What Grace Will Not Do
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· 18 viewsGod’s grace is amazing, but not as amazing as some people think. This lesson examines some things people believe God’s grace does that it will not do.
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
1. We sing the song “Amazing Grace.”
2. Truly, God’s grace is an amazing and marvelous thing ().
3. Without God’s grace, mankind would be without hope in this world.
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
4. We should all strive to understand and appreciate God’s grace, because the Bible warns that it can be misunderstood and misused ().
4. We should all strive to understand and appreciate God’s grace, because the Bible warns that it can be misunderstood and misused ().
5. Let us notice some things that God’s grace will not do.[1]
DISCUSSION
I. MAKE GOD OVERLOOK SIN
A. Some seem to believe that as long as they don’t commit any “major” sins that God’s grace will cover any “minor” sins they commit.
B. For such people, God’s grace becomes a license to sin (; ).
C. The truth is that one sin is just as major as another ().
D. The truth is that one who has been baptized into Christ has died to sin; they must no longer yield to temptation ().
E. God’s grace in Christ releases one from bondage to sin (, ).
F. God’s grace teaches us to stop sinning and live holy, godly lives ().
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 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.
II. MAKE SALVATION UNCONDITIONAL
A. Some believe that God’s grace and love are unconditional and therefore man doesn’t have to do anything to be saved.
B. However, they admit that one must have faith to be saved ().
i. They contend that faith is not a work of man, but a gift of God’s grace.
ii. They contend that God gives man the faith to be saved.
C. The truth is salvation is a gift of God, not faith ().
D. If faith was given to man by God, there would be no need to command one to have faith (; ).
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
E. If salvation if unconditional, there would be no need to ask “What must I do?” (; ).
E. If salvation if unconditional, there would be no need to ask “What must I do?” (; ).
F. God’s grace teaches us that there is a divine and a human side to salvation (; ).
III. MAKE MAN’S OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S LAW NEEDLESS
A. Some believe that God’s grace does not require obedience to God’s law.
B. They contend that if it did, then salvation is by works, not by grace.
C. They contend that obedience is a byproduct of salvation, but not the cause.
D. The truth is they have created a false dilemma.
i. Obedience is a byproduct of salvation (; ; ; ).
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
ii. Obedience is also a condition for salvation (; ; ; ).
ii. Obedience is also a condition for salvation (; ; ; ).
in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
E. The truth is that obedience to the gospel doesn’t “earn” salvation; only a sinless life does that (; ).
E. The truth is that obedience to the gospel doesn’t “earn” salvation; only a sinless life does that (; ).
F. The truth is it takes an obedient faith to access the grace of God (, ).
G. God’s grace teaches us the need to obey God ().
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.
IV. MAKE WHAT ONE BELIEVES NOT MATTER
A. Some believe that God’s grace makes doctrinal differences irrelevant.
B. “Worship At The Church Of Your Choice This Week” is not a problem they say.
C. “We’ll just agree to disagree” is not a problem they say.
D. “God’s grace will overlook our differences about what His word says” they say.
E. The truth is that what one believes does make a difference ().
F. The truth is that the New Testament teaches the importance of both grace and doctrine (; ; , ; ; , ).
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
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The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
G. God’s grace teaches us it matters what one believes.
G. God’s grace teaches us it matters what one believes.
V. MAKE BAPTISM NOT ESSENTIAL
A. Some believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone.
B. They contend that if a “work” is essential then God’s grace is made void.
C. Therefore they contend that baptism is not essential despite all the passages to the contrary (; ; ; ).
D. The truth is that baptism is a work of faith and not a work of our own righteousness (; ; ).
E. God’s grace teaches us to have our sins washed away in baptism by the blood of Christ ().
VI. MAKE “ETERNAL SECURITY” TRUE
A. Some believe that God’s grace assures the Christian’s salvation.
B. They contend that God keeps the believer from falling; once God saves someone they cannot be lost even if they wanted to be.
C. The truth is the Christian can have assurance of their salvation (; ).
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
D. The truth is that man can resist God’s grace and be lost (; ; ).
You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
D. The truth is that man can resist God’s grace and be lost (; ; ).
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
E. God’s grace teaches us how to have assurance ().
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
E. God’s grace teaches us how to have assurance ().
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
1. God’s grace is an amazing and marvelous thing.
2. Without God’s grace we would be hopelessly lost ().
3. Let us rejoice in God’s grace poured out in Christ and not pervert it in any way.
[1] I am indebted to brother Kevin Kay for many of these thoughts from his excellent article, “God’s Grace Is Not That Amazing,” Biblical Insights, April 2015, p. 28-29.