GRACE DISTINCTIONS #8 – by Jack Cottrell VIII. PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS vs. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS. In the previous point we spoke of human righteousness as well as God’s righteousness. Distinguishing between them is very important as we try to understand grace. First, what is “righteousness”? Basically, to be righteous means to be in conformity with the NORM by which one is properly and rightly measured. The proper norm to which human beings must conform is our Creator’s law code. Thus we can define righteousness (especially in the context of grace) as “satisfying the requirements of the law.” Mainly this includes satisfying the … Continue reading →

OK, for those who took the “test,” for Christians ALL statements are true EXCEPT #10, which is false. Questions again if you need them: For those who have studied (or want to study) the first six mini-essays on “Grace Distinctions” that I have been posting, here is a TRUE-FALSE exam you can take. (I will post the correct answers later.) NOTE: answer every question assuming that you are a CHRISTIAN. 1. As a creature, I am under the absolute authority of the Creator-God. 2. I am living under the grace system of salvation. 3. I am obligated to obey the … Continue reading →

GRACE DISTINCTIONS #6 – by Jack Cottrell VI. GENERAL WORKS vs. WORKS OF LAW. In our desire to understand grace, it is absolutely essential that we have a proper understanding of the term “works.” This is because Ephesians 2:8-9 specifically says that because we are saved by grace through faith, we cannot be saved by works. So we must know what “works” means in this statement. The problem is that most people have no idea what Paul means when he makes this statement. That is because they assume that whenever the Bible uses the term “works,” it simply means “something … Continue reading →

GRACE DISTINCTIONS #4 – by Jack Cottrell IV. LAW COMMANDS vs. GRACE COMMANDS. The fourth distinction is between two kinds of commands given by God: law commands, and grace commands. (The latter can also be called GOSPEL commands.) A command is a grammatical imperative. It is a verbal communication in which someone is ordering or instructing another person to DO something. Much of God’s communication with us is in the form of commands, and much of our relationship with God consists of responding to these commands. This response can be either positive (obedience) or negative (disobedience). The important thing to … Continue reading →

GRACE DISTINCTIONS #2– by Jack Cottrell II. LAW CODES vs. THE LAW SYSTEM. In this second grace distinction, we are speaking about Paul’s use of the Greek word for “law,” namely, NOMOS. He uses this term many times, especially in Romans and Galatians. See, e.g., Rom. 2:12-15; 3:19-20; 3:27-28; 6:14-15; 8:1-4; Gal. 2:16. Here I am emphasizing a crucial distinction, namely, the distinction between LAW CODES and the LAW SYSTEM. Understanding this distinction is essential for a proper understanding of grace. Unfortunately, you will almost never see anyone talking about it. It is virtually unrecognized. But I stress (holler, yell) … Continue reading →