Unlimited Atonement

Free Will Series.

What is  "Unlimited Atonement?” It is the view that Christ died for everyone, everywhere, even if not all choose to accept that gift. At its core, Unlimited Atonement (sometimes called general or universal atonement) is the understanding that Jesus Christ's death on the cross was sufficient, intended, and offered for every single person who has ever lived.

Let’s talk about it. Let us pray. Father, we come before you with thanksgiving and praise, and we thank you for all we have, had, and ever will have. We gather today to learn about your Unlimited Atonement and how it fits with our free will. We pray, Father, for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive and understand your Truth and Revelation. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!

To break it down clearly. The scope is Universal. Christ paid the penalty for the sins of the entire world, not just a select group. While Christ provided salvation for everyone, that salvation is only applied to those who believe. It doesn't mean everyone is automatically saved (which would be universalism); rather, it means the door is genuinely open to all.

“He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”  1 John 2:2

I want you to picture an open door. Look at that door. Look around the door. Do you see anything saying VIP only? No. Do you see Muslims, Jews, or Christians only? No. What do you see? An open door. 

The cross of Jesus Christ wasn't a limited-capacity rescue mission. It was God throwing the doors of heaven wide open to the whole world.

Before we can understand the scope of the cross, we have to look at the heart of the One who planned it. The atonement is unlimited because God’s love and desire for a relationship are unlimited. God does not take pleasure in anyone's loss; His baseline desire is rescue.

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3–4

God desires all people to be saved. Say “all,” and 2 Peter 3:9: He is patient, not wishing that any should perish.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

If God’s revealed desire is for all to come to repentance, then the provision He made on the cross must match that desire. An unlimited invitation requires an unlimited provision. It must be sufficient for all. 

Let's move from God's character to Jesus's action. What actually happened on the cross? Jesus didn’t just pay for a specific subset of human sins. The weight of the world's brokenness was placed on Him. This is John the Baptist.

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!“ John 1:29. 

Also in Isaiah 53:6 

“All we like sheep have gone astray; 

We have turned--everyone--to his own way; 

and the LORD has laid on him 

the iniquity of us all.”

Sufficiency vs. efficiency. The sacrifice is sufficient for all, but efficient (effective) only for those who believe. A check has been written for the whole world, but a check must be cashed to benefit the recipient.

Remember, "whosoever will.” Because God’s heart is for all, and Christ's death paid for all, the preaching of the Gospel can be offered to anyone with absolute honesty. No caveats in the offer: When we tell someone "Jesus died for you," we don't have to wonder if it's legally true for them. It is.

Of course, we have John 3:16-18 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

And Revelation 22:17

“The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

This is why Jesus gave us the Great Commission. 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Because the atonement is unlimited, our mandate to preach is unrestricted. Every person your congregation meets is someone Jesus explicitly died for. 

“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Romans 10:13-15

 We serve a God whose love is boundless, who paid a flawless price, offering a timeless invitation. Sadly, an unlimited gift still requires acceptance. The tragedy of a lost life isn't that a payment wasn't made; it's that the payment was refused. Look here.

“When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, 'Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ 

 But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.' And another said, 'I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I am going to examine them. Please excuse me.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 

So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'" Luke 14:15-24

I understand that this can be a hard lesson. Some become offended by it. However, it does not change the reality. The Banquet is the marriage of the Lamb, the gift of Salvation. The “invited guests” are the Jews. The Jewish people. Those who refused, you guessed it, the Jewish People. Those in the “highways, byways, the poor and crippled, and blind and lame.” Well, they are us. Me, you, them, everyone. 

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:11-14

As you know, 

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.“ Galatians 3:27-29

Look at where we stand today. Look at the sheer beauty of what Christ accomplished. You never have to look at your neighbor, your coworker, or even your enemy and wonder, "Did Jesus die for them?" He did. We have been sent out into the highways and hedges to compel people to come in. There is still room at the table!

The check has been signed in the blood of Christ. But a check left on the counter doesn't pay the bills. It has to be accepted. An unlimited gift still requires a personal choice.

And that brings us to a crucial, sobering reality. God threw the door wide open. He paid for the lock to be broken. He handles the hinges, and He stands on the other side with open arms. But God will not drag anyone through it. He respects human choice too much for that.

Today, we see the glorious side of the coin: God’s provision is grand enough for every single soul. However, we have to look squarely at the other side of that coin, the heavy responsibility that comes with our ability to choose. God does not force.

Consider the immense significance of it all. Love, by its very nature, cannot be forced. A love that is coerced isn’t love at all; it’s more like conscription. God is a Father seeking a family, not a dictator demanding obedience from puppets. When He granted humanity free will, He bestowed upon us something incredibly precious yet daunting. He gave us the ability to say "Yes" to Him, which also meant that He had to allow us the ability to say "No."

Next time, we are going to unpack exactly what that means. We're going to look at how real free will works, why it matters so deeply to God, and the tragic reality of what happens when a human heart stubbornly uses its free will to walk away from a banquet that has already been fully paid for.

But today, as we close, the door is open. The invitation is without price, but it demands a choice.  Let us stop making excuses. If you haven't walked through that door, choose Christ today. And if you have, let’s get out into the highways and byways to bring others to His table.

Remember, you can find a vast archive at TAG

The email is, as always, truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the Lord our God go before you as your way maker, as well as behind you as your rear guard, and may He be with you, always. 

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

2 Peter 1

 Chapter 1

2 Peter 1

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it meets, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

15 Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Mercy of God

 Mercy of God

In the Bible, the mercy of God is one of the most prominent and defining aspects of His character. Rather than being a passive feeling, biblical mercy is deeply tied to action, covenant loyalty, and forgiveness.

To understand how the Bible describes God's mercy, it is helpful to look at the specific original languages used, as well as the recurring imagery throughout the Old and New Testaments. The biblical definition of mercy is best understood through the specific terms the original writers used: Hanan (Hebrew): This root word conveys a heartfelt response of compassion. It implies a superior showing favor, kindness, or pity to an inferior who has no inherent claim to it.

Hesed (Hebrew): Often translated as "mercy," "steadfast love," or "lovingkindness," hesed is a foundational Old Testament concept. It refers to God’s unwavering, loyal, covenant-keeping love for His people, even when they fail Him.

Eleos (Greek): In the New Testament, this word describes a deep pity or compassion that manifests in outward action, specifically, relieving the misery of someone in a wretched or helpless state.

Rachamim (Hebrew) / Splanchnizomai (Greek): These words literally refer to the "bowels" or "womb." It represents a visceral, deeply felt emotional response of compassion, akin to a mother’s protective love for her child.

The foundational Old Testament definition of God's mercy is repeated like a creed across multiple books (including Exodus, Numbers, Psalms, Joel, and Jonah): "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (hesed) and faithfulness..."  Exodus 34:6.  Key characteristics highlighted in the Old Testament include: relentless and untiring. Lamentations 3:22–23 notes that His mercies "never come to an end; they are new every morning." 

This is where “It’s a new day, new chance” comes from. 

Psalm 103 describes God's mercy as being as high as the heavens are above the earth, explicitly noting that because of His mercy, He "does not deal with us according to our sins."

The cover of the Ark of the Covenant was known as the Mercy Seat ( kapporeth). This was the specific place where sacrificial blood was sprinkled to make atonement, symbolizing that God's presence meets humanity through the filter of mercy.

Paul describes God as being uniquely "rich in mercy." 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4

The New Testament emphasizes that salvation is entirely independent of human merit. As Titus 3:4-7 states,

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” 

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy." Because of Christ, the author of Hebrews encourages believers to "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." 

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. “ Hebrews 4:16

Ultimately, the Bible describes God’s mercy not as a suspension of justice, but as a deliberate choice to withhold the punishment an individual deserves, while providing the grace and restoration they could never earn. It is portrayed as parental, enduring, and actively seeking out the broken.

Did you know that the text that the rest of the entire Bible quotes more than any other when describing who God is is Exodus 34:6–7?

“The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."

What makes this the "best" biblical description is its context. Moses is on Mount Sinai right after the golden calf disaster. Israel has just broken the brand-new covenant before the ink is even dry. Moses asks to see God’s glory, and instead of a blinding flash of light, God describes His character.

It is the first time in Scripture where God systematically defines Himself. If you break down the original Hebrew text, you get a beautiful, natural outline of His nature. God uses specific words that paint a vivid, multi-dimensional picture of mercy:

Rachum (רַחוּם) – "Merciful" or "Compassionate." This word shares its root directly with the Hebrew word for "womb" (rechem). It describes a visceral, maternal instinct to protect and care for a vulnerable child. When God says He is rachum, He is saying His mercy isn't just a legal decision; it's a deep, emotional, protective love for His people when they are at their weakest.

Chanun (חַנּוּן) – "Gracious." This describes a ruler who leans down to show favor to someone who has absolutely no right to claim it. It is entirely unearned, unconditional favor. 

Erek Apayim (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם) – "Slow to Anger" or "Long-suffering." The literal Hebrew idiom here is fascinating: it means "long of nose." In the ancient Near East, a person’s anger was described by their nostrils flaring or heating up. God is saying, "It takes a very long time for My nose to get hot." He breathes through His nose, takes a long pause, and gives people space to repent. He is patient.

Rav Chesed (וְרַב־חֶסֶד) – "Abounding in Covenant Love." Chesed is one of the most important words in the Old Testament. It doesn't just mean "goodness"—it means loyal, stubborn, covenant-keeping love. It is the love that refuses to give up on someone, even when they fail. And God doesn't just have a little bit of it; He is rav (abounding, overflowing) in it.

Noseh Avon va-Peshah va-Chata'ah (נֹשֵׂא עָוֺן וָפֶשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה) – "Forgiving three layers of rebellion." God uses three distinct Hebrew words for human failure here to show that His mercy covers every single type of sin: Iniquity (Avon): Twisted, crooked behavior or crooked thinking. Transgression (Peshah): Intentional, willful betrayal and breaking of trust. Sin (Chata'ah): Missing the mark, failing, or wandering off the path. God states that He noseh them—which literally means "to lift and carry away." He bears the weight of the sin, so the people don't have to.

It does not matter what you did, what you do, or even what you may do. The Mercy of God is greater than any sin. Big or small. White or horrendous. From the sins of Saul to the grace of Paul, you are in good hands if you are covered in God’s Mercy. Is there such a thing as Unlimited Atonement? Absolutely. This is what we will be discussing next time. 

Remember, you can always check out the vast archive here at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

1 Peter 5

 Chapter 5

Shepherd the Flock of God

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Total Depravity

 Free will series.  

To be clear on definitions, theologians who use this term (most notably in Reformed theology or Calvinism) don't mean that humans are as absolutely evil as they could be in every action. Instead, they mean that every part of human nature, the mind, the will, the emotions, and the flesh, has been corrupted by sin. The core idea is that apart from God, a person is spiritually dead and entirely incapable of choosing or pleasing God on their own. So, how can free will exist then? This is what we are discussing today. Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, we come before you today, gathered in your name, to learn your Truths and revelations. As we dive into your Word, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive your wisdom and knowledge for what you want us to understand. Show us, Father, how even though we are totally depraved, you still love us, guide us, and allow us to be washed clean by the blood of your Son. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen!

What does it mean that we are “totally depraved?” 

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3

This is often considered the definitive passage on the state of humanity without divine intervention. Paul describes the natural human condition before being made alive by Christ. The keyword here is "dead." A physically dead person cannot reach out, call for help, or choose to breathe. Therefore, a spiritually dead person has zero capacity to seek or choose God until God acts first to make them alive.

“What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." Romans 3:10–12

In this passage, Paul strings together several Old Testament quotes (primarily from the Psalms) to create an absolute, all-inclusive declaration about human nature apart from grace. This explicitly denies that humans possess a natural spark of goodness that seeks out the divine. Left to our own devices, the text argues, human orientation is universally away from God.

In the world, we are often told, by some people who truly mean well, that we should just follow our hearts. That is one of the worst things you could ever do. Why? The Old Testament frequently addresses the internal condition of human desires and motivation, most famously in this verse from Jeremiah.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "The LORD searches the heart and tests the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." Jeremiah 17-9-10

Human brokenness isn't just a matter of bad external behavior; it is an internal sickness of the heart itself. Because the "generator" of human desires is corrupted, a person cannot naturally produce holy or God-pleasing choices.

Look at Romans 8:5-8 

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” 

Also, here in 1 Corinthians 2:14

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

These focus on the human intellect and will, arguing that without the Holy Spirit, the human mind is fundamentally incapable of aligning with God.

Note the words "it cannot" and "he is not able." This goes beyond a person choosing not to follow God; it claims a fundamental, systemic inability to do so. I can hear a friend of mine yelling out, “SEE. No free will. What you are teaching does not exist.”

He believes in Total Depravity based on these verses, and he will argue that because humans are spiritually "dead" and "cannot please God," free will is useless. God must choose them and activate them, or they will stay dead.

Others and I, who emphasize human responsibility, argue that while humanity is indeed deeply broken and crippled by sin, God's "prevenient Grace" reaches out to everyone, temporarily overriding that spiritual death just enough to give them the ability to freely choose or reject Him.

This perspective agrees that humanity is genuinely crippled by sin, spiritually dead, and unable to seek God by its own natural power. However, God does not leave humanity entirely in that helpless state.

Through prevenient grace, or a divine grace that goes before and prepares the heart, God partially restores human free will and lifts the deadening effects of sin just enough for a person to respond. The command to "choose life" is a genuine invitation made possible because God has already initiated contact, shining light into the darkness and enabling a real, accountable choice. In short, the inability is real by nature, but overcome by grace, making the choice genuinely possible for anyone.

When Paul uses phrases like "none seeks for God" in Romans 3, quoting the Psalms, he is constructing a legal argument to show that neither Jew nor Gentile can claim righteousness based on their own merit or law-keeping. From this perspective, the "deadness" and "not seeking" describe the universal human condition apart from a covenant relationship with God. The commands to choose life are the ongoing, relational expressions of God's desire for His people. A standard that highlights human accountability regardless of our moral weakness.

The reason I believe in free will is simple. Two main reasons. If we did not have free will, then what would be the point of any of it? Adam and Eve could never have sinned. Jesus would not have had to come and die for us. Passages like this, 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.“ John 3 16-18

All the whoevers, any, ifs, and the like are pointless. If we cannot choose, then why would we have a choice? If we do not have a choice, the Ten Commandments are mute. We would never break them. If we do not have a choice, we would not be called, but commanded to do whatever God says. God is not a liar. If He tells us to choose, yet we have no choice, then He is lying. 

The next reason is sad to even imagine. If God does choose some from the dawn of time to be saved, then for whatever reason, He chooses not to choose millions of others, then would that not mean that God created millions of people to just simply live here, and then suffer forever? With no chance of salvation? No matter what? 

Now I understand that our little finite minds cannot possibly grasp the concept of God and His ways; however, I feel we learn enough in His Word to say, " This does not sound like the God of the Bible.” 

 We have all fallen from grace. We have all sinned against God. Why? Because we do have free will, and we do love the things of the flesh. This alone proves we have free will. But let's get into this more deeply next time. 

Thankfully, no matter what, God’s mercy and grace are there for us, so we may indeed choose Him when we hear the truth. Through His grace and mercy, we can hear, accept, and allow the truth to set us free. 

Remember, you can always find this, and so much more, in the archives, over at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the Lord our God go before you as your way maker, as well as behind you as your rear guard, and may He be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

1 Peter 4

 Chapter 4

Stewards of God's Grace  

1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this, they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
What will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Falling from Grace

 Falling from Grace.

The phrase "falling from grace" is widely used in everyday language to describe someone losing status, getting caught in a scandal, or losing favor with a boss or the public. However, in a biblical and theological context, it has a very specific meaning. This is what we will be talking about today. Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we gather today with hearts full of thanksgiving and praise. We are grateful for everything we have been given, both in the past and what is to come. We love you and, above all, we thank you for your grace. As we explore your Word today, we will be studying the phrase "Fall or Falling from Grace." We pray, Father, that you grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to understand and embrace your truth and revelations. In Jesus' name, Amen!

In the Bible, "falling from grace" does not mean sinning so terribly that God stops loving you. Instead, it refers to a specific shift in how a person tries to be right with God, moving away from trust in God's unearned favor (grace) and turning instead to legalism, human effort, and strict ritual performance. 

The actual phrase appears explicitly only once in the entire Bible, in the New Testament book of Galatians.

“You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” Galatians 5:4 

The Apostle Paul writes to a group of early Christian churches in Galatia, modern-day Turkey, who were being told they needed to follow ancient religious laws and rituals, specifically circumcision, to truly be saved. Paul responds with sharp, direct language."You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." 

In this context, "falling from grace" refers to the act of rejecting a gift in favor of paying for it instead. The term "grace," or "charis" in Greek, signifies unearned or unmerited favor. If someone presents you with a priceless gift and you insist on writing them a check for it, you are effectively rejecting the very nature of that gift.

The Word declares in Ephesians 2:8-9 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

There is nothing you can do to earn your way to heaven. Nothing. Simply put. 

“And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31

 And here

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12

Now, if salvation requires me to do something, even if that "something" is just the mental or spiritual act of choosing to believe, then haven't I technically performed a task to earn it? If I have faith and someone else doesn't, is my faith a "work" that made the difference?

I have been asked this before. First, faith is a gift, not a work. The most common resolution is that faith itself isn't something humans manufactured or dug up on their own. Instead, it’s viewed as a gift. In this view, God provides both salvation and the faculty of faith to accept it. Because you didn't create the faith yourself, having it can't be considered a credit to your own effort or merit.

Second,  Theologians often distinguish between the meritorious cause of salvation, what actually pays for it, and the instrumental cause, or the tool used to receive it. Think of it like a starving beggar being offered a free, massive feast. Someone hands you the food completely free, and you simply open your hands to take it. Does the act of opening your hands count as "work"? Technically, it's a physical action. But it didn't earn or create the feast; it's simply the passive instrument used to accept a total gift.

In the same way, faith is seen not as a work that earns salvation, but as the empty hand reaching out to receive it. In the New Testament, particularly in the writings of Paul, faith and works are explicitly set up as opposites, not variations of the same thing. “I cannot achieve this, so I trust someone else did." 

“Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift, but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” Romans 4:4–5

Therefore, true biblical faith isn't viewed as a supreme mental work; it is actually the complete cessation of trying to work your way to God. It's an admission of bankruptcy. So, while from a strict, hyper-literal standpoint "having faith" is an action a person takes, theologically it is framed as the exact opposite of a work. It is shifting the burden of performance entirely off of yourself and placing it onto Jesus.

Getting a little off target here, but turning your back on the system of faith in Christ’s finished work and returning to a system of self-reliance, trying to earn God's approval through flawless performance of religious rules. While the phrase itself is rare, the concept of turning away from reliance on God’s grace and choosing an alternate, self-reliant path shows up in several major Biblical narratives. 

As mentioned above, this is the prime historical example. These believers didn't "fall" because they fell into gross immorality; they "fell" because they became rigid legalists. They stopped trusting that Jesus' death was enough and started believing that their own ritual compliance was necessary to secure God's favor.

King Saul’s downfall is a vivid illustration of shifting from reliance on God to reliance on self. Early on, Saul was humble and relied on God's chosen path. But over time, he began taking matters into his own hands. Before a major battle, rather than waiting for the prophet Samuel to offer the proper sacrifice as commanded, Saul grew impatient and performed the ritual himself out of fear and political pressure,  1 Samuel 13. He substituted a rigid external ritual for genuine, trusting obedience. Samuel famously told him, "To obey is better than sacrifice." Saul fell from a position of divine favor because he trusted his own strategic calculations over God's instructions.

Then you have the parable of the Prodigal Son. While the younger "prodigal" son blows his inheritance on wild living, the older brother in Jesus' famous parable in Luke 15 actually embodies the heart of "falling from grace."When the rebellious younger brother returns home and is instantly forgiven and celebrated by the father, which is a pure act of grace, the older brother becomes furious. He refuses to join the party, telling his father, "Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders." He viewed his relationship with his father as a contract based on slavery and wages, completely missing the father's heart of free, relational love. 

He alienated himself from the joy of the household because he resented grace. What the Bible says is a major moral failure or sin. Trying to earn salvation through rules and rituals.The Mindset "I am too broken/bad for God to love me."  “I am good enough to secure my own standing with God." Ruined reputation or loss of human status. Alienation from the freedom and peace of Christ's sacrifice. In short, a biblical "fall from grace" is not a fall into sin that cuts off God’s mercy; it is a "fall" into pride and legalism that refuses to accept mercy in the first place.

Let me share a personal story here. I was serving in a church, and I was doing everything. Hospitality, overseeing the Ushering, the Security, and I became the Facility Director. I did it all. Every event, cooking, setup, and breakdown, all of it. You know what happened? I got tired. 

The Pastor sat me down and said, "You know what? You are Martha.” What? What in the world does the world mean? What is wrong with this guy? I said something to the effect of “I do everything around here. I do the best I can at all times.” He said, “I know. We all appreciate all you do. I’m not saying that you are doing anything, uh, wrong. You are doing a lot. I will be honest, some have raised concerns.” 

Needless to say, I got angry. I have not worked on that as much as I should. “What?!? What are they saying!?” He said, “I know it’s not going to seem fair, but I cannot say. If I do, others will be hurt, and it will be like a mess.” I was getting furious at this point. “So people accuse me or are ‘concerned’ about something, and yet, you will not say what?”  I threw the key to the church on the desk and got up to leave. 

“Sit down, please. Please hear us out.”  An Elder was there, too. “You are Martha.” 

“Now, as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." 

But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Martha’s hospitality was genuine and valued in Jewish culture. However, her service was marked by distraction, anxiety, and a sense of being overwhelmed. Her heart was not at rest, and her service became a burden rather than a joyful act of love.

Mary’s posture, sitting at Jesus’ feet, symbolized discipleship. It was a posture of listening, learning, and fellowship. By prioritizing Jesus’ presence over all other tasks, Mary ensured her service would be guided by His Word and Spirit. This posture prevented her work from becoming spiritually empty or self-righteous. This is what the Pastor was trying to teach me. 

There was nothing wrong with my service, but my service turned into something it should never have been. Going through the motions, and if I cared to admit it or not, becoming disgruntled toward others. I was allowing sin to come in when I did not stop long enough to listen and/or get filled back up by the Lord.  

Did I officially fall from grace? Not at that time. But I did eventually, because I could not let it go. Slowly, I stepped away. Missed this or that event. Missed various Sundays. Forget Bible Study Wednesdays. My love was slowly turning to hate. Eventually, I left altogether. 

You see, it does not have to be overt sin. It does not have to be outright, undeniable, clear-cut sin. I fell from grace while I thought I was serving the Lord in the House of the Lord. However, I forgot one thing. Service or “works” without love and faith becomes a stumbling block for anyone. You must never neglect one for the other. 

What is the greatest Commandment? 

“And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38 

Notice it does not say, “You shall work yourself to death, and you should serve the church." No, it says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”  

I was serving; however, I forgot to “Seek first the Kingdom of God.” I was serving the church, the pastor, and the congregation, but what about God Himself? Be careful, child of God. The devil can come at you in so many ways that you would never think of. He will divide if he has the chance. He will drag you down if he has the chance. He will use your fall from grace to bring others down as well.  

This is where the Mercy of God comes in. Well, this is one example. This is what we will be talking about next time. 

Remember, you can always check out the vast archive here at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!