Sermon Central
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The Grace Of God
Contributed by James Dina on Oct 25, 2020 (message contributor)
THE GRACE OF GOD
"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." (1 Corinthians 15:10)
Grace can be defined as the love and mercy given to us by God because God wants us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God’s grace is His unmerited favor. Grace means that God showered favor and blessing on those who did not in any way deserve or earn it. They deserved His judgment and wrath but He showed them favor.
Grace will preserve itself in the midst of the greatest opposition. No water can quench its fire. God has put a mighty power into grace that once it possesses the heart in truth (though as small as a grain of mustard-seed), not all the wickedness in the world can dispossess it. Just as all the water in the salt sea cannot make the fish salty, but the fish still retains its freshness, so all the wickedness and filthiness in the world cannot destroy, cannot defile, true grace.
True grace will bear up its head and hold itself up forever.
Grace is God’s active presence in our lives, which is not dependent on human actions or human response. It is a gift — a gift that is always available, but that can be refused.
God’s grace stirs up a desire within us to know God and empowers us to respond to God’s invitation to be in relationship with God. God’s grace enables us to discern differences between good and evil; and makes it possible for us to choose good. God takes the initiative in relating to humanity. We do not have to beg and plead for God’s love and grace. God actively seeks us!
All our mercies flow out from the grace of God. That’s the fountain, yes that’s the ocean which feeds and fills all the channels of mercy, which stream to us as our happiness in this world, and for our everlasting happiness in the world to come.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16 ).
(Outline from JOSEPH CARYL'S EXPOSITION ON THE BOOK OF JOB)
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