"Grace Enough"
Romans 5:12-21
Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Introduction:
I. The Guilt That We See
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
a. The source of guilt
Paul states that Adam is the "one man" who is the source of all sin and therefore death by sin. As the first created human being Adam is our representative.
By one man sin entered v. 12
By one man many be dead v. 15
By one man came condemnation v. 16
By one man death reigned v. 17
By one man judgment came v. 18
b. The scope of guilt
Paul makes the point in the first three chapters of Romans that all men are guilty.
Romans 3:9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."
14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ESV
"What was one act of disobedience in the head has been converted into a vital and virulent principle of disobedience in all the members of the human family, whose every act of willful rebellion proclaims itself the child of the original transgression." Jamieson, Fausset & Brown.
Death passed upon all men v. 12
Many be dead v. 15
Judgment came upon all men v. 18
Many were made sinners v. 19
II. The Grace That Is Shown
You need to understand something very important about God. He delights more in giving pardon than in punishment.
a. It is amazing grace
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
The story of 'Amazing Grace' is found in the Bible, heard in the hymn and demonstrated in the lives of countless followers of Christ. The hymn, first titled 'Faith's Review and Expectation' was written by John Newton whose story is as amazing as the Grace that was his salvation. He began life as the privileged son of a sea captain, became a slave and a slave ship captain before becoming a servant of Christ.
John's mother, a fragile but determined woman, dedicated herself to his education. She taught him to read and write and fervently prayed that he become a minister of the Gospel. By the time John was four she had taught him to read the Scriptures and recite hymns from 'Divine and
Moral Songs for Children' by Isaac Watts. When John was only six years old his mother died. His father remarried and John was sent on to boarding school. He was a good student who, by age ten, could read Latin and showed a keen interest in mathematics.
When John was eleven his father took him to sea. He spent six years with his father on several voyages. John's father was a well respected man and captain who sought and secured several positions of opportunity for his son. But John, who was becoming increasingly rebellious, methodically squandered them all. Through his fathers influence he began several voyages in positions of authority only to be demoted to common seaman. He strayed so far from his mother's spiritual teaching that he began influencing others away from deeply held beliefs. His life had so degenerated that he was often disliked and distrusted by officers and crew alike. He ran from his father's support, ignored his superior officers authority and fell so far from his mother's dreams that he became known among sailors as "The Great Blasphemer."
During one of these voyages, at John's request and to his new captains relief, he was allowed to accompany, and became a partner with, a slave trader from West Africa. His partner was married to an African princess who took an instant disliking to John. During one of his partner's absences he fell gravely ill and his partner's wife took advantage of the situation. John found himself enslaved, brutalized and begging for food. Ironically, the other slaves were his only source of mercy. He was eventually rescued, at his father's urging, and began a return journey to England. On this journey John once again earned the disdain of captain and crew. This was the voyage, however, that was to change John's life in ways that he could not imagine. He began to wrestle with his conscience during a violent storm in March of 1748. After seeing a shipmate washed overboard, feeling a resignation to death among the crew and discussing their situation with his captain, a plea rose from within him: "If this will not do, the Lord have mercy on us!" As he shouted he wondered; could there be any mercy for one who profaned the Lord's name as effectively and deliberately as he?
In seeking an answer to his question John Newton was led back to the Bible. On March 21st, lashed to the helm of a foundering ship, he considered many verses which he began to see in the Light of Truth. He was especially struck by the story of the prodigal son in Luke, chapter 15. He marveled at the father who raced to meet his wayward son and he felt hope for his own soul. When the badly damaged ship finally dropped anchor, a transformed John Newton went safely ashore. Two years later, with his fathers blessing, he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Catlett.
The slave trade, at the time, was a respectable profession and John continued in it for some time before illness forced him to leave the sea. (Years later his testimony before Parliament and his 'Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade' published in 1787 helped influence law makers to abolish slave trade within British colonies in 1807 and emancipate ,in 1833, British colonial slaves.)
In 1755, in need of employment, he was offered and accepted the position of Surveyor of the Tides in Liverpool England. While at sea he began a disciplined study of the Bible which he continued ashore. He also became friend to George Whitfield, deacon of the Church of England and John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.
At the age of 39, on his second attempt at ordination, his mother's prayers were answered and John Newton was appointed Curate of Olney in Buckinghamshire where, three years later he met the poet William Cowper. In 1779 the first edition of the 'Olney Hymns' was published containing 348 pieces, 67 by Cowper and 281 by Newton, including what would later be known to the world as 'Amazing Grace'. Shortly after its first publication John left Olney to become pastor of St. Mary Woolnoth Church in London. He remained in that position until his death December 21, 1807. The epitaph he wrote for his tombstone reads: "John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the gospel he had long labored to destroy."
The following is, I believe, his most suitable epitaph. The hymn that has continued John Newton's ministry. 'Amazing Grace' as it was first published in 1779 and reprinted with permission from the Classic Christian Ethereal Library: ezinearticles.com
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.
b. It is abundant grace
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
No matter our sin there is "more grace," than sin!
"The law came in (entered) and sin was multiplied (abounded) but "the flood of grace surpassed the flood of sin!" Roberts Word Pictures
c. It is adequate grace
Grace was and is enough for all our sins.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Listen to the words of another great hymn of the church:
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.
Refrain
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
III. The Gift That Is Shared
The free gift of grace v. 15
The free gift of justification v. 16
The free gift of righteousness v. 17
a. Grace for our sin
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
There is a great article that illustrates the concept of grace written by Charles Stanley.
Ill - "One of my more memorable seminary professors had a practical way of illustrating to his students the concept of grace. At the end of his evangelism course he would distribute the exam with the caution to read it all the way through before beginning to answer it. This caution was written on the exam as well. As we read the test, it became unquestionably clear to each of us that we had not studied nearly enough.
The further we read, the worse it became. About halfway through, audible groans could be heard through out the lecture hall. On the last page, however, was a note that read, "You have a choice. You can either complete the exam as given or sign your name at the bottom and in so doing receive an A for this assignment."
Wow? We sat there stunned. "Was he serious? Just sign it and get an A?" Slowly, the point dawned on us, and one by one we turned in our tests and silently filed out of the room.
When I talked with the professor about it afterward, he shared some of the reactions he had received through the years. Some students began to take the exam without reading it all the way through, and they would sweat it out for the entire two hours of class time before reaching the last page.
Others read the first two pages, became angry, turned the test in blank, and stormed out of the room without signing it. They never realized what was available, and as a result, they lost out totally.
One fellow, however, read the entire test, including the note at the end, but decided to take the exam anyway. He did not want any gifts; he wanted to earn his grade. And he did. He made a C+, but he could easily have had an A.
This story illustrates many people's reaction to God's solution to sin. Some people look at God's standard--moral and ethical perfection--and throw their hands up in surrender. Why even try? they tell themselves. I could never live up to all that stuff
Others are like the student who read the test through and was aware of the professor's offer but took the test anyway. Unwilling to simply receive God's gift of forgiveness, they set about to rack up enough points with God to earn it.
But God's grace truly is like the professor's offer. It may seem unbelievable, but if we accept it, then, like the stunned students who accepted the professor's offer, we, too, will discover that, Yes, God's grace truly is free. All we have to do is accept it.
b. Grace for our sufferings
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Ill - Annie Johnson Flint's life on earth could never be measured in any degree by comfort and ease; quite the contrary, from childhood her body endured the onslaught of Rheumatoid Arthritis until she could no longer rise from bed. Over the years the affliction took a great toll, leaving her with no choice but to seek some comfort from sleeping and resting on soft pillows. Her body developed serious bed sores and finally she suffered the ravages of cancer.
Yet her attitude through all the struggles with pain and confinement may best be expressed through one of her great Christian poems that has been set to music in many hymnals. Her faith in God and His purpose, reflected through these words, portray her deep commitment and disposition of hope and peace:
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
His love has no limit;
His grace has no measure.
His power has no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit;
His grace has no measure.
His power has no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again
c. Grace for our sanctification
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
It is grace that teaches us to live a sanctified life!
d. Grace for our service
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
2 Corinthians 1:12
For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
Conclusion: Centuries ago on the South Coast of China, high up on a hill overlooking the harbor of Macao, Portuguese settlers built an enormous cathedral.
They believed it would weather time, and they placed upon the front wall of this cathedral a massive bronze cross that stood high into the sky.
Not too many years later, a typhoon came and nature's finger work swept away man's handiwork. That entire cathedral was pushed down the hill and into the ocean as debris, except the front wall and that bronze cross that stood high.
Centuries later, there was a shipwreck out a little beyond that harbor. Some dies but a few lived. One of the men that was hanging onto wreckage from the ship, moving up and down in the crest of the ocean as the swells were moving, was disoriented, frightened. He didn't know where land was. As he would come up on the swell, he'd spot that cross, tiny from that distance. His name was Sir John Bowring.
When he made it to land and lived to tell the story, he wrote this hymn:
In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o'er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
The last stanza says:
When the woes of life o'ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me:
Lo! It glows with peace and joy.
John Bowring is telling us that we have a cross, we have an altar. And when all of life seems to crush in on top of us, we need to go back to the Cross and remember the empty tomb. Call to mind the fact that a Man is neither on the cross nor in the tomb, but He lives. He stands ready and able to give us victory through whatever we are going through at the time.
Come by grace to the Cross and say, "That is my sufficiency. That is my only hope."
--Kenneth Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories.
