Can We Nullify God’s Grace?

In response to a recent post on grace, one our faithful readers and my good friend, Jim asked, “Can those who show no grace continue to live in God’s grace?

“Grace teaches us to deny ungodly and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously and Godly in this present world,” Jim observed.

“However” he added, “if we do not live the nature of Grace towards others do we abide in God’s grace? Just a thought. Can we truly nullify the Grace of God in our own lives?”

In yesterday’s post, “A Grace Fueled Journey,” we considered the passage Jim referenced, Titus 2:11-14. Today we want to directly tackle the question.

#1 “Grace” and “gracious” are words often used to describe the nature, character and personality of God.

The Bible specifically connects God with the quality of grace at least 60 times. “The grace of God” is an oft repeated theme in Paul’s epistles. Peter calls our Father “the God of all grace” (1 Pet. 5:10). “The Lord is gracious” the Psalmist exclaims in several passages (Ps. 86:15; 103:8; 111:4; 116:5; 145:8). Connected with God’s graciousness are compassion and mercy.

#2 God’s grace ought to issue itself in graciousness in our lives.

Paul admonished in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

The word translated “gracious,” according to Dr. Thayer, means “that which affords joy, pleasure, sweetness, delight, charm, loveliness.” It involves goodwill. Loving kindness. And favor. “It has to do with the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in (our lives).” To be gracious is to be like God.

The Lord calls us to “Be Holy,” as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16). Holiness is not reserved for special occasions. Special days. Or occasional religious rites and celebrations. Holiness is a daily challenge. “Be holy in all your conduct,” the Bible admonishes (1Pet. 1:16). Being holy involves being gracious.

Like the Lord, a gracious spirit ought to be the character and quality of our lives on a daily basis. To be gracious is to be attentive to the needs of others. Thoughtful. Kind. Courteous. Compassionate.. Merciful. Generous. Affable. And accommodating. Like the Lord, when we are gracious our hearts are tender. We are patient. “Slow to anger” (Ps. 103:8). We care about those who are struggling and need our help and encouragement. These are all traits of a gracious person.

#3 It is possible to fall from grace.

While some deny the possibility of apostasy, the Bible is plain that we can fall away (Heb. 6:6). Lose our faith (1Tim. 1:19). And leave our first love (Rev. 2:4).

The Galatian Christians had been deceived by a counterfeit gospel. Some had returned to the dictates of the Old Law. To these Paul plainly and succinctly said, “You have fallen from grace” (Gal. 5:14).

The apostle Peter speaks of those who had “escaped the pollution of the world,” but became “entangled again in them” as being worse off than they were before becoming Christians. His description is graphic and gross.
“But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Pet. 2:22).

The entirety of the Hebrew letter is a warning to a second generation of Christians who were in danger of “neglecting,” “falling away,” and drawing “back to perdition (Heb. 2:1-3; 6:4-6; 10:38-39).

While we may typically think of falling from grace as one who has quit the church, embraced doctrinal error, or fallen prey to a moral failure, are we any less culpable when we our lives are devoid of grace and graciousness? When we are filled with envy and jealousy? When we are consumed with bitterness and anger? When we are fixated on retribution and vengeance?

#4 Failure to forgive nullifies grace.

If none of the above arguments are convincing, consider Jesus’ warning in Matthew 6:14-15. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

While God is gracious to forgive us, He will deny that favor when we fail to forgive our fellow man. In other words as George Herbert expressed it, “He who cannot forgive others, destroys the bridge over which he himself must pass.”

Finally, there is an interesting paradox involved here. While we may separate ourselves from God’s grace by our failure to extend grace and be gracious, He still stands ready and willing to receive you back into favor, if you will repent and return to Him.

Indeed “the Lord is gracious and full of compassion” (Ps. 145:8) Are you?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman