Grace is More Forgiving Than Your Guilt

Introduction: Over the next several weeks we are going to be looking at the subject “Grace is Greater.” This series is based off a book by the same title, written by Kyle Idleman. We will also have Sunday night Bible studies that will go along with the sermon series, each Sunday night at 6pm. I believe this series can be transformational in YOUR life, as you grasp a better understanding of grace and the fact that it is available to YOU through faith in Jesus Christ.

Scripture Introduction: Today’s message is going to focus on the fact that “God’s Grace is More Forgiving Than Your Guilt.” Feelings of guilt can be used by the enemy to try to drive you further away from God and cause you to feel as if you cannot be forgiven, restored and be a full-fledged son or daughter in God’s family with all the rights and privileges that come along with it.

The very reason we all need forgiveness is because we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Sin has separated us from God and the only way we can be reconciled to God is through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. I have good news . . .

God’s Righteousness is Available to Everyone Who Needs It! (3:22b-23, 5:12-14)

Explanation

As we think about this statement we should ask ourselves some obvious questions:

What is the righteousness of God

Who needs the righteousness of God

Why is the righteousness of God a big deal

How does one obtain the righteousness of God

Why do we need the righteousness of God

What is the “righteousness of God?”

The righteousness of God refers to having a right standing with God which is made possible through salvation. No one can have a right standing with God apart from the salvation that was purchased through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This leads us to our next question . . .

“Who needs the righteousness of God?”

Notice again the latter part of . . . “For there is NO DISTINCTION: for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . .” Who needs the righteousness of God . . . ALL people EVERYWHERE need the righteousness of God because all people everywhere have sinned against God and have fallen short of His glory! None of us have ever been able to live up to God’s standard. We have all missed the mark. We have failed at accurately and adequately reflecting His glory at numerous times and in numerous ways. Because we are all sinners, our relationship with God has been shattered and severed, therefore none of us have a right standing with God on our own. To answer the question, “Who needs the righteousness of God?” The answer is very, very clear . . . ALL OF US DO! We all need God’s righteousness because we all fall short of God’s righteous standard.

Why is the righteousness of God such a big deal?

Notice again verse 23. “All have sinned and FALL SHORT of the glory of God.”

Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates says this about the phrase “fall short”:

[fall short] is in present tense and in the indicative mood which would imply a continuous ongoing action. Our falling short is not just a condition, it is a repeated action in our lives because of our sin nature.

Stuart-(Zodhiates)“come short” is in present tense and in the indicative mood which would imply a continuous ongoing action. Our falling short is not just a condition, it is a repeated action in our lives because of our sin nature. Kyle Idleman makes a great statement about verse 23, he says “Our ability to appreciate grace is in direct correlation to the degree to which we acknowledge our need for it.” Until we understand our need, we cannot appreciate the gift and sacrifice of Christ.

You see apart from the righteousness of God we are under the sentence of DEATH. Death refers to a separation, and although it certainly refers to a physical death (a separation of the soul and body) it also references spiritual death (the separation of the soul from God).

For this answer turn over a page or two in your Bible to

Now notice

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Romans 5:12–14 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

You see apart from the righteousness of God, we are not only separated from having a relationship with God NOW, but we will be separated from God for eternity in a place referred to as the “Lake of Fire.”

Sin is a BIG deal. Being separated from God and separated from His righteousness is a BIG DEAL! Jesus put it this way, “What would it profit us if we gained the whole world and lost our soul?”

The reason God’s righteousness is available to you and to me and to everyone else who needs it is because of GRACE! Grace is a subject we are going to be looking at over the next several weeks. However, grace cannot be fully appreciated until we come to the realization of how much we desperately need it!

Illustration

Kyle Idleman, a pastor in Louisville, KY and the author of the book, “Grace is Greater” said this about grace:

Romans 3:22b–23 ESV

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Our ability to appreciate grace is in direct correlation to the degree to which we acknowledge our need for it. The more I recognize the ugliness of my sin, the more I can appreciate the beauty of God’s grace. The Bible holds up a mirror and confronts us with the reality of our sin (). Until we recognize our need for grace, we won’t care about receiving it...We work hard at convincing ourselves and others we’re not that bad, but the truth is we are worse than we ever imagined. . . If we miss the reality and depth of our sin, we miss out on the grace of God...Until we come face-to-face with our terminal diagnosis, we will refuse the cure.

First, we find that God’s righteousness is revealed apart from the law (3:21). While the Law and the prophets refer to the righteousness of God, they could never PROVIDE the righteousness of God. They could expose sin, they could expose our need, the could point us to the ONE who could provide this righteousness, but they could never, in and of themselves produce this righteousness that we ALL so desperately need!

I don’t think the Apostle Paul ever got over the grace of God because he never got over how desperately he needed it. He said in

1 Timothy 1:15 NCV

What I say is true, and you should fully accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

The word “am” is in the present tense. Paul did not say, “I was the worst of sinners,” he said “I am” the worst of sinners.

Application

Have you come face to face with the ugliness of YOUR sin. Certainly it is very easy to come face to face with the sins of others, with the sin of those who have hurt us, with the sin of those who have hurt the most innocent among us, but have we come face to face with the UGLINESS of YOUR sin . . . your deceitfulness, your lust, your gossip, your discontentment, your pride, your greed, your self-righteousness and the list goes on.

We compare ourselves to others

We weigh the bad against the good. Tells the story of NY City, Mayor Bloomberg who said, “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to Heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in Heaven. It’s not even close.” (He was referencing his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation).

We weigh the bad against the good.

Jean Larroux: If the biggest sinner you know isn’t you, then you don’t know yourself very well.”

The story is told of former NY City, Mayor Bloomberg who said, “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to Heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in Heaven. It’s not even close.” (He was referencing his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation).

It is obvious Mayor Bloomberg does not understand the seriousness of sin and his desperate need of Amazing Grace. The question is DO YOU?

Have you ever been BROKEN over YOUR sin and the high price it cost Jesus to make atonement for your soul. Grace doesn’t seem so amazing until sin seems awful.

So how do we obtain this righteousness that all of us so desperately need? We need to come to understand that. . .

God Provided Righteousness For us Through Jesus (3:24-26, 5:6-11)

Idleman: We work hard at convincing ourselves and others we’re not that bad, but the truth is we are worse than we ever imagined. . . If we miss the reality and depth of our sin, we miss out on the grace of God.

Jean Larroux: If the biggest sinner you know isn’t you, then you don’t know yourself very well.”

See also — “am” is a present tense verb . . .Paul didn’t say “I was” but said “I am”

Diagnosis-Sin

the more you learn about the righteousness of God and the more you examine your life and motives—the closer you will get to the inescapable conclusion that you are the worst sinner you know.

Infected the whole world

Terminal condition

Antidote called GRACE!

We compare ourselves to others . . . when we compare ourselves to others, and feel superior, guess what, we’re sinning—pride and self-righteousness.

We weigh the bad against the good. Tells the story of NY City, Mayor Bloomberg who said, “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to Heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in Heaven. It’s not even close.” (He was referencing his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation).

NIV Zondervan Study Bible (Carson) Notes: 3:22 Paul says “to all who believe” emphasizing a keypoint in his argument, all humans are caught up in sin so God’s righteousness is available to all humans.

God’s Righteousness is Available Through Christ Alone (3:21-26)

EXPLANATION

If God’s righteousness is available to everyone who needs it, and it is clear everyone needs it, then how do we obtain it? Notice first in . . .

God’s righteousness is revealed apart from the law

God’s Righteousness Comes Through Faith in Jesus (3:22)

While the Law and the prophets refer to the righteousness of God, they could never PROVIDE the righteousness of God. They could expose sin, they could expose our need, the could point us to the ONE who could provide this righteousness, but they could never, in and of themselves, produce this righteousness that we ALL so desperately need! In other words it can’t be earned by keeping the law

Second in . . .

We find God’s righteousness is received through faith in Jesus Christ for ALL who believe

Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONE who can give us a right standing with God and therefore enable us to have a right relationship with God.

.

goes on to talk about how God justifies us “BY HIS GRACE as a GIFT, THROUGH the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS! God provided this justification and this redemption through the propitiation that is found in Christ!

**

“Being treated as if righteous; that is, being regarded and treated as if they had kept the Law… It is a free, undeserved gift, not merited by our obedience to the Law… It does not mean that it has been obtained, however, without any price or merit from anyone, for the Lord Jesus has purchased it with his own blood...We have no offering to bring, and no claim. To us, therefore, it is entirely a matter of gift.”

God Provided Righteousness For us Through Jesus (3:24-26, 5:6-11)

Notice the word in . Christ became the “propitiation” by shedding His blood for our sins and we receive it by GRACE THROUGH FAITH! The word “propitiation” is an interesting word that can refer to the “mercy seat” atop the ark of the covenant.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Propitiation

On the great day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the “mercy-seat,” and so made propitiation.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Propitiation

When the NT says “propitiation,” then, it means that Jesus’ death on the cross for the sins of mankind put away God’s wrath against his people once and for all

ILLUSTRATION

Paul sums this up again in

Romans 5:6–11 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

**

Michaelanne serves on our “Sermon Development Team” and she shares this story and insight concerning her takeaway from this passage:

I always considered myself to have a pretty healthy lifestyle. I don’t drink, smoke or do drugs. I even prefer to use essential oils over taking medications, but do take them when necessary. I eat pretty healthy, don’t care to eat much fried foods, and don’t eat out too often. In fact, I barely buy anything that’s prepackaged (other than cereal) or processed. I home-make from scratch about 90% of everything I cook. I love fruits and veggies. In fact, I was the weird child who, at a girl scout celebration, would eat the sweet bell peppers out of the veggie tray. What child does that? I walk a LOT, especially during the school year, but I don’t necessarily exercise aside from that. (Well, until now that is.) But walking is good, right? It’s about 3.6 miles a day, 5 days a week at the least. So I thought if I try to live healthy that I would be exempt from certain health issues, since they’re caused from unhealthy choices and lifestyles. Aren’t they? I went to a follow-up with my doctor today to review a panel of bloodwork he checked last month. Well, let’s just say that it turns out that trying to be healthy just wasn’t enough. Of all things, I’m at high-risk for heart disease! Heart disease?!?! I thought that only happened to people who didn’t eat right or exercise at all. I was floored. So all that I was doing wasn’t good enough for where I needed to be with my health.

After chewing on that for a while, it dawned on me that I used to be that way with Jesus. (Don’t worry, I’ll connect the dots.) You see, growing up I was raised going to church and I loved it. I also attended religious education classes, and even went on to teach a year of those same classes. I thought I was pretty religious- like a really good Christian. I mean, I prayed, I went to church, I learned and taught, and I thought I was genuinely a pretty good person. I thought all these added up to equal the equation that would assure my way into heaven.

As time went on, I switched churches and later learned the truths like the ones found in , and 5:6-18. These helped me to realize that we’re all sinners despite how good of a person we are. Also that salvation is not earned through works, which can be found in . So, I was just as wrong about salvation as I was my healthy lifestyle keeping me totally invincible from certain diseases.

APPLICATION

I hope that YOU have come to understand, just like Michaelanne has, that only Jesus can balance the equation! Depending upon anything or anyone other than Christ Jesus to make YOU righteous and whole in the eyes of God the Father is a false Gospel. Although eating right, exercising and trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle is commendable it cannot and will not enable you to escape physical death.

God’s Righteousness is Available to Everyone Who Needs It! (3:22b-23, 5:12-14)

Trying to live right, pray, attend and serve in the church, be a good neighbor . . . all those things are commendable, but NONE of those things can enable you to escape the second death and make you right before God! Only Jesus can do that! He does that because of God’s amazing and abundant grace.

This leads us to our final point . . .

God’s Righteousness Can be YOURS Because of His Abundant Grace (5:15-21)

Explanation

As we read we are reminded again of the following truths:

God’s Righteousness Does Not Come Through Keeping the Law, but Through Faith in Jesus (3:21-22)

The Diagnosis-Sin

Sin has Infected the entire world (v. 18)— “condemnation for all men”

It Results in a Terminal Condition—v. 21— “sin reigned in death”

There is an antidote to this terminal condition and it is called GRACE! (see vv. 20-21)

Illustration

One young lady said this about God’s grace when she found herself the mom of two children at age 17:

Grace >/< _____________________ (worst sin)

I spent years speaking to teen groups about the consequences of teen pregnancy, I had owned my situation and took the steps necessary to not be labeled a teen mom, that was one of my biggest fears. I never wanted that title. I was called it though, I was called many hurtful things trying to raise two small children at 17. I pushed through, I wanted to be the best mom I could be, and God’s grace allowed me to find peace in the nights I wanted to give up. That grace allowed me to comfort other girls who had found themselves in the shoes of unwanted pregnancy. Sometimes when we are not looking for grace, that is when it finds us. I have perhaps found that grace in some things and not recognized them, but others I still struggle with. It would be nice if God could flash a big neon sign “GRACE IS HERE.”

I spent years speaking to teen groups about the consequences of teen pregnancy, I had owned my situation and took the steps necessary to not be labeled a teen mom, that was one of my biggest fears. I never wanted that title. I was called it though, I was called many hurtful things trying to raise two small children at 17. I pushed through, I wanted to be the best mom I could be, and God’s grace allowed me to find peace in the nights I wanted to give up. That grace allowed me to comfort other girls who had found themselves in the shoes of unwanted pregnancy. Sometimes when we are not looking for grace, that is when it finds us. I have perhaps found that grace in somethings and not recognized them, but others I still struggle with. It would be nice if God could flash a big neon sign “GRACE IS HERE”

Application:

Katie also noted--When I think about where I am in life and how much I feel like I am not where I want to be, I am reminded of Grace is Greater page 25 (kindle): “You say it’s not fair to be held to God’s standard, but you fall short of your own standards.” I became a mom at 15. Where most people would be fearful of their parents reactions, I couldn’t have cared less what they thought or felt. Instead, I went to my grandmothers grave and poured my heart out to her, tears streaming down my face begging for her forgiveness. Years later I found myself begging her for a sign to let me know she was proud of me and yet still years later I have found myself trying and failing to fill her shoes. I cannot reach my own standards, but what standards am I holding myself to? Am I holding onto so much pain that I cannot redirect that hurt into something postive. How can I use my pain to help heal another woman. “Healed people, heal people” I spent years speaking to teen groups about the consequences of teen pregnancy, I had owned my situation and took the steps necessary to not be labeled a teen mom, that was one of my biggest fears. I never wanted that title. I was called it though, I was called many hurtful things trying to raise two small children at 17. I pushed through, I wanted to be the best mom I could be, and God’s grace allowed me to find peace in the nights I wanted to give up. That grace allowed me to comfort other girls who had found themselves in the shoes of unwanted pregnancy. Sometimes when we are not looking for grace, that is when it finds us. I have perhaps found that grace in somethings and not recognized them, but others I still struggle with. It would be nice if God could flash a big neon sign “GRACE IS HERE”

You and I need to be that NEON sign pointing people to Jesus and saying “GRACE IS HERE.” To the person who feels no one cares or loves them they need to know “GRACE IS HERE.” To the addict who has failed time and time again to overcome their addiction in their own strength they need to know “GRACE IS HERE.” To the one struggling with immoral and perverse temptations they need to know “GRACE IS HERE.” To the one fighting prejudice and hatred they need to know “GRACE IS HERE.” To the one who has been abandoned they need to know, “GRACE IS HERE.” To the one struggling with forgiveness, they need to know “GRACE IS HERE.”

THEY NEED TO KNOW THE EQUATION: GRACE > _________________________

Grace is not a license to sin or a license to continue in sin. On the contrary, grace is a license to be FREE FROM SIN. To be FREE from sin’s power and to be FREE from sin’s penalty!

That’s the message of God’s Word. That’s the message of Flagship Church and that must be the message of YOU and ME!

FINAL APPLICATIONS

In Order to Have a Relationship With God Now & Eternally You MUST HAVE the Righteousness of Christ Which Can be Yours by Faith in the Risen Son of God Who Gave His Life for Yours

Grace > ________________________