Preaching about grace is risky. Martin Lloyd Jones, that pastor of Westminster Chapel in London continually reminded pastor’s that when you preach about grace there will be some people who will take it to an unwise extreme, but when that happens you are indeed preaching about the true grace of God. It is when that happens that you actually have to practice the true grace of God.
So… this is a risky sermon… but
While sin is an occasion for grace, grace is never to be an occasion for sin. This is where the danger comes in.
So what exactly is “Grace?”
Simply put, grace is an undeserved, unworked for favour from God to mankind. The word grace appears 159 times in the Bible. It is sometimes used to refer to people finding grace or favour in the eyes of God, particularly in the OT. But most of the time it is mentioned in God’s grace to us through the gift of Christ. Interestingly Jesus never talks about grace. The gospel of John tells us he was full of grace. He, Jesus was the embodiment of Grace. It is therefore, an interesting concept to study. Maybe a good summer personal bible study topic?
Many, many books written about it. Because we just don’t get it. Here are a couple of definitions and interpretations of the term “Grace” as used in the Bible:
- J. I. Packer in his book Knowing God describes grace this way: “In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sending His only Son to descend into hell on the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. ‘(God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
- Matthew Henry in his great work Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible writes: “Grace is the free underserved goodness and favour of God. Grace in the soul is new life in the soul. Grace unlock and opens all, and enlarges the soul.”
Love that goes upward is worship, love that goes outward is affection, love that stoops is grace. Grace is unearned and unmerited. It is an undeserved privilege not an exclusive right. Remember that the grace you receive so freely cost Jesus His life
Grace focuses on who God is and what
He is doing and takes the focus off of ourselves. “Grace is what God may be free to do, and indeed what he does, accordingly, for the lost after Christ has died on behalf of them.” It’s not about us – it’s about God. Grace is Christianity’s best gift to the World.
The only difference between other religious beliefs Christian faith is Grace and Hope. Paul always starts his letters with “Grace and peace to you”. Peter too.
The epistle of Paul to the Romans is full of talk about grace. Romans 5: 1 & 2, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
Grace rules out all human right. It requires only faith in the Saviour. Any claim of human merit violates grace. God’s grace thus provides not only salvation buy safety and preservation for the saved one, despite his imperfections. Grace perfects forever. Grace bestows Christ’s merit and Christ’s standing forever.
When we accept the grace of God and enter into the salvation of Jesus he doesn’t make us sad. God does not want to cause pain or sorrow but works hardest at turning grief into even more grace.
Grace & Law
Ephesians 2: 4 – 9 reads: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Let’s not confuse rewards for faithfulness and practical holiness of life with unforfeitable and unmerited salvation through Grace. We need to practice grace on ourselves and on others.
II Corinthians 12: 9, 10 tells us this: “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What the World need now is grace, sweet grace. Grace received but unexpressed is dead grace (Swindoll). It is not within human nature – we have to work on it. The opposite to grace and forgiveness is unthinkable. Grace defies the laws of gravity. It releases us and it releases others. Grace is a part of the character of God (Titus 2:11) John 1 : 16 – 17. Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Let’s not confuse rewards for faithfulness and practical holiness of life with unforfeitable and unmerited salvation through Grace. We need to practice grace on ourselves and on others.
II Corinthians 12: 9, 10 tells us this: “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What the World need now is grace, sweet grace. Grace received but unexpressed is dead grace (Swindoll). It is not within human nature – we have to work on it. The opposite to grace and forgiveness is unthinkable. Grace defies the laws of gravity. It releases us and it releases others. Grace is a part of the character of God (Titus 2:11) John 1 : 16 – 17. Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Grace has always existed. It is part of who God is. Some will say that grace only shows up in the New Testament but that is not true. It has always existed because it is an attribute of God and He is the same yesterday today and forever. However, Grace is epitomized on the cross of Calvary –
Grace is not merely a part of the plan of redemption, but it is the silver cord that runs through every facet of the work of redemption. The entire work of Christ in coming to earth, dying for sinners, and being crowned with glory, is said by the writer to the Hebrews to be “by the grace of God” (Hebrews 2:9). In no way was this prompted by man (see also Romans 10:6-8). Our redemption is “according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Our calling (see also Romans 8:28, 30), the sovereign act of God by which we are drawn irresistibly to Him, is said to be “through His grace” (Galatians 1:15). The wonder of this is Justification, that judicial pronouncement that we are innocent of any guilt and whereby we are declared righteous through the work of Christ. It is a gift of His grace (Romans 3:24; Titus 3:7). When all is said and done, every element of the work of salvation is the work of God through grace and not of our own making.
The Wonders of God’s Grace
Men and women believe by the grace of God. This is why there are different ways Grace is expressed: common grace, saving grace, securing grace, sanctifying grace, serving grace, sustaining grace. Grace is sovereign – we cannot contribute anything to it. Just to mention a few.
Grace, then, meets the demands of justice and holiness rather than to set them aside. Grace is never granted at the expense of any of God’s attributes. This is a comforting thought which we should pause to ponder. Can you possibly conceive of a God who is all-powerful and all-knowing and yet whose power could be employed at a mere whim? During the Hitler regime the Nazis had seemingly unlimited power combined with an intelligence network that was frightening. That knowledge and power were frequently exercised at the expense of justice, truth, and mercy. God is not like that. God’s infinite power and wisdom are always employed in accord with His attribute of grace. Praise God for that!
Reflection Questions
- Do we live like people under grace, saved by grace? Do we walk in the grace of God?
- Do we offer the same grace that is offered to us to others?
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