Is There a “New” Grace?

By John Gipson
    We are saved by grace. I’ve heard it all of my life, and I have preached it over and over. There’s nothing man can do to earn his salvation. It comes as a gift from God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God.” That’s the gospel truth!
    But much of what I am hearing today indicates that there is nothing for man to do, and nothing he can do, to affect his salvation. And my Bible doesn’t teach that! Think about it. If that kind of grace saves, then God has the sole responsibility for man’s salvation. I can blame God if I’m lost. Furthermore, if He saves you, and doesn’t save me, then He has become a respecter of persons (Something which He is not. “And Peter opened his mouth and said: Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” [Acts 10:34-35] ).
    The scriptures tell us that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Through His grace God warned Noah about the flood which was to destroy the world, and told Noah to build an ark. Grace showed him a way of escape. Noah believed God and was obedient to God’s instructions. “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22). As a result of obedient faith, God’s grace saved Noah. Thus grace provided the blessing; it was accepted by faith; and obtained by the obedience of faith. “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7).
    A wonderful example of God’s grace is found when “Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ” (Acts 8:5). “But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12) Grace was extended through the gospel; faith accepted the message; and the people became obedient to the faith.
- via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City Church of Christ, Calvert City, KY.  Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com