Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: The Rule of Grace

Series: “The Cause that is Worthy of My Life”

Lesson 1: Living for Obedience to the Faith

Lesson 2: Why the World Needs the Gospel

Lesson 3: The Heart of the Gospel

Title: The Rule of Grace

Text:

Series: The Cause that is Worthy of My life

Review:

Series: “The Cause that is Worthy of My Life”

Lesson 1: Living for Obedience to the Faith

Lesson 2: Why the World Needs the Gospel

Lesson 3: The Heart of the Gospel

Grace, Grace

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

You who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

—Julia H. Johnston

From the hymn, Grace Greater Than Our Sin, by Julia H. Johnston and Daniel B. Towner, 1910, 1938.

A Definition

• GRACE IS EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING

TO THOSE WHO DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING

Our Daily Bread, Sept.-Nov.

1997, page for October 31

Grace is not new to our passage:

, , , ,

Grace has been defined as:

God’s goodness toward those who deserve only punishment.

Grudem, W. A. (2004).

Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p.

1243).

Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub.

House.

Grace is not new to our passage:

, , , ,

Proposition:

It is imperative that, if we are going to see that the gospel as the cause worthy of giving my life, we understand the operation and rule of grace in the gospel of God.

,

(1) This grace has abundantly enriched our lives

(a) We are enriched by the indwelling Holy Spirit (5:1-11)

The indwelling Holy Spirit has shed the “love of God” in us.

Justification -

An instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.

(36)

Justification - legal declaration

Reconciliation -

The removal of enmity and the restoration of fellowship between two parties

Atonement:

The work Christ did in his life and death to earn our salvation.

(b) We are enriched by victory over original sin (5:12-21)

This is a victory through the second Adam: Jesus Christ

This is a victory by the gift of righteousness

2679 Enriching Every Sphere

Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity.

Jesus painted no pictures; yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him.

Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him.

Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratories they composed in His praise.

Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.

—Henry G. Bosch

(2) This grace is now the master of our lives

(a) Where sin ruled, grace now rules (6:1-23)

(b) Where the good law of God condemned me, the law of Christ has set me free (7:1-8:11)

The Moravians were banished from their homeland, Bohemia, and exiled to various countries in 1620.

Some came to Germany and found refuge on the estate of Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1756).

It was here on his estate that they became known as the Moravian Brethren, the forerunners of the Protestant Missionary Movement.

5072 Song Of Moravian Revival

I thirst, Thou wounded Lamb of God,

To wash me in Thy cleansing blood;

To dwell within thy wounds;

Then pain is sweet; and life or death is gain.

How blest are they who still abide

Close-sheltered in Thy bleeding side!

Who life and strength from thence derive,

And by Thee move, and in Thee live!

Take my poor heart and let it be

Forever closed to all but Thee!

Seal Thou my breast and let me bear

The pledge of love forever there.

—Count Zinzendorf

(3) This grace helps us to realize the security of our lives

(a) We are secured by the indwelling Spirit (8:12-17)

Adoption

Glorification: bodily redemption (8:18-25)

(b) We are secured to a certain destiny (8:26-34)

(c) We are secured to a love shed abroad in our hearts (8:35-39)

5248 What Persuasion?

A visitor said to a wounded soldier who lay dying in the hospital, “What church are you of?”

“Of the Church of Christ,” was the immediate reply.

“I mean, what persuasion are you of?”

“Persuasions?” said the dying man, as he looked heavenward, beaming with love to the Saviour, “I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come … shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(Rom.

8:38).

Application:

(1) This kind of grace is received by “faith” alone through Christ alone.

Are you trying to live a Christian life without this grace?

(2) This kind of grace invades the domain of sin.

This grace is not passive.

Are you actively living in submission to this grace?

Is there evidence?

If someone close to you were to identify who or what is in control in your life, what would they say?

Dominated by grace means that we yield our bodies to the Lord:

Our lives are not dominated by sin, but they are dominated by grace - .

(3) This kind of grace provides eternal assurance in the face of present trials.

Does the security you have stand up in the face of trial?