Backside of Grace

                                                        BACKSIDE OF GRACE            by Pastor Tim Butler

                 THE BACKSIDE OF GRACE

We all know about grace, and that it means that God has picked us out to be saved. Have you ever thought about the Backside of grace though? The same God who has chosen to save you is also the same God who has chosen to damn someone else.

Rom 9:6  Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Rom 9:7  Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Rom 9:9  For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
Rom 9:10  And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
Rom 9:11  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Rom 9:14  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom 9:24  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

This is quite a scripture listen to these main verses.
Rom 9:11  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom 9:12  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

We all look at this verse and say “yep, that’s me, Jacob and someone else is Esau” is it really??? Is it really fair for God to save you and damn someone else? Look at this

Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

Isn’t this a good question? Who has resisted Gods will? If everyone is either going to be saved or damned then why does God yet condemn sin in our lives if we can do nothing about the outcome of our salvation anyway???

These are all good questions. We are going to take a look at who is going to be damned and why.

Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Yea God, why don’t you just kill them all and be done with it? Why do you put up with the abortionists and rapists and murderers? Why not just destroy all the terrorists and why don’t you just kill Saddam Hussain and Osama Bin-laden? They all play a part in Gods overall plan.

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Jesus said there would be few who would find this Strait gate and Narrow way. This means that those who are meant to be destroyed go in broad gate and a broadway and are destroyed.

Phil 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Phil 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Phil 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Here we begin to see the traits of those who are on the Backside of grace. Their God is their belly, or in other words, they cater to the lusts of the flesh. They are proud people and lovers of the things this world loves.

1 Tim 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1 Tim 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1 Tim 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1 Tim 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Tim 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Paul teaches us that riches are a snare to men and will lead one to destruction.

2 Pet 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Pet 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Pet 2:3  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
2 Pet 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2 Pet 2:5  And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2 Pet 2:6  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2 Pet 2:7  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2 Pet 2:8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2 Pet 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2 Pet 2:10  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

False Prophets bring destruction upon themselves and everyone who follows them. Jesus and Paul both admonish us to let no man deceive us by any means. God reserves the unjust unto the day of punishment. Those who live to fulfill the lusts of their flesh through uncleanness (sexual misdeeds) and them who despise Gods giving of authority to his ministers. Peter even goes on to say that these are self willed people who have not submitted themselves unto God.

2 Pet 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2 Pet 2:13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2 Pet 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

Sin is readily practiced in their houses. Remember, sin is the transgression of Gods laws.

2 Pet 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2 Pet 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2 Pet 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Those meant for destruction wrestle the scriptures to make them say what they want to hear. Even as Paul wrote to Timothy saying that in the Last days many would heap to themselves teachers having itching ears.

Prov 1:24  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Prov 1:25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Prov 1:26  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Prov 1:27  When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Prov 1:28  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Prov 1:29  For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Prov 1:30  They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Prov 1:31  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

These men hated knowledge, did not fear the Lord and despised Gods word.

Prov 10:29  The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

God hates those who work iniquity. Listen to what Jesus says.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

What is iniquity?

Isa 59:12  For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
Isa 59:13  In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Isa 59:14  And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

Verse 13 describes what iniquity is.sinning and Lying against the Lord, departing from our God, speaking oppression and revolt (from our God), Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. (deliberately trying to deceive someone)

Isa 1:27  Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
Isa 1:28  And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

This is so very important to understand. We have the hope of Salvation but it is God only who knows beyond a shadow of a doubt who he will save and who he will damn. As God he has the right to destroy you with all the other transgressors if you forsake him. He has promised to save all who would believe unto the end.

Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

God can “remove your candlestick or blot your name out of his book” should he choose to do so.

John put it pretty plain as I close today.