Embracing All of Grace

Romans 6:15 through Romans 6:23 (NIV)

(A.)15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (B.)16Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—(C.)whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (A.)17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (B.)19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. (C.)21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! (A.)22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, (B.)the benefit you reap leads to holiness, (C.)and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Introduction: Though many people give lip service to grace, few are really willing to embrace all of grace, and the possibilities it opens to us. They like to have the icing off the top, but turn their nose up at the cake. To be people sold out to God, we must not only take the icing of the top, but welcome all of grace.

I. Welcome The Allies Of Grace

A. Grace Is Allied With Law

B. Grace Is Allied With Decision

C. Grace Is Allied To Righteousness

II. Welcome The Abilities Of Grace

A. Able To Deliver From The Control Of Sin

B. Able To Deliver From The Conduct Of Sin

C. Able To Deliver From The Condemnation Of Sin

III. Welcome The Advantages Of Grace

A. Receiving A New Master

B. Reaping Holiness

C. Resulting In Life

Conclusion: To embrace all of grace is to embrace the allies of grace, the abilities of grace, and the advantages of grace. Through grace, God can make a sinner into a saint. He can deliver you from sin, and change a sinful heart into a heart of obedience.

Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

"Why in the world would I want to become a Christian?" asked a young

woman who was responding to a question posed by a street minister. That

day, the minister was handing out to those passing by a pamphlet on

inviting Christ into one's life and becoming a Christian.

"Being a Christian means I will have to give up everything I enjoy;

smoking, drinking, telling jokes, and wearing the types of clothes I like,"

said the young woman. The minister just stood and listened as the woman

went on, "I am not perfect. I cannot be like you. I am a sinner, so I cannot

be a Christian."

After a moment, the minister responded, "Is that what you think, that

Jesus died for the sins of the PERFECT, for the sinless?"

"Well, no," replied the young woman as she fumbled with her purse,

slightly unnerved.

The minister continued, "It is because of our sinful nature that God sent

His Son. The Bible is not filled with stories of perfect people, but of the

imperfect; of robbers who repented of their stealing, of prostitutes who

turned from their evil ways, and of adulterers who sought forgiveness

from their sins. Through God, and His Son Jesus Christ, we can OVERCOME

sin through His mercy and forgiveness."

The young woman seemed confused. "So, are you telling me that even if I

smoke, drink, tell jokes, and dress the way I want, God will still accept

me the way I am?"

Again, the minister answered, "God is more concerned with the inner being

than what shows on the outside. He recognizes a pure and sincere heart,

one that seeks to please Him." (Matthew 25:46)

"And what if I screw up?" asked the woman.

"God forgives those who truly seek His forgiveness and repent of their

past transgressions," responded the minister as he handed the young

woman a small Bible, "that is the only difference between you and me. It

is not that I am perfect, for I am far from it."

During that same hour, the minister and young woman talked more about

God, forgiveness, and a change of heart. Right then, the young woman made

a conscious decision to accept Jesus Christ into her life, for she realized

she had exactly what it took to be a Christian... a sinner who was not

perfect, but sought God's perfect way.