Simplicity_12p_Amazing

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. [asv]

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 5:25-29 (nkjv)

25 . . . just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. . . . 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

In the town of Olney, near London, England, in the parish churchyard, there is a large tombstone with these words inscribed:

John Newton, . . . once an infidel . . . was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.

As I read these words I am reminded of another who felt himself a sinner, and thanked the Lord for his salvation.

1TI 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ . . . 1TI 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Newton was the son of a sea captain and sailed with his father in his merchant marine business from age eleven on. By his own admission, his early life was one of immorality, debauchery and failure. He sailed on slave ships, was forced into the British navy, deserted, was jailed, publicly beaten, and disgraced. Finally, on a long trip from deep South America, he was brought to his senses by reading Thomas a Kempis's book, Imitation of Christ. His actual conversion occurred during a violent storm in which he almost lost his life. He gave his time to study of the Scriptures, and at the age of thirty-nine John Newton became a preacher and gave the rest of his life to serving God, and while doing so wrote many hymns -- hundreds of them. When he learned that God loved even him and Jesus had died for him, he was amazed. Near the end of his life he is supposed to have said, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour."

By far the song that Newton wrote is the best known and most loved of all religious hymns today.

It is probably true that the fourth stanza of this song Amazing Grace as it is currently sung by most, was not written by John Newton. It is ascribed to John P. Rees, but whether it was or not written by Newton it is a fitting climax to his personal testimony expressed in the first three verses.

Two additional verses that are rarely if ever sung today are found in the older song books.

Another interesting note is that the last line of each verse was repeated twice as a chorus.

The song is beautiful to the ear, but the message is more beautiful still to the heart of a person who knows he has sinned and is lost, and, earnestly desires eternal life. Salvation is, in the words of Federal Express, absolutely, positively, dependent upon the grace of God. God extends it gladly. Someone has said, "Grace is God giving us what we have to have and do not deserve, and mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve! Of all Bible doctrines, the doctrine that we are "saved by the grace of God" is certainly one of the most beautiful.

First, the Bible plainly teaches that man is saved by the grace of God. We must not deny it. We cannot deny it. As for example:

1. EPH 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2. 2TH 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

3. TIT 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

4. ROM 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

The conclusion is that with these plain statements before us no honest person could deny that man is saved by grace. The Bible teaches it. We must accept it. Furthermore, we must understand it, if possible. And -- this is not easy!

Sadly, so much Bible teaching about grace has been abused, and as a result caused much misunderstanding and confusion, many preachers don't give the subject the importance it deserves. The doctrine of salvation by grace is indeed Biblical in its wording but has become in many instances little more than wishful thinking in its application. Why is this true?

First, grace -- wrongly understood -- plays upon man's tendency to make religion a mystery. Man has always been fascinated by the mysterious, and what could lend itself more easily to the mysterious than one's relationship to the invisible, and silent Almighty God. Is not this doctrine, "saved by grace," one of the most paradoxical doctrines of all Christianity?

Secondly, grace wrongly understood answers another longing of humanity, that of being relieved of any responsibility and accountability before God for his salvation and conduct. (See J. D. Bales material if interested in an in-depth study.)

Now human nature is such that this kind of thinking becomes easily taught and readily accepted. It satisfies the yearning that man has little or no part in his salvation. He is under the influence of a mysterious power known as the "grace of God." One cannot really understand or comply, so, we must be saved, if we are saved, by grace.

These two factors make the doctrine of salvation by God's grace -- so taught -- very attractive to the human tendencies of man. So much so that many who would deny it theoretically are glad to accept it in practice. False teachers, knowing this, capitalize this for all it is worth. As one large religious denomination states in their denominational manual, "It is a most comforting doctrine."

As one example of this misunderstanding that man does not have to do anything to be saved, consider this statement by the Abingdon Bible Commentary:

"For it is by his grace that you are delivered, through trusting him; and even that trust itself was his gift and no merit of yours."

So, salvation is by grace through faith, as Paul says, but, uninspired men add that even that trust (or faith) is a gift and nothing that one can do can bring it about. And so they take a beautiful doctrine that is indeed Biblical in its wording, and have made it untrue in its application.

Now we readily admit that Abingdon does not represent the conventional viewpoint of our fellowship. But the doctrine of saving faith being a gift is being taught by some influential preachers and teachers in our fellowship. In a letter soliciting support of a national television program, mailed to every congregation of saints in the country (April 3, 1974), the writer stated therein: "I believe that saving faith is a gift of God." Furthermore, I have heard one of the most influential teachers of one of our leading schools of preaching state that "faith is a gift." These do not seem to consider the fact that Jesus said that faith is a "work." Hear Him:

JOH 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Now what are the implications of this doctrine that faith is a gift? Simply this:

3. Therefore, those saved by grace are not responsible for their salvation. They have been selected by God for salvation. And, it naturally follows, those who are lost have been selected by God for damnation.

If ever there was an example of a Bible doctrine that "built the sidewalks where the people wanted to walk," and "giving the people what they want," this is it. Do not read the terms of the will; we know we are going to get everything we want under all circumstances. This, according to the New Testament, is just not true.

Because of these erroneous understandings, this doctrine of "saved by grace" has been a chief cause for many to minimize the necessity of studying the Word, and knowing the Will of God. When man accepts the idea that he has no active part in his salvation, but is under the influence of a mysterious power known as the "grace of God" he will cease his study. This quite naturally has hindered the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. "For, if we are saved by grace," they say, "why the necessity of studying and learning something that we are supposed to do?" "If we are saved by grace, then we need not have any active part in our salvation; we do not have to do anything to be saved.

It is interesting that those who emphasize "saved by grace" the most, almost always minimize all our efforts toward righteousness. Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (Matt. 6:33), but these quote Isaiah's condemnation of Israel, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6).

For another thing, the doctrine of salvation by grace, improperly understood, is the doctrine that has caused many to continue in sin with the erroneous idea that his grace was greater than the sinfulness of sin, and that we might willfully sin and in so doing make his grace more meaningful. This was misunderstood even in the time of Paul. He counters those of this persuasion with: "God forbid!"

ROM 5:18 Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. ROM 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

We need always remember that our English Bible is a translated book. The original words were selected from the vocabulary of the writers by the Holy Spirit.

1CO 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

There are no holy words, just common ordinary words, that were used by the simple people in the time of Jesus -- street and market language by the common people of the times. The words were ordinary; the message was extra-ordinary. The words human; the message divine.

Grace in the O.T. comes from two words, the former giving us grace only one time, but giving us supplication(s) (26 times), favour (1 time); and the latter giving us grace (38 times), and also favour (26 times), gracious (2 times), pleasant (1 time), and precious (1 time).

Grace in the N.T. also comes from two words, “euprepeia," meaning "good, suitableness," and “charis,” meaning "graciousness."

The first word, “euprepeia,” is used but once, translated grace in Jam 1:11, where James in talking about the brevity of life, and compares it with the briefness of grass or a flower. He says that "the grace of the fashion of it perisheth."

“Charis” is translated "grace" 130 times, but also gives us favour (6 times), thank, thanked, thankworthy, or thanks (12 times), pleasure (2 times), gracious (1 time), liberality (1 time), gift (1 time), and joy (1 time).

1. It is translated "favor." Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. The NEB says, "God has been gracious to you."

Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. TLB says, "And was loved by God and man." Philips says, "In the love of God and of those who knew him."

"And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your 'bounty' (gift, liberality, etc.) unto Jerusalem" (1 Cor. 16:3).

3. It is also translated "benefit." "And in this confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that you might have a second “benefit'" (2 Cor. 1:15). The LB says, "double blessing." "Double pleasure," says the RSV.

4. It is also translated "pleasure." ". . . Felix, willing to shew the Jews a 'pleasure,' left Paul bound" (Acts 24:27). "To gain favor," says the LB, "do the Jews a favor," says the RSV; "curry favour with the Jews," says the NEB; "to gain favor with the Jews," says the JB.

Webster defines the word "grace" as "favor, goodwill, mercy or kindness; disposition to oblige another." Since our Bible is a translated book, and words that mean the same thing as the original word may be substituted for it, without any harm to the meaning, let us substitute these other words and see if this helps our understanding.

2. "Who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through favor, or kindness, or mercy."

3. "Being justified by his favor, or kindness, or mercy through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

These examples show the value of using words for which we do not have some religious fixation. When we read the statement that man is saved by the mercy of God, or by the favor of God, or by the kindness of God, it is robbed of its implication of some mysterious power. While the word "grace" has been caused by some translators to have an exclusive religious meaning, it was apparently never intended to be so. It is clear that we are saved by the favor, the kindness, the mercy, the liberality, the bounty of God.

There is no doubt that some would object to this. In a class I was teaching a few years back, an overseer strongly suggested that we accept one word for each original Greek word and use it consistently and continually for, as he said, "better understanding." This we simply cannot do with the word grace any more than we can settle on one word for many of the common ordinary items associated with our day to day life. What is a small running body of water called? The French say "little river." We say creek, brook, bayou, branch, etc. Each of these is correct according to common usage. And so it is that favor, bounty, gift, liberality benefit, pleasure, kindness, mercy, etc., are all correct translations of the Greek word "charis" depending upon the circumstances.

Now, if we can understand how the word grace is used in the New Testament, let us go further and try to understand the doctrine of "saved by grace." Let's go to our principle text. Read it carefully.

EPH 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 Not of works, lest anyone should boast. EPH 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

This letter is written "to the saints which are at Ephesus" (1:1). This is obviously the Gentiles, for the record says: "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision" (2:11). Also, "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you 'Gentiles'" (3:1).

Paul tells them that they were "dead" through their trespasses and sins and furthermore both Jews and Gentiles all once lived in the lust of their flesh doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath. But note! God, being rich in mercy made them both "alive" together with Christ. It seems to me that at this point Paul reacts to the greatness of the thought of being raised up with God to sit with Christ in heavenly places and he must inject the thought that this is all because of God's kindness and mercy. "By grace have ye been saved" he exclaims. "It is the gift of God," not of any work that man has done lest he glory. We are "His" workmanship he states.

That the salvation of mankind is the work of God there can be no question. Mankind did not even know that it was lost and didn't appear to care. One scholar has said that a principle difference between the various religions of the world and Christianity is that in most all other religions we find a record of man seeking for god; in Christianity it is God seeking for man. Various conclusions have been reached in this search. But Christianity is a religion whereby God came to earth in the form of Christ seeking for mankind. It was His doing, not ours! It has to be a matter of grace; a gift from above. I can almost hear Paul exclaiming, "Praise His glorious name!"

First, what is the relationship of faith to grace? Paul says, "By grace have ye been saved through faith." This statement makes it evident that salvation by grace is accomplished through faith. A more complete statement of the relationship of faith and grace is found in Romans 5:1,2.

ROM 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Now note the words "access by faith into this grace." By faith in Christ as the Son of God we have our access, or entrance, into the grace of God. By faith in Christ we may receive the favor, or mercy, or kindness, or bounty, or benefit of God. Now what is this we received? It is the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life.

Let's use an example that will help us to understand. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." As the way he is our sin-bearer. It is only through letting him bear our sins that we can receive forgiveness of sins and gain entrance once again into the presence of God. Now how do we take advantage of Jesus as the way? Through faith and immersion.

Paul was not writing something new and different to the Ephesians in these references to grace, but the same plan of salvation that he had preached at other places, and the same that was preached by Jesus himself and by all the apostles. John says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth shall in Him (emphasis mine) have everlasting life" (John 3:16). And again, "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11,12). (Consider also Mark 16:15,16; Gal. 3:26,27; etc.

Furthermore, the fact that salvation by grace is through faith emphasizes Jesus' plan as a preaching plan rather than removing the need for preaching or teaching. Paul wrote, "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Do you remember when the apostles and elders were gathered at Jerusalem to consider the question of circumcision of the Gentiles? "And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe" (Acts 15:7). In Jesus' explanation of the parable of the sower he said, "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved" (Luke 8:12).

(check this out in original. 24 instances. intellect plus will. "will plus to do" (Phil 2:13; 4:8,9; etc.)

Now from these passages we learn that faith is by hearing. The Gentiles were to hear, and believe, and the devil took away the word that they might not believe. So then faith does not come through some mysterious influence but through hearing God's word, and it is through faith that we have access to the grace of God. (Rom. 5:2.)

One of the difficulties that continues to arise by those who advocate a salvation by grace, through a faith that requires no obedience, is their inability to see that compliance with certain requirements takes nothing whatsoever away from salvation being a gift. Let's take a simple example that is known to my experience.

A man of means has for many years picked a deserving young man and paid for his education in one of our Christian colleges. This was a gift. And yet, the boy has had to matriculate -- sign up, register, enroll -- as well as study and meet all the examination requirements that the college demands. Does the fact that he had to study and pass the examinations detract in any way from the fact that the education was a gift? He could have not gone otherwise. he could not under any circumstances have paid his own way for he did not have the ability. So the education was a gift. Yet he had to work the works of obtaining the education through the opportunity that was given him.

We ought to understand this example for it is a true case in point. It is reality.

Perhaps the difficulty can be resolved somewhat through the use of the word "opportunity." God's grace gives us the opportunity to be saved; an opportunity that is not available to us otherwise. We study the word and intellectually become convinced that Jesus is the Son of God and worthy of being Saviour and Lord. We volitionally submit to his requirements in order to appropriate the gift of forgiveness of sins and entrance into eternal life. But this takes nothing away from the fact that the opportunity was a gift; our salvation then is in fact by the grace of God, through faith.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11).

In chapter 3, verses 3-7 Paul describes the former sinful condition of himself and others, and explains how they had been saved:

"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:3-7).

3. The resulting salvation was not by our works that earned us a legal rightness, but

We can conclude from these words that this is how Paul was saved for he includes himself in the statement that he is making to Titus.

We can also conclude that this conforms to what happened on Pentecost. Peter proves by the record of the miracles performed by the Lord, by his fulfillment of O.T. prophesy, and by the resurrection of Jesus that he was indeed the Christ, the divine Son of God. He tells them that they have killed him, whereupon they cry, "What shall we do?" Peter answers, "Repent and be immersed every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

What is the connection between these two accounts? Well, evidently baptism under these conditions was the washing of regeneration, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, the renewing of the Holy Spirit. The renewing of the Holy Spirit was to follow the washing of regeneration. Through the influence of the preaching of God's word man submitted to God and his teaching, including "the washing of regeneration," confident that God would "renew the Spirit." In the day of the apostles this was done in miraculous ways. Since that time it is accomplished through the power of the word of God.

Paul concludes with, "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Tit. 3:7).

TIT 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

What was this word that was to be manifested through preaching? To the elders that Titus would appoint Paul warns that they “Hold(ing) fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (TIT 1:9). To Titus Paul urges that he "speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:" (TIT 2:1), and after giving pointed instructions to both young and old, both male and female, he states that the reasons they should obey these instructions is "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” (TIT 2:11,12).

Here we see the relationship of grace to God's plan of salvation. Grace has come! And what has grace taught? That "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world" (v.12). The grace of God is referring to his love, his kindness and his mercy provided through the Lord Jesus Christ. HE was the gift of God, manifesting the love of God, and teaching man to turn away from his sin and live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

We have already considered that it is through teaching and preaching that people come to recognize the favor and kindness of God, and it is through faith in his teaching that one has access to the grace of God by which they are saved. Preaching or teaching is not only necessary to bring people to the grace of God but continues to be important as a part of the working of the grace of God. Peter urges those to whom he writes to not be carried away with the error of the wicked but grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:17,18).

Paul tells the Corinthians that he "begged them not to receive the grace of God in vain" (2 Cor. 6:1). He urges them to "come out from among" the unbelievers, the unrighteous, those who lived in darkness, idol worshippers, and such like, and as a reason for this he quotes God, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (vs.16-18). Paul urges the Corinthians on by saying, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (7:1).

Is it not clear that "receiving the grace of God in vain" means that one can go back into the world and forfeit his relationship with God? If salvation was a gift, and with no effort on man's part whatsoever, why would God permit one to be saved and then permit him to be lost? But God's grace brought a Saviour and obedience to that Saviour brought forgiveness of sins, and continued obedience to that Saviour and his word causes one to continue to participate in God's grace.

Another example is that of Paul's letter to the Galatians. Paul warns the people against moving away from him who called them into the grace of Christ unto a different gospel, a perverted Gospel (1:6,7). These had been saved by grace, through believing in Christ and receiving forgiveness of their sins in Him (1:4). Paul compares the way of grace with the works of the law and states, "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?" (3:3) . . . Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are children of Abraham . . . For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ . . . And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (3:6,7; 26, 27, 29).

In all of this, and much more found in Galatians, Paul tells them they are saved by faith, that they might be saved by the grace of God. And in Chapter 5, Paul warns, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are FALLEN FROM GRACE" (5:4).

Here it is clear that Paul is telling them that should their faith in Christ as Saviour fail, they would fall from grace. They had left Christ and the grace of God which was provided them in Christ.

1. That man appropriates God's grace by believing in Christ and by being immersed into him, wherein there is no condemnation.

2. That man can forfeit this grace by rejecting Christ and going back into the world, or following another Gospel.

It is evident that man must love the truth of Christ, love it enough to cause him to study God's word and seek to know those things that will please God, that he might abide in his grace. This truth is plainly taught in Paul's instruction to the elders of the church at Ephesus. "And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).