Amazing Grace In Simple Terms Series

We’re in the series, "Be Contagious!"

Those of us who know Christ want others to know Him too! We want to be contagious with the Good News about Jesus!

One of the most contagious truths associated with the Good News about Jesus is the message of God’s grace! Grace is God’s favor. God wants to give His blessings. He wants to give His encouragement and support to us. And one of the most amazing things about God’s grace is how easy it is to relate to!

God’s grace is not only amazing it is also pretty simple to receive.

Let me show you what I mean by the following paragraph of Scripture.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 (NLT)

What are the simple truths about God’s grace to which we can all relate?

1. LOVE

Verse 4 – "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much…"

Love is the starting point for any journey into the realm of God’s amazing grace. In order to receive God’s grace in your life you must begin with hearing and believing the Good News that He loves you.

But why does God love you?

In one of the simplest definitions of the nature of God in the Bible, the Word of God states,

"God is love." 1 John 4:8b

God loves you because that His nature. His personality is to love. God’s love for you is not based on you or your worthiness. It’s based on God’s character - not your character flaws! That’s why you don’t have to doubt God’s love for you. Sure you’ve messed up. We all have.

Turn to someone nearby and say, "I’ve messed up."

But God’s love for us is not based on the fact that we’ve messed up. It’s not based on our poor performance. It’s based on His personality! You need to know that to accept God’s grace.

The word "love" here is not referring to some mushy sentimentality. It denotes an affection and charitableness and commitment toward us.

Coupled with God’s mercy, His love produces a depth of compassion that we cannot even comprehend. We can only stand in awe that the Creator and Sustainer of the universe would consider each one of us individually with such great delight and fondness!

God’s love for us is so great that He gave Jesus, His only Son, to die in our place.

As Jesus Himself said, "No one can have greater love than to give his life for his friends." John 15:13 (NLV)

In 1878, Princess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria, had a young daughter with Diphtheria. Doctors told the princess to stay away from her daughter’s face and not to breathe her breath, because she then would contract the terminal disease herself and die.

But the day that her daughter lay dying, the girl began to choke. As Princess Alice lifted her up to help from the choking and held her in her arms, the little girl looked up, opened her eyes, and said, "mommy kiss me."

Even though she knew she would die from that act of love, she kissed her daughter as she exhaled her final breath.

Two months later, Princess Alice also died of Diphtheria.

Because of God’s amazing grace Jesus kissed you and me. He died because He loves us. The Father in Heaven sent Him because He loves us.

If you want to experience the wonderful joy of God’s grace it begins by learning about and believing in the love of God!

The second simple term associated with the grace of God is not as warm a word as LOVE. But don’t worry, the Bible has a solution, even to one of life’s toughest topics.

2. DEATH

Verse 5a – "…we are dead because of our sins…"

Be careful, the Bible isn’t saying here that we’re going to die (future tense). The Bible is saying that the person who doesn’t have Christ yet is dead right now (present tense).

That’s because the Bible is referring to spiritual death. Spiritual death is to be apart from God because God is the source of all life.

What is sin and why I am dead in my tracks if I don’t accept God’s grace?