Sermon Central
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What Sets Christianity Apart
Contributed by Gene Gregory on Aug 26, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: A Sermon on God’s grace and our response to it.
WHAT SETS CHRISTIANITY APART
Years ago, a large international conference was held of religious leaders from around the world. In the midst of the conference, a debate began about what it was that set Christianity apart from other religions.
Some argued that it was God coming in the flesh that set Christianity apart from other religions. They decided that wasn’t it, because other religions claimed that their gods came in human form. Some argued that it was love, or sacrifice, or the resurrection, or one thing or another; each idea being shot down. Finally, C. S. Lewis, having arrived late, walked into the conference and asked what all the noise was about. When told they were discussing what it was that set Christianity apart from all other religions, he said, “That’s easy. It’s grace.”
How true it is. My friends, the thing that sets Christianity apart from every other religion, and every cult in the world is grace, the “unmerited, unearned, undeserved, favor of God.” And I want you to know, my friends, God’s grace is sufficient.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10
In 2 Corinthians 12, we read that Paul was complaining. He had a thorn in the flesh. We don’t know what that was. We don’t know if it was a physical problem he couldn’t overcome. We don’t know if it was a temptation he regularly struggled with. We don’t know if it was an attitude he battled with. We don’t know, because the Bible doesn’t tell us. We do know that this thorn in the flesh was brought about by a messenger of Satan and we do know that Paul prayed several times that God would take it away. But God never did.
There are those who will tell you that if you pray and don’t see a positive answer to your prayer, it’s because you don’t believe enough, or you don’t have enough faith. Horse feathers! Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayers for the same reason I don’t give Drew everything he asks for. God knows better.
Paul prayed 3 times to have this thorn removed and God said, NO!” Instead of answering Paul’s prayer, God said, “My grace is sufficient.”
That means God’s grace is enough. Turn to the person beside you and tell him, “God’s grace is enough.” God’s grace is enough. It doesn’t take anything else. God’s grace is enough.
GOD’S GRACE IS ENOUGH
I. GOD’S GRACE IS ENOUGH TO SAVE YOU
> Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you were saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift-
I want you to know this morning, that God’s grace is enough to save you. Do you realize there is nothing you can do to earn your salvation? You cannot be good enough. The Bible says the best you could hope to do, your best works, are like filthy rags compared to God’s holiness.
My friend, you can never be good enough to be saved. You can never go to church enough. You can never give enough to the church. You can never help enough poor people. You can never visit enough prisons, or light enough candles, or pray enough to earn being saved. It is only by God’s grace that you are saved.
So quit trying to be good enough to be saved, and trust Jesus. Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into Him.”
Tell somebody, “God’s grace is enough to save you.”
II. GOD’S GRACE IS ENOUGH TO SEAL YOU
Paul says, “The law of God opened my eyes. I saw myself. I saw my sin. I saw who I really was. My sin increased. But God’s grace multiplied even more.”
Dear friend, do you realize that if you are truly born again, if Jesus is truly your Savior, that you are saved, signed and sealed, just waiting to be delivered? You cannot lose your salvation.
When you invite Jesus Christ into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, He comes in to live, to stay, forever. The Holy Spirit lives within you.
Jesus says, “The sheep the Father has given Me are in My hand, and no one can snatch them out of My hand. They are in the Father’s hand, and no one can snatch them out of God’s hand.”
Several years ago, Gladys, Drew and I took a trip out west. We went and saw the Grand Canyon, some Indian cliff dwellings, the Petrified Forest and all of that stuff. One of the things Drew and I enjoyed the most while we were out there was the climbing. Drew and I climbed mountains, and rocks, and hills. That was 3 years ago, when Drew was only 4.
