In order for us to understand grace better, it is beneficial to examine the composition of the letters of the Hebrew word for ‘grace’. This is the Hebrew word ‘ḥēn’, which translates as ‘kindness, favour, pleasant, and is derived from the root word ‘ḥānan’.

 

Grace, according to the Word of God, is shown by a person who is in a higher sphere of authority than the person receiving grace. (Note: Part excerpt from the Elberfelder Study Bible on the word ‘ḥēn – grace’ with the word key number: 2645).

 

According to this, grace is to be understood as an expression of love, kindness and attention from a person in authority. It can also not be earned, but only received or obtained. Likewise, the respective recipient can reject or refuse it.

 

Based on the two Hebrew letters ‘Chet’ and ‘Nun’ used for the word ‘grace’ in the Tenakh (Note: Hebrew Bible), it shows a spiritual principle. It is the meaning of boundaries (Note: ‘Chet’) associated with the treasures of the depths of God (Note: ‘Nun’).

 

These contain the mysteries of God hidden in Christ Jesus, which involve two elements, wisdom and knowledge (cf. Colossians 2:2-3).

 

2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

Thus it becomes clear that only within the framework of the Son of God, who is Jesus Christ, can spiritual riches in the form of wisdom and knowledge be obtained (cf. John 17:20-23).

 

20 ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – 23 I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

 

To do this, it is necessary that we abide in Christ Jesus and His standard, which includes the Word of God, so that we do not fall into the danger of a lifestyle of ‘cheap grace’.

 

The following diagram should help us to better understand the dimension of God’s grace, which is Jesus Christ, in whom, according to Colossians 2:2-3, are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

 

 

Here we see the dimensions of knowledge and wisdom that belong to Jesus (Note: Yeshua, highlighted here as a fish shape in black), who fulfilled the whole law, which is associated with the ‘Chet’, and is, as it were, the Son of God, who makes us sons, for which the ‘Nun’ stands.

 

These two circles of the dimensions of wisdom and knowledge (Note: here in red, associated to the letters ‘Chet’ and ‘Nun’) are accessible to us in discipleship, provided we position ourselves in grace in Christ and engage with the depth of His being, which is in the invisible realm. It cannot be obtained by our own works.

 

True or genuine grace involves truth, which is set apart from lies and deception that come with pride, which is why God’s Word repeatedly indicates that ‘God gives grace to the humble.’ God sets Himself apart from all pride. If we align ourselves according to the humility that Christ showed us, we will be able to recognize the difference between true grace and the cheap grace that has become widespread and become wise.

 

Briefly explained, cheap grace embraces a false understanding of God’s goodness that justifies a lifestyle in the ‘flesh’ on the basis that Jesus has already paid for everything.

 

=> The term ‘flesh’ describes man’s thinking, willing and acting, which is not determined by God and His will, but only by the earthly nature- by sin (cf. Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:13-6:12; Ephesians 2:3; Philippians 3:3-4). Flesh here, in contrast to spirit, describes the fact that sin so takes possession of man and his members that his ‘flesh’ determines his whole being like a foreign power, which is associated with death (cf. Romans 7:5-25). <= (The text set in ‘=>’ is a part excerpt from the 1984 CD-ROM Bible Edition to the Luther Bible; word explanation number 10).

 

The gospel of God’s grace, however, is not an instrument designed to replace a program that cultivates falsely preached, cheap grace. Rather, it is eternally existent as eternity itself and brings eternal joy, peace and hope to mankind through divine righteousness (cf. Revelation 14:6).

 

6 Then I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people.

 

According to the Word, the grace of God is the power to resolutely oppose the sinful lifestyle in the flesh, as Paul wrote to his spiritual son Titus (cf. Titus 2:11-14).

 

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

12 It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

 

 

The time frame of God’s kindness as mentioned by Paul to the Romans is not meant for Christians to live in cheap grace, which would be tantamount to crucifying Christ again. Such a lifestyle results in not being able to enjoy the promise of God (cf. Romans 2:4 i.c.w. Hebrews 6:4-8).

 

4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

 

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.

8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

 

God’s goodness, patience, and longsuffering are thereafter out to lead to repentance, which includes a true repentance from dead works (Note: deeds and intentions that result from our own drives and soul origin).

 

When we truly move Spirit-filled in the grace of God and apply that power in our lives, it results in a greater season of God’s grace, which can manifest as a ‘year of the LORD’s favour’ (cf. Luke 4:17-19 i.c.w. John 6:63).

 

17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written (cf. Isaiah 61:1-2): 18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

 

63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life.

 

Cheap grace is contrary to the will of God and is thus disobedience or rebelliousness, ordered on the same level as witchcraft (cf. 1 Samuel 15:23a).

 

23a For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. …

 

The reason for this is that a life of cheap grace corrupts the will of God before the public, which is not who God is and never corresponds to His nature. Cheap grace is tantamount to a tunnel system of darkness that is out to undermine and destabilize the foundation of the house of God.

 

In the context of the lifestyle of cheap grace, the word of the Shepherd’s Rod by Bob Jones († 14^’th of February 2014) and Paul Keith Davis from 2002 should serve us, where it is about the consecrated temple, which means a change in holiness, but also a call to live in it.

 

Part excerpt from ‘The Shepherd’s Rod’:

 

=> A DEDICATED TEMPLE

 

At the time Solomon dedicated the Temple, the priests of the Lord gathered in unity as one voice, arrayed in white linen, representing their consecration. From that ‘hallowed’ position they offered to God praises, prayer and prophetic proclamations. When this was done, a divine cloud appeared as a visible representation of the Lord’s manifest Presence to occupy His sanctuary. Solomon had provided ‘hallowed’ ground upon which the Lord was willing to rest (cf. 2 Chronicles 5:11-14).

 

11 The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions.

12 All the Levites who were musicians – Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives – stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.

13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures for ever.’ Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

 

The construction and dedication of Solomon’s Temple provides a prophetic depiction of the high mandate for our generation. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and it is in us that He desires to dwell. It is through us, His Body, that He will fulfill every purpose of Heaven on the earth.

 

This reality will demonstrate the beginning of the ‘tabernacle of David’ form of worship (cf. Acts 15:15-18).

 

15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written (cf. Amos 9:11-12):

16 “After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things” – 18 things known from long ago.

 

If the Lord can find ‘sanctified’ places dedicated to Him, this worship will go hand in hand with His presence. Once it is established, it will spread rapidly.

 

On the morning of Atonement, I was also given a prophetic dream that emphasized the importance of this reality. In it I observed what was to be determined as places of worship. They were illustrated as Churches and other facilities used by Christians. On the surface they appeared strong and built upon firm foundations. However, the Holy Spirit allowed a view of the ground upon which the facilities were built.

 

In actuality, the buildings were constructed upon foundations that were infiltrated with tunnels and secret chambers. It looked very similar to scenes sometimes depicted during World War II and the Vietnam War when the enemy prepared elaborate networks of underground tunnels and compartments. However, in this prophetic analogy the tunnels were occupied by evil spirits represented by serpents. The two serpents occupying these tunnels and rooms under the foundation of Christian facilities were the Python and Cobra. The Python is a symbol illustrating the spirit of divination. In Acts 16:16 we discover the apostle Paul rebuking this spirit working through a young girl:

 

And she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.” (Acts 16:16-18)

 

The term translated ‘divination’ is the Greek word ‘puthon’ from which we get the English word, ‘python’. This can represent a form of counterfeit spiritual revelation masquerading as the Spirit of Truth.

 

The other evil spirit was featured by the Cobra and finds its origin in ancient Egyptian spiritualism representing the spirit of control and manipulation. These two spirits had secretly infiltrated the foundation upon which the Churches had been built. Because of this network of tunnels, the ground was weak and vulnerable and incapable of sustaining the weighty presence of God He desired to bring.

 

I continued to watch as the Lord enlisted three brave and specially equipped men to invade the tunnels and eradicate the enemy. I was amazed at the valor and strength of these men and their willingness to serve in this manner.

 

Within a short season, these soldiers of the faith began to emerge from the network of tunnels eroding the foundation, with scores of serpents formerly hidden and occupying the network of tunnels. I was amazed, not only at the number of their victims, but also the speed with which they were able to extract them.

 

I believe this is a picture of the ‘hallowing’ of sacred ground upon which the Lord desires to visit. This is true not only with our places of worship but especially within us as individuals. From this experience, we have begun to earnestly ask the Lord, by His grace, to ‘hallow’ this ground within us and extract everything that would erode the foundation upon which He desires to build.

 

The Python is divining, and the Cobra is the controlling spirit. Prayer, praise and prophecy will begin to identify and eradicate the spiritual opposition that has polluted the very ground upon which the Lord desires to establish Himself and His Church. These are the three men that were sent into the tunnel.

 

It will cause love to begin to overflow from our spirits because of the reverential fear and awe that will be established in the hearts of sincere believers. <= (The text set in "=>" as a part excerpt from The Shepherd’s Rod for 2003 by Bob Jones and Paul Keith Davis; published 10/16/2002 on the Elijah List.)

 

Let us be encouraged to go forward in the power of God’s grace and where we encounter the manipulative influence of cheap grace as well as its false words by people, confront them in love with the truth of God’s Word and put them in their place. True grace is the dimension of God, who always separates from deception and all pride.

 

Amen and Amen.

 

In His Wisdom,

 

Daniel and Tina Glimm