Anti Grace, Is there such a word?

God put a new concept in my mind today to share on this forum.

 

What is Anti - Grace? Is there such a thing??

 

In order to understand anti - grace you must understand "True Grace".

 

I see two different definitions for grace in the Bible.

 

The OT according to the Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionary defines Grace as "graciousness, that is, subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty)".

 

I see this definition of grace  under the old covenant of the Law of Moses chiseled in stone.

 

Jesus came to fulfill the Law. God now looks on our minds and what we meditate on before it actually becomes a legal action. Jeremiah 31:33 says "I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people."

 

Is this possibly the reason for the NT addition to the definition and understanding of a new covenant kind of "Grace"???

 

Here is the Strong's NT definition for God's Grace. Grace, "graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):"

It is from this definition of NT "Grace" that the word "Anti Grace" came to my mind.

 

Here is the definition which is the opposite or the definition which is totally against God's Divine Influence in our hearts and minds which is "Real Grace".

 

Anti-Grace

Un-graciousness or crudeness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the world’s influence upon the feelings, the will and even the intellect, and the reflection of the world, consequently, in the life; including dissatisfaction and rebellion):

I never thought of grace and anti-grace before, however if you’ve dealt with Narcissism I think that would get you into the neighborhood if not precise location. I see it as Ahab and Jezebel, or as in Carly Simons song “You’re so vain” (about 1970ish).

Thanks for your reply. I may be a little old fashion or just plan slow to understand, I am sorry but I am not able to follow your thoughts.

 

As to Narcissism, it is a tool of our soul's enemy. It would tend to be the root of most all of societies battles.

 

James says, in chapter 3,  verses 14-16,  ...if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

 

The root that I see in God's Grace is His kindness to those that do not deserve it in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. The reality that Christ's Spirit can take up permanent residence in these shells of clay here and now on this earth.

 

Sadly for most people that is not a reality because they are like Ahab and his wife controlled by their lower nature, the natural man. They live under the influences of this world pleasures striving to satisfy their selfish cravings. (They love darkness rather than the Light!!)

 

In order to experience the Divine influence you MUST die to selfishness and the influences that natural man will drag you into and under.

 

You must be born again into the newness and reality, with fruit to establish the fact, of the presence of Jesus Christ being produce in your life. The fruit of the Spirit as opposed to the works of the flesh.

 

Maybe that is what you were saying???? That is what the Bible says to me, anyway, even if I may have missed your point.

I guess in a nutshell I’d call narcissism simply anti-grace. I haven’t seen a narcissist do anything with unselfish grace let alone Godly grace.
It’s all about them.

Grace to me is getting what you don't deserve.  This is the grace of Christ. 

Like mercy, which is not getting what you do deserve.  This is the mercy of God.

 

I believe grace goes against the antichrist in the world today which no one except the redeemed through Holy Spirit receive.  So, maybe antigrace, in the context of God's Riches At Christ's Expense, is really antichrist in some form.

 

FIreweed, this is a very interesting topic to me, and one that hits home right now.  A very godly, close friend has been married to a narcissistic Christian man for almost 30 years and recently separated.  I understand the definition of this word in it's pure definition, but really it's just sin is it not?  Just as Satan had pride that got him removed from the host of angels who served God.  Satan said, "I will be like the most high".  "I will", "I", "I", "I".

 

A narcissist gets away with whatever they want as they manipulate their target.  It seems almost like an addiction in it's form where the narcissist has been overtaken by this.  We all have had narcissistic traits here and there as part of our fallen nature (IMO).

 

Extremely insecure, they:

Have an over inflated sense of self -- elevated like Satan

They are always right; never wrong

They insist on having their way - Satan again

They eventually become verbally, emotionally, physically and maybe even spiritually abusive - Satan again

They will get people on their side against the person who is their target -Satan again, I'll stop for now

They like to be the victim

They want to look good, hiding their darkness

They are the master and commander.  The narcisistic Christian man may insist his wife must obey, never looking at the scriptures as they truely are which means mutual submission. 

They use the Word of God as a weapon

They fail to see that they have done anything wrong.

 

The list goes on and on

 

My friend's husband was once a PASTOR!  He is the man who insisted his wife submit to his every command and would criticize her in front of her children and anyone else.  Everything would be ok if she just did what he said. She did and it was never ok.

 

It led to his own psychosis...dangerous.

 

I have never seen a more faithful and submitted wife.  He got so bad, he told her he was going to kill her and chased her -- thankfully, she got out of the house. She left with nothing.  She still has nothing.  He told her to divorce him as he does not want that on his conscience.  He cares not about what he has done to her and his children, who are all grown now.  She had no choice.  He gave her no choice. I feared, and still fear, for her life when she finally goes to the house to get her things.  

 

There are "Christian Narcissists".  Fireweed is right, it's anti-grace.  I hope he repents and is really saved.  God only knows.

 

Hope this helps.  I'm a bit worked up over it. God is good; man is not.

 

Be warned and stay away from them.

Candice

ANTI-GRACE? Interesting discussion. Since Grace is a fact and most of us here have felt it, seen its effect, know who gives it, and are forever greatful for it, to deny it is really an act done by a soul that simply does not, or cannot grasp the concept of a loving God. God loves His man that He made for a companion and will suspend a sentence of death if we accept the news that Jesus is His Son and that He died to give us an eternal pardon. Similar to a convict on death row, facing death, to deny that a government official can release him from the death sentence. A convict that would refuse a pardon, if offered, is simply not showing good sense. He might then be called"anti-pardon"? To not accept the pardon is not to say that pardons do not exist or that he cannot get one, but saying "I simply don`t want to have life although it is a free gift". 

People overwhelmingly ask for pardon, but they refuse to obey Holy Spirit's voice which would lead them to a new birth, a new nature, the Divine Influence. Many are double-minded or two spirited, believing that their darkness is light.   (1 Peter 3:12 ....the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.)

(Strong's definition for "evil G2556" is; worthless (intrinsically such; whereas G4190 properly refers to effects), that is, (subjectively) depraved, or (objectively) injurious)

 

Baptist pray daily for forgiveness, Catholics weekly go to the confessional, but both continue to walk in obedience to the control of their senses; Biblically their "flesh".

 

There are very few people who seek to walk in the Gospel's newness of life, the new nature, having put their sense's control to death; having the Kingdom of God truly living within and in absolute control.

 

 

The Word says:

 

John 3:19  .... the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. [Isa. 5:20]
John 3:20  For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved.
John 3:21  But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are--wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God's help, in dependence upon Him].

 

 

John 17:20  Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,
John 17:21  That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.
John 17:22  .....that they may be one [even] as We (The Father and the Son) are one:
John 17:23  I(Jesus) in them and You(The Father) in Me(Jesus)....

 

John 15:1  I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
John 15:2  Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
John 15:3  You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].
John 15:4  Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
John 15:5  I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
John 15:6  If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15:7  If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

 

1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others  because you were called to inherit a blessing. 3:10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.
11 And he must turn away from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.



 

This morning I came across a statement by Paul to the Corinthians in 2 Co 6:1 and felt to add it to this thread.

 

  "Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain."

 

In my understanding of the concept, to "receive the grace of God in vain," or worthlessly, is when the Divine influence, which is, Jesus Christ truly living in us with evident fruit, becomes worldly, or spiritually "fruitless" lacking the fruits of the Spirit. When there is absolutely no "reflection in the life" that the Spirit of Christ is living in and in absolute control over the flesh or the physical senses of our body, heart and mind.

 

Are you living, meditating continually under the Divine Influences of the Word of God? Hiding God's Word in your heart? Then your life will reflect the Spirit of God.

 

Are you living, meditating frequently under the pleasures and life of this world? Spending time feeding on the World's media, entertainment? Then your life will reflect the world and the spirit of this world.

 

At best you will be double minded and frequently reflect the world, its actions and ways of life.

 

When you are living with Satan at your table, influencing or controlling your thoughts, your life; did you not then "receive the grace of God in vain."???

 

"Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?"

 

"You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask; you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions. Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world's friend makes himself God's enemy."

 

"Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, "The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning"?"

 

"But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble." So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded."

James 4:1-8