Grace as Power for Obedience
Peter admonishes us to grow in grace:
"But grow in grace,
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18.
Most theologians have presented grace as an attribute of God
that He does not extend to us except by way of pardon for sin. However, if we are admonished to GROW IN GRACE,
this must mean that somehow God extends His influence or power to us in order
for us to grow in grace and obedience since even Christ learned obedience by
the things which He suffered:
"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up
prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able
to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son,
yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
him." Heb. 5:7-9.
"By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for
obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name." Rom. 1:5.
We can receive grace or divine influence power upon the heart in
order to obey God. This we do by partaking of His nature, His mind. Is there
power in divine influence? Yes! We are also admonished to partake of the Divine
Nature, but that advice would be in vain if the Divine Nature of Christ did not
provide influential power.
Here is Strong's Concordance definition of grace in the context
of 2 Peter 3:18, and Romans 1:5:
#5485. graciousness
(as gratifying), of manner or act espec. the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in
the life; including gratitude):--acceptable, benefit, favour,
gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank
(-s, - worthy).
How may one grow in grace?
"Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;....
knowledge;.... temperance;.... patience;....godliness;....brotherly kindness;
....charity." 2 Peter 1:5-8. This is all related to the three angel's
messages which are capstoned thusly:
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that
keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12.
Jesus Christ is the author of salvation to all who obey Him by
His proffered grace power given to us as an unmerited favor gift to all who
sincerely repent, and sincere repentance involves a sincere attempt at
overcoming sin in the life or obedience. Remember, He is the author of
salvation to all who obey Him. This sincere repentance is our effort to obey
Him, and the power for the effort is provided as a free gift.
Some call this perfectionism. Some call is legalism. God calls
this a prescription for salvation for all who will obey. To deny this truth is
to deny the gift. Thus we do despite to one of the prime purposes of the
incarnation Atonement, that of restoring man to the
image of God.
“They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot
form a Christian character. Jesus loves to have us come to Him, just as we
are—sinful, helpless, dependent.” Faith and Works, p. 38.
“There must be a power working from within, a new life from
above, before man can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace [the
Spirit of Christ] alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and
attract it to God, to holiness.” (ST, May 28, 1902, par. 3).
Our Dispositions Unchanged
“If you would be a saint in heaven you must first be a saint on
earth. The traits of character you cherish in life will not be changed by death
or by the resurrection. You will come up from the grave with the same
disposition you manifested in your home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at
His coming. The
work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our
destiny. Defects of character must be repented of and overcome through
the grace of Christ, and a symmetrical character must be formed while
in this probationary state, that we may be fitted for the mansions above.”--13MR 82 (1891). {LDE 295.1}
The Glory that the Father gave to Christ is given to us: “Jesus
is waiting to breathe upon all his disciples, and give them the inspiration of
his sanctifying spirit, and transfuse the vital influence from himself to his
people . . . Christ is to live in his
human agents, and work through their faculties, and act through their
capabilities. Their will must be submitted to His will,
they must act with His Spirit, that
it may be no more they that live, but
Christ that liveth in them. Jesus is seeking to impress upon them the
thought that in giving His Holy Spirit
He is giving to them the glory which the Father has given Him, that He and His people may be one in God.” Signs of the Times,
October 3, 1892, par. 4.
“Christ gives them the breath of His own Spirit, the life of His
own Life.” Desire
of Ages, p. 827, par. 3.
“The Holy Spirit is the breath of life in the soul. The
impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues
the receiver with the attributes of Christ.” Desire of Ages, p. 805.
“They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit—the Spirit of
Christ—is to bring unity into their ranks.” Testimonies,
Vol. 9, p. 189.
—rwb