Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written, “GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.” 9 And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. 10 “LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”
The sweetness of grace is seen in this passage if God gives a person the eyes to see and ears to hear. This passage is not for the faint of heart, but for those whom He has given eyes to see. We can see the beauty of grace, yet we can see what happens when people do not receive grace as well. Oh how human beings love their own efforts and works, though indeed their Bibles and Creeds teach quite the opposite. Oh how human beings love their own wills and efforts and good intentions, though they may be blinded to their love of those things.
In a sense grace and hardening are the opposites in this text. God either gives grace or He gives a spirit of stupor and eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. Grace and works are also opposites in this text. Grace is the basis of the Gospel and works are not and cannot be any basis at all. The glory of Christ is seen so beautifully in this text when we see that it is in Christ that all spiritual blessings are given (Eph 1:4). All grace is in Christ and in Christ all that is grace is located. There is no place for grace but in Christ and there is no place in Christ but to give grace to His children. In a sense Christ is grace to the children of God and is the very glory of grace put on display.
The text above tells us that if the Gospel is of Christ alone, then it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise Christ is no longer Christ. Oh the glory of the Gospel of Christ alone and grace alone. “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly” (Gal 2:21). We can also say that if grace comes through the Law and if the Gospel is through the Law (or any part of the Law), then Christ lived and died needlessly. God saves sinners to the glory of His grace and not because of any law they have kept or because of anything found in them. As the sovereign of the universe He can give grace to whom He is pleased to give grace and He can harden those whom He pleases. Grace is high above the works and efforts of man and cannot be touched by all the so-called merits and works of all men put together for all history. Grace, then, is not about the worth and efforts of men, it is all about the glory of God. Grace is not about the worth and efforts of men, but about the glory of God as seen in the worth and efforts of Christ.
The Gospel is of Christ alone and grace alone. If we try to add one work of man to the Gospel, even one work of faith, we have made grace to no longer be grace. If we try to add one work of man (however slight) to the Gospel, we have made the Savior Christ no longer to be the Savior Christ. It is no small thing to add something to the Gospel, but instead it is an enormity of evil that we cannot comprehend. Adding the slightest work to the Gospel is like adding a drop of deadly poison to a drink of pure water. It is no longer pure water, but instead it will now kill. A Gospel with one work added is no longer the pure Gospel of grace alone and Christ alone, but instead it is a false gospel that does not have life but will work death.
We read and hear so many messages today that may speak of Christ and speak of grace, but they also add just a little of this and a little of that. A Gospel message adds nothing of man and his works, but instead it is always about the glory of God in the face of Christ. Israel sought salvation by zeal and works rather than by grace alone. The Pharisees believed in the sovereignty of God and yet they sought salvation by a life of “holiness” which they thought of as trying not to sin. Modern Pharisees seek salvation by correct theology, by efforts at holiness, and by religion and rites. Modern Pharisees seek to evangelize and make others twice the sons of hell as themselves. Modern Pharisees send missionaries all over the world, but that is to travel on land and sea to make one proselyte and make that person twice the son of hell as they are. The Gospel of grace alone and Christ alone is really a true Gospel, but those who add the smallest work to the Gospel of Christ alone and grace alone are being used to harden men to the true Gospel and men get lost in the darkness of religion and of so-called good works.
God Loves... Himself 
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