The sufficiency of the Grace of God
WHAT
IS THIS GIFT OF GRACE?
According
to its Greek root,
v
Grace is the divine influence upon
the heart, and its reflection in the life. (Strong’s
Concordance # 5485)
It is grace
that enables us to be the person that God wants
us to be
and empowers
us to do what He wants us to do.
WHAT
EFFECT DOES GRACE HAVE IN OUR LIVES?
1. We
are saved by grace
“But
God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love
with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have
been saved).” Eph.2:4-5
“For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves; it is a gift of God.” Eph.2:8
God “who
has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose
and grace which
was given
to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” 2 Tim.1:9
“But
we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
Acts15:11
“Of this
salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully,
who prophesied of the grace that would come to you.”
1 Peter 1:8-10
2. We
are justified by grace
“For
all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,
being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus.” Rom.3:23-24
3. We
believe through grace
“He (Paul)
greatly helped those who had believed through grace.”
Acts 18:27
4. We
are called by grace
“I marvel
that you are turning away so soon from Him who called
you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.”
Gal.1:6
“But
when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s
womb and called me through His grace to reveal His Son
in me...”
Gal.1
:15-16
“But
may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while,
perfect, establish, settle and strengthen you.”1 Peter
5:10
5. We
are established by grace
“For
it is good that the heart be established by grace.”
Heb.13:9b
“So now,
brethren, (Ephesian elders) I commend you to God and
to the word of His grace, which is able to build you
up and give you an inheritance among all those who are
sanctified.” Acts 20:32
6. We
minister by grace
To preach
the mysteries
“…if
indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace
of God which was given to me for you.” Eph 3:2
“Of which
I became a minister according to the grace of God given
to me by the effective working of His power. To me,
who am the least of all the saints, this grace was given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ.” Eph.3:7-8
“Let
no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what
is good for necessary edification, that it may impart
grace to the hearers.” Eph.4:29
“And
the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number
believed and turned to the Lord. …………When he (Barnabas)
came and had seen the grace of God he was glad.” Acts
11:21-24
7. We
are glorified by grace
“ ..
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in
you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God
and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess.1:12
8. There
is an abundance of grace
“For
if by the one man’s offence many died, much more the
grace of God and the gift by the
grace
of one Man, Jesus Christ abounded to many …… Moreover,
the law entered that the offence might abound. But
where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that
as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through
righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.” Rom.5:15-21
9. God’s
gifts are given by grace
“Having
then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us, let us use them.” Rom.12:6
“But
to each one of us grace was given according to the measure
of Christ’s gift.” Eph.4:7
“As each
one has received a gift, minister it to one another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter
4:10
10. Hope
comes by grace
“Now
may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation
and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish
you in every good word and work.” 2 Thes. 2:16-17
HOW
DO WE TAKE HOLD OF THIS GRACE?
1. By
faith we have access to grace and a standing
in grace
“Through
our Lord Jesus Christ we have access by faith into this
grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God.” Rom. 5:2
2. Come
to the throne of grace to find grace and mercy
“Let
us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of
need.” Heb.4:16
WHAT
ARE WE TO DO ABOUT GRACE?
- Testify
to the gospel of the grace of God even as the
apostle, Paul, did.
“But
none of these things move me; nor do I count my life
dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy,
and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus,
to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”(Acts
20:24)
Paul said:
“And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant,
with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”. (1 Tim.1:14)
The early
church saw God “bearing witness to the word of His
grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their
hands.” Acts 14:3
- Grow
in grace
“But
grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever.”
2 Peter 3:18
- Serve
God with grace
“Therefore
since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken,
let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably
with reverence and godly fear. Heb.12:28
- Commission
others to receive grace for the work of the ministry
The church
in Antioch had commended Paul and Barnabas to the grace
of God for the work which they had completed. (Acts
13:43)
“From
there they sailed to Antioch where they had been commended
to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.”(Acts14:26)
GOD
MEETS US AT OUR POINT OF NEED IN JESUS
Jesus
came full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
“And
of His fullness we have all received, and grace for
grace. For the law came through Moses, but grace and
truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:16-17
Jesus
tasted death for everyone by the grace of God.
(Heb.2:9)
“Therefore
gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your
hope fully on the grace that is to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13
God gives
grace to the humble
“God
resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore
humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He
may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5
“Through
Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience
to the faith among all nations for His name.” Rom. 1:5