"Amazing Grace"
Eph 2:8-9 NIV
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Christianity is all about “grace”
It’s all about God’s “Amazing Grace”. But what is “Grace” and what does grace really mean.
The greatest, highest and most practical truth of our life is that we are recipients of God’s Grace.
At a comparative religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about what is unique about Christianity. Someone suggested what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God took human form in Jesus. But someone quickly said, “Well, actually, other faiths believe that God appears in human form.” Another suggestion was offered: what about resurrection? The belief that death is not the final word. That the tomb was found empty. Someone slowly shook his head. Other religions have accounts of people returning from the dead. Then, as the story is told, C.S. Lewis walked into the room, tweed jacket, pipe, arm full of papers, a little early for his presentation. He sat down and took in the conversation, which had by now evolved into a fierce debate. Finally during a lull, he spoke saying, “what’s all this rumpus about?” Everyone turned in his direction. Trying to explain themselves they said, “We’re debating what’s unique about Christianity.” “Oh, that’s easy,” answered Lewis. “It’s grace.” The room fell silent. Lewis continued that Christianity uniquely claims God’s love comes free of charge, no strings attached. No other religion makes that claim. After a moment someone commented that Lewis had a point,
1. Buddhists, for example, follow an eight-fold path to enlightenment. It’s not a free ride.
2. Hindus believe in karma, that your actions continually affect the way the world will treat you; that there is nothing that comes to you not set in motion by your actions.
3. Someone else observed the Jewish code of the law implies God has requirements for people to be acceptable to him
4. And in Islam God is a God of Judgment not a God of love. You live to appease him At the end of the discussion everyone concluded Lewis had a point.
5. Only Christianity dares to proclaim God’s love is unconditional. An unconditional love that we call grace.
Christians boldly proclaim that grace really has precious little to do with us, our inner resolve, or our lack of inner resolve. Rather, grace is all about God and God freely giving to us the gifts of forgiveness, mercy, and love.
Def. –
1. There are distinctive meanings of grace;
a) It means the mercy and active love of God.
b) It means the engaging attractiveness of God.
c) It means the strength of God to overcome.
2. Grace is God’s freely given, unmerited favor toward the sinful and failing, the expression of forgiving, redeeming, restoring love toward the unworthy.
3. Grace is God taking the initiative to meet our need whatever that may be.
4. Grace is love that gives, that loves the unlovely and the unlovable.
The importance of Grace
1. A man may find out many ways to hide his sin from man, but he will never find out any way to subdue his sin, but by the exercise of grace.
2. Grace … turns lions into lambs, wolves into sheep, monsters into men and men into angels.
3. He who is graceless in the day of grace will be speechless in the Day of Judgment.
I. The Christian life begins with God’s grace.
Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The movie "Saving Private Ryan" ends with Captain Miller (Tom Hanks’ character) sitting near a bridge after an attack by German forces. His life is ebbing away as he pulls Ryan (Matt Damon) down toward him. Struggling for breath he whispers, "Earn this, earn this." As Ryan stands his face morphs back into the present as a senior adult searching for Miller’s cross in the cemetery. Crying he turns to his wife and says, "Tell me I’m a good man."
Many people may believe that Christ died for them, but they have an attitude that Christ told them, "Earn this."
They spend their lives through religion trying to receive validation so that people will tell them, "You are a good man or a good woman."
1. Grace is realizing that we can never earn Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross.
2. Our lives should reflect thanksgiving for what he has done instead of validation for being a good person.
3. We can never earn salvation. We can only receive it.
II. The Christian life is lived by God’s grace.
Grace often grows strongest where conviction of sin has pierced deepest.
1 Cor 1:4-5
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
1. A man is not a Christian unless he can say with Paul, ‘I am what I am by the grace of God.’
2. The human mind without grace is a nest of wickedness swarming with thoughts of evil.
3. Grace will make a difference in the way we live our lives
Illustration:
Did you ever receive a gift, a gift so unexpected and so exciting that you just couldn’t contain the level of your enthusiasm and joy?
Perhaps it even left you speechless? Many Christmases ago I decided to build my son a barn in which he could put all of his tractor and farm implement toys that he had collected over his young life. It was to be a barn unlike any barn I or he had ever seen. I wanted it to be detailed right down to the grooved floor and the pulleys on the beams. It was to be large enough to be scale for the 1/18 scale tractors and implements that were to be placed in it. I constructed it in three sections, a ground floor, drive-in, and loft. It took months to build as well as great secrecy to conceal it from him. Finally, Christmas Eve came and the barn was placed in Dan’s room. We guided him down the hallway and ushered him into his room.
When he saw the barn with all of his tractors and implements in place he literally exploded in excitement. He ran around the barn touching it, examining every detail. Words tumbled out but there were no sentences; simply exclamations of excitement and joy. As the night wore on and Danny finally began to calm down a bit, his little four-year-old heart began to displace some of that enthusiasm with thankfulness. He couldn’t thank me enough and felt that he just had to do something to merit such a valuable gift. I asked him to pick up the Christmas wrappings and he did so with gusto.
Over the course of that holiday, little Danny became a slave to his gratitude and willingly volunteered to do many a grateful errand for his Dad and Mom. He had reached a level of gratitude where something just had to give, so he did.
III. The Christian life is cleansed by God’s Grace
To believe we are totally and eternally debt free is seldom easy. Even if we’ve stood before the throne and heard it from the king himself, we still doubt. As a result, many are forgiven only a little, not because the grace of the king is limited, but because the faith of the sinner is small. God is willing to forgive all. He’s willing to wipe the slate completely clean.
He guides us to a pool of mercy and invites us to bathe. Some plunge in, but others just touch the surface. They leave feeling unforgiven.…
Where the grace of God is missed, bitterness is born. But where the grace of God is embraced, forgiveness flourishes.…
The more we immerse ourselves in grace, the more likely we are to give grace.
IV. The Christian life is comforted by God’s Grace
HEBREWS 4:15–16
Our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. When he lived on earth, he was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it.
V. The Christian life is glorified through God’s Grace
1 Peter 5:10
And after you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right.
He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling. He called you to share in his glory in Christ, a glory that will continue forever.
VI. The Christian life is climaxed by God’s grace.
God gives his gifts where he finds the vessel empty enough to receive them.
2 Thess 2:16-17
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Grace is not a reward for faith; faith is the result of grace.
1. As by the grace of God we are what we are, so by his grace it is we are not what we are not.
2. A Christian never lacks what he needs when he possesses in Christ the unsearchable riches of God’s grace.
3. God’s grace is not only amazing grace, it is abounding grace.
4. Death shortens our way to heaven, but grace sweetens our way to heaven.
Grace upon Grace
Test this question: What if God’s only gift to you were his grace to save you. Would you be content?
You beg him to save the life of your child. You plead with him to keep your business afloat. You implore him to remove the cancer from your body.
What if his answer is, “My grace is enough.” Would you be content?
You see, from heaven’s perspective, grace is enough. If God did nothing more than save us from hell, could anyone complain? …
Having been given eternal life, dare we grumble at an aching body?
Having been given heavenly riches, dare we bemoan earthly poverty? …
If you have ears to hear these words, a mind that understands, and a heart that is thankful then, he has already given you grace upon grace.
