Grace Beyond Understanding

Introduction

There are times in our lives when we are astounded by grace and generosity. You know it when it happens to you; and it almost compels gratitude and response.

That’s what we focus on each time we gather to worship as God’s people...we have all freely received God’s gift of faith and grace...and our worship, praise, and discipleship expresses our gratitude and response to God’s amazing grace and love.

I saw a story of a man named Jason who was having a bad week...and a particularly bad day. His toddler had made a mess in the back seat, the dog had thrown up on the floor board...he was 20 minutes late for a meeting he was supposed to lead...and he hadn’t eaten all day...So he pulled up to a Chic-Fil-A and ordered a meal.

When he got to the window, the employee said “The care of ahead of you paid for you meal! They said to ‘pay it forward’—you’re all good.”

He said “You’re telling me I get a free sandwich?” She said “Yes, sir.”

He laughed and said “that’s the best thing that happened to me all week!” The employee laughed and said “I hope your day gets better!”

He almost pulled away but stopped and backed-up and said “Wait, can I pay for the car behind me?”

She said “Sure.”

He said “How much?”

She said “$47.80”

He paused appreciating his free sandwich, sighed, and said “Okay, grace ain’t cheap is it?”

Detrich Bonhoeffer wrote a well known book titled The Cost of Discipleship. Chapter one is titled “Costly Grace” IN that chapter he contrasts Costly Grace with Cheap grace.

Cheap Grace refers to grace that is received but not truly lived out. It’s grace without repentance, without commitment to a transformed life. It’s a kind of grace that doesn’t challenge or require anything from the believer, making it "cheap" in the sense that it doesn’t involve personal sacrifice or a deep relationship with Christ. This form of grace is often associated with a superficial Christian faith.

Costly Grace, on the other hand, is grace that calls for sacrifice, commitment, and transformation. It’s grace that demands a response—a life lived in obedience to God, following the example of Christ, even at personal cost. It is called "costly" because it involves a price—namely, the cost of discipleship and the cross, where the believer must give up their own desires and live for God’s will.

In essence, Bonhoeffer warns against the dangers of cheap grace, urging believers to embrace the costly grace that requires genuine transformation and dedication.

Acts 10

That’s what we find here in our reading this morning...a picture of costly grace. Just before our passage today, Peter had a vision from God that contradicted what he thought was God’s holy way. This vision was of a giant sheet with all kinds of animals on it...animals that were considered “unclean” in the Torah...in the law of Moses.

This vision bothered Peter because he prided himself on keep all of God’s laws...all of God’s feasts...festivals...dieatary laws...thinking in doing so, he was pleasing God.

Then it reads in Acts 10:15-16

Acts 10:15–16 NLT

But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

There is nothing wrong with following God’s laws or ways described in the Old Testament, but God was making a point to Peter.

Basically saying “Peter, when I sent The Holy Spirit at Pentecost...it was a proclomation of revival...it was meant for my people in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This vision was a wake-up call to Peter that the gospel he’d been sharing....was to expand to the gentile lands. Sharing God’s grace was going to cost Peter...it was going to be costly grace...becuase it required sacrificing all he ever knew to be the one way to follwo God in Christ...through a Jewish lens...not so anymore.

Stephen’s Aftermath

Last week we shared our own testimonies for worship. I was cool to see how God prompted those who shared to share with the church how God has been and still is moving in his church here at BPC.

Sharing God’s testimony is foundational to the early church. IT’s why God called the church into being...to be his witnesses.

A few weeks ago we talked about Stephen...the first martr for the Chrsitian faith. He died for his testimony about Jesus. He was willing to die...for Christ’s costly grace...even praying for those killing him just as Jesus did on the cross.

Right after that severe persecution entered the church.

Church spread as a result...began to go into gentile nations...

philip and the ethiopian eunich

then preaching the region of Samaria

Christians in Jerusalem was a no-no.

Isn’t it curious...how movements to destroy Christianity...actually make it stronger?

First the Jewish leaders tried to destroy it...then Rome...many today see Christianity as a threat and heresy and it is actively persecuted and attempted to be eraticated...but its the largest faith in the world!!!!

My point? When humanity tries to destory...God preserves...provides...and proves himself trustworthy and steadfast in protect the church and its testimony.

NOW

Peter...after his vision couldn’t believe God’s grace...what he thought was uncelan...certain animals...certain people (gentiles...who by the way the Torah never directly calls gentiles unclean). What Peter thought unclean, God made clean.

Our reading this mornign was his speech to Cornelius...a gentile...a Roman of all people...and he did what Peter did best. He obedy his calling and testified to the truth of Jesus Christ as the son of God and the one who will judge and save.

and Cornelisu responded and was save.

Closing