The Free Gift Of Grace

THE FREE GIFT OF GRACE

EPHesians 1:5-12; Ephesians 2:1-10; Rom.5:1-21; Titus 2:11

Someone has told the story of a man who was condemned to death for embezzling £4000. The figures were related in dollars but I will change it to pounds for better understanding. The royal family took pity on the man, however, and determined to help him. The king contributed £2000 from the royal treasury, while the queen gave £1000 and the crown prince £980. The people in the gallery passed the plate and collected another contribution of £19.90. The total amount of £3999.90 was only 10p short of that which was required, but it was not enough. The king reluctantly said that the man had to die. The crowd in the gallery sighed. Suddenly the condemned man reached into his pocket and found a 10p coin, just what he needed. He was free!

Did this man have much to do to get free? Yes in the eyes of the world, no matter how little he had contributed to his own release it would be to him of utmost importance.

The grace of God is different. God provides the grace as a free gift (Eph. 2:8-9). Webster’s dictionary defined grace as:

a : unmerited divine assistance given man for his regeneration or sanctification

b : a virtue coming from God

c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

The grace of God goes beyond salvation. It includes the common grace whereby God continues to shower his blessing upon those who do not deserve or even acknowledge it. Grace is an attribute of God, something that is part of God, something that is true of Him (Exodus 34:6). The psalms are filled with praises to God about His graciousness (psalm 86:15; 103:8;  Psalm 111:4; Psalm 112:4; 116:5; 145:8).

This month of October is the month of God’s grace and favour. We want to explore God’s free grace to us. Our God is the God of grace. Let’s start with the meaning of Grace.

The meaning Of Grace

       i.            Gracefulness and Beauty (Proverbs 22:11; 31:30)

     ii.            Beneficent Acts (Gen. 6:8; 19:19; Exodus. 33:12; 34:9; 1Sam.1:18)

  iii.            Favour, Goodwill, Kindness (Luke 1:30; 2:40, 52; Acts 2:47; Acts 7:46; 24:27)

There are at least forty synonyms of grace in the common dictionaries found on the internet. This is simply what Grace has come to mean to people today. It can mean gracefulness and physical beauty. Aside from that it also means beneficent acts of one person to another in which some favour is conferred. When Christ was born in Bethlehem, Angels sang glory to God and peace and good will (Grace) towards men.

Christ was full of grace and truth (Luke 2:40). Grace and truth came by Christ (John 1:17)

Grace As An attribute of God

       i.            Grace Is What God Is  (Exodus 34:6-8; 22:26-27)

     ii.            Grace Of God Before Christ (Gen. 6:8; 19:19; Exo.33:12-14; Jonah 4:1-2; John 1:14, 17-18; Heb1:3)

  iii.            As Understood By God’s Men (Psalm 86:15-17; 103:3)

  iv.            God’s grace In Man’s salvation (John 1:14,17-18; Rom. 5:20; Eph.1:5-12)

Someone said that grace was not an afterthought – a damage limitation measure but part of God’s plan for humans. Grace has always been part of God’s nature. Just as we say, God is Love, we can equally say God is Gracious, and He is.

Because grace is God’s attribute it is not surprising to find that He employs grace to our salvation

The Provision Of Grace

        i.            Foreordination to Salvation Done Through Grace (Eph.1:3-6)

      ii.            Redemption Through Grace (Eph.1:7-10)

    iii.            Salvation Through Grace (Eph.2:4-10)

    iv.            The suffering and Death Of Christ Purchased salvation through Grace (John 1:29; 3:16; Matthew 20:28) 

Through grace God ordained that all mankind may be saved from sin and its condemnation. God foreordained that through grace mankind can be thoroughly free from the power of and condemnation of sin.

Redemption can only come by grace through faith. Redemption connotes buying back. We were bought back from the slave market of sin through our faith in Christ. Paul declares that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. Grace meets the demand for the righteous judgement and justice of God, so that God declares guiltless the guilty sinner. He is guiltless because someone has taken the penalty and the chastisement he deserved. The grace of God brings salvation to us through faith in Christ Jesus.

Outside Christ there can be no salvation. Jesus said so. His disciples said so. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

The Potential Of Grace (Eph.2:1-10)

        i.            The Unjust Justified Through grace (Rom.3:23-26)

      ii.            The Vilest Sinner set Free Through Grace (John 8:11)

    iii.            Sin No longer Imputed due to Grace (2Cor.5:19; Rom.4:8)

    iv.            Righteousness Possible Through Grace (Rom.8:1-3)

Bob Dafinbaugh said, “While the Law is the standard of righteousness, grace is the source of righteousness. While the Law defines righteousness, only grace delivers it. The Law was never intended to be a means of obtaining grace; it was given to demonstrate to men that grace was desperately needed.

Grace therefore has a life changing, life transforming potential. The unjust can be justified – something not practicable in the human court of law. The guilty is not acquitted. He must pay the penalty.

With god the guilty are acquitted because one righteous person, Jesus Christ has paid the full price of their penalty. Their sin is no longer imputed or reckoned unto them (2Cor.5:17-19)

Righteousness is now possible through grace (Romans 8:1-4). We can live in righteousness and true holiness now. We can please God now through grace.

The Partners Of Grace

        i.            Mercy

      ii.            Love

    iii.            Righteousness

    iv.            Peace

      v.            Goodness.

Grace is not a stand-alone attribute of God or virtue in man. It is connected with other divine attributes. It is also linked to imparted virtues like Mercy, love… The grace of God leads to salvation. Salvation means that you have been saved from your since and set free from condemnation. Peace will flood your heart, and with peace comes love, righteousness and mercy.

With God all attributes operate together – mercy, justice, grace, love, goodness, righteousness and peace. If you have received the grace of God unto salvation, your heart will be filled with love, mercy, peace and righteousness

The Partakers Of Grace

        i.            All Humanity may Partake In The Common Grace (Matthew 5:45, 48; Acts 17:13)

      ii.            All Humanity May partake of the Grace Of Salvation  (John 3:16; Lk. 24:47)

    iii.            All Rejecters Are Under An Inescapable Sentence of Death (Rom. 3:23 6:23)

 All humanity can partake in God’s Grace. Have you received that grace – the grace unto salvation?

We must be aware that all who reject the grace of God will be shown no mercy since grace and mercy are like twins. If you reject one you reject the other.

The wages of sin is death. The justice of God must be satisfied. If you do not permit Christ to satisfy it, then you will have to satisfy it yourself and that means death!

It is foolishness to reject Christ. Rejecting Christ means rejecting the Grace and Mercy of God.