How Grace Gets Abused

Grace is at the core of the Christian gospel. The revelation of Christ was a manifestation of the one who is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Indeed, Paul summed up the gospel like this: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). Christ and grace are synonymous. But the grace that shines freely in Christ can be and often is abused by men. 

In fact, in one of Thomas Manton’s sermons on Titus 2:11-14, he outlines various ways that grace gets abused. Grace gets abused by:  

1. Rejection of God’s Gracious Invitations

Manton writes that grace is abused by “neglecting the offers of grace.” As pastors preach Christ and offer him to sinners, those that reject Christ are abusing God’s grace. The offer of forgiveness is a gracious thing that God wants extended to all mankind who come in contact with it—and there is liability for refusing it. 

Men need to be warned that they will be held accountable for hearing the free offer of the gospel and rejecting it. Manton writes, “There is a sort of men that do not openly deny, reject, or persecute the gospel, but they receive it carelessly, and are no more moved with it than with a story of golden mountains…” These men are abusing grace! 

To consistently refuse such an invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, to neglect so great a salvation will reap judgment. And the more so for those who have listened consistently to the gospel and sat under the searching light of the word without responding.

2. Refusing the Gospel out of Legal Dejection 

Manton writes, “Many poor creatures are so vile in their own eyes that they think it impossible they should ever find favor in God’s eyes.” They believe they have sinned too much, are beyond the pale of God’s mercy. But this is to abuse grace, “as if an emperor’s revenue could not discharge a beggar’s debt.” The very glory of the gospel is found in this, “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). To refuse God’s grace because of sin is to pervert the very purpose for which God sent Christ.

Those who do not take account of Paul’s “faithful saying” in 1 Timothy 1:15 are, therefore, really abusing God’s grace, as if God had not provided the means for terrible sins to be forgiven through Jesus’ blood. To spurn Christ as “not good enough” because your sins are "too bad" is to reject God’s “wealth and treasure” and will surely stir up his wrath against you. 

3. Pride Invading God’s Glory

Manton writes, “It is the greatest sacrilege that can be to rob God of his glory, especially the glory of his grace.” The point of God’s grace is to sweep away the boastful and arrogant claims of men. To think that salvation has been granted to you for the reason of your own righteousness is to abuse it altogether. Manton warns us against the natural bent of our hearts: “A man’s heart is very prone to these thoughts: God sees that I would bring him more glory than another; it is for my righteousness.” Thinking in such a way robs God of the praise that belongs solely to him for his saving actions. 

This point also extends to Christian service in the kingdom. To be puffed up at the work one has done is surely to abuse grace. Manton writes, “Grace is wronged also when you are puffed up with anything you have done for God, as if it were done by your own power and strength.” 

All of our working for God is empowered by God on the basis of his gracious gifts to us. Manton draws the conclusion, “So, when we have done anything for the glory of God, let us send for God to take the honor.” This the telos of God’s grace. 

4. Turning Grace to Wantonness

Finally, it is possible to turn God’s grace into lasciviousness (see Jude 4). This is the error of antinomianism. Manton writes, “You dishonor God and disparage grace when you would make it to father the bastards of your own carnal hearts.” Those who under pretense of grace continue to sin show that they are properly condemned (Romans 3:8). 

Those who act in this manner “wrest grace from its natural end and purpose, and sin freely, because God pardons freely.” But, Manton writes, “Grace gives no such liberty to sin.” Indeed, grace teaches us that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13).