God's Saving Grace

A family was enjoying a meal at a restaurant one evening, and they looked up and saw some friends in the corner of the restaurant and waved hi to each other. On their way out they came by and shook hands and greeted one another as they left. The family waited a while for their check so they asked the waitress if they could have it. She told them that it had been paid for by the people that they were talking to. We'll let me leave you a tip and she said he did that as well and that their bill was paid in full.

It was absolutely free, and they had done nothing to receive it, nor did they ask for it. I want to talk about Grace this morning. Grace is defined as unmerited, unearned and undeserved favor no one has the right to salvation as a result of their own righteousness or works.

Romans 3:10-NIV

10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.

God’s grace that was extended to all was and is through His Son Jesus Christ!

Christ made the atonement for the sins of the world in place of sinners that deserved death. He gave His body as a propitiation (an appeasement, an atonement, as a sacrifice) for the sins of the world. If anyone could appreciate the Grace of God, it had to be Paul. Paul says in:

Galatians 2:21-NKJV

21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Paul said in Acts 22:4-NIV

4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,

And in Galatians 1:13-16-NKJV

13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

Paul said he called me through His Grace, and he began to work to which he was called. Paul appreciated the Grace of God and I appreciate God’s Grace. Paul went on to say after his conversion: 1 Corinthians 15:10-11-NKJV-10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward 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. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (By the grace of God, I am what I am)

There is a lot of discussion in the brotherhood about being saved by the Grace of God. I want us to think for a moment and realize that the word Grace is a multi-usage word, and it must be defined within the context in which it is used. Grace must be studied holistically (a study of the whole subject), and it must be defined within the context in which it is being used.

I want to look at 3 kinds of Grace that are mentioned in God’s word this morning so we can better understand more clearly the teaching of Grace.

Redemptive Grace- When it comes to Redemptive Grace this is when someone can say saved by Grace alone. However Redemptive Grace comes ONLY from God, man had nothing to do with it.

John 3:16-NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God sent Jesus into the world to die for the sins of all mankind and that is Redemptive Grace, and that is Grace alone. I am not afraid to say Grace alone because I understand that no one helped God in this, and it was God’s choice alone to save mankind. Now someone might say Well Brother Robert is saying we are saved by Grace alone and I would say this is where people and the world get confused about God’s Grace.

I’m not saying that at all, and what I want you to know is that when we are dealing with Grace, we ought to say what kind of Grace are we talking about and study enough to know what we are discussing.

Grace alone was extended by God alone, everyone is blessed by God’s Grace alone, and it is available for everyone. The world loves this and some hold to it for their salvation John 3:16! But can you be saved by Grace alone ABSOULETLY NOT!