner by practice; but it is a far deeper revelation that all, by judicial sentence, are under “sin” and “unbelief” and are all now equally “guilty” before GOD. Sin is a universal leveling of all humanity. But through the substitutionary death of CHRIST for all men as Sin-Bearer (John 1:29; II Corinthians 5:14, 19), the ground of universal divine condemnation is no longer the sins which men have committed and which CHRIST has borne; but rather the condemnation is now because of the personal rejection of the Saviour who bore the sin.
This essential fact must stand, – that GOD holds men as condemned, or not condemned, on the sole basis of a personal rejection, or acceptance, of all that is revealed in the Gospel of His grace.
This is set forth in His Word:
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18);
“Of sin, because they believe not on me” (John 16; 9).
“He that believeth on him is not condemned” (John 3:I8. cf 5:24; Romans 5:1; I Corinthians 1:32; II Corinthians 5:19).
“whosoever believeth in Him should not perish” (John 3:16)
The conclusion to be derived from this investigation into the present standing of man before GOD is that he is universally “condemned,” “under sin,” and reckoned to be in “unbelief.” This divine declaration permits of no variations or gradations. It represents the very lowest level of standing before GOD to which it is possible for any human being to descend, and all unregenerate men are now placed on that level.
At this point GOD offers but one remedy. That remedy is Jesus Christ (the grace of God that bringeth salvation). Men are either “under sin,” or “under grace.” – Romans 6:14-15
The following Scriptures unfold the limitless character of His grace:
“And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for [added to, or heaped upon] grace” (John 1:16);
“Abundance [superabundance] of grace” (Romans 5:17);
“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (super abound. Romans 5:20);
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (super abound. Romans 6:1);
“And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding [above measure] grace of God in you” (II Corinthians 9:14);
“The abundant [more than enough] grace” (II Corinthians 4:15).
“Exceeding riches of His grace” (Eph. 2:7)
“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 1:14
Grace flow upon grace, super-abounding, and without measure, is the description given of the limitless outflow of divine favor. The grace of GOD belongs to the realm of the infinite. His measureless love and goodness are released from every restraint. They are unshackled and free. The supreme divine objective is then, that infinite love may manifest itself in super-abounding grace. His love is knowledge surpassing, infinite, and eternal. So, also, is His grace.
Evangelist Rodgie Quirante
The Workman’s Treasure Study Series