The Divine Source Of Grace.
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Grace must be divinely revealed.
Grace must be divinely revealed.
We are strangers to Gods grace, though all human beings are living under its umbrella.
We are living under God’s common grace before we ever encounter his saving , redeeming grace.
The error of the universalist is believing God’s common grace will never come to an end.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
We are still living under the blessing of the Noahic covenant.
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”
He gives the atheist his breath to curse him.
I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Saving Grace is revealed to humans through the gospel message. This is why gospel means “good news”
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
The law is perfect, it is good and holy. if we could do perfectly what the law says we would be saved, but we cannot. The law isn’t bad, it is we who are bad.
But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
Whenever someone preaches the gospel to you, Gods saving, redeeming grace is within your reach.
I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Weeping and gnashing of teeth is mentioned 7 times in the New Testament. Mat 8:12, Mat 13:42, Mat 13:50, Mat 22:13, Mat 24:51, Mat 25:30, Luke 13:28.
Hell isn’t separation from God, but it’s separation from his grace.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Big Idea: Embracing grace may be one of the hardest lessons we learn, yet it unlocks the door to true freedom in Christ and authentic relationships with others.
Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider using your Logos library to explore the theological implications of grace in both the Old and New Testaments. Look at texts from Romans, Ephesians, and the Gospels to see how grace is consistently illustrated, and investigate any exegetical challenges in these passages. Understanding the historical context of the early church's struggle with grace can also provide valuable insights.
1. Grace for All Sinners
1. Grace for All Sinners
Romans 3:23-24
Perhaps you could delve into how these verses highlight that grace is bestowed upon us without regard to our merit, emphasizing the universal need for it. This teaching challenges the audience to release self-sufficiency and embrace the radical nature of grace. Christ's redemption illustrates that grace is unearned, shifting the focus from human achievement to divine generosity.
2. Gift Beyond Compare
2. Gift Beyond Compare
Ephesians 2:8-10
You could explain how these verses encapsulate the essence of salvation as a gift, not achieved by works, emphasizing the transformation that grace brings to a believer's life. Show how Christ’s sacrifice is the ultimate gift of grace, urging the audience to find freedom in accepting their identity in Him rather than their accomplishments.
3. Grace in Weakness
3. Grace in Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9
Maybe you could illustrate how Paul's experience reveals the sufficiency of Christ's grace in weakness. Emphasize that embracing personal limitations allows God's grace to thrive, encouraging the audience to surrender and find strength in Christ’s power. This point underscores that grace doesn't remove hardships but transforms them.
