Grace
Titus 2:11 & Ephesians 2:8 & 9
By: JB Hall
Introduction: Today I’d like to speak to you about something that is certainly an inexhaustible subject: the grace of God. The title of our message is Grace.
Grace is a topic that is often spoken of in Christian circles; and one that is given extensive treatment in the Scriptures. But, though it is such a familiar topic, it is one that so few seem to be able to wrap their understanding around. So few seem to grasp just what exactly it is, and how it relates to them personally.
While, like I said earlier, we could never exhaust the wealth of knowledge and benefits to us that the grace of God provides, I hope that our treatment of this subject today will help to clarify for you what grace is and what its relevance is to you personally.
I hope that it will cease to be just a lofty spiritual concept that has no practical application to your every day life; and that your understanding of God’s great work of grace as it relates to you personally will emerge with crystal clarity.
I’d like to approach this using the word G-R-A-C-E as an acrostic, with each letter representing a characteristic of God’s grace. So now you know this is a 5-point message.
1. Characteristic #1 is G – Gift
A. Grace, simply stated, is the unmerited favor of God.
B. Two of our text verses that we read earlier, Ephesians 2:8 & 9, say, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” “Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
C. So we see here that we are saved by grace; and that that grace is the gift of God.
D. It is not of works.
E. In other words, it cannot be obtained by works.
F. As many of you have heard me say many times, a gift cannot be achieved; it can only be received.
G. A gift cannot be earned; a gift cannot be qualified for; it can only be received as it is given; as a FREE gift given by the hand of the Giver.
H. Romans 4:4 & 5 say, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
I. In other words, if we could do something to earn, or qualify for, or achieve grace, it would not be grace. It would be God’s payment, or reward, or wage for what we had earned. It would not be a gift.
J. Our other text verse, Titus 2:11, says that the grace of God has appeared unto all men.
K. Sadly, all men have not benefited from the grace of God that has appeared unto them, though.
L. Since forgiveness of sin (salvation) cannot be accessed or obtained by working for it or qualifying for it because it is a gift; and since salvation is not a tangible item that one can reach out with their hand to accept, how does one access this favor of God that yields cleansing from sin in his/her life?
M. Well, Ephesians 2:8 says that God’s grace (favor) that saves us is transferred to us through faith.
N. Many of you have heard me say this, too. I like to think of faith as the pipeline through which God transfers His gift of forgiveness to each of us.
O. This, then, begs the question, what is faith?
P. Faith does not only believe that God can save the world; it believes that God, based upon His promise in His Word, applies that forgiveness to your life.
Q. This is not a process, but an act that happens at a moment in time.
R. In John 3:3 Jesus calls this being born again.
S. Natural birth happens at a moment in time.
T. Likewise, spiritual birth happens at a moment in time.
U. Though what God had to do to get you to the point of spiritual birth might have been a process (the witness of others and conviction by God), the new birth experience happens at a moment in time.
V. John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world [that includes everyone; no one is excluded from this promise], that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever [this brings the promise down to the personal level; meaning each person] who believeth in him [faith; trusting God to do what He has promised right here] should not perish, but have everlasting life [the new birth experience; a transfer of the grace that brings salvation to the recipient of that salvation by his faith pipeline reaching up to receive it].
W. God’s grace, His salvation, is extended to you by His hand of promise; you receive it by your hand of faith reaching up to accept it [believing His promise applies to you personally].
X. You see, like any gift, Someone had to pay the purchase price so that it could be offered to you as a FREE gift.
Y. According to Romans 6:23a the wages for sin is death.
Z. To pay the purchase price for deliverance from sin, Someone had to pay the price of death.
AA. 1 Corinthians 15:3b says, “…Christ died for our sins…”
BB. You see, the purchase price has been paid for everyone’s salvation; but it is personally appropriated to each one as each one places his/her trust in the One Who paid the price; trusting that it has been paid for him/her personally.
CC. So, Jesus paid that purchase price for our freedom that He might offer us freedom from sin’s wages as a FREE gift.
DD. So, grace, God’s unmerited, unearned, unqualified for, favor is offered to you as a gift.
EE. The means by which we reach out to receive the FREE gift is simply by opening our lives by faith and allowing Jesus to come into our lives as God’s gift of salvation to us.
FF. 1 John 5:11 & 12 say, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
GG. Pretty simple, huh?
HH. Practically speaking then, how do I go about receiving Jesus into my life?
II. By faith open your heart, your life, to allow Him to come in; and then by personal invitation, just pray and invite Him in.
JJ. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
KK. Faith is what God counts as righteousness; not what we achieve.
LL. Characteristic # 1 of grace is: it is a gift.
2. Characteristic # 2 is R – Revealed
A. Again, Titus 2:11 says, “…the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”
B. The grace of God is not something that is hidden; or something that is obscure that we have to search for with the possibility that we just will not discover it.
C. It has been revealed.
D. Let’s look at this revelation from 3 different perspectives.
E. First – John 1:14 says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
F. The Lord Jesus Christ was the grace of God personified; the grace of God in living flesh.
G. God’s grace has been revealed in the Person of His Son.
H. We can learn about grace by studying the life of Jesus.
I. You see, the Pharisees were concerned about the letter of the law; while Jesus was concerned about the people to whom the law was given.
J. Legalism demands that rules be kept, even to the damage of those under their jurisdiction.
K. Grace seeks the welfare of people rather than that a rigid regiment of standards be kept.
L. Grace does not allow for lawlessness. Rather, it transcends the law of letters with the law of love.
M. Jesus’ life exhibited the grace of God to man by lifting him out of his condemnation rather than condemning him because he failed to live up to the laws that brought condemnation because of his failure to adhere to them.
N. So, Jesus’ appearance on planet earth – His life lived before us, and His sacrificial death on our behalf – revealed God’s grace to us.
O. Second – Grace is not just something that was revealed in the past when Jesus walked upon this earth.
P. It is something that we currently stand in, if we are saved.
Q. Romans 5:1 & 2 say, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
R. Here, grace is described as “…this grace wherein we stand…”
S. It is a currently reality for us every day; that according to Romans 5:2 causes us to rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
T. If you are saved, you currently stand in the favor of God.
U. This provides security for you, as we will discuss a little later.
V. And, according to Verse 1, it provides us peace with God.
W. We are no longer estranged from God.
X. According to Ephesians 2:19, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”
Y. You and I currently stand in a personal intimate relationship with God, if we stand in the grace of God, if we are saved.
Z. If you are not saved, you do not currently stand in the grace, or favor, of God.
AA. You are at enmity; in a state of hostility with God; and under the condemnation of God that just has not been executed yet.
BB. If, however you choose to receive the gift of His grace, you then are converted from being in a state of open hostility, to a state of being in personal relationship, with Him as your Father.
CC. Another benefit in standing in the grace of God, according to Romans 5:2, is that we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
DD. Standing in the grace of God provides the confidence of a glorious future that generates rejoicing now, even in the midst of often unpleasant circumstances and situations.
EE. Third – In 1Peter 5:1 Peter, addressing the elders and classifying himself among them, speaks of being “…a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:”
FF. Ephesians 2:4 – 7 (Read) – You and I who stand in the grace of God do have a glorious future to look forward to.
GG. As the ages of eternity unfold, God will continue to unfold, to unwrap for our viewing, the exceeding riches of His grace in his kindness toward us that was expressed and given through His Son, Christ Jesus.
HH. Just when we think there could be no more that could have been given us by His grace, He will unfold another layer.
II. Oh, how glorious to know that I will be an eternal partaker of all the wealth that God possesses; because, that according to Romans 8:17, I am an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ.
JJ. Grace has been revealed; is being revealed; and will conclusively be revealed – past, present, future.
KK. Characteristic # 2 of grace is: it is revealed.
3. Characteristic #3 is A – Acceptance
A. Ephesians 1:6 says, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
B. It is in his grace that He has made us accepted in the beloved; accepted in the family of God.
C. People will go to extraordinary lengths to be accepted.
D. This pursuit of acceptance begins early in life; we first try to gain the acceptance of our parents by trying to impress them, then we try to gain the acceptance of our peers in school by trying to be like them, then we try to gain the acceptance of our boss or associates at the work place by our performance.
E. This innate craving to be accepted often drives people to do very damaging things to themselves in an effort to gain that acceptance.
F. Though we may achieve some measure of acceptance in the circles in which we run, the ultimate fulfillment of this need can only be found when we are accepted by God.
G. This estrangement from God that we all experience prior to being saved, leaves an emptiness, a longing, a hopelessness inside us.
H. Things that can be accomplished or obtained in the natural realm can never satisfy that hopeless sensation we experience.
I. Ephesians 2:12 describes our condition before being saved like this: “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
J. The words spoken by the Pharisees and scribes in Luke 15:2 in an attempt to slander Jesus, were some of the most gracious words of truth ever spoken about our Lord.
K. Luke 15:2 says, “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”
L. 2 Timothy 2:19a says, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his…”
M. Without belonging to God, without being accepted by Him, we wander aimlessly through life, hopelessly lost, having no purpose, pointlessly filling up our time with meaningless activity and thought.
N. Ahhhh, but when we have been accepted of Him, we belong to Him.
O. We have a heritage; we have an inheritance; and every second of our lives holds significance and meaning.
P. Acceptance, though, can only be found in His grace; for it can never be earned; it can only be experienced by standing in His grace that has been poured into us as favor we do not deserve.
Q. It is not a payment; but a reward of grace.
R. Characteristic # 3 of grace is: it is acceptance.
4. Characteristic # 4 is C – Calling
A. Grace is a calling.
B. Writing to the saints at Rome, in Romans 1:7 Paul says, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
C. Here he describes the Christians as those “…called to be saints…”
D. 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
E. The First calling that we experience is the call to be saved.
F. In John 6:44a Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…”
G. God’s call to salvation is not a supernatural experience, not a verbal call, not an overwhelming force that compels you to submit your life to Him.
H. Rather, it is a drawing, a wooing, an unrest, an uneasiness, that lets you know there is something amiss between you and God; and that it must be addressed.
I. This ‘drawing’ tugs at your heart to direct your heart’s focus to Jesus; letting you know somehow that He is the remedy for what is unsettling you.
J. When you are willing to lay aside your preconceived ideas, your reservations, and your unbelief, and just by faith, open your life to allow Jesus to come in, you find you have fulfilled this calling and you no longer suffer the unrest, the tug, the drawing.
K. The Second calling is to service.
L. When God saves us, He then calls us to a life of service in His eternal kingdom, though we currently reside in this present life.
M. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
N. Every child of God has this calling upon his/her life.
O. When God calls us unto His service, He then gifts us with spiritual abilities to do what He has called us to do.
P. Talents are natural abilities given by God for us to use to glorify Him.
Q. Spiritual gifts are supernatural, divine gifts that are given at the time of the new birth.
R. Just like natural talents have to be trained, developed, and honed in order to make them useful and usable, so spiritual gifts must be discovered and developed as well.
S. 1 Timothy 4:14a & 15 say, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee…” “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”
T. When God gives you spiritual gifts, they are irrevocable; He does not change His mind.
U. Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
V. Since God does not change His mind on the gifts or calling, it is up to you to change your lifestyle to fit the calling to serve in God’s eternal kingdom, rather than consuming your energies on earthly pursuits unrelated to your heavenly calling.
W. Characteristic # 4 of grace is: it is a calling.
5. Characteristic # 5 is E – Eternal Life
A. We live in a world of uncertainty.
B. Many churches preach and teach an uncertain salvation.
C. Uncertainty, when it comes to grace, translates into instability when it comes to living.
D. 1 John 5:12 & 13 say, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
E. Certainty of our future yields stability in our faith and life.
F. God does not want to keep us guessing right up to the end.
G. He has given us a sure word, His promise in writing here in 1 John; God’s unilateral contract with us; that if we have Jesus inside us, we know that we have eternal life.
H. In John 3:15, Jesus speaking of Himself, says, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
I. Eternal life does not begin at death; or at the rapture, whichever happens first.
J. It begins at the moment of the new birth.
K. If we could lose our salvation; or if we cannot know we have it; our so-called salvation would in fact be probation, not salvation.
L. We would not be saved at all.
M. We would only be placed on probation, with only a possibility of gaining eternal life, if we met all the conditions necessary to be granted it.
N. Thus, our so-called salvation, instead of being granted by grace, would be obtained by our consistent good works held out to the end.
O. But, according to our text verse, Ephesians 2:8 & 9, it is by grace ye are saved; not of works lest any man should boast.
P. A passage of Scripture that I believe will help to clarify this fact is Hebrews 10:38 & 39.
Q. Verse 38 says, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Sounds like you can lose your salvation here, huh?
R. But, Verse 39 says, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
S. Here “…them that believe to the saving of the soul.” are not those who believe until the saving of the soul; but them that believe to the level of the saving of the soul.
T. We are told that we are not of them that draw back unto perdition.
U. Those who do, exhibit the fact that they were never truly saved to begin with.
V. Some appear to have eternal life but like the seed in Matthew 13:20 & 21 that fell into stony places and appeared to have life, but when tribulation or persecution arose, they were offended; because, it says, “…hath he not root in himself…”
W. Characteristic # 5 of grace is: it is eternal life.
In Summary:
(1) Characteristic # 1 of grace is it is a gift.
(2) Characteristic # 2 of grace is it is revealed.
(3) Characteristic # 3 of grace is it is acceptance.
(4) Characteristic # 4 of grace is it is a calling.
(5) Characteristic # 5 of grace is it is eternal life.
In Conclusion:
God’s grace (His favor that none of us deserve) is extended to every one of us. It is individually and personally appropriated, though, as we reach out to receive it by faith as the FREE gift it is. It can never be achieved; it can only be received. It can never be earned or qualified for; it is a gift.
It is received by making a conscious choice to trust Jesus to be, not just the Savior of the world, but your personal Savior. When you receive Jesus into your life by simple invitation, opening your life to allow Him in, He comes in, giving you the eternal life that is in Him.
He does not come into us bodily or physically, of course; His Spirit comes to dwell in us when we in an honest and sincere heart issue the invitation.
Since God’s grace is a gift, we have only 2 options; receive it, or reject it. What is your choice today?
