Grace Appeared

Introduction

Tonight we are going to be talking about a topic that may seem like it doesn’t fit with our series for Sunday evenings on Walking with God, but by next week I believe you will see how this all fits together. In Christianity there are a lot of words that we use and people don’t really know what they mean. Word’s like justification, sanctification, imputation, atonement, propitiation. The Church must continue to teach on these concepts because they are important parts of our life as a Christian.

Then there are other words that we use all the time, but often do not understand or at least do not fully understand. One example is the word faith. Faith is used on TBN on a daily basis as if it were magical pixy dust. Often faith can become this emotional feeling or mystical experience that we need to seek after; but faith means to trust. Faith is trusting in God even when we can’t see how things are going to work out. It comes from knowing God and believing that He is fully capable to do what He said He would do.

Another word we often misunderstand or don’t fully understand is the word grace. Back when I was a kid, we attended Awanas which was a really good scripture memory program at the time. But we memorized a definition for grace: giving someone something good that he or she doesn’t deserve. This definition is good for kids but it is not complete. Tonight, I want to look at what grace is because without God’s grace we cannot be what God wants us to be, without God’s grace we cannot produce fruit, without God’s grace we cannot be saved. Last week, we talked about Abiding in the Vine; grace is the mechanism that gets the lifeblood from God to us.

What is grace?

I want to start with 1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” because when it comes to grace there are many different ways of looking at grace. Peter describes grace as manifold or varied. There are many different aspects that we could use to describe grace. In studying for this message, I looked at every one of the 170 times grace is used in the bible; so I am going to give you a summary of the different facets of grace and then a more comprehensive definition of grace.

A disposition of God

Grace is first and foremost God’s attitude towards us. Almost exclusively in the OT, grace is used in the sense of favor. Gen 6:8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” More than any other usage this is the root meaning of the word grace. God’s favorable disposition towards us. It is echoed in the words Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Grace is also being compassionate and kind toward someone. Ezra 9:8 “And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.” When you see someone who does something nice for another person especially someone who treated them wrong, we might say they are being very gracious toward that other person. So grace is God’s favorable and good will toward us as His children.

A gift of God

Probably the one part of grace that we all know is that grace is a gift. Eph 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” But maybe we don’t make the connection here. Grace is not just God’s feelings toward us; grace is something God gives to us.

Psa 84:11 “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Grace is inherently a gift as well as a favorable opinion. Gifts are not earned.

Romans 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”

Romans 11:6 “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

When I bring you a birthday present, you do not have to go mow my lawn to get it. Lewis Sperry Chafer pointed out an amazing point about grace in his classic work on the topic. He said:

Grace is not withheld because of demerit. What that means is that God does not refuse us grace because of our sinful failings. Grace is available to all of his children. It isn’t earned so it can’t be lost either. If I had to avoid doing things to get grace, then I am still trying to earn it. It is a free gift. Do we refuse to feed our children because we don’t like something they did? We give them what they need because we love them. Think about God’s saving grace. Were you perfect when he gave you grace to be saved? Was there anything to merit your saving grace? No. Legalism teaches that we must earn God’s favor in our lives, but grace teaches that that favor has already been given because of what Jesus did on the cross. I can’t diminish or have it withheld now that I am in Christ.

How do you give favor?

To use an illustration of a King, when he is petitioned by a subject, he may choose to feel favorable toward them or not. If he is favorable toward them, he will meet their need for them. If he isn’t favorable toward them, lets say they ruined his birthday party, he may be less likely to grant their petition. So the grace is not merely the attitude of the King, but it is also the granting of what is needed. The attitude itself does not find its fullest expression until it is shown by his actions.

It is really an expression of God’s love for us. Let’s say I say that I love you and will always be there when you need me but then when your house burns down, I am nowhere to be found, do you really believe what I said? Grace is not complete until it reaches out to meet the needs of the one you are favorable towards.

Help from God

Heb 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Because God loves us and is favorable to us, he is going to help when we ask Him to. His help is grace in our lives freely given. In fact, his grace in this text is the help that we need. Sometimes we find ourselves in a pickle and we think we know what we need: we need out of that situation.

Maybe you have cancer and so we cry out to God to remove the cancer. Maybe that is God’s will and if He removes the cancer that would be grace; but what if it is God’s will for you to endure the cancer? God’s grace maybe the help you need to not lose heart, to trust in him, and patiently endure the cancer.

Enablement from God

Related to that is the fact that God’s grace is divine enablement. In 2 Cor 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.” God gives us strength to suffer for Christ. We don’t have it in us to make it through some of the trials that God puts us through but his strength is graciously given. It has been said often that God will never put you in a trial too hard to bear. That statement is not technically true. God often sticks us in situations that are too hard for us to bear because the cast us on Him. And it is in that moment that He gives grace.

Spiritual gifts are also called grace. A spiritual gift is an enabling of the Spirit to serve the body of Christ in some way. The list of spiritual gifts still active in the church can be found in Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;” Later in Eph 4:7 “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” We see another type of spiritual gifts: the offices of the church. God has given to the church gifted men to help lead and edify the church. I can’t pastor this church, I don’t have the wisdom I need, the patience I need, or the love that I need; but God graciously gives me the ability that I need to serve Him.

So now that we have looked at all these different aspects of grace, lets put this into a single definition:

Grace is the favorable disposition of God that moves him to freely give and act on our behalf. Grace is that which he provides.

What does grace do?

Grace justifies us before God Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Titus 3:7 “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Eph 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

Grace brings us into an intimate relationship with God Ex 33:17 “And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.”

Grace trains us or disciplines us to live in a way that is pleasing to God Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Grace grants us immeasurable spiritual riches 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.”

Helps us in our time of need Heb 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Grace preserves, comforts, strengthens and encourages us 2 Thess 2:16-17 “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, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” 2 Tim 2:1 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

Grace enables us to serve Heb 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” We only experience God’s grace as we step out in faith to do what He has commanded.

What is the goal of grace?

Simple answer only- relationship with Jesus Christ

Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” When did this grace appear? The answer is in Jesus’ first coming. When Jesus came to earth, He embodied grace and truth John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” That grace poured out from him to us John 1:16 “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” While Moses brought the law which revealed sin which brought death, Jesus brought grace. John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Grace has a face as David Mathis says. Grace is ultimately God giving Himself to us. When I don’t have strength, it is God’s strength He gives. When I need help, it is His presence intervenes. When I am sorrowful, it is a vision of His love that comforts me. When I was lost in my sin, it is He that died to pay my penalty. Jesus gives Himself and lives His life through me. That is grace.

I lay this foundation tonight because next week we are going to answer the question, How do I get grace? The answer could easily slip into legalism if you do not really understand God’s grace in your life.

Maybe today, you need grace to go through a trial that you are facing. Come to Jesus.

Maybe today, you can’t seem to overcome an addictive pattern of sin in your life. Come to Jesus.

Maybe today, you are afraid of what God might be asking you to do. Come to Jesus.

He can give you grace.