THE POWER OF GRACE
Jeremiah 31: 1-3
During the early days of Covid when we were suppose to stay home I came across a documentary on Netflix on the Apostle Paul and his missionary trips. The individual who created the documentary is a Theology professor from a seminary in the midwest. Each summer he would take some of his students to the Middle East and follow Paul’s paths to the various cities, many of which now no longer exist or have a new and different name.
It was quite interesting to see what the terrain was like as well as to see the ruins of many of the ancient cities. It was also very plain how difficult these journeys were for Paul. Sometimes we have a tendency to forget that there were no cars or airplanes two thousand years ago.
Unfortunately, that documentary series is no longer on Netflix. I tried recently to find it, but it has been removed to make room for new shows.
Paul is a very important purveyor of information on the theology of Christ’s words while he walked and preached in Galilee. It is easy to forget that Paul was not of the original twelve Apostles, yet he understood quite clearly what Christ’s message was. Fortunately, we have his epistolary letters that he sent to the various churches he founded. Letters that teach, praise and admonish. Letters that help us to understand and convict us of the love of Christ.
One of the important topics that Paul covered is about the Grace of God. Turn with me to Ephesians 2:8 - 10: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
So, after reading these two verses I have a question for you, a very simple question but one that has a lot riding on it insofar as yours and my salvation depends on the correct answer. The question: What is grace?
Several of you have said that grace is unmerited favor from God. That is correct but, it is not the complete description of what grace is. We just read from Ephesians that we are saved by God’s unmerited favor; meaning we do not merit God’s favor and we certainly have not earned it. I believe there is more to God’s grace than just His favor.
To begin seeking the answer to what more comes with God’s grace than just his unmerited favor we will look at two more verses. The first verse I want us to look at is Acts 20:24: “But I don't place any value on my life, if only I can finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”
What did Paul say he was teaching? The gospel of what?? God’s grace. Paul’s preaching was about the gospel of God’s grace. It is his sole purpose to the exclusion of all else, including his well being and health that he is preaching this important message to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Now let us look at the second verse. Turn with me to Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
So what does Paul say is the gospel? It is the power of God! The original Greek word for power is dynamis. The root of the this word is dynam which gives words such as ‘dynamic’ and ‘dynamite.’ Thus, we could say that the power of God is like dynamite. It is powerful, explosive even.
Paul is saying in effect that the Grace of God is so powerful, dynamic and explosive that it can change people. Paul is also saying that he has no fear to preach the gospel wherever he goes because the power of God’s grace is life-changing for him and for others. Life-changing enough to bring salvation to those who believe.
Paul believed so much in this message that he made four journeys to take this gospel message to as many people as he possibly could. He traveled from Judea to Syria, Thrace, Macedonia, Phyrgia, Cilicia, Galatia and eventually Rome. He traveled literally over a thousand miles to deliver the Gospel. It was that important to him.
He knew that the power of God’s grace could convert anyone. It can convert the alcoholic,
the addict,
The thief,
The abusive husband or father,
The lost,
And the lonely.
This power of God’s grace has not diminished by time or distance. Just like Paul we can walk the streets of our town or across our country and deliver the same message without fear or shame. There is power in the Gospel message. Power that changes the hearts of people. It changes the way people think,
drink,
Eat
Dress
And act. Paul says he “is not ashamed of the Gospel.” Neither should we. God’s grace is powerful and life-changing. It needs to be delivered. And we are its messengers.
If the gospel is the power than God’s Grace is God’s power would you not say? Turn with me to Roman’s 5:6, “For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.”
This is a text we all know. This text reminds us of the miracle of Christ’s sacrifice and more importantly the infinite love that God has for us, even though we are sinners.
Romans 5:6 goes hand in hand with Romans 5:20 and in this verse I am focusing my attention on the second part where Paul tells us that “ ... where sin abounded, grace abounds much exceedingly.”
What Paul is saying is that sin grows and expands within the passage of time. We are exposed to more and more sin as we grow and age. But we should not worry since God’s grace grows much more than sin. In other words, God will not let sin conquer and overwhelm us. He provides the safety net of his undying love and regard for us.
Now we know how important grace was to Paul and how important it is for us. So how does grace help us? What does it do?
Well, first it ‘justifies’ us. Another way to put it is that it helps make us righteous. Titus 3:7 tells us, “that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
In a commentary by Steele and Thomas, Romans and Interpretive Outline, they provide a definition of Justification as follows, “Justification is a legal sentence issued by God in which he pronounces the person in question free from any guilt or fault and fully acceptable in his sight.”
You see, as sinners we are guilty of breaking God’s Law. There is only one sentence the court can give us, death. With God’s justification however, we are pronounced not guilty. Not guilty of breaking God’s law. Instead we are declared righteous. Righteous because Christ took on his shoulders our guilt.
When we accept by faith Christ as our savior we receive God’s grace which results in our old life being tossed away and a new life, a new creation taking its place.
In addition, instead of being excluded from heaven we can now be considered heirs of God. How do I know this? Romans 8:16, 17 tells us that with the indwelling spirit and God’s grace we have become co-heirs with Jesus.
Oh, sure we are not given and instant pass to proceed to the pearly gates. There is a lot more that has to happen to us, but we are no longer forbidden from ever entering heaven. With our acceptance of Christ and the receipt of God’s grace we now have hope. We now have a future.
Secondly, the power of Grace sanctifies us. Acts 13:43 tells us that we need to “...continue in God’s grace.” in order to continue our walk with God.
In 1 Peter 5:10 we find Peter praying that, “may the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, and strengthen you.”
It is only by the power of God’s grace that we will be equipped to resist the temptations we encounter daily from Satan and his minions. How else can we not be tempted by all the advertising we see and hear on the radio, TV, internet and Social Media. Only the power of God will keep us sane in this insane world.
Third, God’s grace protects us. 2 Timothy 2:1 tells us, “You, therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Once we accept Christ into our life he will strengthen us for the journey ahead.
Even better, is some of the equipment that comes our way to defend our hearts, mind and body. Turn with me to Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Eph 6:11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
When we accept Christ into our lives God is not going to leave us to our own devices in navigating this world. He is going to give us access to every tool in his arsenal to protect us. God’s divine protection guards our mind, body, heart and soul from all the wiles of Satan.
Fourth, God’s grace will give us victory.
Romans 6:14 tell us, “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.”
Whom do we swear allegiance to? If it is Satan than we shall also be mired in iniquity, sin and eventually death. However, if we swear allegiance to God that will lead to righteousness, sanctification and eternal life. Why, because God through his grace takes away the sentence of death we are shackled to because of our inability to uphold the law of God. At the cross Christ gained the victory over sin. And with his death and resurrection he gained the victory over the consequences of sin. His victory is also our victory.
Paul is telling us that we should not be discouraged and in despair because once we accept Christ into our life sin will no longer have control over us. We will discover that with God’s grace we will no longer struggle to meet the demands of the law. We will not be trying so desperately to work under the demands of the law. Instead we will discover that our love for God will no longer make the law a burden to obey, but a willingness to follow and a privilege to live up to. The law can restrain a person, but with the love of God in our heart it inspires us to be a better person and one who wants to show our love for him through our heartfelt actions and obedience.
God’s grace does not give us a license to sin. No, God’s grace is a force that both pardons us and gives us the power we need to live according to the law without falling into temptation. And that power ensures our victory!
As you can see there is a lot that grace gives us. The power of grace is so amazing. And God says here it is, take it.
Accept it.
Embrace it.
Its free to everyone! Why would we turn this power down? Yet, so, so many do. Perhaps, it is just too difficult to imagine how we could just grab something that is free? . . . Is it that it is too hard to accept that it is real? . . .Or is it because it is anathema to admit that we are too weak to face sin on our own?
You see, God is giving us the tools we need to survive, but in order for us to receive those tools we have to surrender ourselves to his guidance. And heaven forbid, we will never admit our failures and surrender. Oh, no! We can’t do that because that means we have to swallow our pride!
When we get down on our knees and confess our weakness we are in effect raising our hand and reaching up to God. At that moment he will reach down and clasp our hands with his. And it is at that moment that grace flows in us and around us and protects us. We have accepted God into our life and he has accepted us as his child.
So, so easy to do. Yet, so very hard to accomplish. But can you imagine what peace will come into your life when we face the fact that even though we are unable to save ourselves, that God is not only willing but able to save us!
As you can imagine with a topic as important as this that Ellen G White has a few words to say about Grace. In fact, looking at my Index of EG White writings I discovered over 7 ½ pages of articles she wrote on Grace.
In Testimonies Volume 5 pg 167 she writes, “God has an abundance of grace and power awaiting our demand. But the reason we do not acknowledge our great need of it is because we look to ourselves and not to Jesus. We do not exalt Jesus and rely wholly upon his merits.”
In Testimonies to Ministers page 508, she writes, “Divine grace is needed at the beginning, divine grace at every step of advance, and divine grace alone...”
One more. In the book The Sanctified Life, page 55, Ms White writes, “There may be marked defects in the character of an individual, yet when he becomes a true disciple of Jesus, the power of divine grace makes him a new creature. Christ’s love transforms and sanctifies him.”
Yes, Grace is very important. It is available in abundance. It is needed for every step we take in our ongoing relationship with God. And it is transformative.
Even more amazing is that it was planned to be available to us from the very beginning. Turn with me to 2 Timothy 1:9, “who 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 times eternal,”
Jesus Christ made Grace available from the very beginning. Before man was ever created. He was looking out for us before we ever sinned. He was definitely ready for whatever shenanigans Satan ever came up with.
The moment Adam and Eve sinned, there was grace available for their immediate benefit. The power of God’s grace was there to make a transformative change in them and to help them live right. That same grace has been available for every man and woman born since the beginning of time. And that same grace is available to you and me right now, right here in this sanctuary.
Let us turn now to our scripture this morning in the 31st chapter of Jeremiah. “At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Jer 31:2 Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. Jer 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.”
Remember those Israelites in Egypt. God brought them out of bondage and was leading them to the promised land. For awhile they were harassed by the Egyptian army until God eliminated the Army at the Red Sea. Then for the next 40 years the Israelites moaned and groaned their way across the wilderness until only two adults and their children were left of the original group that left Egypt. What happened to the rest? They were ungrateful. They were sinners. They did not appreciate what God had done to save them from the Egyptians and the wilderness.
And what did God do for them? When the army harassed them and threatened their very lives, God parted the Red Sea so they could find safety on the other side. The army found the Red Sea close over them. When the people needed water, God provided. Food? God provided. The sun became to hot, clouds covered the sky providing shade. Too cold at night, God provided warmth.
What about their clothes and shoes? Let me tell you, rocks and sand are gentle on clothes and shoes. So, God made sure their clothes and shoes did not wear out. For 40 years they did not need to look for a haberdashery (old English for clothing store BTW).
God provided for their very needs and protection. And just as God provided for the Israelis, He will do the same for us too. All we need to do is have faith in him and believe in him. He will do all the heavy work for us.
God’s grace is a wonderful and powerful. It can change lives. It can transform thieves and murderers.
Addicts and abusers
The sick and lonely
In short, it can transform anyone who just believes and accepts by faith Jesus Christ as their Savior. All they need to do is reach up and clasp the hand of God reaching down from Heaven and he will do the rest.
For those who have already accepted Christ as their Savior, I hope this sermon was a reminder of God’s power to transform and uplift. For those that believe there are still moments when life becomes too dark and weighs us down. We need the reminder that God is still there to take the load off our shoulders.
Next Friday evening we begin a three day revival series. A series to remind us of God’s power. A series to strengthen our beliefs and reinvigorate our faith.
