Why is it that Jesus, the Teacher and Lord, never mentions grace at all in all the four gospel accounts? In fact, Jesus never once mentioned grace in the entire New Testament except when speaking with Paul (i.e. "my grace is sufficient for you"). Yet it has been expanded by those indoctrinated in the Reformation theology to be the most imporant aspect of the gospel (if you talk to those who are indoctrinated in Reformation theology).

If you talk with Reformationists long enough you will undoubtedly hear that the dichotomy Jesus spoke of in the New Testament is between "Law" and "grace". How is that possible when Jesus never mentions grace except once?

It is quite simply erroneous. The error began with Luther. He did not start with the gospels but rather started with the book of Romans. In doing this he obviously misconstrued the dichotomy and elevated grace to a position that Jesus himself never did. Luther also misconstrued much of the book of Romans, and then made the gospels fit what he had already misconstrued. That seems to me to be the case. The problem is that Reformationists continue propagating what Luther did and the problem continues.

"The central doctrinal principle for Luther was that justification is by grace through faith. “Through faith” did not mean a means for apprehending grace but a mode of living by and in the power of God’s grace. In a 1519 sermon entitled “Two Kinds of Righteousness,” Luther distinguishes between what he calls “alien righteousness” and our “proper righteousness.” By alien righteousness Luther means “the righteousness of another, instilled from without. This is the righteousness of Christ by which he justifies us through faith...” Citing Romans 1:17, “For in it {the} righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous {man} shall live by faith’,” Luther asserts that “Through faith in Christ, therefore, Christ’s righteousness becomes our righteousness and all that he has becomes ours; rather, he himself becomes ours.” Luther’s concept ruled out every attempt to justify or acquit oneself before God. One was made acceptable before God in the lively apprehension of God’s word of love and mercy. This conclusion brought to an end for Luther any religious attempt to justify himself before God in terms of the prescribed combination of sacraments and works as found in Catholicism. The first slogan of Luther’s reformation was sola fide, “faith alone.”

In James 2:20-26 it reads, “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without {the} spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”




About the epistle of JAmes, Luther said:
St. Paul’s epistles, especially that to the Romans, together with St. Peter’s first epistle.” Luther advised every Christian to read these books first and most often, since in them one will discover accounts of “how faith in Christ conquers sin, death, and hell; and gives life, righteousness, and salvation.” He believed that in these books one finds “the true essence of the gospel.” He concludes that these are “the books which show Christ to you. They teach everything you need to know for your salvation, even if you were never to see or hear any other book or hear any other teaching.” Then he adds, at the very end of the Preface, “In comparison with these, the epistle of St. James is an epistle full of straw, because it contains nothing evangelical.”
Luther also included Prefaces to introduce certain New Testament books as an aid to understanding them. One of these was a Preface to the Epistles of James and Jude. In that Preface Luther stated that he regarded James as valuable in its emphasis on God’s law

ALl from:
http://www.lessonsonline.info/LutherandJames.htm

Max, thank you for posting this. This proves my point. Luther believed that in Romans and 1 Peter one finds the true essence of the gospel. Well what about the gospel accounts themselves? Isn't the gospel there first and foremost? Yes but Luther didn't know it. Its obvious he didn't since he was instrumental in carrying out persecutions against the Anabaptists. What happened to love your neighbor?

What happened to love your neighbor?

Was forgotten by luther

Rom 3
[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rom 5:20
[20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
[21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 11:6
[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 is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Eph 2:5
[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

You nor I know why He did not specifically mentioned its meaning however He clearly showed to us what it meant through his death. Which is why the new testament writers concluded salvation is a result of Grace and faith not works less any man should boast.
Grace theory wasn't started by Martin Luther it started with Jesus....the bible is clear regarding grace. Martin Luther built his theory upon the bible.

I understand why Max is against it because according to catholic faith salvation is a result of works.

Ed I understand why you feel this way you probably think baptism/works is much more important than grace.

You are both wrong...grace and faith equals salvation.

What happened to love your neighbor?

Was forgotten by luther

Pretty much

"Ed I understand why you feel this way you probably think baptism/works is much more important than grace."

I think baptism involves grace. Once again, you are wrong. Let post a quote from a famous early Christian writer named Clement of Alexandria. Clement stated,

"Being baptized, we are illuminated. Illuminated, we become sons. This work is variously called GRACE, illumination, perfection, and washing. Washing, by which we cleanse away our sins. Grace, by which the penalties accruing to transgressions are remitted. Illumination, by which that holy light of salvation is beheld, that is, by which we see God clearly."

This was written about 195 AD. Clement was a teacher of catechumen, all new incoming Christians, into the church of Alexandria. Why is this significant? For one, he is writing very close to the age of the Apostles. Being closer to them on the timeline means that his insight better reflects THEIR insights. Our insights are almost 2 millenium apart whereas his was less than 200 years apart. Who do you think, by reasoning, would have the better understanding?

Secondly, he was the teacher of new Christians. Let me repeat that: he was the teacher of new Christians. That means he taught them what they needed to know before baptism (entry into the kingdom of God), initial salvation, maintaining salvation, sin, etc.

Thirdly, his understanding and insight was most likely passed onto him by someone else closer on the timeline to Jesus and the Apostles. And they chose their wording specifically to reflect what the Apostles taught them.

"You are both wrong...grace and faith equals salvation"

Did Jesus say that specifically? Not at all. As you can clearly see Paul is talking specifically to Christians, those already in the kingdom of God. Jesus speaks to those are NOT already in the kingdom of God and to those who are. Paul is most likely taking liberties in not repeating word for word what the Christians already know. Jesus doesn't take that liberty. As I posted in another topic Candle leaves out crucial points that are not found in this topic.

Iz dat really you ed?

I'm not understanding what the discussion is about really ^..-

What is it exactly that Luther believed about grace that was wrong?

Also... although Jesus may have not said anything about grace, Jesus and grace are actually inseperable.

In Luke 2:40, the bible says that God's grace was upon Jesus.

In Luke 4, when Jesus reads out the scroll and says the prophesy is fulfilled, its recorded that the people wondered at his "gracious" words, and they said 'isn't this Joseph's son?'

In John 1:14 it says that Jesus (the Word), is full of grace and truth.

In John 1:16 it says that we receive Jesus' grace

John 1:17 says that grace and truth came by Jesus and not the law.

Jesus didnt have to mention grace, because not only was the Father's grace upon Him, and not only was He full of grace, but people recognised the grace as well.

The bible says that its through Jesus that christians receive grace.

Notice that Jesus didnt mention the god-head either. Jesus doesnt talk about how we should give our money to the church, or whether we should or not.

Did you now that Jesus doesnt sa He loves everybody? He doesnt even says that He loves His enemies. We know he does though, because of context, and other verses in the bible. Just because Jesus doesnt say something doesnt mean its not true, even when its about Himself. If other parts of the bible state it then it should be fine. You cant pick and choose what u want to believe in the bible and call yorself a christian

Saving Faith:

Our salvation comes as a gift of God's grace but it can only be appropriate by the human response of faith. To understand the process of salvation properly we must understand these two words.

Saving faith. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only co9ndition of God requires for salvation. Faith is not only the profession about Christ but also an activity coming from the heart if the believer who seeks to follow Christ as Lord and Savior. Mat 4:19, 16:24

The new testament conception of faith includes four main elements:

a) faith means firmly believing and trusting in the crucified and risen Christi as our personal Lord and Savior.Rom 1:17 It involves believing from your heart that is giving up your wills and committing our total selves to Jesus Christ.

b) Faith includes obedience turning from sin with true sorrow and turning to God through Christ.Saving faith is always repenting faith.

c)Faith includes obedience to Jesus and His Word as a way of life inspired by our faith, by our gratitude to God and by the regenerating works of the Holy Spirit. Joh 3:3-6, Heb 5:8-9. It is an obedience of faith Rom 16:26.

D) Faith includes a heartfelt personal devotion and attachment to Jesus that expresses itself in trust, love gratitude, and loyalty toward Him.

Saving faith encompasses grace,obedience to the call and true repentance. It is the act of a single moment and continuing attitude for life because we have faith in Jesus who died for us.

Most importantly I will be unable to do all of the above without the grace of GOD....obedience is a result of God's grace.

Correction: b) Faith includes repentance turning from sin with true sorrow and turning to God through Christ.Saving faith is always repenting faith.

James 2:20-26 “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without {the} spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”