Grace first appeared before the world began. Grace, unmerited favor, first appeared because God is grace. It is the nature of God to be graceful. His character is full of grace. Grace was not something God thought of and created. Creation is an expression of the Grace of God. For all that He created was created because He wanted all things to experience His nature of Grace. There is no other story in the Bible than that – Grace. God wants everyone to know Grace. Throughout all the ages, time after time, God manifests Himself to show Grace.  Finally, in the fullness of time, God manifests Himself personally as the epitome of Grace.

Grace is not an object or a thing that can be truly understood by a mind but must be experienced. For thirty-three years, He walked the earth in the likeness of a man (Romans 8:3, Philippians 2:7). When God is experienced through Jesus Christ His only begotten Son in Whom there is salvation alone, then grace is experienced. A friend, Stacy Wood of Promised Seed Ministries, once said to me an acronym for Grace – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is a person, not a thought, deed or action.

            I have heard it proclaimed by some ministers that God first gave and established the Law because He spoke to Adam about things that Adam could and could not eat. Such things were expressed and scripture clearly shows that in the book of Genesis 2:17. Others have said that when God told Adam to tend the garden that it was a command and therefore a type of a Law. Some have even used that for an argument that the Law preceded Grace. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our God is a god of Grace. The truth is that the Law followed Grace and the Law ends in Grace.

Examine the scriptures carefully without any preconceptions and you will agree. Setting aside a discussion on sovereignty, consider the scenario. The easiest example to use is that of the Garden of Eden and the eating of the forbidden fruit. In Genesis 2:17 we find God telling Adam not to eat of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This is obviously a command from God to be obeyed. But a serious review of the command notes that it is not one-sided. God tells Adam not to eat of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, BUT God did not say Adam could not eat of other trees, including the tree of Life.

Adam had a choice before himself. The woman, his lesser self since she came out of him, heard of the command second hand from Adam but did not hear it from God herself. She therefore partook of the fruit which was not really the sin, but her ‘adding to the word of God was. She added ‘touch’ to the command (see Genesis 2:17 and Genesis 3:3). Adam could act out the Law and walk away from Eve, which would defeat the purpose of God in Adam’s life because God called Adam to be fruitful and multiply etc. Or Adam could take the sin of Eve onto himself, bearing her burden, even as Jesus took our sin on Himself to deliver us.

Adam had a choice before himself. His choice was to walk under the dictates of the Law, which if you fail in one jot or tittle, you fail completely and utterly. The Law would become a bondage requiring a continuous sacrifice whether yearly or daily. There was no way humanly possible that Adam could keep the Law once sin entered the picture. Let state that again. Once sin entered in (disobeying the command of God which Eve did), from that point on the Law brought condemnation, guilt and constant reminder of failure. It was impossible from the point of sin for any person to keep the Law. Romans 5 states that by one man sin entered into the world, referring to Adam who became Eve’ sin-bearer. That sin passed immediately onto everyone else precluding them from ever walking in Life.

Adam saw that the commandment of God was broken and that there was need for a sacrifice. How did Adam know that? How did Adam know there was a need for Grace, mercy, and unmerited favor? Why is it that Adam took Eve’s sin onto himself? How is it that Adam had a choice in this situation? He had the choice of crossing the line, for Eve was deceived (1 Timothy 2:14). Adam, if he walked with Eve, would make a cognitive decision to do so. He knowingly would sin whereas Eve was deceived. While she sinned it was not held against her because she did not experientially know but had heard second hand the command of the Lord. But nevertheless, she did sin. Adam had a choice, a deliberate decision to make. But where did this choice come from and how did Adam know of the possibilities.

Adam was made in God’s image. He knew Grace from the beginning. He knew the Father’s nature. Grace allows, permits choices. The Law reprimands choices. ‘It’s my way or the highway’ as my father used to say. The Law allows no choices. It is one sided. But Grace allows choices. Adam could choose to select the fruit of all trees, including the tree of Life or Adam could chose the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Since Adam understood Grace and that Grace was before and ever was and would ever be the Alpha and Omega of God, Adam knew that he could do something unique. He chose to be the sin-bearer for Eve because Adam already understood that Jesus, as the pre-existent Lord, was slain from before the foundation of the world. Adam knew that if he extended Grace to Eve, that Eve would be free from sin so that in do time the seed of the Lord would be visibly displayed at Calvary millenniums later. Adam was a Gracious man, fashioned after the image of God’s nature. In fact, Eve became the mother of all living and birthed Jesus (so to speak) through Mary. How was this possible? Because Adam bore her sin and judgment that she might have life.

Now, some would say and scripturally be correct in suggesting that Adam seemed quite frail when Adam hid from God in the Garden. After all some may say if Adam was walking in Grace and acting like Jesus, Adam should have known God. Once Adam identified himself with sin, he was separated from his knowledge of God. For the Law separates one from God. Instead of being one with God now Adam was walking in duality. Once Adam bore Eve’s sin, even as Adam identified with the nature of Jesus Christ, now he identified with Eve. Adam immediately was not able to deliver himself. Even as it took God to deliver Jesus from death, so it took Jesus to deliver Adam from death.

The key thought here is that Adam knew Grace. Adam knew Grace thoroughly. Adam knew that if he extended Grace to Eve by accepting the accountability for her sin, that God would also accept the accountability for Adam’s sin. Adam knew that because in walking with God in the Garden before the fall, Adam knew that Jesus was from before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Sin put Adam in the part realm, but before the fall Adam knew all things, even as he named all animals, plants and trees, etc. Adam had the mind of God. He even had the mind of God in offering up himself for Eve.

For it was Grace that permitted Adam to choose to walk in life or not to. If the Law was supreme it would have forced conformance and regulated Adam to do so. As even Laws do today, if the punishment is great enough, the person stays within the confines fearing non-compliance.

            When God decided to create the cosmos, the very first thing that He instituted was Grace. God wanted to reveal Himself first and foremost in creation. God wanted to establish that Grace had pre-eminence. We find that the pre-existent Lord in Revelation 13:8 was slain from before the foundation of the world. This means the appearance of Jesus in bodily form and His death was a physical manifestation of a spiritual reality that the world was created through.

We note that the verse states ‘before’ or in some translations ‘from’ but the actual Greek is ‘apo’ and means that ‘a separation from the whole.’ In other words before anything was created out of the Word (John 1:1-3) which is the pre-existent Lord, there was a slaying. No matter what translation is used, nor how man might try, the words and scripture clearly show that before anything was created, our Lord, the pre-existent Jesus if you will, that is Jesus before He had bodily form, was slain. Why? Because God wanted to reveal Grace. Grace is spiritual life. It is not something that is simply placed on you, like the blood on the doorposts at Passover. No. Grace is the Lamb that was slain and EATEN, that is experienced. The world experienced Grace from the beginning.

Now the word foundation is ‘katabole’ in the Greek which means according to the Concordant version ‘a disruption’ or as others state a ‘throwing down’ which has within it the meaning ‘the injection of semen in the womb.’ There is no doubt with careful study that the word ‘foundation’ is dealing with the original creation story especially since it implies sexual placing of the seed. For in Genesis chapter one where it states that God’s Spirit hovered over the void, it has the same meaning. In fact, even where the Holy Spirit hovered over Mary has the meaning of another creation, the placing of another seed, which through Jesus we have partaken of.

Adam knew the plan of God before he fell but after Adam was fallen the knowledge of the plan of God was hidden from the vessel since Adam identified with Eve, who broke the Law, that is partook of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which is the Law.

A very close friend, Jerry Ooten of Columbus Ohio has been blessed of the Lord to understand much about who the serpent is in Genesis. Of course, we all know from Revelation 12:9-10 that the serpent, the dragon, the devil and Satan are the same. Not I But Christ has written a message on ‘Who is Satan?’ and will provide it freely to those who request it. Some of the thought in that booklet are credited to Jerry because of the revelation that God gave him on the subject. You may write Jerry at:     El Paso Dr. Columbus, Ohio. But it is Jerry who brought to my attention that the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is the Law.

The carnal mind is at enmity with God and that is evident in its efforts to become like God. For the carnal mind is religious in its nature which is not godly in its actions. The carnal mind desires to appear holy by proclamations, rituals, traditions, but denies the power thereof. The carnal mind has knowledge, good knowledge, but good knowledge is not godly knowledge. Anything from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not godly.

Eve, not a literal woman, but a spiritual type of the soul, that is the mind, selected from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  2 Corinthians 11:3 shows that Paul draws a comparison between the mind and Eve. Eve is not an individual woman, but a type a shadow. In fact, Adam means mankind and the KJV translates it as one person, Adam. If anything this is a spiritual book.

As we read carefully it can be seen that she was tempted in three ways (Genesis 3:6): good for food (body); pleasant to the eyes (mind); make one wise (spirit). As she sought to find wisdom for herself she separated herself from God because as 1 Corinthians 1:24 states Jesus is the wisdom of God. She was created by the Word (John 1:1) who is the pre-existent Lord Jesus. When she ate of the tree she caused a division between herself and God. 1 John 2:16 states the same problem is still here for people of the carnal mind today. But thanks be to God that Jesus conquered the same three trials in the Wilderness and those who have experienced Grace, that is Jesus, now are delivered from that carnal mind.

“All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:3-4)” All that was created was created through the slain Lamb of God. Nothing was left out. This means His grace shed abroad in our hearts will accomplish the desires of the Father. Every creature, man and beast shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb shed before the foundation of the world. How? In what time? God knows. But His Grace is sufficient. Ours is to work diligently lest any man be found without Grace (Hebrews 12:15). We have been given a commission to go unto all nations bringing the gospel of good news. The news? Grace is above the Law. Grace supercedes the Law. Grace conquers the Law.

Grace comes from God (Philemon 1:1) and works with our spirit (1:25). Grace is Jesus making Himself manifest within us. In feudal times and even today in places of kings and high potentates, the leader is called: “His Grace.” Where did that come from? The king was looked upon as the benevolent father of the people, a type of God as God’s emissary. Grace cannot be found unless it is manifested through a person. Grace is the character of God. He, Who was the first manifestation of Grace (Titus 2:11), has appeared to ALL men.

He destroyed the works of the devil (Hebrews 2:14). What were the works of the devil? Are they not found with the serpent? Are not the devil and the serpent the same (Revelation 12:9)? Grace has come through Jesus Christ and He put to shame openly the things of the flesh (Eve’s desires). That old serpent, a symbol of Babylonish religion, was removed by Jesus. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” states Ephesians 2:8.  The Law can’t give us life because it would be based upon performance and self-effort with personal regulation. We are saved by faith and we live by THE faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20), lest we should boast. The old serpent would have us believe that we can determine our destiny…go ahead…eat… Nothing is further from the truth.

Grace permits us to choose unwisely and then Grace steps in and releases us from the poor choice. It is all Grace. From the beginning unto the ending, everything is surrounded in a sea of Grace that will redeem mankind from its poor choices.  What a God we serve! “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace” states Galatians 5:4.  When Eve stepped away and sought to be justified by the tree of knowledge of good and evil, she fell from Grace. She fell from a relationship with Him Who is Grace. She settled for something less. While Paul was writing in Galatians about the difference between Grace and Law, he was trying to establish the gospel of grace, a special message given to him to proclaim to all mankind. As a Hebrew scholar, he carefully couched his words so that they would reflect on the whole gospel (Old and the New Testament he was writing).

Adam and Eve walked in the spirit and were in fellowship with God because of the Grace of God. But the Lord became of no effect to them when they sought to justify their own existence and who they were. Paul realizes there is a struggle that seeks to pull the saint down from the walk of Grace, the same walk Adam had before the fall. “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain “ Paul states in Galatians 2:21. He walks in Christ and not the Law. His mind, will, desires and emotions are not connected to the Law. He does not focus on nor think of the Law because He walks in Grace, that is Christ Jesus. In writing Galatians he is trying to help the Christians not to fall back into the deception having begun in Grace.

The Law was added Galatians 3:19 states because of disobedience and until the Seed was to come. The Law was added until Grace (1 Peter 1:10) was to come. Read Galatians 3:19 again: “What purpose then does the Law serve? It was added because of transgressions, til the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hands of a mediator.” The Seed is the manifestation in the flesh of the Son of God, Jesus.  After the fall, Adam was still existing because of Grace but unaware of Grace’s role in his life. The transgression brought judgment there is no doubt. But Grace permitted judgment to reign so that the individual might turn unto God. We find that Grace surfaces in some lives up to the coming of Jesus in the flesh. Noah found Grace (Genesis 6:6) in the eyes of the Lord. This verse means that Noah turned from the realm of judgment and sought forgiveness through Grace. Noah found the Seed before He appeared. Abraham also found the Seed by faith.

But for most of us, it took the literal coming of Jesus to find Grace. When He, the Seed, came He removed the Law. He fulfilled all righteousness and was baptized by John. His coming forth from the water reveals the end, the death of the Law, and the beginning of the ministry of reconciliation, grace. You may remember the story of the Ark of the Covenant from Joshua 3:16. When the Israelites were leaving the Wilderness of Sin, the priests stepped into the river Jordan (which means flowing down, death) with the Ark of the Covenant carried by the staves on their shoulders. The water in the river rolled up (just like the Red Sea experience) all the way back to the city of Adam. So states Joshua 3:16. The sins (the river) were stopped and rolled up all the way back to creation (Adam) by the Ark of the Covenant. Well my friend, Jesus is the Ark of the Covenant! When He came forth from the river Jordan, all the sins were swallowed up. The Law was disenfranchised. That is the good news gospel!

Jesus is the Ark of the Covenant. Every Old Testament vessel of the Tabernacle is reflected in Jesus. And because your life is hid with God in Christ, you too are the expression of every vessel in the Tabernacle. So consider those vessels: Brazen Altar, Laver, Table of Showbread, Candlestick, Altar of Incense, Ark of the Covenant, Mercy Seat, Cherubim. As He is so are we in this world. We are to be the epitome, the personification, the expression of Him and thereby the vessels of the Tabernacle. Every vessel speaks of Grace.  

Now that He has come, husbands and wives are to walk together in the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7). While Peter is proclaiming this to natural man and woman, there is even a deeper truth here. Now that Jesus has come in your life…not tomorrow…not after the rapture…etc. NOW that He has come; TODAY He has come. Grace has come. Adam and Eve couldn’t walk together because of sin. The Spirit and Soul couldn’t walk together because of the sin of the soul. But NOW that He has come, the Spirit and the Soul (Isaiah 53:10 KJV states He made His Soul an offering for sin) can walk as one together in the grace of life. No longer eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but the Tree of Life they walk in Grace.  

REJOICE,  AGAIN,   I SAY REJOICE!  

            Zechariah 4:6 proclaims that it is not by might (self-effort, performance) nor by power but by the Spirit. The result of walking by Grace (Spirit) is revealed in the verse that follows (4:7). Any mountain that stands before you (its talking about a spiritual mountain), if you have the faith of a mustard seed, can be removed by saying to it “Grace! Grace! This is what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 17:20. The kingdom of the flesh falls before you as you walk in Grace. Rejoice! Grace is sufficient. Rejoice! “…we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2). Rejoice!

Sin no longer has dominion over us. We are not under the Law. We are under Grace (Romans 6:14). Rejoice! The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the Law (1 Cor.15:56). He has set us free from the Law of sin and Death (Romans 8:2). Rejoice! Where sin abounded, Grace much more abounded (Romans 5:20). Rejoice! Where offence came by one brought death unto many, by one man, Jesus Christ life came to all (Romans 5:15). Rejoice!  What more can be said about Him Who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light? “Let all those that seek thee REJOICE and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified… Let the righteous be glad; let them REJOICE before God: yea, let them exceedingly REJOICE… Be glad in the LORD, and REJOICE, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart… will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Psalm 70:4 Psalm 68:3 Psalm 32:11 Isaiah 61:10)

He has completed the work. Grace reigns supreme. Death and Hell have been cast into the Lake of Fire no more to be seen in you!  Life is. Proclaim the Good News to a world bound by death! You live because of Christ! Tell it from the mountaintops! Tell it in the valleys! Wherever your life goes, up or down the trail, proclaim Grace by your life. Tell it! Tell it! Shout it from the housetops!

[ Home ] [ Up ]

Send mail to ministry@notibutchrist.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 Not I But Christ Ministries