Grace

 Grace I. Introduction A. What a joy it is to be here B. Today, we’re going to talk about Grace C. Grace is often misunderstood 1. In the name of grace, there’s nothing I have to do – don’t understand grace 2. Afraid to teach grace too much or people will sin – don’t understand grace D. Goal: 1. Challenge the way you think 2. Compel you to dig deeper in the Bible 3. See how understanding God’s grace will change our lives II. The Law A. Set up 1. Two groups mentioned in our text a) Jews – God’s chosen people before Jesus b) Gentiles – all non-Jewish people 2. God gave the Jews rules to live by = the Law a) In days of Moses b) Old Covenant (Exodus-Deuteronomy) 3. Some Jewish Christians were teaching Gentile Christians to obey the Law B. Gal 2:15-16 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:15–16, NIV) 1. Christian Jews understood they could not justified by obeying the law 2. Jews knew they couldn’t be saved by obeying the rules 3. History of Israel – law didn’t bring close to God 4. Why did obedience to the standard not work? C. Gal 3:10 “For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”” (Galatians 3:10, NIV) 1. To be righteous by law, be perfect (Deut 28:15) 2. Only way to be saved through the rules was to obey perfectly D. Gal 3:11-12 “Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”” (Galatians 3:11–12, NIV) 1. Law never intended to bring close to God (what was purpose – study it out) 2. Hab 2:4 Righteous will live by faith – God’s intent 3. Men have always been brought to God through faith, not obedience. 4. Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah all broke law, but were righteous E. Why is this important, we’re not trying to live by law? III. Legalism A. Gal 4:8-11 “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.” (Galatians 4:8–11, NIV) 1. After discussing law, God warns against returning to the law. 2. Returning? a) Jewish Christians returning to life trying to live up to the law b) Gentiles Christians returning to religion of rules & customs (like pagan religions) 3. Returning to legalistic worship – worship based on rules & requirements B. Easy to do this with Christianity today 1. Christianity into Do’s & Don’ts 2. Consider – read daily, share daily, attend every meeting a) Where are these commands? b) These are good things – Bereans, go make disciples, do not give up meeting c) But I turn them into a law 3. Define walk with God by my adherence to a standard a) Doing it = good b) Not doing it = bad 4. Are you ever guilty of doing the same? 5. Test – “How are you doing?” What goes through mind? checklist of deeds? C. Weak & miserable – when Christianity is about the rules 1. I never felt I was doing enough a) Goal to meet 10 people & met 8 – felt terrible b) Constantly wondered if I had done enough to be saved 2. Our inability to obey perfectly freaks us out. a) Saved one minute, not saved the next. b) Realizing sin causes a “woe is me” attitude. c) Afraid to be open about sin, because someone will know we failed 3. If this describes you, then you need to understand God’s grace. D. Gal 3:1-3 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1–3, NIV) 1. Consider when you were saved, were you a super Christian? 2. Grace sufficient then, why not now? E. Rom 3:20 “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” (Romans 3:20, NIV) 1. Not righteous through obedience 2. We are sinners, we mess up, we cannot be saved by obedience, because we fail. F. If we aren’t saved by what we do, then how are we saved? IV. Faith A. Rom 3:21-24 “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:21–24, NIV) 1. First thing to understand – Righteous not by law but through faith 2. Faith is avenue. It is required. 3. God desires relationship a) We must believe God exists b) If I don’t believe, we won’t be friends c) My wife & I not good friends if I don’t believe she exists 4. Faith is all God requires for us to be saved. 5. Keep in mind faith is more than just belief – James 2 a) Demons believe and are condemned b) Faith = belief and submission c) Faith will always be reflected in our actions 6. Action proves our faith, but faith is what God desires 7. Problem – we emphasize action without faith a) Test – Do you read the Bible to get to know God or see what you need to change? (1) Get to know God – building your faith (2) To change – focused on the action (3) Build your faith and the action will come. b) Test – When helping others, are you focused on changing their actions or building their faith? B. Faith is what God desires and where we should focus much of our attention. C. Righteousness is given through faith… faith required, but how is righteousness given V. Grace A. Rom 3:22-24 “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22–24, NIV) 1. All have sinned 2. Justified freely by grace – FREE a) Common thought – free if I do ______ b) Nope – Free 3. Must have faith? Does belief & choosing warrant salvation? No a) Imagine you murdered someone’s child b) If you believe they exist & want to be their friend, do you deserve forgiveness? c) If they forgive, it is a complete gift. 4. God gifted us salvation B. Rom 4:1-8 “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”” (Romans 4:1–8, NIV) 1. Abraham & David figured it out 2. Incredible gift never to be earned 3. Forgiveness is miraculous C. If our salvation is free, can we sin freely? 1. Imagine preaching grace so much people began ask that. 2. Paul did. VI. Grace applied A. Rom 6:1-4 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:1–4, NIV) 1. Why would we? We died to sin. 2. Paul describes our conversion a) When we died to sin at baptism – we chose to give up a sinful life (1) Those who say “just believe” rob people of opportunity to turn from sin (2) We get to die to sin at the waters of baptism!!! b) Raised to live a new life 3. Any salvation without fleeing sin is no salvation at all a) Implies eternity in heaven is the only salvation God offers b) God wants to save you from the destruction of your sin right now in your life c) God wants to save from divorce, broken friendships, enslavement to drinking, debt, etc d) When we die to sin, we are freed from those things (1) Not that we “have” to change (2) We “GET!!!” to change 4. Why go back to living in sin? 5. Do you really want to go back to the life you had before Christianity? 6. We don’t change to earn salvation 7. We change because God has given us the chance to die to our sin – Hallelujah!!! B. Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” (Titus 2:11–12, NIV) 1. Understand grace – motivated to do right a) Prompts you to stop the wrong b) Propels you to start the right 2. Our actions are a great indicator of our understanding of grace: a) More you understand grace, (1) The more you will want to serve God (2) The more grace you will show others b) Fear of lowering the standard (1) If we show grace, people will take advantage (2) Our job to hold people to the standard (3) Often that standard is not from Bible (a) Rules taught by men (b) Rules we create to hold people accountable (4) In our efforts to hold to standard, we destroy what God intended c) Read Galatians – God has strong condemnation for those that push the Law 3. Some do less for God and claim grace a) We claim to shed legalism (1) Read less (2) Share our faith less (3) Less involved in the church b) You don’t understand grace c) You’re still legalistic d) You’ve only lowered the standard you had set (1) Instead of read daily, its OK to read every now and then (2) Instead of sharing your faith, I’m just going to let my light shine e) You have traded one form of the Law for another 4. Grace prompted more, not less from people. a) Jesus said those who have been forgiven much, love much, and those forgiven little, love little. How much have you been forgiven? b) Paul understood grace more than anyone – (1) What was his commitment like? (2) He went from legalistic Pharisee to teacher of grace. (3) How was his zeal and commitment affected? c) Understanding grace should not diminish our efforts but should propel. d) Not challenging to be more committed. e) Challenging you to study and understand God’s grace. 5. Is grace motivating you to live a godly life? C. If grace doesn’t compel you to do more for God, you don’t understand grace. D. When you understand God’s amazing grace, it propels you to do more. VII. Conclusion A. Not saved by obedience but by grace through faith B. If we understand God’s grace we will be motivated to live for God. C. Practicals 1. Don’t freak out every time you sin – God’s grace is sufficient 2. God is pleased with you if you are striving to serve Him, regardless of how good at it you are. 3. Study grace until it becomes a motivating factor in your life. D. God’s grace is miraculous. E. Understand grace and you will enjoy the full riches of a relationship with God. Page 7 of 7 John Beene, Grace