GRACE THAT SUPER-ABOUNDS -- IT IS GREATER THAN ALL MY SIN. Introduction: A. Grace 1. Mercy -- compassion, concern, and care for one in need. a. Mercy has to do with what a person feels in their heart. b. It is what a person feels for another person who is struggling and needs assistance or help. c. Compassion and empathy are two words that beautifully describe a merciful heart. 2. Grace -- doing something to help a person s need. a. Grace goes far beyond feeling! b. The internal feeling compels one to ACT -- to assist or to help one with need. c. Grace -- our assistance of one in need. d. Grace -- the provisions that the Godhead provided to help sinners have the privilege of salvation, redemption, and justification! B. Grace Is A Beautiful Concept And Word! C. (Slide #2) A Beautiful, Powerful Hymn That Exalts Grace: Grace Greater Than Our Sin. Verse 1: Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, Yonder on Calvary s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace that is greater than all our sin. 1
(Slide #3) Verse 2: Dark is the stain that we cannot hide, What can we do to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide: Whiter than snow you may be today. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace that is greater than all our sin. (Slide #4) Verse 3: Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe; You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive? Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace that is greater than all our sin. Words: Julia H. Johnston, 1910 Music: Daniel B. Towner, 1910 I. (Slide #5) The PREREQUISITE For Grace -- Sin! A. Sin -- More Damnable Than Man Can Imagine! B. It Separates Man From God! 1. Is. 59:1,2 Behold, the LORD S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. 2
2. God sent Amos to condemn the sins of Israel! He asks a question that show His relationship with Israel: Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? Am. 3:3 C. It Is Abominable! 1. Pr. 6:16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 2. Pr. 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness. 3. Pr. 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, But the words of the pure are pleasant. 4. Sin is SO repulsive to God; it is totally detestable and despicable to Him! D. It Alienates Man From God And Heaven Forever! 1. Rev. 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. 2. Unless sinners find justification, they CANNOT enter Heaven! E. As The Song Grace Greater Than Our Sin Says: Verse 2: Dark is the stain that we cannot hide, What can we do to wash it away? II. (Slide #6) The PERSON Of Grace -- JESUS! A. The Buttressing Sentiment Of God s Grace -- The Godhead, Because Of Their Mercy, Determined To Provide Grace! 1. Ps. 100:5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. 2. Ps. 103:8,9 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 3
3. I Jn. 4:9,10 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. B. That Grace Was Made Possible By Jesus! 1. Jn. 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 2. Rom. 5:15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 3. Rom. 5:17 For if by the one man s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 4. I Tim. 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 5. II Tim. 1:8-10 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has 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 to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 6. Heb. 2:9 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, might taste death for everyone. 7. I Pet. 1:9,10 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 8. I Pet. 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; C. It Does Not Take Long To Figure It Out -- JESUS Is The Gift Of Grace! 4
III. (Slide #7) The POWER Of Grace -- Greater Than All Our Sin! A. Redemption Is Made Available Through Grace. 1. Rom. 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 2. I Cor. 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. B. The Death Of Jesus Including The Shedding Of His Blood Provided That Grace! 1. Eph. 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. 2. As the song, Grace Greater Than Our Sin says: Verse 1: Yonder on Calvary s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Verse 2: Look! There is flowing a crimson tide: Whiter than snow you may be today. C. Grace Is Greater Than The Condemnation Of Sin! 1. Rom. 5:20,21 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. a. abounded much more is a translation of the Greek word ujperperisseuvw (huperperisseuoo) b. It abounded exceedingly or exceedingly abounded or super abounded. c. This Greek word refers to the abundance -- the leftovers after the 5,000 were fed, Lk. 9:17; Jn. 6:12,13 and the leftovers after the 4,000 were fed, Mk. 8:8. 5
2. As the song Grace Greater Than All Our Sin Says: Verse 1: Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, Grace that is greater than all our sin. IV. (Slide #8) The PRECONDITION Of Grace -- FAITH! A. Grace -- It Is Available To Sinner! 1. Tit. 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 2. II Pet. 3:9 He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. B. Grace -- It Is Attainable, Accessible (Reachable, Within Reach, Or Within Your Grasp). 1. Rom. 5:2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. a. ESV Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. b. NIV 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. 2. Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 3. Verse 3: Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe; You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive? 6
V. (Slide #9) The PREEMPTION Of Grace -- UNBELIEF! A. What Could Keep Me From Having God s Grace? B. My Stubborn Heart -- Something That Can Negate Grace! C. Jn. 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. VI. (Slide #10) An Old Beloved Hymn: Amazing Grace Verse 1: Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I m found; Was blind, but now I see. Verse 2: Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed. Verse 3: Thru many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come. Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far And grace will lead me home. Verse 4: When we ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We ve no less days to sing God s praise Than when we first begun. --Words by: John Newton --Music: Early American Melody 7
VII. (Slide #11) Great Truths About Grace! A. ( ) EVERY SINNER Needs Grace! B. ( ) God s Grace Can Forgive YOU! 1. From the song Sinners Jesus Will Receive, verse 4 says, Christ receiveth sinful men, Even me with all my sin!!! 2. The most vile penitent sinners were forgiven -- the crucifiers of Jesus or Saul of Tarsus! C. ( ) Grace Is Not Something We Deserve Or Earn! 1. Eph. 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 2. Rom. 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. D. ( ) Grace Provides Eternal Life! 1. Tit. 3:7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 2. Jn. 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. E. (Slide #12) Christians Who Have Received God s Grace LONG To Show Their Appreciation For That Grace! 1. II Cor. 6:1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2. I Cor. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward 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. F. ( ) Grace Is A Concept And A Word That Should Cause The Hearts Of Christians To Well Up With Gratitude. 1. They are deeply and eternally thankful for that grace! 2. They live a life of gratitude! 3. Part of that appreciation is to talk about that grace -- EVANGELIZE! a. Tell family, friends, and acquaintances about this powerful grace! b. Urge others to open their hearts to the Gospel -- the Good News! 8
G. ( ) Grace Is A Concept And A Word That Should Cause The Hearts Of Sinners To Be Deeply Touched, Magnetized, And Drawn To Jesus Christ! 1. You DESPERATELY NEED IT! 2. Respond to the amazing grace of God in faith! a. Believe that Jesus IS the Son of God, the grace of God! b. Repent of sin; determine to reject a life of sin the rest of your life! c. Acknowledge who Jesus truly is -- The Son of God! d. Be baptized to contact His Blood and thus to have that grace to provide what you desperately need -- SALVATION! 3. Will you this moment His grace receive? 9