Authoritarian God vs. God of grace and truth!

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me, in heaven and on earth.’ (Matt. 28:18)

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father the hour has come, glorify your Son that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh; that He should give eternal life to as many as you have given Him.’ (John 17:1-2)

‘I have finished the work.’ (John 17:4)

‘I have kept them in Your name. Those You have given Me, I have kept and none of them is lost.’ (John 17:12)

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word. (John 17:20)

Therefore when He came into the world, He said, ‘Sacrifice and burnt offerings You did not desire, but a body you have prepared for Me.’ (Hebrews 10:5)

Then I said, ‘Behold I have come, in the volume of the book it is written of Me, to do your will Oh God. (Heb. 10:7)

By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:10)

But this Man after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. (Heb. 10:12)

For by one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified. (Heb. 10:14)

‘This is the covenant I will make with them after those days,’ says the Lord. (Heb 10:16)

Then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ (Heb 10:17)

According to these passages, whose authority are we under? And by whose authority are we kept? After studying these passages, do you think it’s possible for someone to lose their salvation? According to John 1:17, what authority should we live by - the law of Moses or the grace and truth of Jesus Christ?

‘For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.’ (Ephesians 2:8)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us; through the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. That having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy; To God our Savior who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen! (Jude 24-25)

In short, we are under the authority of Christ, kept by the will of God through grace. We do not have an authoritarian God; we have a loving Father which has secured our eternity with finality. We are saved to the utmost by the very will of God Himself.

Footnote: For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself. (Heb. 6:13)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Heb. 10:23)

Commentary by:

G.L. Miller