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Jan 17

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THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

The question is where does the gospel of Christ get its power unto salvation! Few there be that have given thought to the subject, however. Just what is it that makes the gospel of Christ, the power unto salvation? Have you ever given any thought to this subject, or have you just accepted it? In this article, we should address this subject!
As it has been pointed out in earlier articles, that the words “the righteousness of God” is not about the fact that God is righteous! First, look at the words, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed” (Rom. 1:17). The words “therein” refer back to the “gospel of Christ” in verse sixteen. The “gospel of Christ” gets its power unto salvation from the fact that it reveals “the righteousness of God!” If “the gospel of Christ” did not “reveal” “the righteousness of God,” it would have no “power unto salvation!”
It was also noted that the words, “the gospel of Christ,” are interchangeable with the words, “the gospel of grace” (see Gal. 1:6-7). But, this is not the only interchangeable phrase! Notice the following: 1) “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). Just what has Paul said to the elders of the church of Ephesus (Acts 20:17)? First, he commends them to God, and second, he commends them to “the word of his (God) grace.” Now, recall the words to the churches of Galatia; where the apostle used as noted above, the words, “the gospel of Christ” and “the grace of Christ” interchangeably. Allow me to remind you that two things that equal the same thing, are equal! If two things are interchangeable, then, the two things are equal to each other! Question: This being true of these two phrases, just what is and where is the “grace of God?” The “grace of God” is “the gospel of grace” which is equal to “the gospel of Christ!”
The above being true, just where do the words, “the word of his (God) grace,” fit in? Remember what Paul said to the elders of church of Ephesus? He wrote: “the word of his grace.” Does this not mean, that “the word of his grace” is also equal to “the gospel of grace” and the “the gospel of Christ?” As the old times preachers like to say, “If not why not?” Remember, two things that are equal to each other are equal to the same thing! Moving one more step, as we read what the apostle wrote to Titus: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, …” (Titus 2:11). Does not the “gospel of Christ” teach us? Does not the “gospel of grace” teach us? Does not “the word of his grace” teach us? One better, Paul told the elders of the church of Ephesus: “the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Question: Just how does “the word of his grace” build us up, if not by teaching? When Paul was telling the brethren in Corinth how to use their spiritual gifts, he wrote: “Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Cor. 14:26). The Greek word used by Paul, for our English word “edifying” is, “oikodome” and it means: “(the act of) building, building up” (Thayer). So, “the word of his grace” is “able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” and “the grace of God that bringeth salvation …. Teaching us …” Teaching” (learning) builds us up and prepares us unto salvation! You see, the New Testament is not so hard to understand, that is, if we will allow the teaching.
Let us conclude with Paul’s words to Titus: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14). Are these words a great summation of the subject? Did I hear you ask, “What subject?”
The grace of the New Testament is: 1) “the gospel of Christ,” 2) “the grace of Christ,” 3) “the grace of God,” and 4) “the word of his grace.” The folks who like to try and take “grace” out of “the word of his grace,” are making a fatal mistake! Let me conclude with these words from the pen of the inspired apostle: “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7). Do you recall where we started? It was with these words: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:26-17). “Being justified by his grace” is the same as saying, justified by “the gospel of Christ” which “unto salvation” “wherein (is) revealed the righteousness of God.”

— Frank R. Williams

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