Growing Grace: (Soteriology)

Introduction:

Our topic this morning is Growing Grace or Soteriology. Soteriology, also known as the theology of salvation, is the study of the doctrine of salvation. It denotes about how Christ’s death secures the salvation of everyone who believes in his propitiation, intercession, and redemption. However, the salvation of humanity does not end with the what Christ has done on the cross. It continues with what Christ is doing through the working of the Holy Spirit in the present lives of the believers perfecting them to overcome the reigning power of sin and live a righteous life. This perfecting is continuous until the ultimate salvation of humanity becomes no longer a reality not-yet but becomes a final reality. The final reality of man’s salvation happens when Jesus finally ends the reign of sin in the world and man is completely changed from mortality to immortality.

What God has done for our salvation through Christ’s death and the working of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives is the embodiment of what Growing Grace means.

God’s offered salvation in Christ has began from eternity past according to God’s predermined plan and extends into eternal future. Today, we are going to have a quick look at these phases of salvation.

BODY OF THE MESSAGE

FIRST PHASE:

I: JUSTIFICATION, SAVED FROM CONDEMNATION

Illustration:

Fiorello LaGuardia

A story is told about Fiorello LaGuardia, who, when he was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII, was called by adoring New Yorkers 'the Little Flower' because he was only five foot four and always wore a carnation in his lapel. He was a colorful character who used to ride the New York City fire trucks, raid speakeasies with the police department, take entire orphanages to baseball games, and whenever the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids. One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself.

Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It's a real bad neighborhood, your Honor." the man told the mayor. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson." LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions--ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero saying: "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Baliff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant." So the following day the New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren, fifty cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.

Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, Multnomah, 1990, pp 91-2.

The mayor evidently required the woman to pay the penalty of her offence. Because of the woman’s pitiable situation, the mayor showed grace to her, not by cancelling the penalty, but by paying the requirements of the law.

We ourselves are like the woman and God is the mayor.

We have “sinned and had fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). We are “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17). We could not pay the penalty of our sins, wickedness, and rebellion. We deserve to die for the “wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23).

But the mayor who is God showed his grace towards us.

The ultimate manifestation of God’s grace is Jesus Christ, also named Immanuel, who came to dwell with us, experience our lives, show us how to live a sinless life, cured us from our maladies and infirmities (physical, mental, social, and spiritual), and eventually offer himself on the cross so that we who lost our life because of sin would have life again.

Apostle Paul succintly summarizes the grace of God with these words:

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Rom 5:8 (ESV).

What Christ has done for us on the cross saved us from the condemnation of sin.

A FREE GIFT

This is grace. This a free gift by God which we receive by faith. Nothing we have done to obtain it (Eph 2:8-9). This free gift following many trespasses brought justification (Rom 5:17). Humanity is now set or declared in the right relation to God. He is acquitted from all the judgement of sin. This grace is not exclusive to the Jews alone. It is offered to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16).

Do you believe in what Jesus has done for you?

Question: Why did Christ die for humanity?

Why did he bear our sins and die the agony of God’s judgment for us on the cross?

Here are some reasons for our salvation.

(1) It reveals His love.

That God would reach out to sinful man by sending His only begotten Son is the greatest manifestation of His love. It declares God provided salvation because He is a loving God (John 3:16; 1 John 4:7-10, 16).

(2) It shows his meritorious favor on man.

Salvation through the person and work of Christ is also a manifestation of God’s grace, the non-meritorious favor of God (Eph. 2:7-9). Only Christianity offers a salvation based on grace rather than works. All the other religions of the world have man working to acquire salvation.

(3) It manifests God’s holiness.

The salvation of the Bible also manifests the holiness of God. God provided salvation through the person and work of His Son because He is a holy God. In His love and grace God desired fellowship with man, but man’s rebellion and sin created a barrier between God and man that hindered any fellowship with man whatsoever because of God’s infinite holiness. Both God’s holiness and His love are satisfied, however, by the person and work of God’s Son so that man can be reconciled to God and fellowship restored.

(4) It restores God’s fellowship with man

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God that they might give a visible display of God’s character as they walked in fellowship with the invisible God. But when the human race fell through Adam’s sin, the image was not only marred, but man lost the capacity for fellowship with God. Through salvation, the capacity for fellowship is restored and also is man’s ability to manifest, though imperfectly, the goodness of God.

SECOND PHASE:

II: SANCTIFICATION, SAVED FROM THE POWER OF SIN

After all what Christ has done for us to be reconciled back to God, what then? We were once disobedient but has now received mercy from God, what can we give back to him?

By our own power and strength, we can do nothing about this. However, God has offered us the power and strength to remain in fellowship with God and as his chosen people.

Illustration:

HUSBAND AND WIFE

A husband and wife didn't really love each other. The man was very demanding, so much so that he prepared a list of rules and regulations for his wife to follow. He insisted that she read them over every day and obey them to the letter. Among other things, his "do's and don'ts" indicated such details as what time she had to get up in the morning, when his breakfast should be served, and how the housework should be done. After several long years, the husband died. As time passed, the woman fell in love with another man, one who dearly loved her. Soon they were married. This husband did everything he could to make his new wife happy, continually showering her with tokens of his appreciation. One day as he was cleaning house, she found tucked away in a drawer the list of commands her first husband had drawn up for her. As she looked it over, it dawned on her that even though her present husband hadn't given her any kind of list, she was doing everything her first husband's list required anyway. She realized she was so devoted to this man that her deepest desire was to please him out of love, not obligation.

Unknown.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). He is the husband who has set rules and regulations for us to remain in him. Yet, he is unlike the demanding husband. He is a a loving husband appeals to us to love him in return. However,

We are not left alone to struggle how to love God.

HOLY SPIRIT, OUR HELPER

Jesus promised that he would send the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to be our Helper in keeping his commandments and to remain in his love. The Holy Spirit helps us from sinning. He helps us to manifest his love to others.

How should we remain in his love?

After all his love and sacrifices and love for us, what can we return back to him?

Apostle Paul, after all the rhetorics of how God’s grace worked in the salvation of humanity, in Romans 12, he indicated how we should show our love to God and to humanity. I would try to elaborate quickly on what Paul meant in loving God and man as a response to God’s grace. This response, I would say, a part growing grace! It is not a one time event but a daily, vibrant, and dynamic experience.

A. PRESENT OURSELVES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE

Paul appeals to the believers to present themselves as a living sacrifice! (Rom 12:1). Sacrifice is an Old Testament ritual symbolizing the transfer of sin from the sinner to the animal offered as a sacrifice. In those days, the sacrifice has to shed its blood, or life, for payment or remission of sin. What Paul meant here is no longer the OT concept because Christ already did this once for all (Heb 10:10)! Christ exclaimed at the cross, Tetelestai, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

He meant that we have to offer our entire life, skin and bones, as a living sacrifice.

How do we offer ourselves as a sacrifice?

Hebrews 13: 15-18 enumerates how to offer ourselves as a sacrifice:

a. Praise God and acknowledge his name

b. Do good and share what you have

c. Obey and submit to the leaders

d. Pray for us (Missionaries!)

There are many more ways how to offer ourselves with the same manner. Let us remember that this is our

SPIRITUAL WORSHIP!

In other words, this should be part of our daily lives. This should engulf us whatever our calling is.

B. BE NON-CONFORMATIVE BUT BE TRANSFORMED

Appeals also that the brethren should not pattern their behaviour and character in the ways of the world. Paul, in Rom 1:18-31, speaks of the pattern of the world. He states that the world is full of all manner of unrighteousness and ungodliness! We should be conformed to these mold of behaviour.

Yet, he says, there must be a transformation of our minds! Robert A. Fyling, in his sermon entitled “A Renewed Mind: The Practice of Humble Thought!” shows five indications of a renewed mind.

A) A non-conformed mind - which I have already spoken about; B) A Spiritual mind - which means upholding truth, being kind, loving, and forgiving with one another; C) A Prayerful Mind - which means maintaining personal communications with God; D) A Prepared mind - which means to “always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet 3:15); and E) A humble mind - which means to remain humble for it is attached to unity, sympathy, and love for one another.

C. USE THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

After a believer had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior through baptism, the Holy Spirit pours in the his gifts. The HS gives at least one gift to every believer. To some he gives 2, to others he gives 5, proportionate to the faith of the believer.

The gifts are prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, generosity, leadership, acts of mercy (Rom 12:5-8), and many others! These are free gifts. Let us use them (v. 6) for the edification of the church (1 Cor 12:4-11). These gifts must be used in "expressing, celebrating, displaying, and thus communicating Christ in one way or another, either by word or deed” https://tinyurl.com/4uxthucz.

D. SHOW GENUINE LOVE

Apostle Paul indicated that what we can do to grow in grace is by showing genuine love.

How to show genuine love?

Paul enumerates practical ways, which I think do not need any explanation, on how to show genuine love:

Romans 12:9-21 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will…”

This passage offers a series of counsels with special emphasis on

HARMONY, FORBEARANCE, FORGIVENESS

If we present ourselves as a living sacrifice, are not patterned in this world but are renewed in our thinking, we use the gifts God has given us for the edification of the body of Christ, and we show genuine love, then we manifest Growing grace.

Illustration:

Tattered Umbrella

Several years ago I read an article about Queen Mary, who made it her practice to visit Scotland every year. She was so loved by the people there that she often mingled with them freely without a protective escort. One afternoon while walking with some children, she went out farther than she’d planned. Dark clouds came up unexpectedly, so she stopped at a nearby house to borrow an umbrella. “If you will lend me one,” she said to the lady who answered the door, “I will send it back to you tomorrow.” The woman didn’t recognize the Queen and was reluctant to give this stranger her best umbrella. So she handed her one that she intended to throw away. The fabric was torn in several places and one of the ribs was broken.

The next day another knock was heard at the door. When the lady opened it, she was greeted by a royal guard, who was holding in her hand her old, tattered umbrella. “The Queen sent me,” he said. “She asked me to thank you for loaning her this.” For a moment the woman was stunned, then, she burst into tears. “Oh, what an opportunity I missed,” she cried. “I didn’t give the Queen my very best!”

Our Daily Bread

THIRD PHASE:

III: GLORIFICATION: IT IS FINISHED!

After all the struggles of God’s people from persecution and earthly struggles, John saw them on Mt. Zion with the lamb, the ultimate sacrifice for sins. They have followed him with all their hearts, minds, deeds. They were victorious over sin through Jesus Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit. They are the redeemed!

Salvation is a done proposition.