Thirty Things that Grace Cannot Do – Part IX
From The HeartPublish date: 10/13/2013
20. Grace cannot impart eternal life to men who serve sin and Satan.
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:7-8 NKJV
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24-25 NKJV
21. Grace cannot keep man from moral falls if they willfully sin.
But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23 NKJV
Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin. John 8:34 AMP
So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him. Romans 8:8 AMP
22. Grace cannot force God to go contrary to His own program of grace.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16 NKJV
But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. Hebrews 3:6 NKJV
The good news of the Gospel is that we can come to the Father through Jesus. It is a free gift given by God’s grace. God has the best plan – anything else is a road to nowhere. You cannot follow your own path or do your own thing and expect God to extend His grace and excuse your rebellion. There is only ONE Name whereby men might be saved – the Name of Jesus! Follow His path!
23. Grace cannot cancel the law of sowing and reaping.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-9 NKJV
24. Grace cannot guarantee unconditional favor to anyone who relies on the Law.
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1 NKJV
I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. Galatians 2:21 NKJV
You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4 NKJV
You cannot acquire God’s grace through relying on the law or good works. Righteousness comes through faith in God. The only way to please God is through faith. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
25. Grace cannot guarantee unforfeitable life without conditions being met.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Hebrews 10:26-27 NKJV
You cannot expect God’s grace to never leave you if you willfully sin. You cannot expect God’s grace to bring you to heaven when you die if you have been hardened by sin and departed from the faith. You must choose life. You must choose blessing. You must choose to serve God fully.
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. Hebrews 3:12-14 NKJV
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse — 27 The blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day; 28 And the curse if you will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day to go after other gods, which you have not known. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 AMP
I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live. Deuteronomy 30:19 AMP
26. Grace cannot guarantee sinlessness to men unless conditions are met.
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Hebrews 12:14-17 NKJV
"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord God. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord God. "Therefore turn and live!" Ezekiel 18:30-32 NKJV