In 2015 I attended the Believer’s Voice of Victory conference and Creflo Dollar preached on the Philosophy of Grace. Part One is inspired from the notes I took.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Everybody has a philosophy. This is your world view. It is the lens through which you look at the world – your filter. It encompasses your beliefs the values that you have, and your morals and ethics. It is the system by which you make your decisions.
What if you have the wrong philosophy? Some would say that there is no such thing as a “wrong” philosophy. But if your philosophy is wrong, it can distort what you see and cause you to make wrong decisions.
Even people who do terrible things feel that what they do is justified. Hitler felt he was justified in killing Jews. Dylann Roof thought he was justified in going into a church and killing people, based on the wrongs he perceived that black people were doing. Hamas and Isis committed acts of unspeakable evil, and they believe they are doing the will of Allah and that their brutal version of Islam is the most “pure”.
Don’t Get Cheated
Paul says to beware – to be on the lookout, be on guard – against those that would spoil you – or in other words, cheat you. What does it mean to cheat someone? It means to steal something they have, usually through trickery and deceit.
Don’t let what you already have be stolen from you.
The Christian is to operate from a position of victory, not praying trying to get the victory – because of what Jesus did 2000 years ago.
- We are already righteous because Jesus became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- We don’t have to talk God into healing us, we are already healed because by His stripes we were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
- We don’t have to strive and do a bunch of stuff to get God to bless us, because Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us, so that the blessing of Abraham could come on the Gentiles by faith. (Galatians 3:13-14)
Don’t let anyone cheat you through philosophy (by having the wrong world view) and empty deceit, after the traditions of men. The traditions of men are things that people have added to what God said. The Bible says one thing, and people add to it “Well, this is what He meant.” Sometimes traditions will directly contradict what God said.
Matthew 15:1-9 1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’
5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”–
6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “
Substituting tradition for God’s word can cause you to not have what belongs to you. You’ve been cheated.
Where it all started
Genesis 2:15-17 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Adam was given a commission and a commandment. The commission was to multiply, replenish the earth and subdue it. It was to start in one section, the Garden of Eden, which he was to tend and keep. The word keep is interesting because it means to guard and protect.
The commandment, was that they were not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Note that this commandment was given to Adam. Eve was not yet around.
Genesis 3:1-6 1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ “
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
So notice what Satan, using the body of the serpent does to get Eve to question what God said. “You mean you can’t eat of any of the fruit of the garden?” First, a complete misstatement. Eve responds with “we can eat from any tree, except the one in the middle of the garden, which God said if we eat it or touch it, we die.”
Did God say anything about not touching the tree? No. She added to what God said. Now we don’t know whether it was Eve herself that added it, or if it was Adam that did when he told her about the commandment. Or maybe they both decided, “Tell you what, let’s not even touch that tree” and told themselves that enough times that they started believing that’s what God said.
“You shall not surely die; but God knows that if you eat the fruit, you’ll become like Him, knowing good and evil”.
So here is the deceit; it is packaged in something attractive: you will be like God. The only problem was that Eve was already like God – she was created in His image. She and Adam were clothed in the glory of God. But Satan phrases it like God was holding out on them – this secret knowledge of good and evil.
So what happened next? She started reasoning: “it’s pretty. It looks like it would be good to eat. And it will make me wiser.” So she reached out and picked it – she touched it – and nothing happened. She didn’t die. So that made her think that if she ate it, she wouldn’t die either.
So when she transgressed the tradition that she and/or Adam had made and suffered no consequences, it made her question the rest. Of course when she broke the commandment of God, there were consequences.
Here’s another example of the traditions of men:
1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
Various groups have used that to say that women shouldn’t cut their hair, or wear jewelry or makeup. But they only took part of the verse – what about “putting on of apparel”? I mean if you were really going to take the idea that these things are prohibited, then women shouldn’t wear clothes either. The next verse goes on:
1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Almost every modern translation adds the word “merely”; i.e., don’t let your adornment be merely on the outside, be on the inside also.
In Bible school when addressing this subject, they told us “If the barn needs painting, paint it!” It’s sad that those that teach against outward adornment are actually doing what these verses tell us not to do – concentrate on the outward appearance.
Philosophies of Men
In this day and age we are being bombarded by the philosophies of men more than ever. Every philosophy bears fruit – either good or bad.
We see it in recent years with the legalization of gay marriage, and now with doing away with the concept of fixed genders and “gender fluidity”. 50 years ago it would have been unthinkable to everybody.
You know, I can understand homosexuality. I don’t agree with it as a lifestyle, but I can understand it as a preference of the person.
But the whole trans movement – that is denying reality. A man can pretend and masquerade as a woman – even going as far as altering their anatomy – but that doesn’t make them a woman. A female can surgically remove her breasts and take hormones and grow a beard – but she is not a man. The trans person is still just acting out their preference And trying to alter the language, saying that “men” can give birth, calling mothers “chest feeders”, pronouns and the like – is just insanity.
I remember a number of years ago during the debate over Proposition 8, which was to make a law in California that marriage was to be between a man and woman only. Those in favor of gay marriage asked the question, “How can us getting married hurt you?” And the reply was that “because you are eventually going to try to force people who don’t agree with you to participate in it”. “Oh, no, we’d never do that”. I remember them saying that. Well, they lied. It’s already happening. And of course Christians are targeted because we are the ones taking a stand. (Interesting – Muslims also don’t believe in gay marriage. But I haven’t heard of any Muslim businesses being targeted by gays).
It was never just about gays being able to marry. It is about people forcing their philosophy on others. And Satan’s plan all along has been to use it to discredit Christianity.
High Things Exalted
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
The original languages of the Bible don’t have punctuation as we do – it was added by the translators. This verse could also be rendered: “As he thinks, so is he in his heart.”
You can’t change your life unless you change the way you think. What you think will affect what you believe, and what you believe in your heart will affect your behavior.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep (guard) your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
The world can’t see what we see because of the lens of their philosophy. The problem is that worldly philosophy has entered the church.
What should a Christian’s philosophy be governed by? What the Word of God says.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
What is a “high thing exalted against the knowledge of God”? It’s something that contradicts the scripture. It can be some ungodly thing coming from the world that say “it’s OK because we say it’s OK.” But it can also be a tradition that well meaning Christians who love God have added to the Word.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Don’t be conformed to the philosophies of the world. There is tremendous pressure nowadays to conform to the way the world thinks. A lot of it is plain foolishness. And unfortunately, it is permeating even the Church.
So instead of conforming, we are to be transformed – how? By renewing your mind – by changing what you think – so you can prove and approve what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
Any philosophy that does not line up with the Word of God is the wrong philosophy.
Philosophy of Grace
There are three groups and three laws that the Bible deals with.
Jews, under the Law of Moses
Gentiles, under the law of conscience. Romans 2:14-15
The Church of God. We are not under the law of Moses, but that does not mean we are lawless. We are under the Law of Love, and the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.
The Law of Love encapsulates all of the Law of Moses. Jesus spoke of this.
Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
The Dividing Line
2 Timothy 2:15 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
For dividing, the Amplified Bible says “rightly handling and skillfully teaching” the Word of Truth.
The difference between the Old and New Covenants is a good place to rightly divide. We need to look at things through the lens of Before the Cross, or After the Cross.
The gospels were written after the cross, but about things that were before the cross. The New Covenant did not start before Jesus gave His blood. At the last supper, Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.”
Jesus walked under the Old Covenant, but gave us glimpses into the New.
Under the Old Covenant, the requirements to be blessed of God were set forth in Deuteronomy 28:
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.
2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:
The first step had to come from the people: “If you obey… then God..”
Unfortunately there were consequences of not obeying: you would be under a curse. If you are good, God will bless you. If you are bad, you’re cursed. What you do first will determine what God does next.
This, in and of itself, is a philosophy and worldview – the worldview of being under law.
These are not the words of the New Covenant.
Galatians 3:13-14 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Under the New Covenant, God made the first move – Jesus died for us. If we are “in Christ”, we get the blessing that Jesus earned through His perfect obedience, instead of the curse that we deserved from our falling short of God’s standards. The order has changed!
Romans 5:19 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Our own obedience still has its place, but it is our response to what Jesus has done, it is not to earn God’s blessing.
This is the philosophy of Grace.
The righteous lifestyle cannot produce righteousness (all our righteousness is as filthy rags). But righteousness (being in right standing with God) can produce a righteous lifestyle.
Good works cannot produce salvation, but salvation can produce good works.
Andrew Womack says it this way: “Grace is what God has already done. Faith is our response to what God has already done.”
The answer to the question: “what must I do to be saved?” is different before the cross verses after the cross.
Matthew 19:16-19 16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’
19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “
Now remember, Jesus was a Jew living under the Old Covenant. So in answer to the question, “what must I do to be saved”, he cites keeping the 10 commandments (although He does not mention all of them).
Acts 16 occurred after the cross. The occasion was Paul and Silas in jail at Phillipi, singing praises while their feet were in stocks. God sends a supernatural earthquake that releases all the prisoners’ bonds. The jailer comes in and asks:
Acts 16:30-31 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
So in the Old Testament, it is “what must I do”, and in the New Testament it is “believe in what He did” – the completed works of Jesus.
The fundamental difference of the New Covenant in contrast with the Old is that God moved first, and then we respond to what He has done.
Old Covenant:
Matthew 6:14-15 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
New Covenant:
Ephesians 4:32 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
We already looked at Matthew 22 where Jesus quoted Deuteronomy that the greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God with all you heart, mind, soul, and strength.
1 John 4:19 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
Receiving His love first enables us to love others.
Romans 5:5 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
