Today, I received my first very negative review of my book. Im not a beginner at this, so I knew the day would come because we have faced great opposition as we have shared the gospel of grace over the years. Weve seen the most nasty behavior by believers in Jesus Christ toward other believers who taught grace. Open, personal and mean nastiness. The review said my book was divisive and that it split a church because the pastor didnt agree with it. I felt so sad...wished for a second I hadnt written it. (Just being real here.) So, I prayed for this pastor that the Lord would open his eyes to see the truth of the gospel. I prayed for the people. Ive heard the comment before, that these grace preachers are being divisive, but I can honestly say that the only divisiveness and downright meaness Ive seen has been from those who are fighting against the preaching of grace. I think of Paul, how he would go into the synagogues and preach the gospel to the Jews. Some would agree, but some wouldnt and they would force him to leave. Im sure it grieved his heart, as it does mine, that his brethren according to the flesh were rejecting life. This desire to see my brethren understand the gospel of grace is what motivated me to write the book. If someone thinks I wrote it to be divisive...they didnt hear me. I find the following scripture from Acts very relevant to what is happening in the church today. The Jews resisted the grace of God and preferred the law. ITS THE SAME CONFLICT AS ALWAYS. The Jews might have said Paul was being divisive, and they certainly actively sought to have him silenced), but was that his intent? Didnt he speak out because He wanted them to be free? He would have given his own life so that they could be saved if it would have done any good. Notice the similarities as you read this account to what is going on among believers. Acts 13:42-52 (Ive put my comment in parenthesis.) So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to CONTINUE IN THE GRACE OF GOD. (Paul was preaching grace, my friends. Some of the Jews believed. Some of those who had become Jews believed. This caused a rift.) 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. (There is a great awakening in the church today. It is hard for me to believe that any pastor who is at all aware of what is going on in the church has not heard about these grace preachers. It seems the whole church is checking out this good news.) 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. (I hesitate to attribute envy to those pastors rejecting the gospel of grace...but it might be true for some. I think most of them think its easy believism, something to be avoided. They might actually care that this doctrine which they consider to be hyper-grace, might hurt their sheep. Like I said, most pastors do care about their sheep.) 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; (My book is written to you first. Im asking the church, believers, to consider the pure gospel of grace. Will the church reject this revival?) but since you reject it, (some already have, and are even now working against it) and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, (I personally believe that believers who are not receiving this grace are still saved, but they are not receiving the LIFE that was purchased for them since living in mixture brings misery.) behold, we turn to the Gentiles. (The gospel of grace cannot be stopped. If one group rejects it, another will accept it.)... 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. (The preaching of the gospel of grace is spreading like wildfire right now.) 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. (Please Note: Who is causing strife and divisions here? Who is doing the persecution?) 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. (Paul and his companions didnt play along with this division and strife game. They just shook it off and continued on their way.) 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (The ones who believed were joyful and full of the Spirit.) Heres the truth about truth. It does many things. It unites. It divides. It sets free. It brings joy. It spreads. Grace CANNOT co-exist with law. Paul pronounces a curse on anyone who would seek to mix them!!! A curse, mind you!!! Why? It is because LAW NULLIFIES GRACE (Gal. 2:21). To make it crystal clear, LAW NULLIFIES THE CROSS. So, it breaks my heart that those who are rejecting the grace of God are causing divisions and strife. As much as it breaks your heart to see the ones you love reject grace, as mean and unkind as they might treat you, shake off the dust, and be on your way. Some will reject, but others will hear and rejoice.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 08:13:52 +0000
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