- GRACE is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
- God’s unmerited favor
- The free and benevolent influence of a holy God operating sovereignly in the lives of undeserving sinners.
- Judgement = getting what we deserve. Mercy = not getting what we deserve. Grace = getting what we don’t deserve.
Grace for Justification = “Grace that Saves”.
- Ephesians 2:4-5 – “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved)”.
- Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God”.
- Titus 2:11 – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men”.
- Titus 3:7 – “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”.
- Ephesians 1:5-6 – “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved”.
- Romans 3:15 – “But not as the offence, so also is the gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many”.
- Romans 3:24 – “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”.
- John 1:16-17 – “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”.
- Romans 11:6 – “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”. Grace is not earned, but are “grace” and “obedience” opposed?
Grace for Daily Living = “Grace that Equips”
Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”. Galatians 2:20 – “Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”. Acts 17:28 – “For in him we live, and move, and have our being”.
- Titus 2:11-12 – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. 12 Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world”
- II Corinthians 12:9 – “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness ……”
- Romans 6:14 – “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace”. Grace empowers us to overcome sin. God’s equipping means that sin can (should?) no longer dominate us.
- II Corinthians 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”.
- James 4:6-7 – “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”.
- I Corinthians 15:10 – “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”. Can God’s grace be in vain?
- Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”.
- We stand by grace. Romans 5:2 – “By whom also we have access by faith into his grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.
- Acts 20:32 – “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all of them which are sanctified”.
- II Timothy 2:1 -“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.
- II Timothy 4:22 – “The Lord Jesus be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen”.
Points to Consider.
- Grace is not limited to justification (i.e. salvation). Grace extends to instructing and equipping (sanctification). II Timothy 1:9 – “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”.
- Grace is NEVER by merit. Whether for justification or for equipping, grace is a gift.
- Is God’s grace conditional? Do grace and obedience oppose each other? Consider whether God’s grace is dispensed apart from instruction that requires both understanding and obedience. Hebrews 5:9 – “And being made perfect, he became the author of salvation unto all him that obey him”.
- II Corinthians 6:1 – “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain”
- Grace is not meant to be a cloak for sin or a ‘get out of jail free’ card! Romans 6:1-2 – “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Jude 4 – “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ”.
- Grace reigns through righteousness. Romans 5:21 – “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”
- We must continue to grow in grace. II Peter 3:17-18 – “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen”. Hebrews 3:9 – “Be not carried about with diverse and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace……”