GRACE IN VAIN

GRACE IN VAIN

2 Corinthians 6:1 (KJV)

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

A Christian ought to see otherss differently

·   We see the saved as a new creature

·   We see both the saved and the lost as the object of God’s love 

·   We see the believer, even if He has offended us, as possessing the righteousness of God

Our responsibility is to serve in the ministry of reconciliation.

·   We want to bring the lost to God and

·   We want to bring the believers together 

Nothing has changed as we begin this next chapter.

Our work, our labor is that of reconciliation.

But before we get into that, I want to spend our time this morning on one concept from this verse.

“…that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”

Can a person be saved and then lose their salvation?

If that is not what it means, what does it mean?

Perhaps we can find some help it,

*I. A COMPANION PASSAGE

James 2:14-26 (KJV)

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Notice the word “profit.”

It means “to heap up, to gain, to take advantage.”

It’s the opposite of the word “vain,” which means, “empty.”

The lesson that James wants to teach us is that we ought to “take advantage” of our faith. We ought to use it for profit – not our own, but for the profit of the Lord and for the benefit of others.

James then gives us two examples of this profitable faith, doesn’t he?

Abraham

Abraham’s faith caused him to:

·   Follow God to a Promised place

·   Worship God as a sojourner and stranger in the earth and

·   Give to God his most treasured prize, his son Isaac 

*Rahab the harlot

Rahab’s faith led her to:

·   Hide the spies of Israel

·   Ask of them salvation and

·   Openly show the scarlet thread out her window

*To have received this Gospel grace and to leave it 

·   Untapped, 

·   Untried and 

·   Unused 

is vanity indeed. 

We can build upon this with

*II. A SECOND COMPANION PASSAGE

Hebrews 2:1-3 (KJV)

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

How does a person “neglect so great salvation?”

When we let what we have heard slip.

We are to give earnest heed to the things we have heard in the Word of God.

Not just that we listen to them, but that we apply them, that we live them out.

To come to church, 

·   to tell the pastor that was a good sermon and then 

·   to be just as you were before you came to church 

is to neglect what God has done in your soul.

You have received His grace, but you have not taken advantage of it.

What a travesty to possess so great salvation and then to neglect it. 

•    To ignore the preaching of God’s Word

•    To backslide and rebel against it

•    To be a hearer of the Word and do nothing with it. 

This is to receive the grace of God in vain and it is, as James puts it, dead. 

*III. PAUL’S APPEAL

Seems then to be pretty simple.

2 Corinthians 6:1 (KJV)

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

A. As laborers together

This is not only the desire of Paul; it is the desire of God.

·   As one who has yoked together with God

·   As one who has accepted the call of God to preach

·   As one who has embraced the ministry of reconciliation

*B. We “beseech you” plead with you.

I see the difference between teaching and preaching, as much as anything is that preaching pleads.

Preaching asks the hearer to practice, to apply the message.

Preaching implores the hearer to not receive the message, this grace of God that is the preaching, in vain

And then 

C. Notice the word “also.”

The preacher includes himself.

·   We are laborers together with God

·   We have not received the grace of God in vain

·   We have taken advantage of what God has given us.

We are asking you to take advantage of this grace with us.