UNREASONABLE GRACE
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Introduction:
How we got our mini-van...
How my in-laws got their mini van.
Comparison of the two mini-vans.
My attitude about that was a sort of joking/ grumbling about God blessing them and not us.
Transition: That paints a picture of us all, and the picture of this parable that we are going to look at. Sometimes be grumble at and begrudge God’s grace rather than rejoicing in it.
Preview the text: Jesus is about to tell a kingdom parable. It begins by “The kingdom of heaven is like...” We are about to see a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven. In this story we have a a few main characters. The owner of the vineyard who represents God the Father. The workers who represent us. They will be our focus.
Transition: The first thing I want us to notice is this…
I. GOD DOES THE CALLING. (GRACE) - V.1-7
I. GOD DOES THE CALLING. (GRACE) - V.1-7
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Notice that it wasn’t the laborers that went out and chose to go and work for this vineyard owner - the vineyard owner actively pursued the laborers.
This is such a picture of the Christian life. No one on the own accord can come to God. God comes to get you. He draws you.
The nation of Israel.
The disciples.
Christians today.
This tells me that Christianity isn’t man centered. It is God centered.
II. THOSE GOD CALLS, WORK. (WORKS)
II. THOSE GOD CALLS, WORK. (WORKS)
What did these laborers agree to go out and do? Work.
They didn’t agree to come hang out and play board games, or video games. They didn’t go out for lunch. They were called to go out and work.
So what does that teach us?
People called by the Father work!
Now let’s not get it twisted, we don’t work to earn anything from God. We just saw that in the last text we didn’t do anything to find ourselves in His vineyard. We were invited by God - with promise! The Father invites us and we humbly accept the invitation. But once we accept the invitation, we work!
What am I talking about here? Those who are called by grace work from grace, producing fruit that shows they are in God’s vineyard.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Works are the evidence of a changed heart that has accepted the grace of God.
He does not advocate that God’s grace takes idle people, keeps them idle, and still rewards them with eternal life. And he does not advocate salvation by good works, which is very pharisaical (or Talmudic),10 or hard work alone, which is very American. Rather, he advocates that no one earns salvation or is owed salvation based on good works or hard work or much work, but those who are chosen by grace are given work to do, do that work, and are rewarded for it.
III. THOSE WHO WORK ARE REWARDED. (REWARDS) 20:8-10
III. THOSE WHO WORK ARE REWARDED. (REWARDS) 20:8-10
So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
All those working in the vineyard will receive a reward.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
God’s calling is a calling of promise. You will be rewarded. You will receive at the hand of God.
MAIN POINT - GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION IS JUST AND GENEROUS. 20:13-16
MAIN POINT - GOD’S GIFT OF SALVATION IS JUST AND GENEROUS. 20:13-16
Matthew 20:13-16
But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
First, God is just in his generosity.
The parable paints the picture of God being totally just in his actions.
God’s generosity actually takes two forms. He gives gifts we do not de- serve and he withholds punishments we do deserve. Sadly, many take God’s generosity for granted, so that “Amazing Grace” has become boring grace. It is boring because we no longer think of ourselves as sinners, or at least not as great sinners.
The first workers grumbled. Let us never grumble at God’s grace.
I can understand their grumbling though!
But God was perfectly just to give out what he gave out.
Instead, let us enjoy God’s grace no matter who it may be upon. That is what this parable is all about.
Conclusion:
I want to paint a picture of God’s grace.
Fill in the blank of the sinner or sinner group you like least. Let me fill in a name for you, and let me know how it makes you feel:
Don’t begrudge God’s unequal generosity toward Jeffrey Dahmer.
Most of you know that name and cringe at hearing it. When I did a Google search for him, and typed in J-E-F-F-R the first suggested search was Jeffrey Dahmer. That shows me his popularity has not diminished much. For those of you who don’t know Dahmer, I won’t say much because his deeds were so wicked, it is hard to describe them in any setting. He killed seventeen young men, and he did so in the most gruesome and grotesque ways.
While in prison, however, Dahmer was sent books and tracts on the Chris- tian gospel. Over time he began to meet with a local pastor. Dahmer himself writes about how he came to grips with how he was a sinner and accountable
before a holy God. In a television interview with Stone Philips he said, “I’ve come to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly God, and I believe that I, as well as everyone else, will be accountable to him.” In that same inter- view he called Jesus his “Lord and Savior.” From all accounts—his own, his father’s, the pastor’s—he came to a saving faith in Christ. He believed and was baptized. Jeffrey Dahmer was baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Then, one day after attending chapel, a fellow inmate attacked him. He lived. Soon after, while working in the prison gym, he was attacked again. This time he died. Then what? Did Jeffrey Dahmer—the most horrific human being of my lifetime—go into the presence of a holy God? Did he get a de- narius? He tortured and killed people, lots of people. Sure, he professed faith in Christ, but he died so shortly after, he hardly had a chance to prove himself worthy of the kingdom.
What do you think about sharing an apple from the tree of life with Jeffrey Dahmer in the new heavens and new earth? Does the thought of it make you sick? Does the thought of it shock all spiritual sensibilities? Well, my brothers and sisters, that’s the shock of grace! That’s the shock of the gospel. That’s the shock of this parable, the parable of the shockingly, super-generous Lord.
Don’t begrudge God’s generosity!
Our God is a gracious God. Have you enjoyed His grace today?