Can the message of God’s grace and love become a discouragement to repentance? The first thing to note is that Jesus taught us that we, Christians, the Church, would be spared the wrath to come. Much more then, having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Rom. 5:9). We are waiting for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Th. 1:10). In my view, we are saved from the wrath that is described in Rev. 6-19. The opening of the book with seven seals tells us of the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come (Rev. 6:16-17). If Jesus taught this then it seems I should teach it as well.
The second thing is that Jesus did not promise to save us from “tribulation.” He did just the opposite. If they persecuted Me they will persecute you (Jn. 15:20). In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33). Yet, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). The pre-tribulational rapture does not deliver saints from tribulation and persecution. It delivers them from the wrath of the Lamb.
Third, Paul was accused of preaching a message that led to “easy believism.” He referred to this charge in Rom. 3:8: And why not say, ‘Let us do evil that good may come’? – as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. He referred to it in Rom. 6:1: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Gal. 2:17 also speaks to this charge from the Judaizers that the grace message makes Christ a “minister of sin.”
Finally, when accused of “easy believism” Paul responded by doubling-down on the grace and love of God. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Rom. 5:20). Grace does not make sin abound. The law makes sin abound. The answer is found in abundant grace! To withhold the message of grace, when dealing with an erring brother, is to leave him only with the message of the law and the flesh. If we live under the law rather than grace, sin will have dominion over us (Rom. 6:14). Paul followed Rom. 6:1 by asking, How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? He reminded us of the message of grace. The answer to continuous sin is to teach and preach who we are in Christ and to call believers to reckon the gospel to be true in their own lives (Rom. 6:1-14). It is not the law but the goodness of God (that) leads to repentance (Rom. 2:4).
Romans 5:1-11 has a similar approach. Being saved from the wrath to come is encouraged by two thoughts. First, there is a strong reminder of the love of God (5:1-5). It is God’s love that will not let the hope of salvation fail and bring disappointment. Second, we are encouraged by the gracious act of God’s love, giving His Son to die for our sins while we were still sinners. Much more then, having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Remember Rom. 7:13-8:1. Paul knew the frustration of struggling in his own strength with issues of obedience. What was the solution to this frustration? The grace of God: I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! … There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!
When helping a brother who struggles I believe the issue is not “easy believism” but “ignorant believism.” To bring the law is to tell the person to do the best they can, to try harder. That is the way of the flesh, not the way of the Spirit. We must remind him who he is in Christ. He cannot change himself. Only Christ, who justified Him by faith, can sanctify him, and it will also be by faith. And if it is by faith, then it is a work of God’s grace.
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