At some point during the Church age, after the death of the apostles, the truth concerning Divine "grace" changed from an imparted saving power to the favor of God. This doctrinal change viewed as favor has removed the true power of our salvation and ability to please God. We who have made a profession of faith in Christ do experience being born again. When we see Divine Grace as the favor of God, we lack the power of saving grace to fight the fight of faith. This doctrinal change has paved the way for God’s people to live life under the influence and bondage of sinful flesh and the enemy of their soul. The bondage has happened to many because salvation through FAVOR lacks the power of GRACE to save us in time of need.

The world gained favor with God through the redemption in Christ. Through the born again experience we have access to saving Grace because Christ is our savior. Those in Christ can boldly enter the throne room of grace in time of need and ask for grace to rest upon them. Jesus gave us grace so we could experience life and that life more abundantly.

Grace is the divine influence (power) upon the heart and mind of the believer and its reflection in ones life. The power of Christ resting upon us and divine grace are one in the same. Grace can only be appropriated at a time of need through faith. As the trials, temptations and persecutions become overwhelming, the greater the influence of grace God wants us to experience.

Grace is the liberty or freedom from the influence of the commandments in the law which bring me/us under the knowledge and power of sin.. The influence of grace produces freedom of choice that Adam experienced in the garden before he disobeyed God. Adam had the choice of eternal life before he ate of the forbidden tree. The tree of life was in the midst of the Garden for them to eat of. We can use our liberty to follow faith or we can use our liberty for an occasion to the flesh. Under the power of grace we are free to make the decision to be free in Christ or to be in the bondage of our flesh. It is important to understand that choosing to follow the precepts of the law will bring us into bondage again. Now for the people of God partaking from the law produces in us all manner of evil desire and displaces grace. The tree of life is offered again to the obedient over comers who do not use their liberty to walk according the fleshly nature.
Romans 7:7-11 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.
When we accept the teaching that tithing, keeping the feasts, or the ten commandments for any part of our walk of faith we make the sacrifice of Christ of none effect in our life. We make ourselves sinners in need of a savior. When we fall to this belief system we reject the fulfillment of the law that Christ accomplished for us. For me to be free I must not frustrate grace by looking for my righteousness in anything but Christ. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for those who believe. When Christ is my righteousness I am free from the power of sin and death. When I look to the law I come under the power of sin and death. When we look to the law as our guide we build again those things we destroyed in Christ.

Gal 2:17-18 17 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 "For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
If we are going live in the Spirit we must walk in the Spirit of God to be of faith. When we as Christians demand that the ten commandments be posted on the wall of a school or public building we are producing all manner of evil desire in peoples lives because we are preaching bondage not liberty. If we want the world to accept Christ we must show them the true grace of God to live righteously. When we choose the law as our guide Christ must be formed in us again because we have frustrated grace (set it aside).
Gal 4:19-26 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you. 21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar-- 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children-- 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Life’s Examples: My personal experience has taught me what it means to be under grace versus under law. I have found grace to be more than sufficient to sustain me in time of trial and testing of my Christ authored faith. I have found grace a saving power when I must choose between obeying my flesh (sin) or obeying God (righteousness of faith). I have found grace more than sufficient in times when all types of sickness would be trying to overcome me. In these times I would state to the Lord, I am under your grace and I do not have to bare this sickness or disease because you already bore this for me. In grace through faith I have experienced freedom from sickness, disease and the power to resist sin. On two different occasions I was asked to pray for people who had been stung by scorpions. As soon as I said “I neutralize the venom in the name of Jesus”, the pain and burning would immediately stopped. We have overcome breast cancer and mending of broken bones in the name of Jesus. The only reason this is possible is because Christ has fulfilled all that the law required.

My life is no longer under the law but under the power His of grace. Not that I am saying I am anything but that it is the grace of God at work in me that gives me this salvation. In times when temptation is pressing me to disobey what I know to be God’s truth, I find the power of saving grace to be more than sufficient to keep me unto obedience. I must ask for grace at the beginning of a test or trial before I am overcome in thought and or deed. Grace can only save me when I ask at the time of need before I surrender to the temptation. As the temptations become more difficult the greater the grace we are to experience and grow in through faith.

Faith requires belief and belief requires obedience to the word of God that He has spoken to us. The Spirit of grace is the one who strengthens the inner man so we can obey faith. It is obeying the imparted word of God that leads us in the path of the righteousness for faith. We are to walk in newness of life in the Spirit of God through the imparted word. Without the influence of grace upon our heart and mind we will faint in heart and mind and stumble into sin through temptation because we are without God’s strength. Grace, the free gift, has been given to enable us to walk in obedience through all of our fiery trials. If we follow the promptings of our carnal nature being tempted by the enemy to do so we insult the Spirit of grace. As we rebel we reject saving grace because we are not following the requirements of faith. Having rebelled against the Spirit of the Lord we now find the beginnings of death working in our soul and body instead of life. By walking after the Spirit in newness of life we experience only the knowledge of good and we retain life within our soul and body. The only way to experience the knowledge of good is to remain steadfast in trial, strengthened under grace. When we disobey the Holy Spirit we find ourselves burdened down with a new sin consciousness because we are outside of saving grace.

What we should be learning from disobedience is just the same as Adam experienced when he knowingly disobeyed God. When we disobey we also experience our nakedness because of the presence of sin and the rejection of grace ruling over us. Now in this condition we do not experience living in the power of the Kingdom of God. Until we repent of our unrighteousness we cannot experience freedom under grace because the knowledge of evil is now present. The enemy has twisted the word of God in an attempt to bring confusion and defeat into the life of believer. His goal is to put a lie in our heart and displace the truth of God. The enemy knows that a lie does not bring the desired results God has purposed for us which is endurance, godly character and hope. As we give in to temptation and sin we give place to the devil and allow him to rule us through sin.

Eph 4:25-32 25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

When we repent of following the enemy and our old habits and return to grace as our safe haven we are able to overcome the world, flesh and the devil in our life. The word of God says “the soul that sins shall surely die”. This death becomes the lack of peace, joy and righteousness in the power of the Holy Spirit. Walking after our old sin nature places us under bondage and we cannot reign in life under grace in this fallen condition. This fallen condition can and does give over control to the enemy in our life. When we are not at complete peace (rest) in Christ, this lack should alert us to the wrong decision (s) of the flesh we have made. Trials and temptation are for the proving of our faith and the cleansing of the temple of God . Now that sin has been condemned in the flesh temptation can and does present itself through the flesh in the heat of trial.. When we learn to overcome temptation and resist sin we will not be seen naked and ashamed but clothed in white raiment at the appearing of Christ.

As we experience true saving grace we will stand justified and rejoice in hope waiting for the glory of God. Experiencing having been justified from all things past is maintained under saving grace through the faith of Christ. Circumstances do not alter our experience of having been justified. Grace enables us to believe and experience as if we never had rebelled. What our thoughts are in trials reveals whether we believe we have been justified or not. When we do not possess all the earthly things we hear taught do we believe there is something wrong or do we hold to the truth of having been justified by faith and sustained by grace and persevere. The pursuit of earthly things is a fleshly desire not a godly desire. Trials are designed to reveal ther thought and intents of heart under pressure. Not only do we learn to endure in Christ, but we also learn to glory in tribulation. Tribulation produces endurance and endurance (perseverance) produces godly character, and character, hope. Without hope there is no place for faith to be the substance of things hoped for.
Heb 11:1-2 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
We must develop good expectation (hope) for faith to become the substance to produce victory in Christ. It is God’s good pleasure to give all things through faith as we learn to persevere in trials. Our goal should not be things but to attain unto godly character and hope.

Romans 5:1-4 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. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Our trials are to prove our faith and to glorify God and in doing this we will receive the promised blessings. But without faith it is impossible to please God. So if we do not persevere in faith through trials we do not please God.

1PE 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

Salvation is about deliverance, health and preservation from danger and freedom from the bondage of the world, flesh and the devil. It is about experiencing eternal life now or the abundant life Jesus spoke of.

Grace is the heartfelt influence (power) by which a believer is maintained in this state of freedom. Without the empowering of grace the results will be an unrighteous life in the bondage of sinful flesh and controlled by the dictates of the enemy. Grace is not a license to Sin, but the ability by which God enables the believer to know he or she is justified and free from the influence of sin. The fiery trials and temptations are Satan’s attempt to lure us into disobeying faith and giving in to sin. The word states we have been justified from everything and by saving grace we maintain this experience. If our past haunts us after receiving Christ it is because we have returned to it again and built old habits. It is our past that Satan wants to become our present through sin because he knows faith looks to the future not the past.

To experience the power of Christ’s resurrection we must believe what God has accomplished in Christ. For example the word states, “Christ is the fulfillment of the law”. Now, do we believe that the law has been fulfilled or are we still trying to be blessed in the law. If a believer in Christ says he must keep the ten Commandments or tithe because they are in the law, this belief would make Christ’s death of none effect and this believer has become a doubter. The law was not done away with but completely fulfilled in Christ. Looking to the law only frustrates grace and makes us a sinner. It is the power of grace through faith that sustains our heart and mind in this newness of life’s experience.

I believe one of the greatest lies Satan perpetuates is that we are “just an old sinner saved by grace”. Either I am saved (freedom) from the desires of the world, flesh and the devil by grace (power) through faith and that not of my self. Or I am still a sinner outside of grace plodding along with no expectation of freedom because either I have set grace aside or I have no real understanding of grace. If I have accepted this unsaved condition as my suffering for Christ I am most miserable. I cannot be both saved and a sinner at the same time. Either I am living free under saving grace or I am living under bondage to my sinful flesh. Christ freed us from the influence of sinful flesh in His death, burial and resurrection if we appropriate it. We cannot experience the gift of freedom without all the components of salvation and grace is one of the most important aspects of our freedom in Christ. All sin is willful disobedience to the Spirit of God. If I choose to disobey I reject the influence of true grace and I become the servant of sin and unrighteousness. This happens because the word states that whoever I choose to serve that one becomes my master.

ROM 5:21 * That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:14-15-1614 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
ROM 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 8:4-6 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Do we really understand what the requirements are to inherit all things? We must be the servants of righteousness which can only be accomplished by following the voice of the Spirit of life and maintained by grace through faith. We must be spiritually minded to find life, peace and joy in the kingdom of God.

God allowed the apostle Paul to be continually tempted by Satan in an area of his life in order to keep him humble because of the manifold revelations Paul had attained. Paul requested three times for the buffeting to be removed without results so it would appear. We find in scripture that the Lord did not say no to Paul’s request. His request was answered with the way to stand through the gift of grace. Paul had to appropriate saving grace through faith to stand against the influence of the enemy. We see in the scriptures we must be humble and weak to receive grace. To resist rebelling against God in times of temptation we must request saving grace to stand.

When we find ourselves continually in the testing of our faith it is to prove to us what we believe concerning the word God. The Spirit teaches us line upon line and precept upon precept during and after trials. We are tested to prove to us if we have taken the word to heart and joyfully produce fruit through it. Having been justified from all things and standing in this experience by grace is the only way we produce godly fruit in our life.

I think the question we should ask ourselves is do we believe the word of God or the circumstances we find ourselves in? If we believe the circumstance we will not find victory in Christ because we are not mixing the word of God with faith. Grace gives us the ability to stand and to believe God no matter what the circumstance appears to say. We must remain steadfast in heart and mind by the imparting of saving grace through faith. This is why it is solely the free gift of God. The part we have is to make a simple humble request and God pours out this free and perfect gift of saving grace upon us time and time again. To be saved is a humble choice and we have to make it daily.

2 Cor 12:7-10 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, ``My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

When we begin to understand the purpose and power of divine grace we will see that salvation is more than just a simple confession of faith. Salvation is life and that life more abundantly. Grace is a free gift and it cannot be earned through works or purchased through so-called giving from tithing or keeping the ten commandments. If grace could be gained this way then salvation would not be a free gift. It would be by our works and not by Christ’s.

God said “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” If we could purchase the power of Christ resting upon us then Christ would have died in vain and there would be no hope.

ROM 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Grace is appropriated in time of need through humble requests in boldly entering the throne of grace. Without the power of Christ resting upon us we are powerless in times of temptation and prone to give in to the desires of the flesh. The time is coming when many will be asked to worship the beast or possibly sacrifice their life for their testimony. God has provided divine grace (power) for those who will say no to the beast and bring glory to God in this trial. Now is the time to prepare before this trial is thrust upon us unawares. Many will rebel against God at this time because they have not been warned of the coming trial of their faith. Many are believing in a secret rapture which is not scriptural and may be the reason for the great apostasy.

In whatever difficult situation we find ourselves we must in all things give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. When we are giving thanks and taking joy in divers trials and tribulation we cannot be overcome by evil. Our greatest teacher are trials and tribulation and taking joy in the midst of them . We must glorify God in all things to be victorious in this life. Christ in us is the hope of glory.

1 Thess 5:16-22 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

It is not my strength that sees me through trials and temptations to sin. It is His strength in the Spirit of grace resting upon me and the knowledge that sin cannot rule over me.

Acts 4:33 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

James1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials , 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance . 4 And let endurance have its perfect result , so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
God has provided us with everything pertaining to life and godliness in Christ Jesus. The question we must ask ourselves is do we really believe God? We, as the body of Christ must choose truth and learn to walk in it or continue to suffer the consequences. As we see in the Word the choice is really ours to make.
2 Peter 1:3-11 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The word of God tells us that we enter the Kingdom of God through much trial and tribulation. We enter into peace, joy and righteousness in the power of the Holy Spirit through much trial and tribulation. If we have not found the entrance to the kingdom maybe we have not learned to have joy in trial and tribulation? The purpose of trials and tribulation is to prove to us who and what the strength of our inner man is. If we find ourselves in the bondage of our old habits (flesh) provoked by the enemy it is because we are making a decision to do so. In order to fulfill the royal law we must walk according to the dictates of the Holy Spirit and love God and our neighbor as our selves. If we walk after the Holy Spirit we are kept in abundant life by the Spirit of grace through faith. To experience the kingdom of God in our daily life we must make decisions in accordance with the Holy Spirit. The process of being tried reveals to us whether we are persevering to the point of gaining hope as the anchor of our soul or giving in to doubt and unbelief. We are being afforded the opportunity to enter into the kingdom of God and to be approved now. The crown of life is to those who are found approved through persevering through manifold trials and tribulation and temptation. It is God’s good pleasure to give us entrance into the kingdom. We must understand that entrance into the kingdom does have certain requirements and expectations that we must respond to.
Gal 5:17-24 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality , impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions , 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
When we walk after the carnal mind we insult the Spirit of Grace by which we attain salvation. You see whatever a man sows that shall he reap. If he sows to the flesh corruption, if he sows to the Spirit he will inherit life. To find life we must obey the Holy Spirit as he leads us in the paths of righteousness. Walking with the Spirit in the paths of righteousness will keep us blameless spirit, soul and body until the day of the Lord. But if we walk contrary to the Spirit we are in jeopardy of loss.
Heb 10:29-31 29 How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, ``VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.'' And again, ``THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.'' 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Eph 4:22-24 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self , which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self , which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
The gospel presently being preached has a form of godliness but denies the power thereof.. I say this because today’s message is more about counting gain as godliness, than godliness with contentment as great gain. We hear more about what we can get from God instead of how to be made in his image. The present day teachings are more about lust and greed than about a life of holiness and godliness in Christ. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying God will not meet our needs because He will and He does. We are to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all things will be added unto us. Presently the church is being taught to seek things instead of God.
Matt 6:31-33 31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
How we have frustrated grace with our trying to bribe God with tithing and insisting on attempting to keeping the Ten Commandments or any other precepts of the law. We are not to keep the law but to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law by following the leading of the Holy Spirit in faith. If we follow the Holy Spirit we will not transgress the law because we are truly under grace. We are not supposed to be under the law but under grace. To be under grace means to be under the influence and power of the freedom that grace produces in us. We must stop rejecting the sacrifice of Christ and seeking our own righteousness from things like tithing. When we believe the teachings that we can not be blessed or healed unless we are tithing we rob Christ of His gift. Yes, we are to give from our supply in love to the needs of others. It is not tithing God’s people need to hear but the preaching of the cross and the truth about saving grace.
1 Cor 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. The question we need to ask ourselves is are we perishing or being saved?

The word indicates the process of being saved is ongoing, not once and for all. We must understand that grace through faith is the instrument of our day to day salvation in this process of remaining saved unto the freedom from sin. Once we are born again we have just begun the walk of faith as babes in Christ. Being born again opens our spiritual eyes so we can see the kingdom of God. To enter into peace, joy and righteousness, we must be led by the Spirit of God and grow in grace and faith to fulfill righteousness.

John 3:3 3 Jesus answered and said to him, ``Truly, truly, I say to you, unless, one is born again he cannot, see the kingdom of God.''

Trials are not designed to destroy us but to teach us to grow in grace and faith so we may say as Paul did at the end of his life.

2 Tim 4:7-8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Rev 3:16-18 16 `So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 `Because you say, ``I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,'' and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

Will we be able to say the same as Paul if we have lived our life according to the world, flesh and the devil? I think not

At some point during the Church age, after the death of the apostles, the truth concerning Divine "grace" changed from an imparted saving power to the favor of God. This doctrinal change viewed as favor has removed the true power of our salvation and ability to please God.