PART FOUR: THE GRACE OF GOD

If we do not always keep our understanding of grace related to the person and work of Jesus Christ, we may tend to view grace in the abstract or impersonally. If this happens, there will be a shift in focus toward ourselves rather than Christ. We will be preoccupied with what is on our shoulders not on Christ's. Even if we define grace as God's enabling power, though the power is seen as from God the onus of responsibility is on ourselves in that case.

Relating to grace abstractly in this manner also may lead to statements like this: "Some are teaching that grace covers all manner of human sinfulness for the entirely of one's existence. And this encourages people to indulge their sin rather than repent of it and lead a life of obedience to Christ."  We must begin by saying once more: Grace is not an abstract idea; it has to do with Christ. This way of speaking of grace tends to make us overlook or forget that the view that "grace covers sin" is derived from the effect of the Blood of Christ in making atonement for sin. Instead of talking merely about notions pertaining to grace, what one needs to do here is examine what the Bible says about the atonement of Christ. For example, does the Blood of Christ cover or account for all our sin or just past sin? If it only covers past sin, what are the conditions under which future sins are covered?    

Some people are defining grace as God's enabling power within for the believer and speaking of forgiveness of sins as a separate matter. That is, the latter is not being regarded as part of grace. It seems that grace as an enabling power is being presented such that it is the only understanding of grace. But this is too narrow an understanding of grace. Grace includes forgiveness of sins.