Fail?
of the Grace of God?

Just recently the question was asked, "How can a man fail of the grace of God?". The scripture that brought up this question is found in Hebrews 12:15
15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

The first thing we might ask ourselves is this..."Is it possible to fail of the grace of God?" Has it not been established that the ¹grace of God is sufficient? In a word, "YES!", God's grace IS sufficient, however, His is not the only grace in question here.
There is the "Grace of God" and then we have grace that we are to share with our fellow-man. _{(See: grace)} If you will notice the 2nd definition - goodwill; favor - you will see attributes that go along with the 1 Corinthians 13 version of love... 4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8. Charity never faileth:

Let's look at the -- American Standard Vresion
Hebrews 12:15
looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
Have you ever fallen short of a goal? I have. I believe that grace is something that we should give to one another. In Matthew 10:7-8 Jesus gives a list of things that we should share, including The Kingdom of God, then tells us "freely ye have received, freely give." Having studied what it means when we pray "Thy Kingdom come", it is evident that 'grace' is one of the wonderful things we are asking for during this prayer.
If you will notice, Hebrews 12:12-14 deals, primarily with how we relate to one another.
'Lift up the hands that hang down, and feeble knees; Pay attention to the path so that a brother who is weak will not stumble; Follow peace with all men; watch, pay attention to yourselves and those around you so that you don't fail of the 'grace' of God. This can cause misunderstandings among the brethren allowing a root of bitterness to spring up. Hurt feelings and disappointments lead us to say and do things that are hurtful and yet, at the same time, we say that we 'Love the Lord'. James 3:8-14 tells us plainly that both 'sweet' and 'bitter' cannot come from the same fountain.

By now, you are probably thinking that I am 'off my rocker'. For years, I have heard this scripture used as a warning that 'if I don't pay close attention (looking diligently) - I WOULD BACKSLIDE AND GO STRAIGHT TO HELL' - fail of the grace of God. This interpretation comes from the 3rd definition of grace. - 'a delay granted for payment of an obligation' - We have been taught, or at the least, led to believe, that 'grace' is 'salvation'. Grace is not salvation. See Hebrews 4:16 Let us come boldly before the 'Throne of Grace' - the perfect example of grace is our Father - that we may obtain, receive, accept mercy (*note: mercy is actually the gift that comes with salvation) and find grace, kindness, goodness, long-suffering, etc..
We receive mercy, that is to say salvation, because 'God is LOVE' (1 John 4:8), and ONLY God can give salvation, but grace is a much larger word. Grace is something that we are supposed to give to one another. In Matthew 18:23-35, Jesus tells us of a king who had patience with a servant who owed him a great amount. The king released the servant to find out that the servant, whom he had spared, had gone out and found someone who owed him much less than that the king had forgiven him for and demanded, without patience, that all be repayed 'NOW'. 34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Ephesians 2:8 says "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
Wow! This can get confusing. God does show us 'grace'. His grace continues in us daily to help us to overcome and to forgive us of our short-comings. This is the 'grace' that we have 'freely received' and should, in turn 'freely give'. And if you will note, the verse says 'for 'by grace are ye saved through faith - saved through faith... Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - so, are we then going to say that grace and faith are the same thing? I think not.
See Romans 3:24 that we are justified freely by his grace THROUGH the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
and also Titus 3:5-7 that salvation is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us... That being justified by His grace...
So then, how can a man fail of the grace of God? How can a man say that he loves God and hates his brother? 1 John 4:20 How can we love someone and not show them grace? How can we be disciples of our Lord, Jesus Christ without freely giving grace to our fellow man? John 13:34-35

"But that brother is not acting like a Christian. Why should I be merciful to him?", you might ask. And I would, in turn, ask you if you might be judging that brother. Have you looked diligently into his situation? Does this brother deserve to be condemned? or lifted up? Are YOU considering failing of the grace of God?

Salvation is FREE
Grace is earned (Matthew 6:14-15
14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.)

God bless you all. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 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; 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. 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. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:14-18)

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Growing In God's Word

Scripture References

1. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
   8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
   9. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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2. Matthew 10:7-8
   7. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
   8. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
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3. Matthew 6:9-13
   9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
   10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
   11. Give us this day our daily bread.
   12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
   13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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4. Hebrew 12:12-16
   12. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
   13. And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
   14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
   15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
   16. Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
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5. James 3:8-14
   8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
   9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
   10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
   11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
   12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
   13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
   14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
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6. Hebrews 4:16
   Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
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7. Matthew 18:23-35
   23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
   24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
   25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
   26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
   27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
   28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
   29. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
   30. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
   31. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
   32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
   33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
   34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
   35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
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8. Romans 3:24
   Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
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9. Titus 3:5-7
   5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
   6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
   7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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10. 1 John 4:20
    20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
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11. John 13:34-35
    34. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
    35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
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