God’s grace alone is the only reason God’s grace alone is the only reason wewe are not are not

still dead in our trespasses and sins, deceived by still dead in our trespasses and sins, deceived by

false thinking (“but for the grace of God …”)false thinking (“but for the grace of God …”)

God’s grace is the sole source, not only of our God’s grace is the sole source, not only of our

eternal life, but of every breath we take and our eternal life, but of every breath we take and our

life in general – we owe all to His grace alonelife in general – we owe all to His grace alone

We who believe so strongly in grace must show We who believe so strongly in grace must show

that same grace to othersthat same grace to others

““SOLA GRATIASOLA GRATIA””GRACE ALONEGRACE ALONE

Colossians 4:2-6 (NASB95)Colossians 4:2-6 (NASB95)““Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with alert in it with an attitude of an attitude of thanksgiving; praying … that God will thanksgiving; praying … that God will open up to us a door for the word, so open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ …Christ … that I may make it clear in the that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. opportunity. Let your speech always be Let your speech always be with with gracegrace, , as thoughas though seasoned with seasoned with salt, salt, so that you will know how you so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”should respond to each person.”

1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)But in your hearts set apart [ESV But in your hearts set apart [ESV “honor … as holy”] Christ as Lord. “honor … as holy”] Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an Always be prepared to give an answeranswer to everyone who asks you to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope to give the reason for the hope that you have. that you have. But do this with But do this with gentleness and respectgentleness and respect, keeping a , keeping a clear conscience, so that those clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.be ashamed of their slander.

John 1 (ESV)John 1 (ESV)14 14 And the Word became flesh and And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, from the Father, full of gracefull of grace and and truthtruth … …

16 16 And from his fullness we have And from his fullness we have all received, all received, grace upon gracegrace upon grace. . 17 17 For the law was given through For the law was given through Moses; Moses; gracegrace and truth came and truth came through Jesus Christ.through Jesus Christ.

Why is this study necessary?Why is this study necessary? Jude 3 says it is our duty to “contend earnestly Jude 3 says it is our duty to “contend earnestly

for the faith” (this is not just the job of pastors)for the faith” (this is not just the job of pastors)

Most of Jude’s epistle warns against false Most of Jude’s epistle warns against false

teaching and its specific errors and teaching and its specific errors and

characteristicscharacteristics

Jude 4 warns of those who “Jude 4 warns of those who “pervert the grace of pervert the grace of

GodGod … and deny our only Master and Lord, … and deny our only Master and Lord,

Jesus Christ”Jesus Christ”

What would be examples of this in our day that What would be examples of this in our day that

we are to contend against we are to contend against in gracein grace and truth? and truth?

““It is for the reward of eternal life that every last It is for the reward of eternal life that every last

person on earth should now be working. Are you?” person on earth should now be working. Are you?”

((Watchtower, Watchtower, Aug 15, 1972, p. 492)Aug 15, 1972, p. 492)

““To get one’s name written in that book of life will To get one’s name written in that book of life will

depend upon one’s works, whether they are in depend upon one’s works, whether they are in

fulfillment of God’s will and approved by his Judge fulfillment of God’s will and approved by his Judge

and King” (and King” (Watchtower, Watchtower, Jul 1, 1947, p. 204)Jul 1, 1947, p. 204)

Watchtower Bible and Tract SocietyWatchtower Bible and Tract Society

IN THEIR OWN WORDS …IN THEIR OWN WORDS …

JEHOVAH’S JEHOVAH’S WITNESSESWITNESSES

““[T]he second requirement … is to [T]he second requirement … is to obey God’s laws … obey God’s laws … A A

third requirement is that we third requirement is that we be associated with God’s be associated with God’s

channel, channel, his organization … To receive everlasting life in the his organization … To receive everlasting life in the

earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and

serve God as part of it. The fourth requirement … requires serve God as part of it. The fourth requirement … requires

that prospective subjects of his Kingdom support his that prospective subjects of his Kingdom support his

government by government by loyally advocating his Kingdom rule to others loyally advocating his Kingdom rule to others

[that is, door-to-door]” ([that is, door-to-door]” (Watchtower, Watchtower, Feb 15, 1983, pp. 12-12)Feb 15, 1983, pp. 12-12)

Watchtower Bible and Tract SocietyWatchtower Bible and Tract Society

IN THEIR OWN WORDS …IN THEIR OWN WORDS …

JEHOVAH’S JEHOVAH’S WITNESSESWITNESSES

““It is by grace that we are saved, after all we It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (can do” (Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 25:23)2 Nephi 25:23)

“… “… individual salvation or rescue from the individual salvation or rescue from the effects of personal sins is to be acquired by effects of personal sins is to be acquired by each for himself, by faith and good works … each for himself, by faith and good works … redemption from personal sins can only be redemption from personal sins can only be obtained through obedience to the obtained through obedience to the requirements of the gospel, and a life of good requirements of the gospel, and a life of good works” (works” (Articles of Faith, Articles of Faith, p. 476, 478-79)p. 476, 478-79)

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

IN THEIR OWN WORDS …IN THEIR OWN WORDS …

MORMONISMMORMONISM

Sola Gratia Sola Gratia – Salvation is by grace alone, the – Salvation is by grace alone, the

unmerited undeserved unearned favor and kindness unmerited undeserved unearned favor and kindness

of God toward sinners. Salvation is not in any way of God toward sinners. Salvation is not in any way

or in any part produced or preserved by man’s or in any part produced or preserved by man’s

works, will, effort, or anything inherent in man. works, will, effort, or anything inherent in man.

Salvation is not by God’s grace Salvation is not by God’s grace plus plus any human any human

achievement, but it’s solely by the sovereign grace of achievement, but it’s solely by the sovereign grace of

Divine accomplishment.Divine accomplishment.

Sola Gratia Sola Gratia (continued) – God’s grace alone also (continued) – God’s grace alone also

preserves true believers so that they will persevere preserves true believers so that they will persevere

in the faith and will never finally fall away and in the faith and will never finally fall away and

abandon the faith. This “preservation of the saints” abandon the faith. This “preservation of the saints”

is also by God’s grace alone so that salvation is is also by God’s grace alone so that salvation is

neither gained neither gained nor maintained nor maintained by any human efforts. by any human efforts.

A Christian’s good words are the A Christian’s good words are the result result of God’s of God’s

good work begun in us.good work begun in us.

Sola Fide Sola Fide –Faith Alone receives God’s gift. We –Faith Alone receives God’s gift. We

believe God’s elect, who are called by grace, are believe God’s elect, who are called by grace, are

justified in the sight of God on account of the justified in the sight of God on account of the

imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is

received by faith alone. It is a forensic (legal) received by faith alone. It is a forensic (legal)

declaration of righteousness at a point in time, declaration of righteousness at a point in time,

rather than a process. It is based on the merits and rather than a process. It is based on the merits and

finished work of Christ, not our own.finished work of Christ, not our own.

You, therefore, beloved, knowing this You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness;men, you fall from your own steadfastness;

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory, both now and to the day To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.of eternity. Amen.

2 Peter 3:17-182 Peter 3:17-18 NASBNASB