Page 95 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

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In Christianity today, most of its doctrinal positions have been reduced to over-simplified, popular
clichés. Just as we saw them rooted in expressions of faith, so likewise do we find them used to
express the meaning of grace. The doctrine of grace is best known by the cliché, “The unmerited favor
of God.” But, is this correct?

Let us consider Strong’s Concordance to
see how this condensed saying about grace
measures up. First of all, you will not find
“unmerited favor” in the definition of the
Greek word translated as “grace” at all:

Just like James defined “faith” as a twofold expression (faith evidenced by works),
“grace” also bears a twofold expression (inward receiving-outward reflection).

(1) (2)
“THE DIVINE AND
INFLUENCE ITS
REFLECTION
UPON IN THE LIFE”
THE HEART,

(“GRACE” FLOWING INWARD (“GRACE” REFLECTING OUTWARD
INTO THE HEART…) IN THE LIFE…)

THROUGH JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT
AS THE GRACE OF GOD… AS THE SPIRIT OF GRACE…

“FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS “…THE SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN US YEARNS
SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN… JEALOUSLY…BUT HE GIVES MORE GRACE…”

Titus 2:11 James 4:5-6

We need to beware of cleverly stated doctrinal clichés. The are used to express faith (“believe and
receive,” and “faith plus nothing”). They are used to express grace (“unmerited favor”). They are also
used to express salvation (“once saved, always saved”.) Here is the question I want to pose in this
newsletter: If there is more to the doctrine of faith, and there is more to the doctrine of grace, do you
think it could be also true of the doctrine of salvation?

I wrote this book in 2009 to clearly present what the Bible teaches about
salvation vs. what is widely presented today as the gospel of salvation. There is a

serious problem in this area:

“THE WORD OF GOD IS BEING PERVERTED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT
EVERYTHING IS AUTOMATICALLY AND IRREVERSIBLY PLACED IN THE
BELIEVER’S SPIRITUAL “WIN” COLUMN RIGHT FROM THE NEW BIRTH.

THEREFORE, SALVATION IS VIEWED TOTALLY
FROM A PAST-TENSE PERSPECTIVE;
FROM A POSSESSIVE POSITION

IN WHICH NOTHING OF VALUE LIES IN FRONT OF US.”

Faith is considered to be “a done deal.” Grace is also viewed as “a done deal.” The same is true of the
doctrine of salvation, it too is “a done deal.” Everything is a finished work of the past in modern-day,
over-simplified, cliché-laden doctrinal expressions. However, they do not teach the fullness of what the
Scriptures contain. It is true of faith, it is true of grace, and I want to show you it is also true of salvation.
We need to move away from merely expressing the Christian experience as a completed
POSSESSION of the past, and begin to see it as an ongoing PROCESS.