The Amazing Gift of Grace

Bible Passage: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Summary: Grace is the unmerited favor of God that offers salvation and empowerment in our weaknesses. It is a theme that echoes throughout Scripture, illustrating God's love for humanity despite our shortcomings and failures.

Application: This sermon can remind Christians and others that no matter how far they have strayed or how unworthy they feel, God’s grace is always available to them, providing hope and a way back into relationship with Him.

Teaching: This message teaches that grace is a gift from God, not something we can earn or deserve, and it emphasizes the importance of receiving and extending grace to others in our lives.

How this passage could point to Christ: Grace is ultimately embodied in Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection fulfill God's promise of grace to humanity. Through Christ, we receive grace that reconciles us to God and empowers us to live holy lives.

Big Idea: God's transforming grace is always available to us, regardless of our past or present struggles, and it equips us to extend that same grace to others in need.

Recommended Study: As you prepare, consider exploring the theological implications of grace in Paul's letters using your Logos library. Pay attention to the differences in how grace is defined and addressed across various texts, and consider cross-referencing with Old Testament themes of grace and mercy to enrich your understanding and application.

1. Gift of Grace

Ephesians 2:8-9

Perhaps you could emphasize the importance of understanding that grace is not earned by our actions but is freely given as a gift from God. This point can highlight that salvation through faith, apart from works, allows us to truly rest in Him, embracing the peace and assurance that come with knowing we are saved by grace alone. By focusing here, you may encourage believers to rely more on God's grace, allowing it to transform and empower their lives.

2. Greater Than Sin

Romans 5:20-21

You might explore the idea that God's grace super abounds even where sin appears overwhelming. The message here can affirm that grace overshadows guilt and sin, offering redemption, renewal, and hope for the future. This point suggests that grace can change lives, encouraging believers to trust in God's unstoppable grace as they face the failures or sins in their own lives and the lives of others around them.

3. Grace in Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9

Maybe you could focus on how grace sustains us in our weaknesses, with the assurance that Christ's power is made perfect in weakness. The lesson here is that grace humbles us, turning our attention away from self-reliance and toward God's sufficiency. As you delve into this point, you can inspire Christians to boast gladly in their weaknesses so that Christ’s strength might be evident, leading to a deeper dependency and contentment in grace.

In the Bible, we find the story of the Prodigal Son, who squandered his inheritance and lived a reckless life. But when he returned home, his father welcomed him with open arms, symbolizing grace at its fullest. This story serves as a profound reminder that transformation happens when we return to the Father. His grace is always waiting for us, ready to cover us and give us a new identity despite our past mistakes.

In your daily interactions, examine whether your life reflects the grace you’ve received. Do you find yourself judging others harshly for their mistakes, especially in frustrating public situations, like during a long line or in traffic? This week, practice extending grace in these moments. When faced with rudeness from a cashier or a delay on the road, respond with patience rather than irritation. Smile, offer kindness, or say a silent prayer for those around you. Your public testimony of grace can challenge societal norms of impatience and lead others to consider the love of Christ.

Imagine being on death row, and a pardon letter arrives with your name on it… not because of anything you did, but because the one in power loved you.

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

*Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price... It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son... and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.”

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship