Epistles: Grace

Introduction:

Story of the Bible

Epistles

Prayer

Scripture Reading:

(SLIDES)

Ephesians 2:1–10 (CSB)

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Introduction:

Grace

It is a word that we might be over familiar with

It’s one of those Bible words that is central to Christianity and we say and hear it all over the place—but how often do we reflect what it means?

What I’ve heard in the past:

Mercy is not getting what we deserve

Grace is getting what we don’t deserve

G.R.A.C.E.

Or plain and simple: “unmerited favor”

As we are finishing our overview of some key themes in the epistles—we couldn’t do it without talking about the grace of God—it is all over the epistles

The word “grace”:

x131 in Bible

x124 in NT

x86 written by Paul

2 thirds of its usage are by one author

In fact, every single one of Paul’s epistles starts and ends with grace

So if there is a place to learn about grace in the Bible—it’s in the epistles

Grace as a Gift:

(SLIDES)

Ephesians 2:8–9 (CSB)

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.

We are saved by grace

Grace is God’s gift

Grace is something we receive from God

God is a gracious God = God is a God who freely gives

He gives regardless of whether or not we deserve it

And it’s not just any old gift, it is a costly gift

The salvation of our souls

Gift Giving

If I were to buy you a house anywhere

You try to pay back with all that you have

Grace- God giving us what we don’t deserve—and what we couldn’t earn by ourselves

So we know that grace is a gift, but another question comes up...

What is this gift? — Help

(SLIDES)

Hebrews 4:16 (CSB)

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Grace isn’t just a stagnant gift

Like toys as a child that sit in a box most of the time

Or clothes that hang in your closet

Grace is an active gift—Grace is God’s help

And not help that we can stockpile for some future time

But help for each moment—grace for each day

That God is extending his help and power each moment to us

(SLIDE BACK TO MAIN)

This is what it means to be a Christian—It’s not just someone who agrees with some intellectual statements about who Jesus is and what he has done

But foundationally—what it means to be a Christian—is to be someone who has been and continues to be a recipient of God’s grace

This is the gospel:

This is the gift from God that he offers each person:

He has paid for our sins

He has bought us (purchased) back to be his people

He has invited us to reign with him in his eternal kingdom

There is not a single person you could find in heaven that was not a recipient of this gift from God

And that is what all of God’s people throughout history have in common

We have all received the free gift of God’s grace

People that speak different languages, eat different food, have totally different customs, but we have all been recipients of this gift.

But just like any gift—it has to be accepted

You can’t force someone to accept a gift

Jr. High Story-Genesis

Or if I offered you a car

You wouldn’t receive the gift unless you accepted it

You take the key and go to where it is parked

Otherwise it would just be sitting around

So God has offered each of us his grace—his help

God is offering us his strength, his peace, his love, but we have to accept it

If you’re stuck in a cycle of sinning, over and over again

You need God’s help—not more willpower and determination

If you’re afraid and anxious of the future

You need God’s help—not the perfect scenario where everything goes well in your mind

If you’re hurting and broken

You need God’s help—not more time to piece yourself back together

Look, we all NEED God’s help

In fact, the more mature of a believer you become—the more aware you are of your desperate need for help

Pastors, Authors, and Worship Leaders—whoever you might look up to spiritually

The secret to their strength is their weakness—and their dependence on God

They are daily receiving the gift of God’s grace—his help for whatever they may be facing

Listen to Paul’s words

(SLIDES)

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (CSB)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

His confidence is not in himself, his experience, his skills—it is in Jesus

So you see, God’s grace isn’t just something we have been shown in the past so that we can be saved and make our way to heaven—It is needed for each of us, every day

(SLIDE TO MAIN)

Present Grace—Power

Grace is a present power to do the will of God

It is what enables us to live a life in victory over sin

A life that can rejoice in trials and suffering

A life that reflects the life of Jesus

Grace is like the fuel of the engine of our Spiritual lives

And God’s grace is endless—when we are running on grace we can go far and do great things

And often we make the mistake of putting the wrong fuel in the tank

Our spiritual lives are meant to be sustained and ran off of God’s continued grace

But often we put in the fuel of willpower, confidence in our skills or experience

And it can only get us so far before the whole thing fails

We are in constant need if we want to get anywhere in our spiritual life—if we want to grow

And here’s the thing: an engine can run—but if you want to go anywhere you still have to drive the car

Grace isn’t just a magical passive transformation

You don’t just pray for God’s help and then like a genie— zap! — You’ve matured and grown

This may sound counterintuitive but:

Grace requires effort

I love this quote from Dallas Willard:

(SLIDES)

“Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action. Grace, you know, does not just have to do with forgiveness of sins alone.”

So we can never EARN God’s love or any of his gifts

We can’t work our ways up to a point where we deserve his help

But it doesn’t mean that we don’t put in any effort

We give it all of our effort, knowing that it’s not enough, and God meets us and supplies all of our needs

Grace isn’t something that happens to us—it’s something that empowers us

It reflects God’s desire to partner with us

Paul has this to say:

(SLIDES)

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 (CSB)

For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Grace and works go hand in hand

If you are living a life reliant on the grace of God

You will walk in victory over sin

You will be a light in a dark world

You will overcome sufferings and trials

You will reflect the character of Jesus

“By the grace of God I am what I am”

Not in the negative— “I am what I am” -_0_-

But in the positive— “I am Paul, the apostle of Jesus—the missionary—the author—the pastor...”

By the gift of God enabling me to do all of this

(SLIDE TO MAIN)

Conclusion

In conclusion I want to answer probably the most important question about grace: How do I receive it?

The very simple answer is: Ask for it

Do you need grace? Do you need the help of God himself? — Ask

James tells us that God gives his grace to the humble

(SLIDES)

James 4:6 (CSB)

But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says:

God resists the proud

but gives grace to the humble.

If we humble ourselves

Let go of our pride

Let go of our own ideas of how things should be

Admit our weakness

God will show us grace

God will meet us and help us

“I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other, and the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not the question of growing taller, but of stooping down, to get His best gifts.”

(F.B. Meyer, Alliance Witness).

I don’t know where each person is today

But I do know that each and every one of us is in desperate need of God’s grace

And my plea to you is that you ask for it—and accept it

As hard as it might be—as much as we want to fix our own problems—or hide them from everyone

God’s way is so much better

He is a God of grace

A God who longs to help you