The Great Truths OF Biblical Free GraceThe Free Grace Bible Institute of PENNSYLVANIA, USA presents The Great Truths OF Biblical Free Grace From Confusion to Clarity A Summary Seminar Teaching Series Pastor-Teacher David Pearson There are four main doctrinal categorical issues that are confused in the Church today that must be clarified for believers to think clearly about what the Bible teaches on these related subjects. This overview study will carefully consider what the Bible teaches on these four issues in order to clarify the confusion. There is power in the biblical Free Grace message because it draws out key principles from God’s Word rather than reading them into God’s Word. Completion of this short course earns two credit hours in the Free Grace Bible Institute.
Before you begin……
If you do not know for sure about where you will spend eternity, the first issue for you is to place your faith alone in Christ alone and receive eternal life.
John 6:47 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
John 5:24 (NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
John 3:36 (NKJV) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
To believe is simply this: to be convinced that it is true. To believe in Jesus is to be convinced that it is true that He alone is the only one who can give you the gift of eternal life. Eternal life, first and foremost, means that one lives with God forever after this life is ended. Jesus Christ, who is God come in human flesh, died on the cross as our substitute bearing the penalty for our sin. When a person knows they cannot qualify for eternal life through the good works of self-effort or the rituals of any church or religion, and when a person knows that eternal life comes from believing in Jesus alone for that life, at that moment they receive eternal life absolutely free. This life can never be lost for any reason.
If you have received the gift of eternal life through faith alone in Christ alone, then before you begin any Bible study you must be sure you in fellowship with God and filled with the Holy Spirit. The method for this is to simply follow 1 John 1:9:
1 John 1:9 (NASB) If we confess our [known] sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our [known] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [any other sins we fail to recognize as sin or have forgotten about].
Failure to be open and honest in naming and citing our sins means we cannot be transformed by Bible Doctrine and advance in the faith to spiritual maturity.
John 4:24 (NASB) "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Romans 12:1-2 (NASB) 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Enjoy your time in God’s Word!
The Church exists to evangelize unbelievers and to teach Bible Doctrine to believers.
1 Timothy 3:15 (NASB) but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
The church exists to hold up the truth of God’s Word, the Bible. It does this by the sharing and teaching of Bible Doctrine through a pastor-teacher.
Bible Doctrine is simple defined as: “What the Bible teaches on any given subject.” The local church was set up by Jesus Christ to be a classroom for the teaching of Bible Doctrine. The pastor is the one responsible to teach Bible Doctrine – Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 4:1-2.
Free Grace is not a way of thinking forced onto Scripture: it is a way of thinking discovered in Scripture! I pray you will be willing to see for yourself what the Bible actually teaches on our subject. We must never allow our personal opinion or previous doctrinal teaching to get in the way of seeing for ourselves what the Bible teaches us. If we discover our thinking has been wrong then we have to be willing to change since we know the Bible is total truth.
Preface: Four Critical Categories and Questions
1. The gospel message of eternal life: “How can I be with God when I die?”
2. Eternal security and the assurance of eternal life: “Am I eternally secured and can I know for sure I can be with God when I die and, if so, how do I know?”
3. The spiritual life of the believer: “After salvation, then what?”
4. The judgment awaiting the believer and rewards: “What can I expect after I’m with God?”
These are four simple questions that form the very basis for biblical Christianity. Like any construction job the building must be built on a solid foundation. The answers to these four questions are the foundation stones upon which everything else in the Bible is built.
A Definition of Biblical Free Grace Doctrine
Spiritual eternal life is an absolutely free gift received by anyone who simply believes in Jesus alone for unconditional eternal life. While Free Grace doctrine includes much more than this, as we will see, it is this that is the greatest foundation stone of all.
The answer to question one determines your eternal destiny. The answer to question two may not only affect your eternal destiny but also your inner peace. The answer to the third question gives direction, purpose, and a goal for your life in time. The answer to the last question provides motivation in time and anticipation about your future.
Some of the answers given in this study may at first seem strange to those who have never deeply contemplated these questions and heard the biblical Free Grace truths. I encourage you to study through the material with an open Bible and strive to look beyond previous understandings so as to see what the text actually says rather than what we might think it says. Do not be afraid of grace!
Question number one
The gospel message of eternal life: “How can I be with God when I die?”
The Message of Eternal Life and the importance of the Gospel of John
John 20:30 - 31
The Gospel of John is the only book in the entire Bible that has as its stated intent that people believe in Jesus Christ alone so that they can have eternal life. Over and over again the promise of Jesus to give eternal life to all who would believe in Him for that life is presented in John. John’s purpose is evangelistic and no other New Testament book makes this claim. All other New Testament books were written to believers to explain many doctrines and to give many instructions.
In John the word “believe” is repeated 98 times! That is why John has been called “The Gospel of Belief.” The core issue of receiving unconditional eternal life is this: “What do you believe?”
The word “believe” is simply defined as this: “Being convinced that something is true.” When a person is convinced that Jesus’ promise of unconditional eternal life is true that person now possess unconditional eternal life.
“These have been written”: what “things” does this refer to? The reference is back in v.30: “signs.” John says there are many “signs” that Jesus did “which are not written in this book.” So John has selected certain signs as evidence to bring a person to believe something – v.31: “that you might believe” with the result “that you might have life in His name.”
A sign always points to something. The eight signs that John selected point to Jesus as being who He claimed to be – the eternal Creator God come in human flesh and the Messiah of Israel. All the evidence given by John points to the truth that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God. As a result of this evidence His promise of being willing and able to give eternal life to all who will trust Him alone for that life is true and can be safely believed. The goal of the writing is to convince someone that Jesus is the only one trustworthy of believing in for eternal life and that Jesus is the only one who can give you eternal life.
The Eight Evidence Signs of John
1) He changes the water into wine at the bridal feast in Cana in Galilee, 2:1-11.
2) The healing of the official’s son in Capernaum, 4:46-54.
3) He heals the cripple at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, 5:1-18.
4) He feeds the five thousand near the Sea of Galilee, 6:5-14.
5) He walks on the water, 6:15-21.
6) He heals a blind man, 9:1-7.
7) He resuscitates Lazarus from the dead, 11:1-45.
8) The resurrection of Jesus, 20:1-29
How do we as believers use the Gospel of John? The audience to whom John was writing was unbelievers. John was also written to the church to have an evangelistic tool to share with unbelievers. We are to use the Gospel of John to bring unbelievers to faith in Christ for unconditional eternal life.
John’s gospel is written to provide convincing evidence that can lead to saving faith. The ultimate object of a faith that brings unconditional eternal life is Jesus’ promise to give that life to the one who believes His promise.
John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, either achieved his purpose or he did not. If he did not achieve His purpose then the Gospel is not divinely inspired; if it is divinely inspired then John does achieve its purpose. Those are the only two options. We cannot say that to discover what one must believe to receive eternal life we have to go outside of the Gospel of John.
The entire eternal-life giving message is found clearly in John. Many doctrines related to who Jesus is and all that He did as well as all the various aspects of doctrines related to sin and salvation are found throughout the New Testament. But what is found in John is sufficient for the unbeliever to receive eternal life. Specifically, John tells us that to believe in Jesus’ promise of unconditional eternal life in order to receive that unconditional eternal life is all that is necessary. The one who believes this promise will receive eternal life.
The basic facts are these: Jesus Christ is the eternal God who became man (John 1:1, 14), He died on the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 2:2), He was buried (showing that He really physically died), and that he was bodily raised from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-5). Because of who He is and what He did He alone can make the promise of guaranteed eternal life and He alone is worthy of believing this promise.
John 6:27-29
As human beings, we desire to earn our salvation and many people mistakenly believe they must work at being good in order to receive eternal life. Jewish belief at the time of Jesus was that receiving eternal life by good works which consisted of observing the religious traditions of the Pharisees (Jewish spiritual leaders). In other words, they had been taught, and they believed, that good works on the part of the individual combined with doing the rituals of the Jewish religion would bring them eternal life.
Jesus did not approve of nor accept their thinking. Vv. 28-29: To receive eternal life required simple faith in Him alone and nothing else – no works of any kind are either required or accepted. Jesus gives them an answer that says the only work is no work at all! All they could do was believe in Him for eternal life and believing is not a work at all!
Jesus is simple pointing people to Himself: “I am the source of unconditional eternal life to all who will believe in me for that life” is what Jesus tells them. But what is he also saying “no” to? He is saying “no” to any human good work or religious rituals of any kind.
Their focus has to change; their accepted beliefs have to change for if they do not they will not have eternal life and they will not live with God forever.
John 6:39-40
Who does the Father give to the Son? All those who will believe in the Son, Jesus Christ, alone for eternal life for that is the Father’s will v.40. Note: the life is eternal and guaranteed by Jesus – v.39. Furthermore, that eternal life will bring physical resurrection to the believer who has physically died. The life He gives is not ended by physical death. The one who guarantees this is Jesus Himself.
V.40: What is the focus for a person in the area of receiving eternal life? Is it good works? No. Is it religious tradition? No. the single focus is Jesus: “that everyone who beholds the Son…” You cannot look to anything or anyone else period. There is no “Jesus plus something else.”
Let’s quickly review what we see in verse 40;
V. 40 – the condition: the focus is on Jesus alone: “beholds the Son” and then “believes in Him”
“May have eternal life” – a promise of an absolutely free gift conditioned only on believing in Jesus for that eternal life. Eternal life is not a payment for good behavior, it is a free gift.
“And I will raise him up on the last day”: present possession of eternal life also includes the guarantee of being with God forever in a glorified body – the life He gives cannot not be lost, given back, or taken away. Everyone who has ever believed in Jesus alone for unconditional eternal life has received it and cannot lose it! It is 100% guaranteed by Jesus.
Antonio DeRosa, from his blog free-grace.blogspot.com:
“Free Grace theology teaches that sinners receive eternal life the instant that they are certain of Christ's promise that guarantees their eternal security, the moment they take Him at His word. Saving faith is taking Christ at His word wherein He guarantees the eternal well-being of all who simply believe Him to do so. Taking Christ at His word is certainty of one's eternal salvation, no matter what.”
A person must have their focus right or they have not believed right. Jesus will not share the glory of the free gift of eternal life with anyone or anything else. Not you; not your religion; not your church; not your rituals; not your making Him Lord; not your promises; not your repentance; not your good works. It is not about you – it is all about Jesus Christ.
The focus (object) of saving faith
John 11:25-26
Jesus makes two points in verse 25: (1) “I am the resurrection,” and (2) “I am the life.” In point one the focus is on the believer’s physical life being restored after physical death; point two deals with unconditional spiritual eternal life. In the last part of verse 25 Jesus explains point one: the believer will have a resurrected physical body that they will inhabit for all eternity. Jesus guarantees it when He says, “shall live even if he dies (physically).” That is a promise and it explains point one about Jesus being the “resurrection.” Then in verse 26 Jesus gives another promise: “and anyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” That points to the second point of Jesus being “the life” in verse 25.
Notice the promise: “shall never die” spiritually, that is, will never, ever lose their spiritual life. That is an unconditional promise. Jesus does not say, “will never die if…” and then give a condition. It is an unconditional promise and this is what must be believed if one is to receive eternal life.
Then, in verse 27, He asks Martha the question we all have to answer: “Do you believe this?” Believe what? Believe Jesus’ promise of unconditional eternal life that He gives in verse 26 – this promise of Jesus is the object of faith.
When He asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” He was asking this question: “Are you convinced that my promise that anyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die is true?” Her “yes’ answer says that she was convinced this statement was true.
This simple statement by the Lord Jesus Christ in verse 26 should be self-explanatory and fully accepted by all those who believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It should be accepted as sufficient content of what must be believed, the core issue, to receive eternal life. Do we believe Jesus told her enough? Then faith alone in Him and His promise is enough to receive eternal life.
The object or focus of faith is Jesus Himself with His promise of unconditional eternal life. Because of who Jesus is – the eternal God come in human flesh - and what He did on the cross to fully pay for all the sins of mankind, He alone is trustworthy to make and keep such a promise as this.
This is the heart of Free Grace because this is the center of how one receives unconditional eternal life. Without this being clearly understood nothing else in life or doctrine matters at all for without eternal life that can never be lost for any reason there is no hope.
The good news that we are to share with unbelievers is that unconditional eternal life is received by “faith alone in Christ alone.” In Acts 16:30, a Roman jailor asked the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Faith in Jesus Christ includes the promise “will be saved” and this is clearly stated to be the only thing necessary to receive eternal life (John 3:16-18; 5:24; 6:47).
Many other things we may have to share to bring a person to the place where they are able to believe in Jesus alone for unconditional eternal life. He better and more accurately we know our Bible Doctrines the more we can help a person to come to faith alone in Christ alone. But we have got to help them become convinced that the promise of Jesus for unconditional eternal life is true.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace means that we are given something that we did not earn or deserve. If we earn something, it is seen as a “wage” that we deserve based on our work. The grace that we receive in eternal life is a free gift from God. It can only be received by grace.
Saved by good works
Saved by faith plus good works
In evangelism draw the circle then ask, “Which circle are you in?” Share the basic Message of Life that only the last one on the right brings eternal life. What you believe, not how you behave determines you eternal destiny. We cannot do anything other than believe in Jesus alone for unconditional eternal life or else we do not receive eternal life. We have to come to Jesus the way He tells us to some and not any other way.
We have to come simply and only by faith in Him and His promise of unconditional eternal life alone.
1 Timothy 1:16: What do we believe in Jesus for? _______________________________________
1 John 2:25: What is His promise to us? _______________________________________________
Question number two
Eternal security and the assurance of eternal life: “Am I eternally secured and can I know for sure I can be with God when I die and, if so, how do I know?”
John 5:24; 10:28-30
Definitions:
Eternal security means that the one who has believed in Jesus alone for unconditional eternal life is guaranteed by God to be with God forever. Eternal security means once saved always saved. Eternal security tells us that the believer is kept forever in eternal life by God’s grace and power with no reference to the believer’s faithfulness in time. Eternal security is looking at the believer’s eternal life from God’s side.
Assurance means that the believer is confident that God will keep His promise of unconditional eternal life that He gives when he first believed. The believer knows for sure they will be with God for all eternity because God said it. Assurance must never be based on feelings; rather, it is based on believing the truth of the Word of God. Assurance is looking at the believer’s eternal life from the human side.
John 5:24
Let’s look carefully at this verse to see exactly what Jesus says:
The words “truly, truly” or however they are translated, mean that what He is about to say cannot be contradicted – there is no possibility it is not absolute truth. It is designed to get the hearer’s attention.
The only condition Jesus gives for eternal life is to hear His word and believe. To hear means to set aside any other ideas and really hear with an open mind what He is saying. When one is convinced that what Jesus is saying is true then they have believed.
To “believe in Him who sent me” means to accept the word of God the Father about Jesus that eternal life is in Jesus alone. In the verse 23 the will of the Father honor the Son just as they honor the Father. This means, in verse 24, that they should believe what the Son says and the Son says that by believing in Him the person can have eternal life. They should believe the message that God the Father sent Jesus to preach.
1 John 5:10-11 tells us what the witness of the Father is and it is this we are to accept as true: “the witness (of God the Father) is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (Jesus Christ).”
Believing what God the Father says about the Son is the same thing as believing in Jesus alone for eternal life.
John 5:24: Jesus makes a promise in this verse that refers to the past, present, and future for the believer. It tells us exactly what He means whenever He says “eternal life.” Let’s look at this by just asking three simple questions:
Present: “has everlasting life.” Does this say “might have eternal life” or “has eternal life”? Jesus says, “has eternal life.” This is the promise of the present possession of eternal life. Eternal life does not begin when we die: it begins the moment one believes. This means the believer does not wait until after they die to see if they have eternal life or not. It means they have eternal life right now and Jesus unconditionally guarantees they have eternal life as soon as the person believes.
Future: “shall not come into judgment.” Does this say “might not come into judgment” or “shall not come into judgment”? Jesus says, “shall not.” This is His promise that the present possession of eternal life guarantees the believer shall never, ever come into any judgment related to their eternal destiny. That is a promise that Jesus Himself guarantees unconditionally.
Past: “has passed from death into life.” Does Jesus say, “will pass from death to life” or “has passed from death into life”? Jesus refers to something that has happened in the past for He says, “has passed.” When does a person pass from spiritual death (separation from God) into eternal spiritual life? The answer is clear: When a person believes in Jesus alone for unconditional eternal life. The process cannot go backward: a person cannot go from death to life and back to death again because of sinning.
If a person is not sure about eternal security then simply read to them this verse and ask them, “Do you believe this?” or “Do accept this as true?” If the person says yes, then we can say, “Then you are a Christian, you have eternal life.” Why do we know this is true? Because Jesus, who is God, said it and He can never lie or break His promise; God cannot lie: Numbers 3:18.
The promise of Jesus is eternal security, eternal once saved always saved. When the person accepts this as true then they can have personal assurance, they know in their heart they have eternal life that can never be lost or taken away. Why? Because it is right there in the Bible, God’s holy and true Word. John 17:17
Back to 1 John 5:9-13
Start with verse 13: Assurance is where you “may know that you have eternal life.” Our Heavenly Father wants us to know for sure, without any doubt, that we presently have unconditional eternal life. He does not want us to doubt our salvation. He wants to relax and rest in His promise. Assurance is not “hope so,” “trying hard,” maybe so,” or “think so.” It is “know so”! When one accepts this testimony they know they have eternal life – once saved always saved. Why? God the Father has promised it!
What are the “things” John refers to in verse 13? The things he wrote in verses 9-12. And what is the main point? “He who has the Son (Jesus) has the (eternal) life.” How does one have the Son? By believing the witness “that God (the Father) has (freely) given us eternal life and this life is in His Son.”
So far we have seen that both God the Father and God the Son (John 1:1-3), Jesus, promise eternal life if only the person at one moment in time believes in Jesus alone for that unconditional eternal life. That, my friend, is eternal security and assurance.
John 3:16
This promise of unconditional eternal life, made by Jesus Christ, is the same promise in John 3:16. When we believe in Him alone for eternal life, His promise, we will “not perish” – no not ever, not for any reason, will we be sent away from God into hell (this is what “perish” means in this verse). Jesus is the one making the promise and His word cannot be broken. He does not condition that promise on anything we do or do not do for He is the one making the promise.
Jesus is the one who on the cross of Calvary paid the full price for all our sins, as our substitute, (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:25; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21) and the Father is perfectly satisfied with that sacrifice (1 John 2:2). There is nothing we can do to make it a better or more complete sacrifice; Jesus said “it is finished” (John 19:30). This is why eternal life is a gift and Jesus alone can give that gift to all who will in faith accept that free gift. He paid it all and He promises it all – past, present, and future salvation - based simply on our believing in Him alone for unconditional eternal life.
You eternal life is about who Jesus is, what He did, and what He promises; it is NOT about who you are, what you do, or what you promise.
Ephesians 2:8-9
How have these believers in Ephesus received eternal life (“been saved”)? By grace through faith and faith in this context is just another way of saying “believe.” What part do good works have in their salvation? None at all. Eternal life is the free gift of God. God does not offer eternal life as a trade for the person’s good works or anything else.
Ephesians 1:13-14 – let’s use this translation of the Greek to be clear:
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having believed, you also were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a guarantee of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Once again, let us look at what is said. The person listens to the message of truth which here means how one receives eternal life because it is called “the gospel (good news) of your salvation. As the person hears they become convinced that this message is true, they believe. At the exact moment of believing the person was “sealed in Him.”
___________________________________________________
I have repeatedly used the word “unconditional” when referring to the believer’s eternal life. This simply means there is nothing any believer can do to have his or her eternal life removed. The simple statement is this: unconditional once saved always saved.
Consider the Foundations book pages 233 – 234. We will discuss the questions.
Question number three
The spiritual life of the believer: “After salvation, then what?”
This will be the shortest section of our study. Pages 240-249 of Foundations cover this subject in much detail. We do want to emphasize two things: the process of confession (1 John 1:9 – also called “spiritual rebound”) and the study of Bible Doctrine as being the essential basic principles of the believer’s spiritual life. I like to use this chart to help us understand the importance of the believer’s confession:
See pages 241(filling) and 242 (confession of sin) in Foundations
The word “confess” means to acknowledge and agree with God that one has sinned. This confession should be specific. For example:
“Father, I got angry today at my wife.”
“Father, I have been worried and anxious.”
“Father, I have not been studying my Bible.”
The believer is simply to specifically name the sin and then God the Father immediately extends forgiveness. That forgiveness is based on the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross where He paid for all sin. That is why the Father is said to be “just” or “righteous” to forgive our sins: His forgiveness is because of what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary.
We do not have to say things like, “I am sorry,” or “I promise never to do it again.” We simply name it and we are immediately forgiven. An example of this is seen in 2 Samuel 12:13. The second King David admitted his sin, the prophet Nathan said, “You are forgiven.” It is the same with the believer today. We name it in prayer before God the Father and He immediately says to us, “You are forgiven.”
Biblical forgiveness is simply this: the past is never brought up again. When God forgives us those sins are never brought up again – they are in the past forever.
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
The direction “east’ never goes “west.” Therefore, when we confess our sins as believers we never will see those sins again. Amen!
The second critical aspect of the believer’s spiritual life: the study of Bible doctrine
As we wrote earlier, Bible doctrine is what the Bible teaches on any given subject. Bible doctrine can also be called the “divine viewpoint”: that means “How God thinks about something.” This is called “the mind of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 2:16.
2 Timothy 2:15
The Bible contains many different doctrines but the full information about those doctrines is found in many places in the Bible. The pastor-teacher is to study hard so that he can accurately teach (“rightly explaining”) these Bible doctrines to the believers under their care. All believers are to learn Bible doctrine so that they can view all of life from the divine viewpoint. Spiritual growth only comes by constantly learning, thinking, and applying Bible doctrine.
1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; Romans 12:1-2 (see also Colossians 1:9-10 and Hebrews 5:11-14)
Every believer is to advance to spiritual maturity. Only in spiritual maturity does the believer glorify God in time. Only in spiritual maturity does the believer realize mental and emotional peace, inner satisfaction, and joy even under tribulation (see Philippians 4:11-13; James 1:2-4).
Romans 12:1-2
Every believer has to make a decision: “Am I going to present myself to God and live in the way He says, or am I going to live life the way I choose?”
What does Romans 12:1 say we are to do?
___________________________________________________________________________________
The word “present” means “to place or set before someone, present, exhibit.” The believer is to make himself or herself fully available to God.
Romans 12:2 tells us how we do this. First it says the negative: “Do not be conformed to this world.” Do not think like or act like the unbeliever. The word “world’ simply refers to how unbelievers think and act independent of the Word of God. This is also called “human viewpoint thinking.”
The way God thinks about how we are to think and live in time is revealed in the Bible. The Bible reveals divine viewpoint thinking.
How do we stop thinking like those of the world and start thinking and acting like God wants us to think and act? By being transformed. The word transformed simply means “to change from one thing into another.” God desires all of His children to be transformed, changed, into the spiritually mature person He desires them to be.
Now look at the verse: how are we transformed?
__________________________________________________________________________________
To have the mind renewed is to replace human viewpoint thinking with divine viewpoint thinking. This can only be done through the constant learning and application of Bible doctrine. The quality of the believer’s life in time and their rewards in eternity depends on their successful mind renewal and personal transformation into a mature believer.
The goal of the believer is to grow spiritually to full maturity. The goal of the pastor-teacher is to bring all those under his care to spiritual maturity. This primary goal of the pastoral ministry is seen in Colossians 1:28-29. As Paul says, the goal of the pastor-teacher is to “present everyone mature (complete) in Christ.” This is the primary purpose of every pastor-teacher.
This is also seen in Ephesians 4:11-16
Verse 12: the translation should be “pastor-teacher” as this refers to what the pastor primarily is: a teacher of Bible doctrine.
v.13: gives the pastoral goal again: to build the unity of Bible doctrine (“the faith”), to bring people to an accurate understanding of Jesus Christ and to spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is defined as “to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” That is, they think and apply the divine viewpoint in all things.
What did Jesus know that He wants you and every believer to know? He wants you to know everything in the Bible, but especially the complete understanding of the doctrine that is there. This is a lifetime work!
For your own study later:
The main obligations of the Pastor-teacher are to (1) teach correct Bible doctrine, (2) refute false doctrine, and (3) help others apply Bible doctrine. These three are what brings people to spiritual maturity. This is clearly seen in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, the Pastoral Epistles, as we see in the following passages:
1 Timothy 1:3-5; 4:6, 16; 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 15, 23-26; 3:14-17; 4:1-5; Titus 1:9-11; 2:1, 11-15; 3:1-2, 8-11
Question four
The judgment awaiting the believer and rewards: “What can I expect after I’m with God?”
Because of a poor understanding of the first two questions we have discusses, the doctrinal truths of the believers rewards has been very confused.
Romans 4:4-5 Eternal life is not a reward, it is a totally gift of grace. We do not work to earn or to keep eternal life. What one gets paid for work is a wage: wages are not a gift for they are earned. One does not work for eternal life; one only has to believe the promise of Jesus Christ as we have seen earlier.
However, the Lord will give wages to believers when they come to stand before Him.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 All Church Age believers – and only believers - will stand for a special evaluation before their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is called the Judgment Seat of Christ. Since eternal life is guaranteed, the subject of this evaluation is not eternal life; the subject is the believer’s life in time. The outcome of this evaluation will determine the “recompense” (to be repaid) “for what he has done” (his deeds or work) “whether good or bad.” The outcome of this judgment is that believers will “paid” in either positive or negative rewards; even the believers with positive rewards will have different degrees of reward.
The Lord Jesus Christ will not forget good works and he will not ignore bad works.
Hebrews 6:10 What will the Lord not do? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Colossians 3:23-24 The Lord promises that faithful believers will “receive the inheritance as a ________________”
The believer’s goal should be to hear Christ say, “Well done good and trustworthy slave” (Matthew 25:21).The word “trustworthy” means faithful and reliable. Only faithful and reliable servants (slaves) of our Lord will receive this commendation. Not every believer will. The successful believer will forever have tremendous joy because he or she heard the “well done” from their Savior!
____________________________________________________________________________________
The Lord will reward believers positively for the things we have done that he finds acceptable; He will also pay back the wrongdoer in two forms:
(1) Loss of the rewards the believer could have had
(2) Negative punishment
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Reward and loss of reward are both going to occur at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The positive rewards the believer could have had are lost for all eternity. But, note what the Bible says in verse 15, the believer himself is still saved and in eternity with the Lord forever even though he has had no reward. Paul uses an extreme example to make this point: it is possible for a believer to so live for himself that he or she has no rewards in heaven.
The potential positive rewards the believer can earn re divided into five broad categories:
1. Praise and commendation – we must all aim for the approval of Jesus!
2. Special privileges
4. Rank and authority
5. Glory (recognition and honor as a victor – being what God intended us to be in time. Glory reveals inner character – an outward manifestation of what is inside) It is sharing the glory of Christ (co-glorification)
A Summary of the believer’s potential positive rewards
1. Treasure: Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:31-34 financial giving and other good works done while in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, in accordance with Bible Doctrine, and with the right motives.
2. White clothing of recognition: Revelation 3:4-5, 18; Revelation 19:8
3. Special recognition before the Lord: Revelation 3:5, 12; Matthew 25:21, 23
4. Special foods: manna Revelation 2:17; fruit from the Tree of Life Revelation 2:7, 22:14
5. Entrance through the reward gates into the New Jerusalem: Revelation 22:14
6. Crowns: THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – is for being totally occupied with the Lord Jesus Christ and producing divine good (2 Timothy 4:8);THE CROWN OF LIFE – is for enduring trials, heartaches, disasters and coming out glorifying God (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10); THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN – which is for mastering their old sin nature (1 Corinthians 9:25); THE CROWN OF REJOICING – which is for being soul winners (1 Thessalonians 2:19); THE CROWN OF GLORY – which is for being willing to feed the flock of God (1 Peter 5:4)
7. A white stone engraved with a unique name given by the Lord Jesus: Revelation 2:17
8. Morning Star recognition: Revelation 2:26-29
9. Reigning with Him: Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:26, 3:21
10. Participation in the Wedding Feast: Revelation 19:7-9; Matthew 22:11-13 (Robe: see point 2)
11. Being in priestly service (ruling priests): Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6; 2 Peter 2:9 a royal priesthood
12. Being a partner with the Lord (special friendship intimacy): Hebrews 3:14 (of = with; partaker = partner, companion, Greek metochoi); John 15:14 (being His true friend depends on our obedience); Revelation 22:4 (seeing his face is for overcomers and speaks of intimacy)
13. Ruling over all creation: Hebrews 2:6-8; Revelation 22:5
14. Inheriting the Kingdom (inheriting = to possess, to own): Matthew 5:3, 5, 10 (come into possession of the entire earth); Colossians 1:12, 3:23-24; James 2:5; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (warning); Galatians 5:19-21 (warning). These last two references DO NOT tell a person if they have eternal life or not; they DO tell a person how they are doing on the road to inheriting the Kingdom as a reward.
What about negative judgment for the failure believers? While loss of rewards is a negative judgment, it can be much worse. There can and will be negative punishment.
Matthew 22:11-14
We looked at this earlier, but now we have to mention what is called “the outer darkness.” The outer darkness is mentioned by the Lord in connection with the wedding feast which places the person without the correct clothing in the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ when he will rule and reign on planet earth. The outer darkness is not hell; it is an experience of negative reward (negative judgment and punishment) for the believer. Every believer will be in the coming kingdom (John 3:5), but not every believer will have a positive experience in the kingdom.
The important point to know is this: the words “bind him hand and foot” tells us that this loser believer will have no place of service to the Lord in the coming kingdom. Not only have this believer lost rewards, he also will experience great emotional suffering as a result of his or her failures in time. It will not be a time of joy and happiness; it will not be pleasant. This believer is not literally physically tied up but it speaks of not being able to have a place of service.
Matthew 25:14-30 teaches the same doctrine. The first two believers are successful, the first more so than the second. But the third makes nothing and then makes excuses before the Lord. The result is that what he could have had is taken away: he had the right to rule over cities but what he could have had is taken away and given to the most successful believer.
The failure believer is once again seen to be in the outer darkness where there is “weeping” (great sorrow) “and gnashing of teeth” (anger at oneself for failure in time).
Conclusion
I pray that this introduction to the “Great Truths of Biblical Free Grace” has been a help to your understanding in the areas of the four questions. I am sure some of this has been a challenge to your thinking and I encourage you to continue your study. Be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11:
Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.
The important thing for us all to do is to know exactly what the Bible teaches in all things so that we can teach it correctly to others:
2 Timothy 2:15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
I thank you all for being here and being willing and ready to learn.
God bless you in abundance.
Appendix 1
The Three Phases or Parts of the Believer’s Salvation
It is critical for us to understand the three parts of the believer’s salvation for is we get these three confused we will end up with the false doctrine of faith plus works being required to go to be with God for eternity. The following are the three doctrinal phases of salvation for the believer in the Church Age:
1. Salvation one, justification salvation: I get to go to heaven when I die and be with God for all eternity. This is deliverance from the penalty of sin which is spiritual death and eternal separation from God in eternal damnation. This is the free gift of salvation and, once received, is guaranteed by Jesus. This is referred to as our spiritual position in Christ.
2. Salvation two, sanctification salvation: the believer’s life in time. This is deliverance from the power of sin which occurs in the believer’s life in time if they maintain spiritual fellowship and grow in the learning and application of Bible doctrine. This is salvation in progress which should be but is not guaranteed. The believer is to mature spiritually and apply doctrine to their life while maintaining spiritual fellowship in order to the day-to-day living be consistent with the spiritual position of salvation one.
3. Salvation three, glorification salvation: I arrive home in heaven after either physical death or the rapture of the church and receive a glorified physical body. This is deliverance from the presence of sin. This is salvation completed. Thus salvation three is guaranteed by salvation one. There is another aspect of salvation three and that is co-glorification salvation. This aspect of salvation three is a potential reward but is not guaranteed. Co-glorification salvation is earned by spiritual progress, good works, and faithful servanthood in salvation two.
The word translated “salvation” (or saved) is the Greek “sozo” or “soteria” and simply means “deliverance.” The question that always must be asked from the context is this: “Deliverance from what?” The word is used in four different ways in the New Testament:
1. It refers to justification salvation (salvation phase one): This is not the majority of the usage in the New Testament.
2. It refers to sanctification salvation (salvation phase two).
3. It refers to co-glorification salvation (the reward potential part of salvation phase three).
4. It refers to physical salvation
Although phase three “glorification salvation” is a correct doctrine supported by many Scriptures, the Bible does not use the words sozo/soteria to reference phase three glorification salvation. It does use the word (above) to the potential co-glorification salvation that is far greater than simply reaching heaven and receiving a new glorified physical body.
Physical salvation: Matthew 24:22 speaks of physical life being saved in the Tribulation. In Matthew 8:22 it is the disciples calling out to the Lord for physical salvation. Neither the word “salvation” nor the word “perish” have anything to do with something spiritual: they were in perceived physical danger and were afraid of physical death and they cried out for physical salvation.
Luke 8:36: the man had to be physically saved from being demon possessed.
Mark 5:28: the woman needed to be physically saved from an illness.
Marty Cauley notes in his book Mere Christianity and Moral Christianity p.104 the percentage of the uses of the word translated “salvation” in the New Testament.
In this section of our study we will look at some of the uses of the word “salvation” that refer to the believer.
When we speak of Jesus as our Savior we are speaking of Him as our deliverer. In the New Testament the word “salvation” is used to speak of the believer’s deliverance in three ways. The context and the words used will determine which of the three phases of salvation the word is referring. Remember, the New Testament does not use the word salvation to simply refer to phase three glorification salvation but it does use the word to speak of the reward potential of salvation phase three which is co-glorification (see below). Co-glorification is the aspect of glorification salvation that is a possibility but not a guarantee.
It is critical to learn these three phases of salvation and the way the word salvation is used for if he confuses them the pastor-teacher will end up teaching confused and false doctrine especially in relationship to salvation phase one. Once these three are clearly learned then the Bible interpreter-teacher can see which phase the Bible text is referring even if the word salvation is not used but the text is referring to one of the three phases of the believer’s salvation. Once again the issue is context: only by paying close attention to the subject matter can one determine to which phase of salvation the text refers.
Under each phase of salvation there will be listed some scriptural examples.
Salvation phase one, justification salvation: I receive unconditional eternal life. I am made to be in right standing before God the Father. Jesus promises to take me to heaven when I die.
A free gift: This salvation is always and only an absolutely free gift received by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Jesus promises a person that when they believe in Him alone for eternal life they immediately receive the free gift of eternal life. The believer possess eternal life from the second they believe.
Delivered from the penalty of sin: The penalty of sin is eternal separation from God first in hell and then in the eternal Lake of Fire. The believer is guaranteed by Jesus Christ never to face the penalty of sin.
It occurs in a moment of time: at the exact moment in time a person believes in Jesus alone for unconditional eternal life they possess eternal life that can never be lost or taken away. Like a period at the end of a sentence or a dot ( ) that person has eternal life from the very second they believe. Salvation phase one is not something achieved over time. For example: on February 5th, 2010 at 3:53 and 17 seconds AM a person believed in Jesus’ promise of unconditional eternal life; at the very second they received unconditional eternal life which is guaranteed by Jesus Himself to never be taken away or lost for any reason. This is true because He cannot deny Himself, that is, His promise of eternal life (John 6:47 [His promise] with 2 Timothy 2:13).
Clues to the meaning:
· If the text includes works or good deeds of any kind being required it is not salvation phase one salvation (James 2:14 cannot be salvation one for working is required. This refers to the phase three reward salvation).
· If the text indicates it is a process it is not phase one salvation (for example, Philippians 2:12 which not only requires working but also indicates a process through time).
· If the text indicates it is something that can be lost it is not phase one salvation (Luke 9:18-26 speaks of the believer’s soul-life being “saved” or “lost” by the activity of denying self or failure to deny. Denying or failure to deny refers to the believer’s life in time. If one denies self in time then the life in time will not have been worthless with the result that there will be great reward – they will find their life has been “saved” or has great eternal value. The result will be co-glorification).
· If the text speaks of enduring it is not phase one salvation (for example, Matthew 10:22 speaks of enduring and it is co-glorification salvation, a reward).
· If the text indicates a future salvation it is not phase one salvation (1 Peter 1:5 speaks of a process that in the future will result in the co-glorification reward – this is the salvation that will be revealed.) Hebrews 9:28 refers to the reward part in phase three salvation that will be given when Christ returns. Romans 13:11 refers to the same as that of Hebrews 2:5-18, the believer’s opportunity to reign with Christ.
· If the text speaks of something we can inherit or fail to inherit it is not phase one salvation (Galatians 5:19-21 speaks of not inheriting the kingdom if these sins are consistently practiced. Entering the kingdom is a gift of grace under phase one salvation; inheriting the kingdom is part of salvation phase three co-glorification salvation and is earned as a result of one’s spiritual advance in salvation phase two).
Some other examples: Luke 8:12; John 3:17; Acts 4:12, 16:31; Ephesians 1:13, 2:5, 8; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 2:11, 3:5
Salvation phase two, sanctification salvation: My life in time as a believer.
· Requires work and effort
· Deliverance from the power of sin is possible and the goal
· There is to be spiritual growth to maturity
· Happens over the lifetime of the believer
· Success is not guaranteed
· The believer’s life in time does not prove or disprove one possesses eternal life
· Believers can live a life of sin in time, never advance in the faith, and still go to heaven when they die because of the promise given by Jesus in salvation phase one.
Some examples: John 6:40; Romans 8:30; Philippians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 2:1-2; 1 Timothy 4:16; James 2:17, 26 (dead faith is a faith that is not working in time to produce spiritual advance. It does not mean the person does not possess eternal life); John 10:10 (life = salvation phase one; abundant life = salvation phase two potential); 2 Timothy 2:13; 1 Timothy 5:8 (the believer is called “worse than an unbeliever” if they do not provide for their own family). Titus 1:16 (believers are claiming to “know God,” which means to be spiritually in good condition, but in truth they are spiritually worthless since they are disobedient to their Savior).
Salvation three, glorification salvation: I arrive home in heaven after either physical death or the rapture of the church and receive a glorified physical body.
There are two parts to salvation three:
1. That which is guaranteed by Jesus as part of salvation one. The word “salvation” in the Bible never directly refers to salvation three, but the doctrinal truth is still there.
· A free gift as it is a guaranteed part of salvation one. 1 Corinthians 15:42-54, Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 all refer to this promise of receiving a glorified body
· Occurs at a moment in time with the rapture of the church
· Delivered from the presence of sin: since the old sin nature lives in the physical body (Romans 7:17-18) when the physical body of this life dies there will no longer be any sin present in us. On the same way, those who area live at the rapture of the church will be immediately changed into the new glorified body that will have no sin nature.
· We will enter the coming Kingdom where Jesus will rule on the earth and on into eternity. John 3:3-5 (water does not refer to water baptism); Colossian 1:13-14.
2. That which is an opportunity to be co-glorified with Jesus Christ. This refers to being rewarded with ruling with Christ in the coming Kingdom as His close companion and friend.
· We can reign with Him but we must endure in faithfulness to the end. 2 Timothy 2:12; Matthew 24:42-51 (Note: verse 51 is not hell or the Lake of Fire. It is an experience of not being allowed to have a place of service in the coming Kingdom. Matthew 25:14-30.
· This is being a joint-heir with Christ in His rulership of the Kingdom. Romans 8:17 (To be a joint-heir means to share in His inheritance of the Kingdom – we inherit the Kingdom too which gives us many special privileges). To inherit the Kingdom means to rule in it, to share in possession of it, and not simply to be in it.
· This is being an overcomer: Revelation 2:26-27, 3:21
· This is being a friend of Jesus: John15:14
· This is being a close companion of Jesus: Hebrews 3:14 (the Greek reads, “for we are partakers (Greek metcchoi) of Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at the first.” The partaker is a friend or partner; all believers are the sons of God but not all sons will be the partners of Jesus to reign with Him).
· This is an abundant entrance into the Kingdom: 2 Peter 1:10-11
· This is be considered “worthy” of the Kingdom: 2 Thessalonians 1:5
· The right to rule can be lost due to persistent, unconfessed sin and unfaithfulness. 2 Timothy 2:12 (He will deny us the right to rule); 1 Corinthians 6:7-10; Galatians 5:16-21. Not to inherit the Kingdom does not refer to Kingdom entrance, it refers to the right to rule with Him.
· Believers can be ashamed before Him at His coming: 1 John 2:28 (all believers are God’s “little children” by salvation one; we “abide in Him” – that is stay in fellowship – in salvation two; so that we will not be “in shame” at His coming at salvation three).
· Jesus can be ashamed of the believer at the Judgment Seat of Christ: Mark 8:38
The believer’s motivation in time is not a fear of a loss of salvation one (eternal life). The motivation is
1. Positive: The earning of rewards and the approval of Jesus Christ
2. Negative: The avoidance of the loss of rewards, shame before Him, and negative punishment
Remember
Entrance into heaven and the Kingdom is by faith alone in Christ’s promise alone.
Rewards are based on good works
Rewards are earned by good works in time
Heaven and Kingdom entrance is not a reward
Therefore, heaven and Kingdom entrance is not earned
And heaven and Kingdom entrance cannot be lost by bad works
Appendix 2
A few examples of believers who experienced major spiritual failures
King Saul died in major sin
King David was guilty of adultery, lying, deception, getting another man drunk, and murder: 2 Samuel 11:1-17
King Solomon died in major sin
The Apostle Peter: Matthew 16:21-23; 26:32-34, 69-75
Demas: 2 Timothy 4:10 (prior to this Demas had been a faithful companion to Paul – Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24)
The believers in the church at Corinth:
· 1 Corinthians 3:2-3: they were guilty of jealousy and causing strife within the church
· 1 Corinthians 5:1-2: one of the believers was in having an affair with his step-mother (incest) and the other believers in the church were actually approving of it by their silence on the issue
· 1 Corinthians 6:1-8: the believers were suing each other in courts of law
· 1 Corinthians 6:15-16: the believers were still going to the heathen temples and participating in ritual prostitution
· 2 Corinthians 11:3-4: they were believing false teaching
· 2 Corinthians 11:18-19: they were causing divisions in the church
· 2 Corinthians 11:21: some were getting drunk on wine in the church
Believers can walk away from the truth of the Word and go into false teaching: Galatians 1:6-7
Believers can wander away from the faith and pursue money: 1 Timothy 6:9-10
Believers can fail to provide for their families: 1 Timothy 5:8
Believers can become apostates: 1 Timothy 1:19-20, 2:17-18
Never does the Bible say these people are “false believers.” It speaks of them as believers who will spend eternity with God in spite of their serious failures. This is true because Jesus is faithful to them even if they are unfaithful to Him (2 Timothy 2:13).
Appendix 3
A brief overview of Bible Prophecy with a few Scripture examples
What the believer today is waiting for is the rapture of the church: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Immediately after the rapture of the church will come the Judgment Seat of Christ in heaven: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10, 12; this will happen before the Tribulation on earth begins for the 24 elders, who represent the victorious Church Age believer, are seen raptured and rewarded in Revelation 4:10 (they have crowns and thrones showing these are Church Age believers who were overcomers in time and now are in the position to rule with Jesus Christ).
Some short time after the rapture of the church the seven year Tribulation will begin on earth: Matthew 24:4-28; Revelation 6 – 18
At the end of the seven year Tribulation the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth (The Second Coming): Matthew 24:29-30; Revelation 19:11-19. This is the time of the Campaign of Armageddon: Revelation 16:12-16; Psalm 2:1-6.
After the Second Coming Jesus Christ will establish His throne on planet earth in Jerusalem and rule the earth for 1,000 years: Isaiah 2:2-4, 11:6-9; Micah 4:1-5; Revelation 20:4
Before the 1,000 year reign begins the Old Testament and the Tribulation believers who have died will be resurrected: Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19; Revelation 20:4.
At the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ the present heavens and earth will be destroyed: Revelation 21:1-8
Then will come the judgment of unbelievers at the Great White Throne Judgment: Revelation 20:11-15
Unbelievers as sent to the Lake of Fire forever: Revelation 20:15
God will create a new heavens and a new earth for the eternal order: Revelation 21:1 – 22:5
Student Study and Evaluation Guide
1. What are the two main reasons why the church exists?
2. Define Bible Doctrine
3. Who is the one in the local church who is to teach Bible Doctrine? What Scriptures show this to be true?
4. What are the four questions which form the very basis for Biblical Christianity?
a)
b)
c)
d)
5. What is the basic definition of Biblical Free Grace?
sanctification
22%
co-glorification
31%
physical
29%