We are saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:5), and that’s only the beginning. God continues to show grace for us throughout our lives. In all cases, grace is a free gift. We don’t deserve it, and we can’t earn it. It’s just something that God gives us. Period.
In fact, misunderstanding of grace can be quite perilous. Romans 11:6 says, “And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” We cannot get to heaven based upon our works. We get to heaven only by faith in God’s gift of His Son to us, and His works–not ours (John 3:16). If we try to get there (even in part) on any portion of our own merit, we will fail.
Yet I believe that one of our great old hymns is in error on the subject of grace. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing says, “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!” We’re grateful for grace, but we don’t really become debtors when we accept God’s grace. We don’t owe God something for His grace. We just accept it. Furthermore, we’re not constrained by His grace. Rather, we’re set free (John 8:32). We should live right, but we should do it because of our love for Christ–not because we owe him something in return for his grace.
Maybe these subtle and unintended errors in song are the reason for widespread misunderstanding of biblical principles.
Re article on James speaking of “Works” as opposed to Paul’s “free gift” of grace. Yet many say that Paul perverted the message of Jesus – the same said against James!
What is it?
Paul speaks of “works” of the OT Law and the traditions built around it.
We don’t live under the Law, but we live under a moral code more onerous than that of the Law.
Indeed, half of every red letter verse in the Gospels speaks of our requirements to God.
That figure holds for the Epistles too – about 1100 verses in the NT speak of our requirements to God, that is, our Works.
It was Dawkins who spoke of the cruel OT God, vs the “milk sop persona” of Jesus. He ought to have read the Gospels – Jesus was far more demanding and exacting than His father was in the OT.