TOPIC: GRACE IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN
TEXT: John 1:17
I. WHAT IS GRACE?
Grace – can be simply defined as – God’s unmerited favor to the undeserving.
Genesis 6:8 – is the very first reference in the Bible to great concept of God’s Grace. In the midst of the MOST WICKED SOCIETY that history has ever seen – the Bible says, there was one man who was – “a just man and perfect in his generations” – Genesis 6:9 – and the reason the Bible has given why he was different was that he – “found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”
In this first mention – a VITAL DOCTRINE – is stressed. God’s Grace is not something which is earned.
It is significant that the first mention of the word “grace” in the New Testament (in Luke 1:30 – from the words of angel Gabriel to the Mary) stresses the same great truth (thus, Mary, just like Noah – “found grace with God.”
II. HOW WAS THE WORD “GRACE” USED IN THE BIBLE?
The word “GRACE” is used in the Bible to refer to the following . . .
1. The Very nature Of God – God being “GRACIOUS” – Jonah 4:2; I Peter 2:3
2. The Personified Grace of God – The Lord Jesus Christ Himself – Titus 2:11; John 1:14-17
Someone defined GRACE as –
G – od’s
R – iches
A – t
C – hrist’s
E - xpense
3. Salvation Totally apart from any human merit and participation – Ephesians 2:8-9; Rom. 11:6
4. The Privilege to Pray or the God-given opportunity to Come to Him In Prayer – Hebrews 4:15-16
5. Stewardship – 1 Peter 4:10
6. The Gift of Liberality or Generosity – 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
7. The Lord’s Provision to All our Needs – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
III. IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S GRACE TO THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN
1. Christian Life Starts With Grace –
a. The Grace of Election – Ephesians 1:3-6
b. The Grace of Salvation – Ephesians 2:4-10
2. Christian Life Ought To Continue In Grace – Acts 13:43
a. Grace can be Turned From – Galatians 5:3-4 – Not for genuine Christians
b. Grace, that is, True Grace – Humbles – 1 Peter 5:5, 6, 10
3. Christian Life Should Grow In Grace – 1 Peter 3:18
4. Christian Life Must Be Perfected (Maturity), Established, and Strengthened by Grace – 1 Peter 5:10 cf. 2 Timothy 2:1
5. Christian Life Must Be Taught by Grace – Titus 1:11-12
a. Grace can be – but – Must Not be – Abused – Jude 4
b. The Book Of James was written to denounce Antinomianism – The Abused of Grace – referred to by James as . . .
• Demonic Faith – James 2:19
• Dead Faith – James 2:17, 20, 26
As opposed to Christian’s . . .
• Dynamic Faith – James 2:18, 22
c. Salvation is by Grace alone – but – Saving Grace is not alone – it produces God-glorifying works.
6. Christian Life Will Rejoice and Glory in Grace – 2 Corinthians 1:12
7. Christian Life is From Grace To Grace – John 1:17
CONCLUSION:
We may not be able to completely understood God’s Grace presently – but is will be explained to us in eternity. It will take eternity for us to learn completely the Wonderful Grace of God – Ephesians 2:7.
Pastor Antonio O. Maramara
God’s Grace Baptist Church
Parañaque City, 1704
Philippines
