Sermon by Donald R Hart – Antioch Christian Church, Pittsburg, Missouri – February 18, 2007
(www.antioch-christian.org)
AMAZING GRACE - GRACE DEFINED
Text: Romans 3:21-26
INTRODUCTION
Last Sunday I spoke upon LOVE DEFINED – today I want to talk about GRACE DEFINED. One of the reasons is that today has been declared as Amazing Grace Sunday in anticipation of the release of the movie about the life of William Wilberforce and his battle to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain.
Wilberforce was a deeply religious English member of parliament a social reformer who was very influential in the abolition of the slave trade and eventually slavery itself in the British Empire. He was born on August 24, 1759, the son of a wealthy merchant. He studied at Cambridge University where he began a lasting friendship with the future prime minister, William Pitt the Younger.
Allow me to share a segment from this man’s life:
The strain showed on the face of young William Wilberforce. During their clandestine meeting, he told Reverend Newton that he had heard him preach when he was just a boy, but he “was afraid to surrender to Christ for fear of what others might say.”
“And now?” asked Newton quietly.
“Now I have come to a crisis of my soul,” answered the grim-faced Member of Parliament. “I am afraid of turning my back on Christ. But I also fear losing face and prestige. If my constituents were to hear that I embraced … religion, my career would be over.” Wilberforce paused and shifted in his seat, then gave Newton a determined half-smile. “But maybe that would not be so bad. You have always inspired me, Reverend Newton. When I used to go to Olney and hear your sermons I felt like jumping up and asking you to help me be a preacher like you.
“When I returned to London that enthusiasm cooled and I eventually got into politics. Still, as I read the Bible and Christian books, I am convinced that I must act on what I have read. I’ve come to see you about this before I go out of my mind.”
For the next few hours, Reverend John Newton explained the way of the Cross and total surrender to Christ. Wilberforce wept and gave his life to Christ. Now he was ready to follow Newton into the ministry and face the consequences.
But Newton wisely counseled against it: “If God can use an ex-slave trader for His work, imagine what He can do through a gifted Member of Parliament. There’s nothing in the Bible that says you cannot be both a Christian and a statesman. True, these two seldom are found in one person, but it happens.”
Wilberforce accepted this advice and decided to remain where he was and serve God. He went public with his newfound faith, enduring ridicule and then winning grudging respect from his contemporaries. He turned his considerable energy toward abolishing the slave trade, a blight on the soul of the British Empire.
In 1788, after a stirring three-and-a-half hour oratory on the subject, Wilberforce made his first motion to abolish the slave trade. His impassioned speech had such an impact on the other members of Parliament that the local papers predicted sure passage of the Bill. “The House of Commons on Tuesday was crowded with Liverpool merchants who hung their heads in sorrow, for the African occupation of bolts and chains is no more,” predicted the London paper.
The prediction, however, was premature. After delay tactics and other political maneuvering by his opponents, Wilberforce lost the first of many votes on this crucial issue. But it would not be the last. Every single year, for the next seventeen years, his motion would be defeated. But Wilberforce never forgot the words of Newton, and the conviction that he was called to fight for Christian principles in the Parliament never left him. Often, in the years following the death of his mentor, Wilberforce would be motivated by the words of Newton’s most famous song, set to the chant of an African folk melody:
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.
In 1806, after eighteen years of hard work, Wilberforce finally heard the “sweet sound” he had longed for. After they counted votes on his motion to abolish the slave trade, the ranking Member of Parliament said very simply, “The ayes have it!” Wilberforce had won.
The date was February 23rd. This week is the 200th anniversary of that historic vote which abolished the slave trade in the British Empire. Has all slave trade and slavery stopped in our world? No! There is still much to do for it is estimated that there are 27 million people yet not free, being held in the bonds of slavery.
Wilberforce retired from politics in 1825 and died on July 29, 1833, shortly after the act to free slaves in the British Empire passed through the House of Commons. He is buried near his friend William Pitt in Westminster Abbey.
It is interesting that the song “Amazing Grace” written by John Newton has been the most recorded song by the largest number of different vocal artists of all songs.
John Newton had lived a very wicked life and among his many sins was the fact that he had been the captain of a slave ship, bringing slaves from Africa to the United States. When he was converted he understood the real meaning of Amazing Grace.
A bit of trivia: The original title of the song was not “Amazing Grace” but was “Faiths Review and Expectation”. The original hymn had six verses and one of the verses now in our hymnals was penned and added later. The melody that was added to John Newton’s poem was a familiar folk song of the day called, “Virginia Harmony”.
PROPOSITION
All of this introductory information leads us to ask the question, what is so amazing about grace and how can we define it? I want to say up front that when you try to assimilate, absorb and understand God’s grace it is like trying to take a drink out of a fire hose. However, with that being said, let us look at some attributes of God’s grace.
I. GOD’S GRACE IS AMAZING
There is no other word that can really describe the grace of God. Our text today in verses 23-24 said, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Who is there who can really fathom the fact that God came to the earth in the person of His son so He could justify us from sin? It is not only the fact of his coming, which would have been noteworthy in and of itself; but that He came with the expressed purpose of dying on a cross for our salvation.
It is no wonder that one of the first verses we memorize in Sunday School is John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The next verse then gives us an additional insight into His grace. Contrary to what some people may believe, God is not out to get us, but rather to save us. Notice verse 17 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Hebrews 2:9 says – “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
Furthermore, it was not because we deserved it or earned it, notice: Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God’s grace is truly amazing.
II. GOD’S GRACE IS UNIQUE
“Unique” carries with it the idea of “one of a kind”. The idea of God’s grace coming to us free of charge seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist have an eight-fold path, the Hindu have the doctrine of Karma, the Jewish follow the old covenant (or law) and the Muslim have a code of law. Each of these offer a way to earn approval.
Even among those of us who have accepted the grace of God, we often fall into the trap of thinking that the things we do in and for the church are things which are earning us “points” of some kind. There is no question that we are to be faithful in our service for the Lord, but we are not in a “points” race – competing with one another for top honors. Any work we do for the Lord is actually to be an extension of His grace. That is the idea found in 1 Peter 4:10 – “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities and while the debate went on for sometime we are told that C. S. Lewis wandered into the room and asked what the commotion was all about.
When he heard that his colleagues were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions, Lewis responded, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” And he was right – grace is unique.
III. GOD’S GRACE IS FAR REACHING
We have already talked about God loving the world and we need to be believers and promoters of that truth. God’s grace is not exclusive to any group of people – race, culture, social level, financial status or any other factor does not enter into the qualifications for being a recipient of God’s grace. It is for all men everywhere.
Ephesians 2:14 - For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:11 - Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
And Paul summed it up in Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
IV – GOD’S GRACE IS LIFE CHANGING
That is the very essence of the song Amazing Grace. Grace is that which can change the hearts of evil men – making the vilest sinner into a new creature in Christ. Our text today speaks about redemption - 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24)
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
We do not have the time in this message, but in addition to John Newton, there is story after story of individuals who have been changed from their evil ways because of God’s amazing grace – it is life changing.
V. GOD’S GRACE IS EFFECTIVE
When we put ourselves under the grace of God we will find that He forgives and forgets. There is an interesting passage in the Old Testament – Micah 7:18 - 19 -
8 Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
I read of a preacher, who tells of when he was younger, his family took a trip to the ocean. While there, he and his brother started to play with their Frisbee. His brother cranked back and let the Frisbee fly – it sailed over the lad’s head, landing in the water. The tide quickly pulled the Frisbee out and away from him, never to be seen again. That is what God does with our sins because of His grace.
The preacher added these words: “The Frisbee, where is it? Somewhere in the ocean. Where are my sins? All I know is that they are in the sea somewhere, gone forever never to be brought up again.”
God loves to show mercy and he loves to show forth His grace. Ephesians 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
VI. GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
God’s grace is there to help us during the difficult times of life. The Apostle Paul was a testimony of this truth – notice –
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
All of us go through times of trouble or hardship and it is during those times we are tempted to wonder if God has abandoned us. That is not the case. Rather it is during the difficult times that we can grow the most. It is the time when we can get closer to the Lord. And it is the time when His grace will be sufficient to help us.
VII. GOD’S GRACE IS PERSONAL
Even though we speak about God loving the whole world and Jesus dying for all mankind, we need to make sure that we make His grace personal. His grace is for you, and you, and you, and me. It is a very personal thing. You may have heard the gospel song When He Was On The Cross (I was on His mind).
I’M NOT ON AN EGO TRIP I’M NOTHING ON MY OWN
I’VE MADE MISTAKES I OFTEN SLIP
JUST COMMON FLESH AND BONES
BUT I’LL PROVE SOMEDAY JUST WHAT I SAY
I’M OF A SPECIAL KIND
WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS
I WAS ON HIS MIND.
THE LOOK OF LOVE WAS ON HIS FACE
THE THORNS UPON HIS HEAD
THE BLOOD WAS ON THAT SCARLET ROBE
AND STAINED IT CRIMSON RED
THOUGH HIS EYES WERE ON THE CROWD THAT DAY
HE LOOKED AHEAD IN TIME
AND WHILE HE WAS ON THE CROSS
I WAS ON HIS MIND.
CHORUS:
HE KNEW ME, YET HE LOVED ME
HE WHOSE GLORY MAKES THE HEAVENS SHINE
SO UNWORTHY OF SUCH MERCY
WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS
I WAS ON HIS MIND.
When He was on the cross – you and I were on His mind – His grace is personal.
VIII. GOD’S GRACE IS ELECTIVE
You can choose to receive it or to reject it. To allow us to make the choice has to be the hardest thing for God to do, because He wants all men to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 says - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Hebrews 12:14-15 - 14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Did you catch the phrase See to it that no one misses the grace of God? God doesn’t want anyone to miss out on His grace.
Although written to Christians, James gives us an exhortation to submit to God – we can either be proud in our sinfulness or we can humble ourselves and receive God’s grace.
James 4:6-10
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
IX. GOD’S GRACE IS ETERNAL
Titus 3:7 - so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
1 Peter 1:13 - Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
This is the wonderful part of the message – God’s grace is ours for this life now and it will be ours for eternity.
CONCLUSION
In just a moment we are going to sing Amazing Grace as our song of decision. If you have never appropriated the grace of God for your life, then you need to reach out and take it. As we said earlier, it can only be found through Jesus Christ.
Believe on him as your savior, surrender your life to him, confess his name as the Son of God, and be baptized for the remission of your sins. Remember, when he was on the cross, you were on his mind – and that is “amazing grace”.
And for all of us today, let us renew ourselves to the sharing of the good news of the grace of God to all men.
(Note: All Scripture passages quoted are from the NIV)
