Principles of Grace to Ponder

1. Grace is freely given upon agreement or confession of what God did in sending Jesus to die for us.

a. It is immediate and eternal

b. John 1:12, 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.

c. John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2. There is nothing that we did other than belief to gain our salvation; there is nothing we can do to preserve it.

a. Ephesians 2:8,9; For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

b. Titus 3:5,6, 7; Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

3. Jesus asks the eleven to abide in John 15:4 (Abide in me, and I in you.)

There was a covenant of works for the Palestinian Covenant. Its formula was basically “do this and I will bless you.” Israel rather spectacularly failed at this. The command “abide in me and I in you” is a new statement, but largely is just a restatement of the covenant.

4. Therefore, Jesus was admonishing his apostles to abide in him, and looking on Judas, who had forsaken Jesus for money. The cross lay immediately ahead and can be looked at as the final rejection of the Son of God. Jesus knew that cross was before him, knew that the final rejection was at hand. The chief priests and Judas were all acting together against the very prophet Moses had long ago warned them to listen to. (Dt. 18:15, The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.)

5. Many Christians have looked on this passage without the proper discernment. Jesus is very concerned about the radical change that is going to take place with respect to Israel’s position. He has forecast the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:2, And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.) and his last lament on the way to the cross is for Jerusalem not abiding. (Mt. 24:37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!) Israel is in the act of refusing their Savior and is going to be removed from their position for what is now over 2,000 years.

6. Specifically, when Jesus says he is the vine and the apostles are the branches he then goes on to tell about the care of the branches. Those that do not abide are worthless and cast into the fire. (John 15:6, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.)

7. As Jesus looked with what he knew was his final look upon the apostles, he foresaw that they would desert him. Particularly Peter with his denials, but also the others would forsake Jesus and abandon him to the cross. Jesus declares that the vine would be pruned so that it might produce fruit. How can he be talking about anyone but Peter, who just strongly declared to the Lord that he would never deny him? Secondarily, he is referring to the rest of the apostles whom he has already declared would forsake him.

8. Grace is immeasurable. What is grace at first must remain grace forever, else it is not grace. Jesus is not declaring to Christians here that they have to “abide” or they are threatened with losing their salvation and being burned up. Instead, the Israelites in general, and the apostles in specific, are being told that they are losing their coveted place of having the God of Israel next to them.

9. Should Christians abide? Of course, but Jesus is not teaching about the church abiding here, before the cross has even taken place. Instead, he is talking about Israels’ abiding and their failure to listen to the prophet. John has some very powerful things to say to Christians about abiding in 1 John. (1 John 2:29) And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

10. Note the order. Grace first. Obedience follows. It should always follow, but the heart is deceptive and wicked, so sometimes it is very difficult for us to observe the obedience. But grace will not be denied, and so should the Christian never fear of “using up” all the grace of God. When Christ died on the cross, he died for every one of our sins, for “whosoever” shall believe. Grace indeed!