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What is Hyper-Grace?

April 5, 2014 / / 0 Comments

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In early 1999 I had begun to consider some of the themes that were common to all of the apostolic writings and records we have of their teachings. One thing I found was that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was very important to them all. At that time I posted an article on my web site entitled “Superabounding Grace!”

The title was taken from Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 5, verse, 20: “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

More recently I have become aware of objections that some have concerning the way grace is being understood and taught in our day. They are concerned over what they call “hypergrace.” When people use the word “hyper,” they often use it negatively. When a child is “hyperactive,” doctors often prescribe drugs to calm the child down to make it easier for him to sit still and learn in school. When advertisers exaggerate the value of the product they are selling we call it “hype,” or when a point is stretched in an argument too far, we call it “hyperbole.” It seems that “hypergrace” is when the message of the grace of God is taken to the extreme.

But wait: the Bible actually uses the Greek equivalent to the English word “hyper,” when referring to the grace of God in Christ! In Romans 5:20, the Greek word that has been translated “much more abound” is “huperpleonazo” The “huper” in the word sounds like our English word, “super,” and is the basis for the way hyper is used in our language. It means “over, above, beyond, exceedingly, to excess.” That is where the title for my earlier article “Superabounding Grace,” came from.

God’s grace is over, above, beyond, exceeding and excessive! Sin abounded to all humanity but God’s grace is far greater, more than enough to save and restore humanity back to holiness, righteousness and fellowship with Him!

Ephesians 1:7-8:
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.” NASU

Ephesians 2:4-7
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” NASU

God’s love and grace towards us is lavish, excessive, abounding, superabounding, overwhelming. His riches in Christ are unsearchable! It will take all of time and eternity for us to fully appreciate it!

From the earliest times there existed the danger that people would distort and misuse the message of salvation by grace through faith. Paul was fully aware of this danger and took pains to make his message clear. True grace is what it is. We can fail in our ability to explain it. We can misrepresent it. But we cannot change the very nature of God and His grace towards us. It is pure and without mixture.

Receive it as it has been offered to you in Christ Jesus.

The safest place for us to abide is in the whole counsel of God. The entire New Testament is about Christ and His grace. Even the warnings, rebukes and exhortations to live up to the calling wherein we have been called by Christ are expressions of His grace and love for us.

Titus 2:11-14

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” NASU

The true grace of God cannot be overemphasized. But be sure you are in the true grace of God. Any teaching that minimizes the importance of Godly living is not fully emphasizing grace, but putting limits on it. Anyone who twists other scriptures to fit their version of the Gospel of grace has misunderstood Christ and His grace. Those who love the Word of God receive it as it has been given. They are empowered and transformed by it, and equipped to discern any erroneous, however well intentioned teachings.

We do not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God!

Beyond Freedom!

April 3, 2014 / / 0 Comments

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It was a great day in my life when I realized that God had released me from my internal struggles with sin, selfishness, pride, worry, fear etc. After a night of pouring out my heart to Him in sorrow and repentance for my rebellion against Him, the following morning I felt as light as a feather! It was almost like I could fly away!

Soon after that I discovered that I was also free from external bondage, rules “like don’t touch this, don’t taste this, don’t handle that!” (Colossians 2:21). Before it seemed that the Christian life was often all about what I could not do. Now, because of God’s grace at work in me I really felt no need for things that displeased Him, and did not really need anyone standing over me shaming me into doing His will. After this experience the focus was now on the good things I want to do and can do because of His life and power within me.

That is not to say that as a young Christian I did not need some guidance along the way, but my desires had definitely changed. I was truly “born again!” At the same time I noticed that some Christians were still being pressured from external forces, and were less joyful in their walk with Christ. It seemed to me like an “Old Covenant” mentality. Even though few were concerned about obeying the Law given by God through Moses in the Hebrew Bible, our Old Testament, some were bound by new laws imposed upon them by their church leaders. These church leaders most likely had the best of intentions. They knew the potential that movies and television had to corrupt our values. They also knew that bars and gambling houses could spell trouble for us as well.

The problem arises when good, practical advice is connected with the means of our salvation. Just like the early Christians were tempted to relate Old Testament laws of circumcision with their justification before God. Paul insisted that now we are justified freely by God’s grace through Christ’s death and resurrection. The faith He imparts enables us to trust in Him and receive His wonderful gift of eternal life! He also insisted that we should “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1). In our day that yoke of bondage could mean anything that hinders us from abundant living in Him. With the cloud of external oppression lifted, we can think more clearly to discern the will of God for our lives. We want to please and glorify Him, and He will lovingly lead us in that direction, to bring us joy and wellness.

Paul maintained His freedom in Christ by intensely pursuing Him and His purpose. Once he stated:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NASU)

In another place he proclaimed:

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:10-14 KJV)

So it appears that Paul was even more intense and passionate for knowing and attaining Christ than he was for observing the law as a Pharisee! Then he urged his fellow believers in Christ to likewise discipline themselves, pursuing spiritual life in Christ, rather than the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:12-13).

In Gal 5:13-14 he warns us against misusing our freedom:

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” NASU

In other words, we are to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing our truly exalted status as the children of God, we too should have the humble attitude that was in Christ, who took the form of a servant and was obedient unto death. (Philippians 2:1-8)

There is a huge difference between serving and being obedient because we must, and because we choose to. There is a passage in Exodus 21:2-6 where the Hebrew bond slave was to be released after 6 years. But there was a provision made that a slave might decide to stay because he loves his master. A hole was then to be made in his ear to indicate his choice to stay with his master and serve him in love for life.

Paul and many other great men and women of God throughout the centuries saw themselves as willing slaves of the Lord Jesus Christ! They used their freedom to serve Christ and His people. Paul even saw himself as a prisoner of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 3:1. Philemon 1, 9) He was less concerned with his personal freedom, and more concerned about His Masters pleasure. He reminded us that when Christ “ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives,” (Ephesians 4:8 NASB) We are those who have been delivered from slavery and now belong to Him. We are bought with a price, to be bond slaves of the most loving Master of all!

We are to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), acknowledging Him as the supreme Lord over our lives and over this entire universe. He is to have the preeminence in all things! In this way we become free from every other power over us. We are not slaves of men, but our freedom in Him allows us to become the servants of all! We acknowledge the authority of His love, joy, peace, righteousness, victory, and reject all the powers of hatred, depression, injustice, and defeat that would bring us under!

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us! (Romans 8:37). What sweet abandon! What delightful captivity! What a powerful victory! This is the nature of the Kingdom of God, and Kingdom Life. Those who move beyond mere liberty to pursuing this upward call are world changers! They possess the freedom to look outside themselves and see individual lives and communities transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit! Their deepest desire is to see His Kingdom come and His will being done in earth as in heaven!

The Good News of the Kingdom rule of God is the Full Gospel! It leaves no stone unturned in God’s plan to bring all things into subjection unto Him. It touches every area of human existence: our hearts, minds, souls, bodies, our families; and even the financial, social, and physical dimensions of life. Most likely there is one or more of these areas in which God wants to change you and use you as an agent of change. If you simply respond to Him, He will empower you to do your part.

You see, it is not simply about my freedom, your freedom. It is about the entire creation that is groaning in labor pains to see Jesus Christ fully revealed in His body, the church. For the creation itself will then be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God! (Romans 8:19-22).

All You Need is Love!

February 5, 2014 / / 2 Comments

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This week in America many are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Sunday on which the British rock band, the Beatles, first performed on the Ed Sullivan Show. That variety program played a large part in what became known as Beatlemania in those days. As the name suggests, it was a crazy time. Coming from a musical family, I was already beginning to play the guitar and drums, but the excitement generated by their music helped to spark this 12 year old’s enthusiasm even more. That enthusiasm has continued to this day.

As the Beatles matured, some of the themes of their songs matured as well. In 1967 the anti-Vietnam war movement was in full swing, along with the hippies and their emphasis on peace and free-love. I was fascinated to see God becoming popular among these young adults and teens. That was also a time of great optimism, when great Christian leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King dreamed of unity and harmony among all races of humanity.

1967 was the year of what became known as the “Summer of Love,” and the Beatles were right there in the forefront again. The world’s first live global television link broadcast them live performing their song, “All You Need is Love.” It was watched by over 150 million in 26 countries, and was broadcast via satellite that year on June 25.

In this song the answers to all the world’s problems seemed so easy. Again and again we heard the warm and wonderful words, “All you need is love.” And many of us believed those words. Sadly, their love was not enough to hold the band together. Three years later a bitter breakup occured.

If love is all you need, what is the problem? Why can’t we all just get along? Are there different kinds of love, or differing degrees of love?

All this reminds me of another aspect of my teen years. It was then when I learned that the first and greatest commandment was to love God with all of your heart, mind soul and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. That sounded much easier to me than how I understood what preachers in church were telling me to do. Just love God and others, and everything will be fine. Right? Well, I eventually found, as perhaps the Beatles found, that we need help in doing just that.

After leaving the influence of the Church I felt my life starting to fall apart. My understanding of love was not enough, and I did not have the right kind of love, if in fact that was all I needed. What ever I had was not enough.

When I returned to both God and the Church it all came together for me. God Himself filled me with His love, and began teaching me more about what it meant to love others like He loves. The love that we need comes from God Who first loved us in our fallen, sinful condition. It is that sinful, selfish nature that hinders us from fully expressing any true, genuine love towards God and others.

But there is Good News! By surrendering to God and His love, receiving the free gift of forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, we are set free from this old nature to start a completely new life in Him! From that time on we begin to reckon that old life to be dead, even when we are tempted to acknowledge it. If and when we weaken and give in to old habits and thoughts, we can immediately recover through repentance and confession of sin. (1 John 1:9).

The Love of God surpasses all knowledge. It is greater than signs, wonders, miracles, prophesies, even faith and hope! (Ephesians 3:19, 1 Corinthians 13). This fact does not eliminate any of these things. Faith expresses itself through love. (Galatians 5:6) The Truth is spoken in and because of love. (Ephesians 4:15). It is because of His love that God sent His only Son to save us. (John 3:16). Without His power and authority God would be helpless to express the fullness of His Love.

His love in our hearts motivates us to spend time in the Scriptures and become better equipped to serve others. There we learn that love is at the center of God’s great plan of the ages for His creation, to be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God! (Romans 8:19-21).

God’s Divine Love is truly all you need to motivate you to grow in grace, learn of Him, serve others, build up the body of Christ, share the Gospel, pray for the Kingdom to be fully revealed and so on. If we truly humble ourselves before Him and receive His Love, these things will begin to work in our lives. If they never begin, we might be fooling ourselves, as did many in the so-called Summer of Love, who consequently fell into the deception of drugs and lustful living.

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