In this essay, I am employing the term, “grace” in the traditional sense, that it is God’s solution for those of us who do not live as righteously as we should. We go to Heaven by grace, we say, although nowhere in the Scriptures is it stated that we go to Heaven by grace.
Paul used the term, “grace” to tell us about how God’s program operates apart from our religious efforts. There is a terrible difference between these two definitions of grace.
Contemporary Christian teaching presents “grace” as an alternative to the development of godly character and righteous behavior. This ought not to be!
If the rewards will be given to the victorious saints, and if grace is an alternative to character development, it seems that grace will interfere with the program of developing victorious saints.
According to the Bible, the members of the Royal Priesthood will have awesome responsibilities in the future, such as in the renewal of the creation. How can this be true if they do not have a godly character and behave righteously? Will grace create a godly character?
If we are to be made in God’s image, we certainly should have a character like His. Where does grace enter this picture?
The Bible used to be called “The Good Book” because it taught people how to be good. Now it is “The Grace Book” because it teaches people how to please God without being good.
