The Amazing Grace of God I. Definitions: A. Grace is the favor God is able to show to men because Christ died for them; Eph. 2:8. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; (Rom 4:4; 11:1-6; 12:6; Eph. 2:8-9; 1Ti 1:12-15; 2Ti 1:9) B. The dictionary defines grace as the unmerited favor of God toward men. This does not do justice to the richness of the biblical use of the term, which appears over 150 times in the New Testament. Grace is described as: 1. Great. Ac 4:33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 2. Grace is greater than the power of sin and death, it gives believers righteousness to reign in life. Rom 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 3. Rich. Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace Eph 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 4. Surpassing 2Co 9:14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 5. Manifold 1Pe 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 6. Sufficient and abundant in our weaknesses. 2Co 12:9 And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 7. Greater and stronger than the power of sin, and wherever sin is found grace grows stronger. Ro 5:15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 8. Abundant grace (the gift of righteousness) gives us the ability to reign in life. Ro 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Ro 5:20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 9. Glorious Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Eph 1:14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God s own possession, to the praise of His glory. 10. The gospel declares the grace of God. Ac 20:24 But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. Ac 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. C. Grace shows the personality, character or nature of God: 1. The Father: The gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24); I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace (Acts 20:32); When Barnabas saw the grace of God he rejoiced (Acts 11:23); When God called me through his grace (Gal. 1:15); Since the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth (Col. 1:6); The manifold grace of God (1 Pet. 4:10); The God of all grace (1 Pet. 5:10); This is the true grace of God (1 Pet. 5:12); People who pervert the grace of God into licentiousness (Jude 4). 2. The Son of God, Jesus Christ: The Word, full of grace and truth (John 1:14); From his fullness we all received, grace upon grace (John 1:16); Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17); Through the grace of the Lord Jesus we are saved (Acts 15:11); The grace of God and the gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:15); You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 8:9); You are deserting him who called you by the grace of Christ (Gal. 1:6). The grace of our Lord was poured out on me (1 Tim. 1:14); That by the grace of God he (Jesus) might taste death for everyone (Heb. 2:9); 3. The Holy Spirit: The Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29);
II. Grace came through Jesus Jn 1:14-17 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me. 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:17, 21; 1Co 1:4; 2Co 8:9; Gal. 1:6; 2Ti 1:9; 1Pt 1:10, 13; Hb 2:9) Because of His holy character, God could not save men simply because of His mercy and love. The claims of divine righteousness had to be satisfied before He could save sinful men, therefore Christ died in the place of the ungodly. Rom 3:21-24 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Rom. 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. III. We're saved by grace. Acts 15:11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are. Eph. 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God Salvation cannot be earned by law keeping or by good deeds of any kind men are: Chosen by grace, Rom. 11:5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God s gracious choice. Justified by grace, Rom. 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Continue in grace, Acts 13:43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God. Approach God at the throne of grace, Heb. 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Grow in grace as they grow in the knowledge of Christ, 1 Pet. 2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 2 Pet. 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. Men do not fall from grace by sinning, but by putting the law in the place of grace.
Gal. 5:4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Grace is distinguished from: The law; John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. Works; Rom 11:6; But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. Debt; Rom 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. IV. The grace of God is the foundation for every covenant. 1. The Edenic Covenant The Edenic Covenant is the Covenant God made with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the entrance of sin. Gen 1:26-29 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 2. The Adamic Covenant The Adamic Covenant is the Covenant God made with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after the entrance of sin. Gen 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. Gen 3:21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. Gen 3:22-24 Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"-- therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. 3. The Noahic Covenant The Noahic Covenant is the Covenant God made with Noah after the Flood involving all creatures and all future generations of mankind Gen 6:8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 4. The Abrahamic Covenant The Abrahamic Covenant is the covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was made after the tower of Babel and the scattering of the descendants of Noah. It involves National Israel, the Seed Messiah, and all believers of all nations
Rom 4:1-5 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 5. The Mosaic Covenant The Mosaic Covenant was made with the chosen nation, Israel, after the Exodus and at Mount Sinai. Ps 44:3 For by their own sword they did not possess the land, and their own arm did not save them, but Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, for You favored them. 6. The Davidic Covenant The Davidic covenant was made with David and his seed, both naturally and spiritually. Rom 4:4-8 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account." 7. The New Covenant The New Covenant was made with all mankind through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 3:21-25 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 8. The Everlasting Covenant The everlasting Covenant is that Covenant made in eternity, before time began in the counsels of the eternal Godhead, between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It was made before the creation of man and the entrance of sin into the human race. It embodies, as an all-encompassing Covenant, God's complete plan involving creation and redemption. It is the heavenly foundational Covenant in eternity for all Covenants revealed in time, John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. V. Conclusion: We find in Tit. 2:11-14, a remarkable summary of the teaching of grace. It includes the denial of wrong things, and the positive instruction that we must live soberly, righteously, and godly as we look for the blessed hope of the Lord s return. Tit. 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.