Failing the Grace of God—Heb 12:15-17

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Our next ominous verses are directed to those who are in danger to “fail of the grace of God.” Although there are many reasons why this could happen, Paul deals with two specific causes. However, before we closely examine what they are we need to reemphasize that Paul is not talking about anyone losing their salvation. Our eternal redemption is all by God’s marvelous grace and man has no part in it except to praise Him for what He has done. Many saints try to add some small aspect of salvation to their own account by saying that ‘they trusted in Jesus’, ‘made Jesus their Saviour’, ‘walked the isle’, ‘prayed the sinners prayer’, ‘asked Jesus into their heart’, ‘made a commitment to Christ,’ and so on.  Many believers have adopted the theology that Jesus did His part, but we must do our part. While they profess that they are saved by grace, they believe that there is some small aspect of salvation that they do which seals the deal between them and God. They carry this mindset over into their Christian life and tend to believe that if there was something they did in order to be saved, there is something they must do in order to stay saved. Many believe they must keep the faith, hold on, or hold out. What we must realize is—that if salvation is not totally by grace, then it is not by grace at all. From God choosing those He would redeem in eternity past, till the day when they are brought to stand before Him in glory, it has been purely the work of God; and man has had no part in it no matter how small.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

1 Pet 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In what sense therefore, may someone “fail of the grace of God” if we are not talking about eternal salvation? Although our eternal destiny has already been determined by the grace of God—and we have no part in that—not so with the sanctification process that goes on in the life of a child of God as we walk this earth. In a very real sense believers are made to mature in Christ through the many trials and difficulties that lay in our pathway to glory.[1] These ‘fiery trials’—as Peter calls them—make us “partakers of Christ's sufferings”; they not only mold into becoming like Christ, but bring glory to His name; and we are made witnesses to the world of His reality in our lives. These earthly trials are designed by our Heavenly Father to strip us of fleshly strength and pride so that “the power of Christ may rest upon” us. However, even in times of intense suffering, His “grace is sufficient” for us to bear up under these trials. If it were not for the grace of God in our lives, most of us would be crushed by the heavy loads that are placed upon us. Indeed, the old man of sin is put to death in these times of tribulation, but the new man in Christ gains greater strength.[2]

1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

2 Cor 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1 Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

God’s grace is also extended to believers in many other ways. We experience His grace through the comfort of the Holy Spirit. The Paraclete—the one who stands with us—also teaches us the things of Christ. As we feast upon the riches of God’s Word, we are partaking of His grace; we are being feed with the Mania from Heaven. Believers also experience grace through answered prayer as they see God working through their petitions. They experience grace as God supplies all their needs in Christ. God’s grace is extended to us through our families and godly friends, through fellow believers, pastors, teachers, and fellow workers in God’s kingdom. Indeed, there is no area of a Christian’s life that is not touched by God’s grace in some way. Although we may not always have the spiritual perception to see God’s hand of grace and mercy, it is there nonetheless. God is always at work in our lives to help us live victoriously for His honor and glory. However, in this matter of practical Christian living, He is not doing everything for us as in eternal salvation; but, He is enabling us, through Christ, “both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” His grace is enabling us to “work out (our) own salvation”—our personal daily living for Christ.

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

John 6:48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Col 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Although we might believe that God’s grace would conquer all the ills of our Christian life—such is not the case. It is very apparent that we can “fail of the grace of God.” His grace is “sufficient” for us, if we take advantage of it, and if we guard against those things that would rob us of His grace. As believers, we must avail ourselves of those means of grace that God has provided—prayer, feasting on His Word, walking in the Spirit, fellowship with other believers, and much more. Although I certainly believe in the sovereignty of God—He is in complete control of all things—God has sovereignly willed that His children show some fortitude on their own in living the Christian life. We must cultivate Christ-like qualities by those means God has provided to us. God’s grace has provided us the weaponry to “fight the good fight of faith,” but we must “put on the whole armour of God” if we are to “withstand in the evil day.”

2 Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (faithfulness, fortitude); and to virtue knowledge (feasting on the riches of God’s Word;
6 And to knowledge temperance (self-control, moderation); and to temperance patience(endurance, perseverance, a patient waiting upon God); and to patience godliness (devotion, purity, uprightness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness (compassion, thoughtfulness, tenderness); and to brotherly kindness charity (generosity, acts of kindness, benevolence).
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Therefore, we must not only avail ourselves of God’s means of grace, we must look diligently that something does not enter into our lives that would cause us to fail that grace; but what does “looking diligently” imply?  It means to be on guard against anything that would turn us from Christ. The world, our own flesh, and the devil are the enemies of Christ and will attack our faith in every imaginable way. As believers we must be “rooted and built up in” Christ and “stablished in the faith.” We are “stablished” through personal Bible study, through the preaching and teaching of the Word by men and women of faith, by Scripture memorization, and meditation on the things of God. Through these means we become grounded in the truth of God’s Word so that we can recognize those attacks when they come. Anything that does not measure up to God’s truth is something that will rob us of our faith. Then, we must commit to prayer everything that challenges our faith. We do not always immediately recognize those temptations that would cause us to fail. There are many seemingly innocent things that come into our life that appear to be good, but are Satan’s subtle temptations to draw us away from following Christ—remember Eve. It is through prayer that God’s opens our eyes to these temptations and strengthens us to overcome them. Lastly, we must listen for the voice of God’s Spirit within us who teaches us and warns us concerning those things that would steal the grace we have in Christ. Many times God’s Spirit speaks to our hearts, gives us feelings of uneasiness, or speaks through a Godly pastor or friend about the very things that are troubling us; but we must hear and obey His voice. The old saying ‘when in doubt, don’t’ certainly applies to the Christian life. Anything that “is not of faith is sin,” and “he that doubteth is damned.”

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Paul gives us two reasons why we may “fail of the grace of God,” but I am sure there are many more. The first source of defeat he warns against is “any root of bitterness.” There are many causes—roots—of why believers become bitter about life, about other people, and about God. Life is full of disappointments, which if not dealt with properly, lead us toward discouragement and bitterness. This world has been accursed because of man’s sin and Christians are not immune to bad experiences. We all suffer sickness, sorrow, financial setbacks, problems, and a host of other enemies that seek to rob us of happiness and joy. People sometimes disappoint us and hurt us very deeply. Our spouses, children, other family members, friends, Christian brothers and sisters, pastors, and others that are close to us, have the most effect upon us. We can almost expect to be treated unfairly and roughly by certain people of this world; but those we love and who we believe love us, can cause us to become very bitter by the things they say and do or don’t do. Most of the time our discouragement and bitterness ends up being directed towards God; we blame Him for our bad experiences, for allowing others to hurt us, for being disappointed by people at church, for not answering our prayers, for denying us things that we feel we deserve, and many other things that we believe are God’s fault. When we become bitter about these things our hearts become resentful and cold towards God and others. We come to think that God doesn’t care, that Christian love doesn’t exist, and there is no reason to try to live a godly life. Christians, who become bitter, stop going to church, stop praying, stop reading their Bibles, and stop trusting God; and therefore they no longer avail themselves of God’s means of grace. In doing so, they fail to apprehend those graces that would pull them through these difficulties; and instead they become defiled with bitterness, unbelief, and open sin.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

2 Cor 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  (the experience of the Apostle Paul)

1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Josh 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

What is the remedy for those who have had the seeds of bitterness planted in their hearts? The first line of action is to be on guard against being overcome by bitterness. We need to be “looking diligently” at any experience that causes us to be discouraged about God or that affects how we feel about other people. It is much easier to remove a seed than to pull up a plant that has spread it roots deep into our soul. The longer we let the feelings of bad experiences, or the unkind actions of others grow in our hearts, the harder they become to deal with. The first remedy, and the most important is, that we must stop blaming God for what happens in our lives. Although God is sovereign and He does chasten His children for their good, most of the evil we experience in this life is due to our sin or the sin of others. Many of us “have sown the wind” and we have begun to “reap the whirlwind.” Many of us mocked God by sowing our wild oats of sin and the harvest is beginning to come. As I look at much of the evil that has come into my life through others, I can recall having committed similar sins of my own. Just because God allows these sins to bear their fruit in our lives does not impugn Him in any way. God created this world as a paradise, but man and the devil have turned it into a foretaste of hell. We will get nowhere trying to blame God for our misfortunes; God is never going to come and plead for our forgiveness for the things He has allowed to happen. Instead, we must acknowledge our sins and confess that we are only getting what we justly deserve. Secondly, we must immediately forgive those who disappoint us and deliberately hurt us. Sometimes we are wronged by others with no cause in ourselves for them doing so. Many times we are hurt by others in spite of our best intentions and actions toward them. However, we must be “tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven” us. We must “let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, …be put away from (us), with all malice.” Although we cannot always immediately forgive and forget, the first step is to openly, before God, forgive the person who wrongs us and ask God to forgive them. We must not entertain any thoughts of vengeance or the desire to see God avenge us. In some instances, we may need to confront the person and tell them how they have hurt us; we need to say we have forgiven them and allow them to reciprocate. Sometimes, we are offended by the actions of others without there being any wrongful intent on their part to hurt us. We must realize that we are all human and that we ourselves have not always said or done the right thing. Finally, we need to seek the grace of God upon our lives to help us from being overcome by our wild emotions, thoughts of vengeance, and bitterness. We cannot overcome the powerful feelings of our flesh and the satanic attacks that would provoke us to become bitter in our own strength. Christ, our example and life, suffered at the hands of men when He had only shown them love and goodwill. We need to look to Him to find His spirit of love and forgiveness in our lives.

Hos 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

The second reason we may “fail of the grace of God” is by choosing to satisfy our own fleshly desires or to seek after the things of this world instead of the will of God. We view the things of God as being secondary to our own desires. The Biblical example that Paul gives is that of Isaac’s first born son Esau— “who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.” In ancient times the birthright blessings of the first born son were extremely important. They received the lion’s share of their father’s inheritance and to them were passed the privileges and responsibilities of leading the family. To them were entrusted the honor of the family name—to uphold it and to ensure its continuance. Esau was in line to receive the spiritual and material blessings that God gave to his grandfather Abraham[3] and to his father Isaac[4]. He also would have been in the Patriarchal line through which the Messiah would come. However, Esau was a worldly man; he was a “fornicator”—an immoral man; and he was “profane”—he showed little regard for the things of God. When coming home after a day of hunting, he was hungry; and to satisfy that fleshly hunger he traded his birthright to his brother Jacob for a “morsel of meat”; for a bowl of lentil stew he “sold his birthright.” The Scriptures record that he not only viewed the birthright as having little worth, but that Esau “despised his birthright.” The spiritual blessings and responsibilities attached to it, did not, at this time, coincide with his own fleshly ambitions.

Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Gen 25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

A number of years[5] have now passed since Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob. Isaac their father is now old and wants to pass along his blessings to his first-born son before he dies. Now, perhaps because he is older and wiser—the vanities and the desires of youth are now dimmed; and perhaps because the nearness of his father’s death and the emanate transferal of his blessings are near; all give to Esau a greater appreciation of what those blessings might contain. However, through a scheme devised by his mother Rebekah, Jacob tricks Isaac into giving the blessings to him—Jacob intends not only to have the birthright, but all the blessings that go with it. When Esau returns from the field after he has killed and prepared some game for his father to eat, he learns from his father what his brother has done—stolen[6] the blessing.  Although he had probably forgotten what he did years earlier in selling his birthright to Jacob, the impact of what he did now begins to dawn upon him; and the Bible records that “he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry.” What he once despised has suddenly become something of value to him. For whatever the reasons for his change of heart—the inheritance, the headship of the family, or the spiritual aspect—he now seeks to regain what he has lost. However, Isaac, in spite of the circumstances, tells him that what is done is done—there is no taking back the blessing from Jacob and giving it Esau. Hebrews records that Esau “found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” The meaning of this Scripture—“he found no place of repentance”—implied that there was nothing Esau could do to change what had taken place; and “though he sought it carefully with tears” meant that he was extremely remorseful about losing the blessing; but his repentant attitude could not bring back what was lost.

Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Gen 27:1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

Gen 27:30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

In looking at this account of Esau, what are the implications for a New Testament child of God? What we must first examine is—what is the birthright of believers in Christ? Again, we believe it is necessary to repeat, that as believers we cannot loose certain aspects of our birthright in Christ—to have eternal life, to be made like Christ, to receive a future inheritance, and to have a future home with Christ. These are all a part of the promised blessings we have in Christ that are given to us totally by the grace of God. These promised blessings are too valuable to be entrusted into the weak hands of God’s children in order for them to be kept safe.

Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

What may we say then are some of our birthright blessings, which may by us, be sold; and by doing so we “fail of the grace of God”? Although the following list is not exhaustive, I believe it gives us a sufficient answer to that question:

1. Practical sanctification—Although one day we will all be changed and become like Christ, all believers have the God-given graces to grow in Christ, walk in Christ, put on Christ, and be changed into His image in the here and now. To experience the life of Christ and to live like Christ is the birthright of every believer. There are no super or special saints in God’s family; there are however, those saints who avail themselves of God’s means of grace and begin to discover the reality of Christ now. They are enjoying the blessings of living righteously in Christ and having the fruits of the Spirit manifested in them. They are not waiting to receive their birthright blessing until after they die; but they are having a foretaste of them in this life.

2 Pet 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Phil 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

2. Service for Christ—God does not demand service in return for saving our souls—if He did, salvation would not be by grace; we would be paying Him back for what He has done. Although the writers of the New Testament make various pleas for Christians to gives their lives in service to God, those that do so, must do so willingly. Service for Christ is not a demand, it is a privilege. Only those saints who come to God with a willing heart and freely dedicate their lives to serve Him are accepted. Every saint has, as part of their birthright, this privilege to serve Christ; but, there are sacrifices to be made and every believer is not willing to pay the cost. However, to those saints who are willing, God grants the means to overcome any obstacle the world, the flesh, or the devil may place in their way. In eternity, we will all experience the joys of serving God; but those that serve Him now, experience that joy already.

Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Cor 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

1 Pet 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

3. Bringing glory to God—One day, in eternity, every saint will bring glory to God through their testimony and through their praise for what He has done. Howbeit, it is our birthright to honor, praise, and glorify God now, in this life, by how we live and by the praise of our lips. God deserves our worship and He deserves our praise; and those who partake of the means of grace will discover a foretaste of what will be the norm in eternity. Those who do glorify God in this life also discover that they themselves become gracious individuals, have thankful hearts, and that God honors them in special ways.

Rev 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

4. Loving Christ—Every blood bought child of God should love the Saviour; but the sad truth is that very few ever come into a deep relationship with their Spiritual Husband and Lord. Most Christians are spiritual adulterers because they love other things instead of Christ—they love the world, they love money, and they love their own lives. The Apostle Paul has harsh words for those who “love not the Lord Jesus Christ”; that they should be “Anathema Maranatha”—accursed when the Lord comes. Although no true believer will ever be accursed, such words convey how strongly Paul feels about our devotion to Christ. In heaven, the time will come when every believer will love Him; and then the Church will have “made herself ready” to be His bride. Howbeit, those that cultivate their love for Christ by partaking of the means of grace, will discover the joys of that relationship now. They will experience the pleasures of that intimate union that is pictured for us in the Song of Solomon.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1 Cor 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

5. Seeing others brought to Christ—One of the great joys of any believer is to see lost souls being brought to Christ. When others see a great change in our lives; when we are dedicated to serving God with our gifts and abilities; when we honor and glorify God; and we truly love the Saviour—we will be used as a testimony to draw the lost sheep to Christ. Every believer’s birthright is to have a part in God’s great work of redemption. We may not all be pastors, or missionaries to foreign lands, but we can all be a witness for Christ where we are and to the people we come in contact with. Sadly, again, many believers are too caught up with their own lives and seeking after the trinkets of this world, to be concerned about the spiritual condition of those around them. However, to those who partake of the means of grace, they will find that God will work in and through them to accomplish this great task.

Matt 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

1 Cor 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

What then are the repercussions for those who “fail of the grace of God”? Esau cared little for the birthright blessings when he was young and indifferent to spiritual matters. However, when the time came to actually receive his father’s blessing, he suddenly realized what he had lost—but it was too late. Many Christians, who live their lives with little regard for spiritual things, as their earthly life comes to an end, also begin to realize the awful mistake they have made in not living for Christ—but, as with Esau, it is too late. Everyone has regrets about their lives; but for those whose fail to live their life for Christ may one day seek the birthright blessings “carefully with tears”; but the purpose that God had for them in this life has been lost and cannot be regained. Many believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and watch as others, who were faithful, hear the Master say “well done, good and faithful servant”; but, they themselves are “ashamed before him” because they failed to dedicate and live their lives for Christ.

2 Cor 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Matt 25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Esau, because he was a child of Isaac, was still blessed in the earth despite losing his birthright. He became a very wealthy man and the head of great tribe of people. He even came to forgive his brother’s trickery and enjoyed his life as a worldly man. However, we are taught from Scripture, that he never became a man of faith; and he lost all the spiritual blessings that could have been his. Jacob, on the other hand, came to know God in a very intimate way. God changed his name from Jacob—heel grabber—to that of Israel—prince with God. Through him were born the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel; and through him would come the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Although Jacob’s life was filled with problems and trials of faith, his heritage from claiming the birthright far outweighed his earthly struggles.

Gen 27:38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

Gen 36:1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
3 And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.
4 And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;
5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.
6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.
7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Although many believers never claim their birthright, they are nonetheless, children of God. Many Christians never serve God; but instead they seek after the things of this world and enjoy its blessings; however, they still have a home with God and will enjoy eternal happiness. On the other hand, many saints who yield themselves completely to God’s service and partake of their birthright blessings, see very little of this world’s goods and face many trials and persecutions. What all of us must realize is that God’s final accounting is not done in this world. Every believer will stand before Christ and be judged—not for salvation, but for rewards. Some believers will be richly blessed for their service and devotion, while others will be empty handed and ashamed. What are the rewards for serving Christ? While many Christians believe that they are crowns, jewels, and maybe bigger mansions, I believe that they are spiritual in nature and not patterned after the riches of this world. Every believer will walk on streets of gold; every believer will enjoy a home in the New Jerusalem; and every believer will be eternally happy; but, as someone wisely said, “All cups will be full in Heaven, but some saints will have bigger cups.”  Imagine the joy of looking into the face of Jesus and knowing you gave everything you had in service to Him. Imagine the joy of seeing souls in Heaven that you had a part in seeing saved. Imagine the joy of knowing that God the Father’s plan and purpose for you life was fulfilled completely. These will be the true rewards for those who do not fail the grace of God.

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Heb 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

1 Thess 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For ye are our glory and joy.

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Let us have one last look at Esau and find some encouragement for those who may have already sold their birthright. What can we view as positive about Esau’s experience that may help us find some hope? First of all, he did come to the realization that the birthright was indeed valuable; then he did all that his father requested him to do in order to obtain the blessing; upon hearing of Jacob’s deception, he was very remorseful; and finally, he persisted in petitioning his father for some kind of blessing. Those, who in like manner, have disregarded their birthright in Christ may come to some kind of repentance in their life. God is always ready to forgive His children and He is always ready to bless His children. What He requires is that we confess our sin and begin to seek His face for some kind of blessing. It is never too late to do something with our lives that glorifies God and is of service to Christ. It may not be that which God intended for us to do; it may be only a pittance of what we could have done; but whatever it is, if God gives it to us it can be very valuable to His kingdom work. It is far better to make some kind of restitution with our lives than to live in unrepentant worldliness. The means of grace are still available to enable those who have a change of heart to live for Christ. That does not mean that our Christian experience will ever be as fulfilling as it might have been; it does not mean that we will never be remorseful about our past decisions; but it does offer us hope and a positive direction in our life.

Gen 27:34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

2 Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The lessons of Esau teach us many things. One of the most important is to be careful about what we sell for the pottage of this world. Some people sell their soul for the riches of this world. Many Christians sell their birthright blessings in exchange for the pleasures of this life. Many people sell their marriages and families for a fling of infidelity. Young people sell their purity for momentary pleasures. Churches sell their devotion to Christ for worldly ideals—bigger buildings, more money, larger crowds, more appealing services. Whatever it is we sell, in most cases, cannot be regained—a soul in hell can never be redeemed; lost opportunities to serve Christ can never be brought back; loss of trust due to infidelity can never be completely restored; the loss of purity can never be regained; spiritual ideals are very hard, if not impossible to re-establish; and, like Esau, when we come to the realization of what we have lost, it is a very bitter and remorseful thing. Paul’s warning for us is to be taken very seriously— “Look… diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God.”

Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

2 Tim 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Tim 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;