MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER
RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK
There is a very interesting Greek word in the Bible that we translate into the English word "grace." And this word "grace" is used time & time again throughout the New Testament.
In fact, let's turn to the Book of Ephesians & see just a few of the places where it is used. Ephesians 1:2, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 1:6-8, "...to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgive-ness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."
Ephesians 2:4 5, "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - its is by grace you have been saved."
Ephesians 2:8-9, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 4:7, "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it."
"Grace" sounds like a very important word. But what does it mean?
You have probably heard before that "grace" means "unmerited favor." But what exactly does that mean? Maybe this definition will help make it a little easier to understand: "Grace is giving or receiving something that is needed but not deserved."
ILL. A Sunday School teacher by the name of Lindsay heard this definition of grace, & was quite impressed with its clarity & simplicity. So he tried it out on his class of Juniors. He repeated this definition to them several times, but it didn't seem to sink in very well.
The next day he was walking down the street, making his way through the piles of snow & slush. Bobby, one of the boys in his S.S. class, saw him coming, ducked behind a hedge & made a couple of snowballs.
Lindsay said, "When I went past him he fired away. But he missed my back & hit me right on the ear. I saw stars, & my hat flew into the mud. Bobby saw what he had done, bolted from the hedge & ran for home.
"When my head cleared, I was sorely tempted to try to catch him & whale the daylights out of him, or at least go & tell his father. But then I thought of the S.S. lesson, & decided to practice grace on him.
"He needed a fishing pole, for he had borrowed mine at times, so I bought him a three piece rod & took it by his home. I guess Bobby saw me coming, for he was nowhere around when I arrived.
"I handed it to his mother & told her to give it to Bobby for a birthday present & to tell him that I knew his birthday was two months off. I asked her particularly to tell him that I knew he needed a fishing pole.
"About an hour later, there was a timid knock on my door, & when I opened it, Bobby held the fishing pole out to me. He said, 'I brought your fishing pole back. I can't take it.'
"When I asked him, 'Why?' he answered, "If you had known it was me that hit you in the ear with that snowball, you wouldn't have given it to me.'
"My answer startled him. I said, 'That's why I gave it to you, Bobby.' 'I don't understand.' he replied."
"Bobby, what was the S.S. lesson about yesterday?" "I don't remember."
"I said, 'It was about grace, & grace is giving or receiving something that is needed but not deserved.' His eyes brightened, & a slow grin spread over his face as he began to understand.
"I said, 'All right, Bobby question & answer What is grace?'
"Quick as a flash he answered, 'It's a fishing pole!' I said, 'That's right, Bobby. It's a fishing pole when you need a fishing pole & don't deserve it.'"
That definition fits beautifully into many places where the word "grace" is used in the N.T.
I. LOOK AT THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS
A. First, let's look at the teachings of Jesus. The two most beautiful stories that Jesus ever told revolve around the theme of "grace."
ILL. In the story of the prodigal son the word "grace" does not appear, but the word "deserve" does. The prodigal son said, "I will set out and go back to my father & say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.'" (Luke 15:18-19)
Suppose his father had agreed to that? Then the story of the prodigal son would not have been worth telling. I am sure that the most wonderful sound that boy ever heard was the word "son" when the father told the servants to bring a robe & some sandals & a ring for his son who had been lost & now was found.
His father gave him not what he deserved but what he needed. His great need was not sandals or a robe, or a ring. His great need was to hear his father call him "son" & welcome him home lovingly. The whole story revolves around "grace."
ILL. Look at the story of the good Samaritan. When the Samaritan went down that road from Jerusalem to Jericho, he found a Jew who needed help.
The Jew didn't deserve anything from the Samaritan, for the Jews treated the Samaritans terribly. When they passed a Samaritan, they would cross over to the other side of the road, & oftentimes they would curse them & spit in their general direction.
But this Samaritan didn't give the Jew what he deserved, but what he needed. He practiced grace on him. The whole story centers on the theme of "grace."
ILL. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said in effect, "Love your enemies. Don't give them what they deserve, but what they need. If people despitefully use you & persecute you, don't treat them despitefully; don't give them what they deserve, but give them what they need, & pray for them.
"Don't do good just to people who do good to you, but do good to them that do evil to you. Give them what they need. If someone smites you on the right cheek, don't give him what he deserves, but turn the other cheek. If someone compels you to go with him one mile, don't wait for a chance to get even, but go with him two."
B. Not only in the teachings of Jesus do we find this principle, but we find it throughout the whole Bible.
ILL. In 2 Kings we see another illustration of grace. The Syrians were constantly attacking Israel. But every attack failed because God was revealing the plans of the Syrian army to the prophet Elisha. Then Elisha told the king of Israel. who would immediately take steps to protect his people.
The king of Syria was so frustrated that he called his officers together & declared that there must be a traitor in their midst. But one of his officers was wiser than the others & told him that Elisha, the prophet of God, knew even the very words that the Syrian king said in private, & was passing them on to the king of Israel.
So the king of Syria sent a strong force to capture Elisha at his home in Dothan. But God blinded the soldiers, & while they were blind, Elisha came & led them into the capital of Israel & then asked God to open their eyes. And they saw that they were surrounded by the army of Israel.
The king of Israel was ready to kill them all, but Elisha stopped him. He told the king to give them food & treat them kindly & let them return to their master unharmed.
Now here is the last sentence in that account, 2 Kings 6:23 says, "So the bands of Syrians came no more into the land of Israel."
Elisha gave them not what they deserved but what they needed, & he ended a war. It is a great principle. It is the secret of much happiness. It is a pity that it isn't used more often.
II. THE ACTIONS OF JESUS
Next, look at the actions of Jesus. They also revolve around this word "grace." The world didn't deserve for Jesus to leave His heavenly home & come to earth & suffer, but the world needed Jesus very, very much.
ILL. One day they brought a woman taken in sin & threw her down into the dust in front of Jesus. A crowd gathered around.
A Pharisee asked, "What shall we do with her? "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" (John 8:5)
I think that Jesus looked at that Pharisee a long time, with pity & compassion on His face. Slowly He stooped & wrote in the dust, & then quietly said, "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)
I am sure there wasn't a word spoken in that crowd for a long time as they silently drifted away.
Jesus' last words to the woman were, "Neither do I condemn thee. Now go, and leave your life of sin." (John 8:11)
He gave her what she needed, not what she deserved. He practiced grace on her & in all probability completely changed her life.
ILL. But maybe the most wonderful incident of the grace of Jesus was at the end of his earthly life. As Jesus is being tried before Pilate, Roman soldiers take Him to the whipping post & tie His hands high above His head.
Then the whips lash out & with a sickening thud hit & cut into His bare back. Again & again the whips tear until the skin is cut to shreds & the blood trickles down over His garments.
A Roman soldier unties the ropes that hold Jesus to the post & Jesus slumps to the ground. They douse him with water & then bring a crown of sharp thorns & gingerly place it upon His head. And two of them probably laid a sword flat upon the crown of thorns & press down hard. A heartbreaking moan comes from the lips of Jesus, & blood runs down his face & neck.
Then they took Him through the streets & nailed Him to a cross. As they do, He lifted His face to heaven & earnestly prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)
Not what they deserved, but what they needed, Jesus gave to them. Jesus' whole life revolved around this one great principle of grace.
III. WHAT SHOULD THIS MEAN TO US?
What should all this mean to us? Does it mean that Jesus wants us to make grace a dominating principle in our lives?
What a difference that would make! Hatred would disappear. Heartbreaks would change into smiles. Worries & ulcers would be eliminated. Divorce courts would be covered with dust.
ILL. Let me close with this illustration. Joseph Parker & Charles Spurgeon were two great preachers in the same city. But their personalities were very different. Spurgeon was dynamic & fiery & quick tempered. Joseph Parker was gentle & quiet & sweet spirited.
Spurgeon's church ran a home for boys, & one day Parker said to a group of his men, "We ought to help Spurgeon with his orphanage, for there are times when the boys don't have proper clothes, & I am sure they could use more food."
It wasn't long until Spurgeon heard that Parker had talked about the boys' home, but he only heard part of the story, for he was told that Parker had complained that Spurgeon didn't provide the boys with enough food to eat or clothes to wear.
That hurt Spurgeon deeply, so on the next Sunday Spurgeon criticized Parker from the pulpit, & said some very caustic things. A newspaper reporter heard what he said & then went to Parker & asked if he intended to respond to Spurgeon's criticism. With a smile, Parker told the reporter "Yes, I will answer Spurgeon next Sunday morning."
The newspaper carried the story, & the next Sunday Parker's church building was packed. When the time came to receive the morning offering, Parker said, "I understand that Mr. Spurgeon is sick today & not able to be in his pulpit.
“This is the day that he normally takes up an offering in his church for the boys' home, & I suggest that we take up an offering for his boys' home here in this church, for he is doing a great work, & I am sure we would all like to have a part in it."
The offering plates had to be emptied three times before the offering was completed. Then the deacons put it in a big bag & took it over to Spurgeon's home & told him what Joseph Parker had said.
On the next Wednesday, Spurgeon came to Parker's study, put his arms around the great hearted preacher & said, "You have more of the spirit of Jesus than any man I know."
He had practiced grace on Spurgeon & had given him what he needed, not what he deserved.
INVITATION
