GROW IN GRACE!

“Go and Sin no more”

John chapter 8 opens the scene with Jesus teaching in an open venue or temple, filled with people.

And in the middle of Him teaching, officials and opponents of Jesus assumed that it would be a good idea bring this woman who was caught in the act of adultery, and to test how Jesus would judge a person who was clearly caught committing the sin… at least that’s what they said happened.

So the authorities quotes the law and tells Jesus that the sentence for such a sin is stoning.

Since the punishment was stoning, , allows us to safely assume that this woman is single, yet engaged. However, the law also stated that both the woman and the man committing the act must be put out the gate and stoned. Where’s the man??

But Jesus isn’t fooled.

You know the story. Jesus kneels and begins writing in the sand, and charges that “if any one is without sin, let him cast the first stone..” And one by one the accusers leaves the scene, convicted of their own sins.

Jesus turns to the woman; not with words of rebuke, not with words of reprimand, not with words reproach; but with words of of acceptance and renewal. “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”

Jesus upheld the legal penalty for adultery while at the same time highlighting the importance of compassion and forgiveness; and knowing that you’ve been forgiven causes the wayward sinner to live a life leading to becoming Christlike.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound…

If you research the history behind that popular hymn Amazing Grace, you’ll learn that the song comes with a level of controversy. But despite the origins of the hymn, the lyrics beautifully illustrates captures the work of Grace...

My favorite part reads:

“Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home.”

Grace - What is grace?

Grace is unmerited favor. It’s the vital component of God’s plan of redemption. It’s the method He intends on using in saving sinners and sustaining them in the right relationship.

Grace is described as:

GREAT

Acts 4:33 NKJV

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

EXCEEDING

2 COR

2 Corinthians 9:14 KJV 1900

And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

And ALL-SUFFICIENT

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV 1900

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Grace is the ultimate source of our salvation.

Acts 18:27 NKJV

And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;

For without it, there is no hope for us to escape this world of hurts, loneliness and pain, and live as perfect beings in eternity with our Creator and our Savior.

Grace is specifically for you.

Romans 12:

James 4:6 KJV 1900

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

And you don’t get it in small increments. God doesn’t ration out grace… He gives it in abundance, especially to the weak.

But what does this Grace do for us?

I. The first is that Grace looks for us?

Romans 3:10–11 KJV 1900

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

romans 3:

Contrary to what we think happened at the time of our conversion, none of us sought God, we lived our lives, making good decisions and bad decisions.

Then one day we found ourselves being drawn by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Or maybe you were raised in a christian home, surrounded by the presence of God.

Grace searches for you.

It searches for you in the wilderness while you’re running from your problems like Moses.

It searches for you in the crowd of people who didn’t know the true you, yet hated you like Zacchaeus.

It searches for you when you believe you’re doing right, just to find out that all along, you’ve been the cause that prevented the Gospel to go forward like Paul.

Grace searches for you!!!

II. Grace saves you

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The only responsibility you have for your own salvation is to believe that you are saved by grace. That there isn’t anything you can do to earn it, because it was a gift.

III. Grace empowers us for the task which God has called you too

Galatians 1:15–16 KJV 1900

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

I’m guilty of this…

Most people

It’s crystal clear that Jesus is returning. Whether it’s in five minutes, five years, or five generation; our hope is that the scriptures are true and that Jesus will surely return.

Something else that’s crystal clear is that when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we also accepted His commission to spread the the good news of His return, and then He promises to be with us to the very end.

And so we’re pumped and excited. Full of zeal. Gnawing at the bit for a chance to tell someone about Jesus.

But then we stumble. We found ourselves falling short of God’s glory.

And then we slip into this frame of thinking, that now that I’ve sinned God will no longer walk with me.

Or fear of the unknown keeps me from witnessing to others.

Grace says, “none of that matters”.

Grace says, “there’s enough of me to keep you”

Grace says, “you cannot out sin me”

So get up and ask mercy of the Father who freely gives to those who have faith, and move forward with the knowledge that Jesus’ sacrifice out weighs any sin you can commit.

That doesn’t mean we can go on this spree of disobedience to God, and the reason has nothing to do with the power of grace, but has everything to do with our habitual ways.

If we sinned, while under the covering of grace, instead of growing to be fit for the kingdom, we’re growing to silence the voice of the Holy Spirit.

That’s what happened in the parable of the 10 virgins. Five had enough oil because while under grace, they wrestled with sin. Meanwhile the other five, simply gave up wrestling and attempted to wait for the return of the king with a partial fill of the Holy Spirit.

Grace empowers us.

I’m closing.

Growing in Christ can only be achieved while growing in grace. We have no excuse not to be better then we were yesterday, because the power of grace affords us the opportunity to start over.