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 I
have been asked, "Does God have a period of grace for a new
convert?" "Will God cover his sins until he has time
to learn the truth?" Many like questions or comments
indicate widespread misunderstanding about grace.
The
grace of God is treated as if it were a softness of heart for
this or that individual, evoked upon some supposed
"unusual" circumstance — as, a limb falling on a
man, killing him, just as he was entering the water to be
baptized; or, a fatal auto accident, before the victim had time
to ask forgiveness for speeding. People reason, "If I 'feel
sorry' for Joe Doaks under those circumstances, surely God would
feel sorry for him." And so we find ourselves assigning God
the character and nature we have, complete with human weakness,
fleshly desires, and earthly limitations.
God
cannot lie (Heb. 6:18), and it is impossible to please Him
without faith (11:6) for exactly the same reason. God acts only
within consistent limitations of His own nature and being. He
cannot change; He cannot deny Himself. We can know, and assign
His grace only as He revealed the working of that grace in His
word. When we speak where God has not spoken, we may be guilty
of presumptuous sin.
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The
grace of God is expressed in Jesus Christ, and through Him
to "the many" (Rom. 5:15). "God so loved the world"
(not "special cases") "that He gave ... His
Son" (Jn. 3:16). This is not "corporate love, but no
concern for the individual." It is unbiased and just
concern for every individual — a love so great it may
be hidden to man's limited view. His mighty power was wrought in
Christ (Eph. 1:18-f) and those dead in sin are made alive
in Him (2:4-7). The individual is very much there (Paul
said "who loved me, and gave himself up for me"
2:20) but he was a recipient of God's grace because he went to
Christ in faith.
Purpose,
Promise, and Election are equated (Eph. 3:6,11; Rom. 9:3,11),
and their blessings are available to "whosoever will"
come to and be faithful to Christ. He is the elect
"one," (Isa. 42:1-7; I Pet. 1:18-21) by whom those who
trust and serve Him have their hope in God.
The
"election of grace" (Rom. 11:5) is clearly shown to be
the "choosing" of the corporate body of
"believers," either Jews or Gentiles. Individuals
faithful to Christ are as branches, grafted into this
"tree," and subject to removal if they become
unfaithful (Rom. 11:16-23). This is the only way the
scriptures reveal that one may be a recipient of God's grace.
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