WHAT MAKES GRACE SO AMAZING
Ephesians 1:1-12
Intro: For a long time I never knew what the word “GRACE” meant. I realized that I had been saved but I just did not know what grace meant. Once I realized what the word GRACE meant and realized how that it was responsible for my receiving salvation I stood amazed how the Lord would ever expound grace to a person as wretched and vile as me. Grace amazes me more and more each day. Some may ask what is so amazing about grace and that is exactly what I want to preach on “What Is So Amazing About Grace”. Now if I asked you how many people knew what the word Grace meant how many of you could raise your hands and tell me. Some would say it means “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense”. And that is very true but the true definition to grace is:
I certainly realize we are living in a Dispensation of Grace. However, grace has been here since the days of Noah (Genesis 6:8). Though it was made manifest in the OT it was but a candle compared to the brightness of grace that appeared at the Incarnation. (Gen 6:8, Ex 34:6, Jer 31:3) Grace is the unmerited favor of God and is the basis of salvation, justification, election, faith and spiritual gifts. (Eph 1:7, Rom 3:24; 11:5-6; Eph 2:8-9; Rom 12:6)
GRACE –unmerited favor of God
I. It brings about a “Great Salvation”
A. (Ac 15:11) But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Peter was preaching that both Jew and Gentile will be saved through grace without the yoke of the law or the rite of circumcision)
B. (Eph 2:5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Quickened = made alive)
C. (Eph 2:8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Faith involves knowledge of the gospel (Rom 10:4), acknowledgement of the truth of its message and personal reception of the Savior (John 1:12)
D. (Eph 2:9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Works cannot save you but good works always accompany salvation (Eph 2:10, James 2:17)
II. It opens the “Riches” of His righteousness
A. (Eph 1:7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace;
B. (Eph 2:7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his
kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Believers will be an eternal display of the grace of God)
III. It is “All-sufficient and All-abundant”
A. (2 Co 12:9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (What Paul was saying here is that the power of Christ in him was more important than freedom from pain)
B. (Ro 5:20) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (The law brought about transgression showing even more vividly the superabundance of the grace of God)
IV. Grace came by “Christ”
A. (John 1:17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
B. (Ro 5:15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
V. Grace justifies and brings the hope of “Eternal Life”
A. (Titus 3:7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (To justify was a legal term in the OT meaning to obtain a favorable verdict, to acquit, to vindicate to declare righteous freely (Deut 25:1). For us it is an act of God (Rom 8:33)“without any reason”, who takes the initiative and provides the means through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus that if the sinner believes in Christ,(Rom 5:17) God can pronounce him righteous.)
