The Gift of Grace: The Present You Could Never Earn

Main Texts: Ephesians 2:8–9, Titus 2:11–14, Romans 3:23–24, John 1:14–17

OPENING statement

TODAY WE DISCUSS another GIFT under the TREE OF LIFE

GRACE

Grace is the expression of God’s heart.

We Receive it and then LEARN to GIVE IT

It is part of BECOMING like JESUS

—LIVING IN GRACE

It is the gift that opens the door for every other gift

—including forgiveness, identity, eternal life, and transformation.

i think of Grace exactly like that a

NEW PLACE —

- A NEW WORLD —

A NEW IDENTITY

A NEW YOU

We all DESIRE GRACE,

BUT WE NEVER DESERVED IT

WE RECEIVE IT

and then GIVE IT out

YOUR storehouse is continually

REPLENISHED through CHRIST

ENERGIZED BY THE SPIRIT IN US

we SHOW GRACE BECAUSE

WE HAVE IT IN GREAT UNENDING MEASURE

Grace is given because of HIS LOVE and our JOY overflowing

We learn that GIVING GRACE blesses US

and our desire to GIVE it GROWS

I remember the beginning of the Internet.

The weird noise to connect

the needing to learn to access, use, and understand it

I was able to log in

and look up thing

But did not understand the depth,

i did not understand what it was capable of

It is very much like AI programs today

They have the ability to change the way that i live my life

smart phones were born from the internet

it changed the way that i lived my life

_________________________________________________

So it is with the Second Gift from our Lord

Grace is the GIFT that opened up a New World

for ALL WHO BELIEVE

When you receive a gift you didn’t expect or deserve

—maybe an extravagant Christmas gift

—you can’t pay it back. God’s grace works the same way.

Grace Saves Us (Eph. 2:8–9):

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Salvation is a gift,

No one earns their way to God;

everyone receives grace or nothing.

Grace Appeared in Christ (Titus 2:11–14):

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Grace is not just forgiveness; it is training us for godliness.

we received, we learn and we show and teach others

We know that we are to GO, Baptize, and TEACH

Grace is taught because we have received it

Grace is the gift that is SHOWN in our LIFES

Grace changes our desires, not just our destiny.

Grace Justifies Us (Rom. 3:23–24):

Romans 3:23–24 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

We all fall short, but grace makes us righteous.

Grace Overflows Through Christ (John 1:14–17):

John 1:14–17 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the fullness of grace and truth.

Christmas is the story of Grace putting on flesh.

Grace is the assurance that your future with God is secured,

not because of what you do, but because of what Christ has done.

Accept grace daily—stop living in spiritual self-condemnation.

We are blessed daily because of HIS GRACE TO US

and we PRACTICE it daily

not in ISOLATION but in DOING IT

Extend grace to others this week as a practical expression of receiving it.

Better to give then RECEIVED

ILLUSTRATION STORY:

It was football season, and the 8th grade locker room had been trashed at Cross Timbers Middle School!  

Who did it?—the boys on the football team!!  

Dirty clothes, trash and food wrappers were everywhere.  

The coaches determined it was a good time to teach the team a lesson they would never forget!

 So, the coaches had all 50 players sit in a line on the floor of the gym.

 “Oh, great,” the boys thought, “I’ll bet they’ll make us run ‘til we’re sick!”

And then something unexpected happened.  

While watching, the stunned players saw their coaches begin to run the length of the court.  

The coaches had instructed the boys that for each lap they completed, one player must stand

—one boy at a time—until the coaches had run a lap for each of the 50 team members!

 Over and over the coaches ran up and down the gym floor.

 Up and back they ran, exhausted,

until 50 laps were completed and all the players were now standing!

Gasping for air, about to collapse and looking at their bewildered team, the coaches stopped.

Coach Lentz, the head football coach, barely able to breathe, spoke for them all, “

You trashed the locker room,

but we took the punishment you all deserved,

and that, boys, is what we call, ‘GRACE’!”

GRACE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN FORGIVENESS.

Some gifts are small. Some are practical.

And some are so extravagant, so undeserved,

that the only thing you can do is cry, hug the person, and whisper “Thank you.”

Grace is that kind of gift.

Grace is God giving you something you did not deserve

, could not earn,

and cannot repay.

I relate Grace to a very large LEGO

understanding the DEPTH is HARD

Grace is poured out like the pieces of the LEGO project.

you see the picture of it when you are reading Scripture

GRACE IS ON EVERY PAGE OF THE BIBLE

WE DESERVE

NONE OF IT

but is was GIVEN FREELY

and INTENTIONALLY BY GOD

But you need to logo the DIRECTIONS to assemble it right.

You need to pickup the PIECES

You NEED to follow the EXAMPLES

It takes time and commit

FRIENDS you DON’T SIMPLY

GET IT — YOU Don't IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTAND IT

But as the base of the LEGO comes together

YOU START TO SEE THE SHAPE

COME TOGETHER

You START TO SEE THE END PROJECT

for Grace is build in YOU

to display to the world

Grace is so much more than forgiveness

though NEXT WEEK we will discuss that third present

that is a result of the JOY IN YOU, and the GRACE GIVEN TO YOU

We learn to FORGIVE

Grace is what GOD gave us through HIS LOVE

so that we can have the PRESENCE of HIS JOY

We FORGIVE, because HE FIRST FORGIVE US

that is GRACE in PRACTICE

WE understand that we GIVE GRACE

Joy is a STATE of BEING available to US because of HIS WORK, not ours

As we settle into HIS JOY, we REALIZE HIS GRACE

We are saved by HIS GRACE given to us.

THEREFORE WE GIVE GRACE BECAUSE WE RECEIVED GRACE

it is GRACE THAT SAVED US

REMINDERS TODAY:

1. GRACE SAVES US

Ephesians 2:8–9

“For it is by grace you have been saved… it is the gift of God.”

Salvation isn’t a paycheck. It’s not a reward. It’s not a trophy.

It is a gift.

A gift we didn’t deserve but desperately needed.

2. GRACE APPEARED IN JESUS

Titus 2:11–12

Titus 2:11–12 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

We are TRAINED by the SPIRIT

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation…”

Grace is not just a message.

Grace is a person—Jesus Christ.

When Jesus entered the world, grace put on skin.

The BREATH of CHRIST is GRACE

3. GRACE JUSTIFIES US

Romans 3:23–24 We are justified freely by His grace. “Justified” means “treated as if we never sinned.”

Grace wipes your past. Grace secures your future. Grace empowers your present.

4. GRACE OVERFLOWS

John 1:14–17 Jesus is “full of grace and truth.” He doesn’t give grace sparingly—He gives grace abundantly.

Grace must be contagious

We must spread it through our breath granted by HIM

Breathed out to others in our ACTIONS

Conclusion: Grace Prepares You for Eternity

Grace assures you that when you stand before God someday, You stand covered. You stand forgiven. You stand redeemed. You stand His.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for saving us by grace. Help us show grace to others.”

Next Week Teaser:

“Next Sunday we unwrap a gift we all desperately need

—Forgiveness, the present that frees us for the future.”