acts 20 : 20-24 "You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to BOTH JEWS AND GREEKS that they MUST TURN TO GOD IN REPENTANCE and HAVE FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS. “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to THE GOOD NEWS OF GODS GRACE."
This really is a great summary of pauls teaching, which is a great reflection of Jesus teaching as are all the apostles teaching, being based on the great commision " to go into all nations and teach them to obey everythoing Jesus taught"( matt. 28: 18-20) the believing church has to get away from the idea that Grace, and repentance and obedience to Jesus are not one thing, that grace is "jesus obeyed so i dont need to" that is false, rather it is " Jesus obeyed God , died for my transgressions of Gods law, gave me his spirit through His word, therefore I am called to the obedience of his gospel which is able to change my hearts and make me new." Not meaning now were free to go on in our own way and be forgiven, but because were forgiven of the sinful lives we once lived, Now we are granted the opportunity and strength to repent of sin, and learn to live upright lives free from sins grasp.
ephesians 2 :1-10 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
he shows Gods Grace, forgiving the life we lived USED TO LIVE in sin, following the spirit of the enemy who works in those who live sinfully. he says by that nature that we USED TO follow, we deserved wrath, because we used to live sinful lives and because God Loves us, he gave us new life in Christ despite the fact that we deserved wrath living sinful lives beforehand. this is what makes it all by grace and not works. the fact that all of us once were sinners, and no one could deserve what God has done for us in Christ, forgiving that, and offering the new forgiven man who now doesnt live the sinful life deserving wrath, new Life because of our faith in Jesus, true faith that is expressed through repentance and right living.
ephesians 5:1-7 "FOLLOW God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and WALK in the way of love, JUST AS CHRIST loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there MUST NOT BE even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. FOR THIS YOU CAN BE SURE: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them."
if you study paul without pre judging his doctrine, you'll find His doctrine has the same design in His epistles, he tells of Gods grace that forgives us through Christs atonement for how we lived before we came to Jesus, and then He tells us that now ,we must repent of our sins, and Live to please God by expressing Faith in Jesus Christ. this is how paul taught, he never taught a grace that is apart from repentance and obedience. you cant take what he says at the beginning of his letters about God forgiving our sinful lives prior, and then reject the latter parts of His letters that require repentance and obedience to Jesus Christ. scripture doesnt omit itself, it reconciles.
to understand true Grace we have to accept that Gods will is for man to Love Him in return for His Love expressed through Jesus. and not words, but expressing love through repenting of our sin which placed Him on the cross and learning His ways and living them.
all glory, honor, praise, power and majesty belong to God and to His Son Jesus , who is the Christ.
