This is the manuscript of the first of the God's Grace series at Christ Church, Los Angeles, CA.
Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.
Grace is most needed and best understood in the midst of sin, suffering, and brokenness. We live in a world of earning, deserving, and merit, and the result of these human traits is judgment. What you earn and what you get is based on what you do and how you do it. Everything you do is judged by somebody. That’s why everyone wants and needs grace.
To hear an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.
Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.
Grace is most needed and best understood in the midst of sin, suffering, and brokenness. We live in a world of earning, deserving, and merit, and the result of these human traits is judgment. What you earn and what you get is based on what you do and how you do it. Everything you do is judged by somebody. That’s why everyone wants and needs grace.
To hear an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.
Scripture:
Ephesians 3:1-12 NIV For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Text:
Eph. 2:8–9 NIV “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast”
Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.
Grace is most needed and best understood in the midst of sin, suffering, and brokenness. We live in a world of earning, deserving, and merit, and the result of these human traits is judgment. What you earn and what you get is based on what you do and how you do it. Everything you do is judged by somebody. That’s why everyone wants and needs grace.
Judgment kills. Only grace brings life.
Romans 5:20-21 NKJV Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
While everyone desperately needs it, grace is not about us. Grace is about God: his un-coerced initiative and pervasive, extravagant demonstrations of care and favor.
Michael Horton writes, “In grace, God gives nothing less than Himself. Grace, then, is not a third thing or substance mediating between God and sinners, but is Jesus Christ in redeeming action.”
Introduction
One of the most familiar words in the Christian’s vocabulary is the word grace. We often throw that word around without really understanding what it means. The word grace and its related words appear in the Bible about two hundred times. The first reference to grace is found in Genesis 6:8, where we read that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” The final appearance of the word in the Bible is recorded in Revelation 22:21: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”
We need to have a firm grasp on the doctrine of grace, because it is the foundation on which the other doctrines rest.
I. The conception of grace.
First, let’s examine the word itself. In Greek, the original language of our New Testament, the word implies a favor freely done.
Greek word Charis (pronounced khar'-ece)
Here's a definition from the NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon;
good will, loving-kindness, favour;
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
The word for “gift” comes from the same root. The Greeks used this word to describe favor shown to a friend. When Jesus came and died on the cross, grace changed from being an expression only to friends and included enemies too.
Romans 5:8 NIV But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked a lot about Christians’ relationships with their fellow humans. He said “Love your enemies!”, and to make sure that our “love” for enemies wouldn’t be phoney, he said: “Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”
Matthew 5:43-44 NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
We need to understand that grace goes beyond our salvation. Grace becomes the source from which all blessings flow from God.
In other words, he who saves us by grace also brings us into an aspect of life that give us all the blessings and favors that accompany this divine expression of love.
God's grace isn't just a new covenant thing either it was mentioned in the Old Testament:
Exodus 22:25-27 NKJV “If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
Similar expressions are also found in
Nehemiah 9:17 NKJV They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.
Jonah 4:2 NKJV and So he prayed to the Lord , and said, “Ah, Lord , was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
Paul wrote in Romans 5 that God actually abounds in grace.
Romans 5:20-21 NKJV Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The word translated “abound” means to “exist in superabundance.” All of God’s dealings with his people are filtered through his marvelous grace! Thus, we can be eternally grateful that God deals with us through grace and not justice.
That's evidenced by what Jesus said;
John 10:10 NKJV The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
That's the conception of grace. God's grace is also sufficient.
Ephesians 3:1-12 NIV For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Text:
Eph. 2:8–9 NIV “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast”
Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.
Grace is most needed and best understood in the midst of sin, suffering, and brokenness. We live in a world of earning, deserving, and merit, and the result of these human traits is judgment. What you earn and what you get is based on what you do and how you do it. Everything you do is judged by somebody. That’s why everyone wants and needs grace.
Judgment kills. Only grace brings life.
Romans 5:20-21 NKJV Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
While everyone desperately needs it, grace is not about us. Grace is about God: his un-coerced initiative and pervasive, extravagant demonstrations of care and favor.
Michael Horton writes, “In grace, God gives nothing less than Himself. Grace, then, is not a third thing or substance mediating between God and sinners, but is Jesus Christ in redeeming action.”
Introduction
One of the most familiar words in the Christian’s vocabulary is the word grace. We often throw that word around without really understanding what it means. The word grace and its related words appear in the Bible about two hundred times. The first reference to grace is found in Genesis 6:8, where we read that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” The final appearance of the word in the Bible is recorded in Revelation 22:21: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”
We need to have a firm grasp on the doctrine of grace, because it is the foundation on which the other doctrines rest.
I. The conception of grace.
First, let’s examine the word itself. In Greek, the original language of our New Testament, the word implies a favor freely done.
Greek word Charis (pronounced khar'-ece)
Here's a definition from the NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon;
good will, loving-kindness, favour;
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
The word for “gift” comes from the same root. The Greeks used this word to describe favor shown to a friend. When Jesus came and died on the cross, grace changed from being an expression only to friends and included enemies too.
Romans 5:8 NIV But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked a lot about Christians’ relationships with their fellow humans. He said “Love your enemies!”, and to make sure that our “love” for enemies wouldn’t be phoney, he said: “Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”
Matthew 5:43-44 NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
We need to understand that grace goes beyond our salvation. Grace becomes the source from which all blessings flow from God.
In other words, he who saves us by grace also brings us into an aspect of life that give us all the blessings and favors that accompany this divine expression of love.
God's grace isn't just a new covenant thing either it was mentioned in the Old Testament:
Exodus 22:25-27 NKJV “If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
Similar expressions are also found in
Nehemiah 9:17 NKJV They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.
Jonah 4:2 NKJV and So he prayed to the Lord , and said, “Ah, Lord , was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
Paul wrote in Romans 5 that God actually abounds in grace.
Romans 5:20-21 NKJV Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The word translated “abound” means to “exist in superabundance.” All of God’s dealings with his people are filtered through his marvelous grace! Thus, we can be eternally grateful that God deals with us through grace and not justice.
That's evidenced by what Jesus said;
John 10:10 NKJV The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
That's the conception of grace. God's grace is also sufficient.
II. The sufficiency of grace
II Corinthians 12:7-9 NKJV And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
How can we say that God’s grace is all-sufficient? It is true simply because grace comes to us from the glorious and transcendent nature of God himself. It is one of His infinite attributes, and it is the result of the eternal purpose of his will.
Don’t forget that grace is an act, not just a favor or a gift from God. Grace reveals what God is as well as what he does.
Psalms 145:8 NKJV The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
Grace comes through Christ—there is no other way that humankind could have received the grace of God. Jesus’s life on earth was a platform from which grace was displayed. The writer of Hebrews summed it up this way: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9).
Paul spoke of the riches of God’s grace. What are some of these riches?
II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Ephesians 2:19-20 NKJV Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
Romans 5:1-2 NKJV Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
This means that we have been reconciled with God, creating a bond between God and the redeemed, that is impossible to break. Also, a vital benefit of God’s grace is our accessibility to God through prayer. Christians are encouraged to “come boldly" to the throne of grace to make their requests known of God
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
III. The scope of grace
Grace is for everybody.
Titus 3:4-7 NKJV But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Whether you accept the gift or not is on you.
Someone has said that if you take the g from grace you have the word race. Grace is for everyone within the human race, for all stand on one common ground—namely, that of being sinners. Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son”.
Once again God’s grace is for everybody but you must accept the gift the way God gives it and that's through Jesus.
There is one thing we must understand clearly about God’s grace. Grace does not imply that God passes over any person’s sin or takes it lightly. Sin is so bad in God’s sight that he can in no way tolerate it. God sees the sinner utterly ruined, hopeless, and helpless.
It's at Calvary where God's justice against sin and His love for mankind meet. It's at Calvary where grace triumphs. There Christ bore the curse of human sin It was there on Calvary that God’s hatred against sin was vindicated on the basis of his grace, and because Christ bore the curse of sin God can now forgive the sinner!
Grace is God’s part; faith is ours. We simply accept, by faith, the grace of God. We do not grow into grace, but we do grow in grace. Once we receive God’s divine grace of salvation, it becomes a progressive force in our lives. Grace is not just a seed in the heart that lies dormant, but it germinates and grows just like a plant. As the roots spread, the plant grows!
The scope of God’s grace spreads and spreads. As Christians start to grow in grace, they grow in spiritual stature toward God and grow smaller and smaller in their own eyes. Through grace, one grows out of self-conceit, for grace subdues self.
Furthermore, growing in grace means that all of the virtues of the Christian life—the fruit of the Spirit, grow proportionately.
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
As we grow in grace, the growth of corruption is hindered. The flowers of grace prevent the weeds of sin from spreading.
Conclusion
I’ll end with this;
There once was a ship in distress on the high seas because its water supply had run out. The crew was in danger of dying from thirst though there was water all around them. When hope was almost gone, they sighted a ship in the distance. At once they sent up distress signals. The only answer they got, as they signaled to the passing ship that they were without water, was, “Dip it up!” What heartless mockery to tell those sailors to dip up buckets of salt water! They signaled again, but the same answer came back, “Dip it up!”
In despair, their lowered a bucket. Imagine their amazement and joy when the water proved to be freshwater! They thought they were yet on the high seas, but they had drifted into the mouth of the Amazon River.
This is the way it is with the grace of God. Countless souls are dying of spiritual thirst today, when all around them there is available the saving grace of God. All they need to do is, by faith, “dip it up”!
Have you dipped it up? If not lower your bucket of faith and dip up the grace of God that’s all around you. The grace of God that if you accept it will result in eternal life with God. It will ensure that although all hell may be going on in your life and all around you that God, the Creator of heaven and earth, God who is in control when everything seems out of control, God who sent His Son to redeem you for the penalty of sin, which is death, God will never leave of forsake you, even in death.
If you’ve never dipped your faith bucket into God’s grace do it today.
II Corinthians 12:7-9 NKJV And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
How can we say that God’s grace is all-sufficient? It is true simply because grace comes to us from the glorious and transcendent nature of God himself. It is one of His infinite attributes, and it is the result of the eternal purpose of his will.
Don’t forget that grace is an act, not just a favor or a gift from God. Grace reveals what God is as well as what he does.
Psalms 145:8 NKJV The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
Grace comes through Christ—there is no other way that humankind could have received the grace of God. Jesus’s life on earth was a platform from which grace was displayed. The writer of Hebrews summed it up this way: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9).
Paul spoke of the riches of God’s grace. What are some of these riches?
- When God freely gives sinners eternal life through grace, he credits them with a perfect righteousness. That is, when God observes Christians—sinners saved by grace—he sees them not in their continued imperfections and sins, but clothed in the righteousness that was imputed to them through their faith in Jesus Christ!
II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Ephesians 2:19-20 NKJV Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
- This elevates Christians to a secure position with God.
- God’s all-sufficient grace makes us to be “at peace with God”
Romans 5:1-2 NKJV Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
This means that we have been reconciled with God, creating a bond between God and the redeemed, that is impossible to break. Also, a vital benefit of God’s grace is our accessibility to God through prayer. Christians are encouraged to “come boldly" to the throne of grace to make their requests known of God
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
III. The scope of grace
Grace is for everybody.
Titus 3:4-7 NKJV But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Whether you accept the gift or not is on you.
Someone has said that if you take the g from grace you have the word race. Grace is for everyone within the human race, for all stand on one common ground—namely, that of being sinners. Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son”.
Once again God’s grace is for everybody but you must accept the gift the way God gives it and that's through Jesus.
There is one thing we must understand clearly about God’s grace. Grace does not imply that God passes over any person’s sin or takes it lightly. Sin is so bad in God’s sight that he can in no way tolerate it. God sees the sinner utterly ruined, hopeless, and helpless.
It's at Calvary where God's justice against sin and His love for mankind meet. It's at Calvary where grace triumphs. There Christ bore the curse of human sin It was there on Calvary that God’s hatred against sin was vindicated on the basis of his grace, and because Christ bore the curse of sin God can now forgive the sinner!
Grace is God’s part; faith is ours. We simply accept, by faith, the grace of God. We do not grow into grace, but we do grow in grace. Once we receive God’s divine grace of salvation, it becomes a progressive force in our lives. Grace is not just a seed in the heart that lies dormant, but it germinates and grows just like a plant. As the roots spread, the plant grows!
The scope of God’s grace spreads and spreads. As Christians start to grow in grace, they grow in spiritual stature toward God and grow smaller and smaller in their own eyes. Through grace, one grows out of self-conceit, for grace subdues self.
Furthermore, growing in grace means that all of the virtues of the Christian life—the fruit of the Spirit, grow proportionately.
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
As we grow in grace, the growth of corruption is hindered. The flowers of grace prevent the weeds of sin from spreading.
Conclusion
I’ll end with this;
There once was a ship in distress on the high seas because its water supply had run out. The crew was in danger of dying from thirst though there was water all around them. When hope was almost gone, they sighted a ship in the distance. At once they sent up distress signals. The only answer they got, as they signaled to the passing ship that they were without water, was, “Dip it up!” What heartless mockery to tell those sailors to dip up buckets of salt water! They signaled again, but the same answer came back, “Dip it up!”
In despair, their lowered a bucket. Imagine their amazement and joy when the water proved to be freshwater! They thought they were yet on the high seas, but they had drifted into the mouth of the Amazon River.
This is the way it is with the grace of God. Countless souls are dying of spiritual thirst today, when all around them there is available the saving grace of God. All they need to do is, by faith, “dip it up”!
Have you dipped it up? If not lower your bucket of faith and dip up the grace of God that’s all around you. The grace of God that if you accept it will result in eternal life with God. It will ensure that although all hell may be going on in your life and all around you that God, the Creator of heaven and earth, God who is in control when everything seems out of control, God who sent His Son to redeem you for the penalty of sin, which is death, God will never leave of forsake you, even in death.
If you’ve never dipped your faith bucket into God’s grace do it today.
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