Marvelous Grace Of Our Loving Lord

Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord is Sufficient for All Your Needs (2 Cor 12:9-12)

Song:

Grace alone which God supplies

Strength unknown He will provide, Christ in us our cornerstone,

We will go forth in grace alone

Ev’ry promise we can make, Ev’ry prayer and step of faith

Ev’ry diff’rence we will make Is only by His grace. Ev’ry mountain we will climb

Ev’ry ray of hope we shine, Ev’ry blessing left behind Is only by His grace

Ev’ry soul we long to reach, Ev’ry heart we hope to teach, Ev’rywhere we share His peace

Is only by His grace. Ev’ry loving word we say Ev’ry tear we wipe away

Ev’ry sorrow turned to praise Is only by His grace

Etymologically - Grace is a term referring to the beautiful that gives delight.

Theologically - Grace mean’s God’s favor as seen in the gift of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ

Practically - Grace implies God’s presence and redemptive power in one’s life.

Grace is God’s gift which causes pleasure and produces sufficient blessing in the lives of all who accept it and allow it to transform them.

Contrast: Those who live by law resemble the Pharisees in their desire to control people by rules, regulations and procedures. They are obsessed with control for it gives them a selfish sense of fleshly power. Instead of saying, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. They prefer "the steps of a good man are ordered by an authoritative boss or the rules of the company."

A person living by law is quick to judge, criticize and demean people who do not live up to their perceived standards. Lawful oriented people are not gracious, kind or loving because they are more interested in conforming to a set of rules.

A person living by lalw is proud of their accomplishments instead of realizing that every good and perfect gift, even our accomplishments, are gifts from above.

A person living by law feels inadequate unless they are working to live up to their expectations instead of just resting in the grace of God and His will. Lawful oriented people tend to base their self-esteem on what they can do for God instead of what He has done for them.

People living by grace are secure in the love, forgiveness and goodness of God’s free gift of acceptance. They are grateful, humble and Spirit filled people who delight in the kindness of God instead of boasting of their own contributions.

People living by grace know enough not to judge others because they know judgment is from the Lord so they tend to not even judge themselves talk less of others.

People living by grace are persistent in loving, accepting and overlooking others faults as they are thankful for how gracious the Lord has been to them.

People living by grace are more tolerant of different levels of maturity as they know we are all struggling with to speak the truth in love so we can grow up in all aspects into Christ.

People living by grace realize that we can rejoice in our weaknesses knowing that this affords God a greater opportunity to show Himself strong. His grace shows up best in weak people. As Paul they can say, "Most gladly therefore will I boast in my weaknesses that the power of Christ may dwell in me. For when I am weak then I am strong. The less I have the more I depend on Him." (2 Cor 12:9-12)

1. Grace means God’s favor and good will towards mankind. Mary described herself as favored or graced in Luke 1:28

2. God’s favor is the opposite of merit because it is free (no conditions required), spontaneous (not prompted from outside), generous (no limit), abiding (never ceasing)

3. God’s grace is distinguished from mercy even though mercy is one way it is expressed but mercy is more related to relieving misery and to the non-deserving, but grace is related to redemption and to positively (undeserving)

4. Grace from God is given to the helpless and needy.

a. It is an act of benevolence and also a gift or a donation.

b. It is not simply a feeling but a force.

c. Not simply good will but also a good work.

5. Grace is a divine favor expressed in and proved by Divine gift in the Lord Jesus Christ’s atonement.

This is given in unlimited measure always sufficient for every situation, person and transgression. Grace is connected to the heart and the hand of God.

6. The source of God’s grace is prominent throughout the world. (Romans 5:15, Heb. 2:9, I Pet 5:10) "After you have suffered a little while the God of all grace will Himself sanctify you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."