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Clear Gospel Campaign
— by Ronald R. Shea, Th.M., J.D —
 
Topics Touching the Message of Salvation
— Grace —
Curriculum Outline and Study Guide | Resurrection | Assurance | Baptism | The Bema | Calvinism | The Gospel Message & Content of Saving Faith | The Creator | Dispensationalism | Eternal Security | Evangelism & Discipleship | Expiation, Propitiation and Redemption | Faith | Fruit . .. Don't you need it? | Grace | Hebrews 10 | Hebrews 6:1-15 | Heirship and Rewards | James 2:14-26 | Jesus is God | 1st John | John MacArthur | Justification | Bilateral Contract Salvation or "Lordship Salvation" | The Market Driven Church | Perseverance of the Saints | Predestination and Free Will | Public Confession of Christ | Regeneration | Repentance | Roman Catholicism | Salvation | Sanctification | The Sheep and Goats Judgment | Silly Gospel Substitutes | "Sovereign" (Irresistible) Grace | Stewardship of the Gospel Message | The Modern "Testimony" | The Ten Commandments: Their Relationship to the Believer | Theology and Doctrine | Total Depravity and `The Bondage of the Will` | Worship Music | Appendix I: Church History from a Free Grace perspective
Chapter 1: The Gift, and the Giver
Chapter 2: The Receipt of the Gift by Faith
Chapter 3: The Relationship of Honor and Grace
Chapter 4: Honor The Son By Honoring His Grace
Chapter 5: Common Approaches to Salvation by Works
Chapter 6: Common Approaches to Salvation by Works
Chapter 7: The Purpose of the Law.
Chapter 8: The Enemies of Grace
Chapter 9: Grace - The Eve of the Battle
Chapter 10: Grace--The Battle Begins
Chapter 11: Grace - The Debate Goes Public
Chapter 12: The Jerusalem Counsel
Chapter 13: Guerrilla Tactics in the War On Grace
Chapter 14: The Four Perversions of Grace-- 1 & 2

The Doctrine of Grace

by

Ronald R. Shea, Th.M., J.D.

 

GRACE:  THE EVE OF THE BATTLE

 

 

 

THE EARLY HISTORY OF GRACE

 

From the earliest days in the Bible, the doctrine of grace has been assailed and attacked more than any doctrine in Scripture.  It is contrary to human intuition to imagine that God is just as willing to save a wicked sinner as a seemingly good person.  It is almost offensive to a "good" person to think that the believer of this age is not even subject to condemnation!  The Bible bears stark witness to the battle waged over the doctrine of grace since the earliest days of the church.  It is a battle that continues to this day.

 

In Acts 13:13-14 we read of Paul's first missionary journey through the cities in the Province of Galatia.  This region would be located in modern Turkey today.  (The Antioch spoken of in verse 14 would be located in central Turkey today, as opposed to the more well known "Antioch" of that time, which today would be located near the border of Turkey and Syria.)

 

Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.  But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.  And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets - - Paul stood up . . .

                                                             Acts 13:13-16

 

 

As he stood in this synagogue, Paul proclaimed the basic Christian gospel.  First he proclaimed that Jesus was the Savior of the world:

 

From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior - Jesus -         Acts 13:23

 

Next, Paul taught that taught that after Christ's death fulfilled the demands of Scripture, Jesus was raised from the dead:

 

And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.  Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.  But God raised Him from the dead.

                                                             Acts 13:28-30

 

Next, Paul taught that taught that Jesus was the Son of God:

As it is also written in the second Psalm: "You are My Son.  Today I have begotten You.

Acts 13:33

Finally, Paul taught that one is "justified" (declared "not guilty" of their sins) as a result of faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law:

 

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.                                                               Acts 13:38-39

 

To be justified apart from the law of Moses is to be justified by God's grace.  Here, in the province of Galatia, the battle for grace began.

 

 


Chapter 9: Grace - The Eve of the Battle

 
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