THE ACCUSERS WHO PERVERT GRACE
Orientation
Some within the church accuse true believers of abusing grace as a license to sin, creating confusion and fear.
- This accusation often comes from a place of misunderstanding God's grace.
- It can make believers question their assurance and the sufficiency of Christ's work.
- The pattern mirrors Cain's rejection of God's way of acceptance.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 4)
— Jude 4
Clarification
The real perversion of grace is not trusting in Christ alone, but insisting on a righteousness built by law and works.
- False teachers follow 'the way of Cain,' rejecting justification by faith in Christ's sacrifice.
- Their railing accusations reveal hearts bound by the law, unable to grasp free justification.
- They project their own legalistic fears, misunderstanding that grace both forgives and empowers godly living.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)
— Romans 4:5
Structure
Biblical logic shows that justification by faith alone rests on Christ's finished work, not our performance.
- God freely justifies the ungodly through faith, demonstrating His grace.
- Christ's sufficient sacrifice accomplishes justification completely apart from works.
- True gospel grace promotes righteous living from a position of rest in Christ, not fear of the law.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
— Galatians 2:20
Weight-Bearing Prose
The core theological assertion is that certain infiltrators pervert grace by self-righteously accusing those who rest in Christ’s finished work. This is the ‘way of Cain’—rejecting the blood sacrifice (Christ’s atonement) in favor of a works-based approach. Their accusations are a form of railing against the dignity of saints justified by faith alone (Jude 8). This error collapses justification, reducing it from God’s free gift in Christ to a system of human performance. It effectively denies the Lord Jesus Christ by denying the sufficiency of His work (Jude 4). Paul’s categories are clear: justification is for the ungodly, by faith, apart from works of the law (Romans 4:5). The law cannot grasp the freedom of faith. The counter-position—that grace must be guarded by law to prevent licentiousness—itself corrupts grace, turning it into a mere tool for self-improvement and reinstating a covenant of works.
Integration
Your assurance is not in your performance, but in Christ’s finished work. Do not be unsettled by accusations that you are abusing grace by trusting Christ alone. Such charges come from those who have not entered the rest of free justification. You are accepted in the Beloved. God’s grace that brings salvation also teaches us to live righteously—it is the power for life, not just pardon. Stand in the completed work of Christ. Your inheritance and sonship are secure in Him, not contingent on maintaining a standard. Christ is your righteousness, your sanctification, and your reward. There is no pressure to advance or prove yourself; you are already complete in Him.