GOD ’S AMAZING GRACE - PART TWO -

Grace covers everything in the Christian life from start to finish. Our salvation commences in grace. Our salvation continues in grace. Our salvation will be completed by grace. John Newton’s song, Amazing Grace, describes all aspects of our salvation:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found; was blind, but now I see. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed. The Lord has promised good to me; His word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1. Grace is the heart of the Gospel

• Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. • Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.

The bad news is that all people are sinful and guilty in God’s sight. The good news is that they can be saved from sin and its consequences. Salvation is only possible by God’s grace.

2. Grace is freely given through Christ’s death on the cross

• Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. • Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace .

God’s saving grace does not mean that He is soft on sin or that He overlooks sin. It does mean that God’s righteousness and justice have been satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice, so He is now able to justify guilty sinners and yet remain just. The penalty of our sins was fully paid by Christ’s death.

3. Grace motivated Christ to die for us

• 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. • Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God was under no obligation to extend His grace to anyone, yet He reached down from His heavenly majesty to our earthly misery to save us.

• Love reaching up to God is worship • Love reaching out to man is compassion • Love reaching down to sinners is grace

Sometimes people will complain that God is not fair, but do we really want fairness? If God gave us what we deserve, we would receive justice instead of grace.

4. Grace is provided for all people

• Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we (Jews) shall be saved, even as they (Gentiles). • Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.

God’s grace includes every person (“whosoever”). No one is excluded. Bible scholars refer to “common grace” and “saving grace.” Common grace refers to the blessings of God on all people everywhere. God gives all people many blessings and He patiently gives them time and opportunity to repent and believe.

5. Grace changes the way we live

• Acts 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. • Titus 2:11-12 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

When God saves a person His grace is evident. Grace produces good works and godly character. Grace and works are not identical, but they are inseparable. Grace means that God loves us just as we are, but His grace does not leave us as we are. Blaise Pascal said: “To make a man a saint, grace is absolutely necessary and whoever doubts it, does not know what a saint is or what a man is.”

6. Grace enables us to serve Christ

• Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. • 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. • 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. • Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

In salvation Jesus did something for us (died on the cross) so that He could do something to us (forgive our sins and make us new) so that He could do something through us (serve Him and bring glory to Him).

7. Grace gives us a secure standing with God

• Romans 5:1-2 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. • Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Our spiritual condition may change, but our spiritual position in Christ never changes. We are in God’s grace. All believers will be on display forever in heaven as trophies of God’s grace. Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8. Grace guarantees our eternal future in heaven

• 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. • Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. • 1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

John Newton said: “When I get to heaven I will see three wonders: 1) I will see many people there I did not expect to see; 2) I will not see many there that I expected to see; and 3) the greatest wonder of all is that I will see myself there.”

At Calvary

O the love that drew salvation’s plan! O the grace that brought it down to man! O the mighty gulf that God did span, at Calvary!

Mercy there was great and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.

GOD ’S AMAZING GRACE - PART TWO -

Grace covers everything in the Christian life from start to finish. Our salvation commences in grace. Our salvation continues in grace. Our salvation will be completed by grace. John Newton’s song, Amazing Grace, describes all aspects of our salvation:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found; was blind, but now I see. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed. The Lord has promised good to me; His word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1. Grace is______

• Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. • Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.

The bad news is that all people are sinful and guilty in God’s sight. The good news is that they can be saved from sin and its consequences. Salvation is only possible by God’s grace.

2. Grace is freely given through______

• Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. • Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace .

God’s saving grace does not mean that He is soft on sin or that He overlooks sin. It does mean that God’s righteousness and justice have been satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice, so He is now able to justify guilty sinners and yet remain just. The penalty of our sins was fully paid by Christ’s death.

3. Grace motivated______

• 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. • Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God was under no obligation to extend His grace to anyone, yet He reached down from His heavenly majesty to our earthly misery to save us.

• Love reaching up to God is______

• Love reaching out to man is______

• Love reaching down to sinners is______

4. Grace is provided______

• Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we (Jews) shall be saved, even as they (Gentiles). • Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.

God’s grace includes every person (“whosoever”). No one is excluded. Bible scholars refer to “common grace” and “saving grace.” Common grace refers to the blessings of God on all people everywhere. God gives all people many blessings and He patiently gives them time and opportunity to repent and believe.

5. Grace changes______

• Acts 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. • Titus 2:11-12 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

When God saves a person His grace is evident. Grace produces good works and godly character. Grace and works are not identical, but they are inseparable. Grace means that God loves us just as we are, but His grace does not leave us as we are. Blaise Pascal said: “To make a man a saint, grace is absolutely necessary and whoever doubts it, does not know what a saint is or what a man is.”

6. Grace enables us______

• Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. • 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. • 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. • Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

In salvation Jesus did something for us (died on the cross) so that He could do something to us (forgive our sins and make us new) so that He could do something through us (serve Him and bring glory to Him).

7. Grace gives us______

• Romans 5:1-2 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. • Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Our spiritual condition may change, but our spiritual position in Christ never changes. We are in God’s grace. All believers will be on display forever in heaven as trophies of God’s grace. Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8. Grace guarantees______

• 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. • Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. • 1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

John Newton said: “When I get to heaven I will see three wonders: 1) I will see many people there I did not expect to see; 2) I will not see many there that I expected to see; and 3) the greatest wonder of all is that I will see myself there.”

At Calvary

O the love that drew salvation’s plan! O the grace that brought it down to man! O the mighty gulf that God did span, at Calvary!

Mercy there was great and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.