GRACE ANSWERS 24

These are questions sent to GraceLife Ministries by Internet E-Mail. We appreciate each person who sent the questions and hope our answers will be a help to many. If you would like to have a question answered for Grace Answers, please e-mail Mark McGee.

The Way Toward Grace

QUESTION: Having fulfilled the Law, the resurrection marked the beginning of grace ... but how did Jesus prepare His disciples and future believers for this? Obviously, in confronting the religious leaders of His day, He repeatedly focused on the attitudes of their hearts, but how else did Christ point the way toward grace?
ANSWER: Jesus spoke many words about Grace while He was on earth, but let me point you to the most powerful way He prepared His followers to understand and live Grace. Jesus Christ lived among them! Jesus was and is Grace in the flesh. He gave His followers the highest example of Grace by living it in front of them.
When John the Baptist didn't want to be baptized because he wasn't worthy, Jesus said: "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." He pointed the way.
When Satan tempted Jesus to prove He was the Son of God by telling stones to become bread, Jesus said: "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" He pointed the way.
When Jesus chose His first disciples, He told them: "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men." He pointed the way.
When Jesus looked out at the crowds that had come to hear Him speak, He told them: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." He pointed the way.
Jesus taught His followers about the real Love and Grace that lived in the Law, instead of the cold, dead law the Pharisees taught. He taught them: "You have heard it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." He pointed the way.
Jesus gave His followers new ways to look at tough issues: like giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, worry and judging others. He pointed the way.
Jesus prepared His followers to deal with every conceivable situation in life. He prepared them to live their lives full of God and His Word. He pointed the way.
Jesus taught His followers that every person is worthy of love and respect. When Jesus came upon a man with leprosy, He touched the man and healed him. When a centurion told Jesus his servant was paralyzed and in terrible suffering, the Lord healed him. Jesus healed the demon possessed. He healed paralytics and raised the dead. He continually reached out to others to make their lives better. He was such an example of Grace. He pointed the Way.
When Jesus hung on the Cross, bleeding and dying, He said this about those who placed Him there: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." He pointed the way.
Jesus was and is the kindest, most loving, most gracious, most thoughtful, most caring Person Who has ever lived. We learn much about Grace from God's Word, but the most powerful and best example of Grace is when God became Flesh and lived among men.

Lordship Salvation

QUESTION: Brother McGee, please send me some helpful information on "lordship salvation". I'm a "GRACE" believer, and I'm having some problems with some advocates of this position.
ANSWER: I've known many "Lordship salvation" believers through the years. I remember one who supported his belief with Acts 16:31: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." His point was that salvation came after someone placed their faith and trust in the "Lord" Jesus rather than just "Jesus." Others have pointed to James 2: 14-26 as proof of "Lordship salvation." We dealt with a question about James 2 and salvation by faith alone in a previous answer.
The Apostle Paul is the authority for salvation in this Dispensation of Grace. The Lord Jesus Christ gave Paul the plan. Paul stated clearly that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Paul told his readers that they were "dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." Paul wrote that "because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." God, who is rich in mercy and full of Grace, gave us spiritual life (saved us) "even when we were dead in transgressions." How can a dead person make Christ the Lord of their life? They can't! Do we save ourselves? God saves spiritually dead people by making them alive with Christ. God seats the newly saved people in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus and teaches them how to live and walk in new ways. As we live and walk in new ways, we learn about Christ's Lordship in our lives. Jesus Christ the Lord is our Savior. As we get to know Jesus as our Savior, we also get to know Him as our Lord. It is a process of growing in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is not something we have to attain to before Christ can become our Savior.
Your question is an important one. I have included good information from other Grace writers about Lordship Salvation. I hope these answers help you.
http://gracenet.com/Grace/news/y1991/91oct2.html
http://www.korealink.com/public/christian/messages/2609.shtml
http://gracenet.com/Grace/news/y1988/88june5.html
http://www.byronbible.org/faq/lordship.htm
http://www.leaderu.com/isot/docs/lordshp2.html
http://www.korealink.com/public/christian/messages/632.htm
http://www.cnsnet.net/spfld/svchapel/studypaper/lordship.html
http://gracenet.com/Grace/news/y1992/92may2.html
http://wayoflife.org/~dcloud/fbns/repentancelordship.htm
http://www.he.net/~zhodges/books/free.html
http://gracenet.com/Grace/news/y1992/92sep2.html

Barking, Laughing, Dancing

QUESTION: Recently a lady came to worship with us. After some conversations she told me that her church was in the renewal movement. This was barking, laughing and now they've added dancing. Her church leadership told her that she must attend classes to learn this dance of the Spirit. Certain flags are twirled and large rings that look like the old indian dream catchers. Their only Scripture edit of course is David's dance. I find it rather strange that our Apostle Paul didn't mention this to the gentiles. We know of Paul's education and the fact that Jesus actually came back from heaven to call Paul as our Apostle...yet he doesn't tell us to continue this Jewish custom that was done before Grace. I would appreciate a comment from you.
ANSWER: The Bible does not leave us without a way to know God's Will for our lives and for His Church. God's Spirit communicated clearly what He wanted His Households (Dispensations - oikonomia ) of Faith to do. Some of the behavior people call "of the Holy Spirit" is not mentioned anywhere in Scripture. Some behavior is mentioned in one Household but not in another. Some behavior is found in two Households but with a different emphasis (i.e. Acts 2:5-12 & 1 Corinthians 14). We need to look carefully at anything others say is "of" God and question its origin, purpose and direction.
One of the main problems in churches and movements today is "mixing" teaching from various Dispensations. I've read literature from modern renewal movements that mix Scripture from several Households of Faith. Some groups believe we are in the time of the middle of the Book of Revelation and can bring about the great revival of Israel and the signs and wonders of the Tribulation. Almost any Scripture can be used to prove something or some point of view. These movements can be divisive and hard to understand.
The Grace Movement is not such a movement. We believe God has made His Will for this Dispensation of Grace clear through the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:2-9). We don't find barking, uncontrolled laughing, dancing, leaping, falling, thrashing, rolling, fainting, screaming or other such behavior in the Gospel of God's Grace. The behavior we find in Paul's writings to the Christians of the first century includes holiness, mercy, love, graciousness, respect, prayer, unity, faith, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Paul was clear in his teaching that Christian meetings were to be "fitting and orderly" (1 Corinthians 14:26-40). The Grace Movement emphasizes unity and clarity.
Renewal movements emphasize spiritual gifts; especially sign gifts. Spiritual gifts, all of them, are for the purpose of "building up" the Body of Christ, preaching the precious Gospel of God's Grace and bringing glory to God.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." That's the purpose for our spiritual giftedness: "the common good." Paul warned the Corinthians about sign gifts that would cause unbelievers to think they were out of their minds. The primary gifts of prophecy and teaching will convince sinners they need Jesus in their lives, too (1 Corinthians 14:23-25).
Every Christian should be guided by the Holy Spirit, Who will guide us by His Word as revealed to the Apostle Paul. God is not going to "move" His people to do anything that is not in concert with His Word. Challenge every believer to compare their behavior and the behavior of their "movement" with Christ's Gospel as revealed to Paul. Does the behavior bring glory to God? Is it "fitting and orderly?" Is it even found in Paul's letters? We should be concerned about any behavior or movement in the Church that is outside God's written Word.

Why Paul Baptized Gentiles

QUESTION: I believe the church, the Body of Christ, began with the Apostle Paul. I am confused about why Paul is baptizing Gentile believers in Acts 16 and perhaps in Acts 18. It would seem to me that there would be no reason to ever baptize Gentile saints. What is your understanding in this regard?
ANSWER: Paul was baptized after he believed in Christ (Acts 9:18). Paul baptized Lydia and her family (Acts 16:15), the Philippian jailer and his family (Acts 16:33), Crispus and his family and others in Corinth (Acts 18:8).
A word about the 12 Jewish disciples in Ephesus who had received John's baptism (Acts 19:1-7).

"Paul said, 'John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.' On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul palced his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied."

The Scripture does not say Paul re-baptized the Jewish disciples into water. John the Baptist's baptism prepared the people of Israel for the coming of their Messiah. John baptized people after they confessed their sins. John's message was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near...Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River...I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Matthew 3:2,6,11) The disciples in Ephesus had confessed their sins, believed John's message and received John's water baptism. However, they had not been baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Paul asked the disciples, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Paul's issue with these disciples was whether they had received God's Spirit. They had not. So, Paul placed his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came on them, "and they spoke in tongues and prophesied."
This is the only recorded time when Paul placed his hands on people and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. It was an unusual situation. Another Jew, in similar circumstances, did not have the same reaction to Paul's gospel. Apollos was like the 12 disciples in Ephesus. He was a Jew, had been instructed in the way of the Lord, spoke with great fervor, taught about Jesus accurately, but knew only John's baptism. Priscilla and Aquila, two Jews Paul had befriended in Corinth, went with him to Ephesus. Paul went on to Caesarea and Antioch and left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus. They met Apollos and "explained to him the way of God more adequately." (Acts 18:26) There is no mention in Scripture that the Holy Spirit came on him and that he spoke in tongues or prophesied. The Word does say Apollos went to Achaia and "he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ." (Acts 18:28) Keep in mind that Paul had Apostolic power to work miracles. Priscilla and Aquilla did not.
The Book of Acts is a Book of transition, of change. Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles but lays his hands on Jews and the Holy Spirit comes on them and they speak in tongues and prophesy. Peter is the Apostle to the Jews but God used him to preach to the first Gentiles and the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and praised God. Later, Jewish leaders saw that Paul had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. "For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agree that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews." (Galatians 2:7-10) Acts, what an amazing Book! It truely is a Book of transitions.
Paul was never quoted as saying people should be baptized in water. He never preached it. He never taught it. He never wrote it. He never commanded it nor suggested it. He did baptize some along the way, but not many. He could remember baptizing Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas in Corinth: "beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else." Baptism was not an important part of Paul's ministry. He didn't remember baptizing more than a few people in Corinth. Peter, James, John and the other Jewish Apostles remembered baptizing thousands in Jerusalem. Why? Because it was part of their gospel. Christ commanded them to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) Most baptismal churches keep careful records of the baptisms of their members and families. It's important to one's rights to participate in church matters and functions. Some baptismal churches believe it is necessary to eternal life. Paul, on the other hand, had no record of baptisms in any city where he preached his gospel. His memory brought back the names of a few people he had baptized, but that was all. No written records. No further recollection. Not important to him at all.
Paul wrote the Corinthians he was thankful he did not baptize any of them except Crispus, Gaius and the household of Stephanas. "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel." (1 Corinthians 1:17) That's a strong statement! Paul separated water baptism from his gospel of God's Grace. He said Christ "did not send" him to baptize. How could that be? Christ told the Twelve Apostles to make disciples and baptize them. Paul said Christ did not send him to baptize?
This is not a contradiction. Water baptism was an important part of the Kingdom Gospel. It is not part of the Grace Gospel.
If Christ had not sent Paul to baptize but to preach the gospel, why did he baptize anyone at all? Why did he state his position about water baptism years after he met Christ? Did he not realize it until later?
I believe Paul would not have done anything Christ told him not to do. Paul did not approach water baptism in the same way the Jewish Apostles did, but he admitted to baptizing a few. Paul wrote the Corinthians he was glad he had not baptized more than that because Christ had not sent him to baptize, but to preach the gospel. Paul also wrote the Corinthians in that same letter about Spirit baptism.

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
The Spirit's baptism of Christians into the Body of Christ was Paul's message. This was the mystery Christ gave him to preach; not water baptism. "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 3:6) Paul wrote about "one baptism" in his letter to the Ephesians; not two baptisms. "There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-5)
Paul's ministry was one of transition and change. God led Paul out of one dispensation into another. Paul was saved in the Kingdom Dispensation. God used Paul later to begin the Grace Dispensation. It was a Dispensation where God revealed things to Paul "which for ages past was kept hidden in God." Paul's understanding about Grace and the Mystery grew as God's revelation to him grew. Paul learned that many religious practices from the old dispensation were not for the new dispensation. Water baptism, circumcision, obedience to the Mosaic Law and Sabbath worship were examples of those that did not continue. Love for God, doing good to others and the Lord's Supper were examples of a few that did.