GOD’S AMAZING GRACE
Today I want to talk to you about “Gods Amazing Grace”. For the last few weeks we have been looking God’s Glorious Grace. Today we are going to conclude the series.
The Bible says we are saved by grace. The only way to get to heaven is through the doorway of Grace. If you’re going to get to heaven that’s the only way you’re going to get there. You can’t earn it, you can’t work for it, you can’t buy it. It’s just by God’s grace. The Bible says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
If you could work your way to heaven – can you imagine how unpleasant heaven would be? Everyone there would be bragging about how they got there. They would go on and on – on how good they were and about how much they did down here on earth to earn their salvation. But the Bible says that no one is saved by their good works. No one earns their salvation – no one works their way into heaven. We are all simply saved by God’s grace.
Not only are we saved by God’s grace – but the Bible tells us that we are forgiven by God’s grace. The Bible says:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
Go ahead and circle the word “He”. Notice that this verse puts an emphasis on God. If we confess our sins “God” is faithful – “God” is just – “God” will forgive our sins – “God” will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I like the way God’s Word translations this verse. It says:
“God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, He forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.” 1 John 1:9 (GW)
Why does God forgive us? Because God is gracious – that’s why. It is His nature to be forgiving.
But that is not all. It is by God’s grace that we are sustained. The Bible tells us in the book of Philippians:
“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 (HCSB)
God will keep working in your life – until He has completed His work in you. He will not leave you – or forsake you. He will stick by you through thick or thin. He will sustain you.
Then the Bible also teaches that we are healed by God’s grace. He heals our broken hearts and binds up our wounds. The Bible says:
“He (God) heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3 (NKJV)
God takes that which is bent and straightens it out. The takes that which is shattered to pieces puts it back together. He takes that which is broken and fixes it. God is in the healing business and He heals us by His grace.
In the process of healing us – God restores us. David prayed in Psalm fifty-one:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Psalms 51:10-12 (NKJV)
When we have fallen – God picks us up. When we have lost the joy of salvation – only God can restore us.
Is it any wonder that God’s grace is called “Amazing”? We are pulled from our sinful lives and set on solid ground – by God’s amazing grace. We are forgiven and made clean – by God’s amazing grace. We are given the strength to make it through the world each day – by God’s amazing grace. We are healed of our brokenness – by God’s amazing grace. We are created anew – set right with God – by God’s amazing grace. You see God’s grace is His positive action toward us – even though we have not earned it nor deserve it. No wonder John Newton could sing:
“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wreath like me.
I once was lost but now am found. Was blind but now I see.”
God’s grace is amazing – and today there may be some of you sitting here wondering – “How do I receive God’s Amazing Grace?” The Bible says in John chapter one:
“The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17 (NKJV)
All of grace – all that we’ve talked about in this series is wrapped up in Jesus Christ. He is the source of grace. Notice that John one seventeen tells us that “grace and truth comes through Jesus Christ”. If you don’t get it through Christ, you don’t get it at all. Grace comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
When you have a relationship with Jesus Christ three things happen:
1. Your sins become forgiven.
2. You are given a purpose for living.
3. You have a home waiting for you in heaven.
Let’s look at these a little more closely.
1. Your sins become FORGIVEN
Why is that? – Because Jesus paid the penalty for your sin.
How many of you have ever played Monopoly? Do you remember sometimes you would end up in jail… do not pass go… do not collect $200. But in that game sometimes you would draw a “get out of jail free card.” Grace is like that. You deserve to go to jail. There are things in your life that you have messed up. There are things in your life that you have done that you are not proud of. There are things which you have done that you should be punished for – but God has a way for you to be pardoned. He has a way for you to be forgiven. Jesus Christ is ready and willing to pay for your sin. In fact he has already done that for our sins. When He went to the cross He went there to for the sins which you and I have committed. All I need to do is accept the fact that my sins have been paid for by Him. The book of Hebrews tells us:
“It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28 (NKJV)
I like the way the Message Bible translates these verses:
“Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28 (MSG)
Someone has to pay for those sins – either you or somebody else. Guess what? – Someone did. Jesus did. He paid the penalty for your sin and because of this fact you can be forgiven. Another thing that happens when you have a relationship with Jesus Christ is:
2. You are given a purpose for LIVING
Look at what the Bible tells us in First John:
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2 (NKJV)
God is in the life change business. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. Do you know what that purpose is? It is found in the verse that we just read. That purpose is that you can be molded and made into the image of Jesus. God wants your life to be transformed into the image of Christ. Now let me say up front – that process takes T – I – M – E. When a baby is born it takes time to see what kind of man or women they will become. So too with a Christian. When you become born again a process takes place that will take a life time of development. Growth is usually gradual. Development may take decades. But God working in you will change your life. That is one of purposes for living.
Another purpose that God has for your life is that you can help others become more like Christ also. God has placed us here to help one another. To encourage one another. To support one another. To pray for one another. To tell others about God’s love and mercy and about God’s Amazing Grace. Look at what Paul wrote in the book of Colossians:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)
We are to grow spiritually in order that we can encourage others to grow spiritually. Isn’t that a great purpose for your life? What you do here on earth can have an eternal impact. Your sins have been forgive – you have been given a purpose for living – but that is not all – when you have a relationship with Jesus:
3. You have a home waiting for you in HEAVEN
I love to talk about heaven. I can’t even image what heaven will be like but the Bible tells me:
“He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Isaiah 25:8-9 (NKJV)
Can you image a place where there will be no more pain – no more sorrow – no more hurting. That is what heaven will be like. God will set all things straight. That which is broken will be fixed – including me and you. God has given us an amazing gift – His Amazing Grace. It is worth more than I could ever earn in a lifetime. So how can I show God that I am thankful for what He has given me? I have three ideas:
A. I can become a GRACIOUS Person
How do I do that? By following the example of Jesus. Look with me at First John chapter three:
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16 (NKJV)
Christ laid down His life for us – we are to lay down our life for others. We need to help them – we need to forgive them.
Corrie Ten Boom spent years in a Nazi prison camp. Many times guards would come in and beat her and her sister. She said one man’s face stood out in her mind. Years later she was speaking in a church when in walked that man, she would know him anywhere. Terror gripped her soul, along with a flood of hateful emotions. After the service he approached her and said, I’ve been saved, and I want to ask you to forgive me for what I’ve done. She later wrote: ‘right then I had to learn that forgiveness is a choice.’
I need to be gracious – I need to be forgiving – because my Savior was to me. Look at what it says in Ephesians:
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)
God has forgiven me so much that I can sing:
Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I’m found – was blind but now I see.
Because He is so gracious – I should be gracious too.
The second thing that I can do to show God that I am thankful for His Amazing Grace is:
B. I can make my life COUNT
How do I do that? By using the gifts and talents that God has given me to help others. The gifts and talents God has given me are not just for my benefit – but for the benefit of others also. Look at what First Peter tells us:
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)
God did not plant us here on this world just so that we can make a living for ourselves. He put us here to care for one another. The abilities – the talents – the opportunities – the education – the freedom – the relationships – all these things that you have that bless your life were not given just to be squandered in self-indulgence. They were given to you for a purpose. The book of Philippians tells us:
“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 (NKJV)
If you truly understand the grace of God you can’t just keep looking out for your own self interests. There are people out there that need to hear that there is forgiveness – and that brings me to the third point:
C. I can share the good news about God’s GRACE
If someone was willing to give you a second chance wouldn’t you want to know about it? If someone was will to forgive you wouldn’t you want to hear about it? If somebody loved you so much that they were willing to die for you, wouldn’t you want to be told? Of course you would. But how will they hear unless someone tells them?
Folks I’m telling you – God changed my life. He loved me. He forgave me. He saved me and He will do the same for you. Go and tell others about His love. Go and tell others about His forgiveness. Go and tell others about God’s Amazing Grace.
