GRACE: GOD’S GIFT OF LOVE
EPHESIANS 2:1-10
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE VALENTINE AND MATTERS OF THE HEART. I’M SURE THAT THIS WEEK THERE WILL BE MILLIONS OF BOXES OF CANDY, FLOWERS, AND CARDS PURCHASED FOR YOUR SPECIAL VALENTINE.
I’M REMINDED OF A STORY OF A BOY WHO HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS GIRL TO GO OUT ON A DATE. SHE FINALLY SAID YES TO HIM AND INVITED HIM FOR A FAMILY DINNER.
THE BOY WALKED INTO THE DRUG STORE AND BOUGHT THREE BOXES OF CANDY. HE TOLD THE PHARMICIST HIS PLAN. IF SHE JUST HOLDS HANDS WITH ME, I’LL GIVE HER THE SMALL BOX, IF SHE GIVES ME A PECK ON THE CHEEK, I’LL GIVE HER THE MIDDLE SIZED BOX. IF SHE GIVES ME A BIG PASSIONATE KISS I’LL GIVE HER THE BIG BOX.
WHEN HE ARRIVED AT HER HOUSE FOR DINNER HE WAS UNDERSTANDABLY NERVOUS. WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE BLESSING, HE ASKED IF HE COULD PRAY. “IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER” THE GIRL SAID, “WHEN DID YOU BECOME SO RELIGIOUS?” “WHEN I SAW THAT YOUR FATHER WAS THE PHARMICIST AT THE DRUG STORE!” HE REPLIED.
TODAY I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE GREATEST GIFT OF LOVE YOU AND I CAN RECEIVE. IT IS THE GIFT THAT LED CHRIST TO GO TO CALVARY, AND THAT IS THE GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE.
GRACE HAS BEEN USED FOR MANY THINGS. WE SAY “GRACE” BEFORE A MEAL, WE NAME CHILDREN GRACE, WE SAY THAT A PERSON IS GRACEFUL IN DANCE FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEIR MOVEMENTS ARE SMOOTH AND APPEALING TO THE EYE. EACH OF THESE ARE FAR FROM THE DEFINITION OF GRACE THAT THE BIBLE PUTS FORWARD.
PAUL IN HIS TEACHING TO THE EPHESIAN CHURCH, OFFERS GREAT AND CONCLUSIVE TEACHING ON GOD’S GRACE TO US. FOR PAUL, GRACE IS THE ESSENCE OF GOD’S DECISIVE SAVING ACT IN JESUS CHRIST, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT CALVARY, BUT ALSO OF ALL IT’S CONSEQUENCES IN THE PAST AND FUTURE.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO USE THIS PASSAGE IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER TWO TO DO THREE THINGS:
1. POINT US TOWARD A DEFINITION OF GRACE
2. ESTABLISH WHY WE NEED GOD’S GRACE
3. WE WILL LOOK AT SOME OF THE MIRACLE THAT IS GOD’S GRACE IN OUR LIVES.
POINT ONE: DEFINING GOD’S GRACE
GRACE IS A VERY DIFFICULT TERM TO DEFINE, NOT BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, BUT BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO APPLY WHAT WE UNDERSTAND. OUR DIFFICULTY STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT GRACE IS AN UNDESERVED GIFT. WE WANT GRACE FOR OURSELVES, BUT GIVING GRACE CAN SOMETIMES BE ANOTHER MATTER. EVEN WITNESSING SOMEONE RECEIVING GRACE THAT WE FEEL DOESN’T DESERVE IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT.
THERE IS GREAT CONFUSION BETWEEN GRACE AND MERCY. GRACE IS AN ACTION WORD AND IS THE FULFILLMENT OF MERCY. ONE PERSON HAS SAID:
“JUSTICE IS GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE, MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE, GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DO NOT DESERVE.”
GRACE IS UNDESERVED KINDNESS. IT IS EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING TO THOSE WHO DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING.
GRACE HAS BEEN DEFINED AS THE UNMERITED LOVE AND FAVOR OF GOD, BUT I INTEND TO SHOW YOU THAT IT IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT, AS YOU WILL SOON SEE.
OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GRACE MUST GO BACK TO IT’S OLD HEBREW TERM “CHEN” WHICH MEANT TO “BEND DOWN, TO STOOP”. IT IN TIME BECAME THE IDEA OF CONDESCENDING FAVOR.
NOW THE GREEK WORD THAT PAUL USES IN Vv. 8-9 FOR GRACE IS “CHARITI”, FROM THE ROOT “CHARIS” WHICH MEANS KINDNESS GIFT, GOODWILL, FAVOR. WE GET OUR ENGLISH WORD CHARITY FROM IT.
WHEN WE BLEND THESE IDEAS TOGETHER WE SEE GRACE AS “A KINDNESS, OR GOODWILL, STOOPING DOWN FROM ABOVE.”
DONALD BARKHOUSE SAID:
“LOVE THAT GOES UPWARD IS WORSHIP. LOVE THAT DOES OUTWARD IS AFFECTION. LOVE THAT STOOPS DOWNWARD IS GRACE.”
THE KEY WORD TO UNDERSTANDING GRACE IS THE WORD “UNDESERVED”. GRACE MEANS THE COMPLETELY UNDESERVED, LOVING COMMITMENT OF GOD TO US. FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO US, BUT ROOTED IN HIS NATURE, GOD GIVES HIMSELF TO US, ATTACHES HIMSELF TO US, AND ACTS TO RESCUE US.
GOD LOVES US BECAUSE THAT IS HIS NATURE. GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU IS NOT BASED ON YOU OR YOUR WORTHINESS. THE WORD “LOVE” USED IN THIS PASSAGE SPEAKS OF AN AFFECTION AND CHARITABLENESS AND COMMITMENT TOWARD US.
COUPLED WITH GOD’S MERCY, HIS LOVE PRODUCES A DEPTH OF COMPASSION THAT WE CANNOT EVEN COMPREHEND. WE CAN ONLY STAND IN AWE THAT THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSE WOULD CONSIDER EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY WITH SUCH GREAT DELIGHT AND FONDNESS.
JOHN 15:13: GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS: TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR ONE’S FRIENDS
GOD GAVE HIS SON BECAUSE HE LOVED US. JESUS DIED ON CALVARY BECAUSE HE LOVED US. GOD’S LOVE IS THE STARTING POINT FOR ANY JOURNEY INTO THE REALM OF GOD’S AMAZING GRACE.
PHILIP YANCY:
“GRACE MEANS THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE GOD LOVE US MORE – NO AMOUNT OF SPIRITUAL CALISTHENICS AND RENUNCIATIONS, NO AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM SEMINARIES, NO AMOUNT OF CRUSADING ON BEHALF OF RIGHTEOUS CAUSES. AND GRACE MEANS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE GOD LOVE US LESS – NO AMOUNT OF RACISM OR PRIDE, PORNOGRAPHY OR ADULTERY, OR EVEN MURDER. GRACE MEANS THAT GOD ALREADY LOVES US AS MUCH AS AN INFINITE GOD COULD POSSIBLE LOVE.”
A DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF GOD’S GRACE THAT IS OFTEN NEGLECTED IS THE SUSTAINING NATURE OF GOD’S GRACE. GOD’S GRACE NOT ONLY SAVES US, AS Vv. 8-9 TEACH, BUT IT ENABLES US TO SERVE AND LOVE HIM IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH CHRIST, THAT LOVE INVADES EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE. THE DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD AND TO GROW IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM IS SO OVERWEALMING THAT THE THOUGHT OF WALKING AWAY FROM IT SHOULD NEVER ENTER YOUR MIND.
GRACE THEN TO ME IS MORE THAN “THE UNMERITED LOVE AND FAVOR OF GOD.”
IT IS: “THE UNMERITED LOVE AND FAVOR OF GOD, ACTING ON OUR BEHALF NOW AND FOREVER.”
SUPPOSE YOU HAD A WIFE AND FAMILY. NOW SUPPOSE SOMEONE BREAKS INTO YOUR HOUSE, AND THAT IN THE COURSE OF THE ROBBERY, THAT PERSON KILLS YOUR CHILD. YOU HAVE THREE OPTIONS:
1. YOU COULD HUNT HIM DOWN AND KILL HIM – THATS VENGENCE.
2. YOU COULD ALLOW THE POLICE TO DO THEIR JOBS, AND THE PERSON IS APPREHENDED AND CHARGED – THAT’S JUSTICE.
3. YOU COULD TAKE HIM INTO YOUR HOME AND ADOPT THEM AS YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER – THAT’S GRACE.
POINT TWO: THE NEED OF GRACE
THE FIRST VERSES OF OUR PASSAGES INDICATE THE NEED FOR GRACE ON OUR BEHALF.
VERSE ONE IS TELLING US THAT WE ARE ALL SPIRITUALLY DEAD IN OUR SINS. THE GREEK WORDS “ONTAS” AND “NEKROUS” SAYS THAT WE ARE ALL IDENTICAL, COMPLETELY INDIFFERENT AND INEFFECTIVE, DUE TO OUR SINFUL STATE.
THE BIBLE IS CLEAR THAT WE ARE ALL SPIRITUALLY DEAD IN OUR SINFUL NATURE.
ROMANS 3:10-12:
AS IT IS WRITTEN: “THERE IS NO ONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NO ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NO ONE WHO SEEKS GOD. 12 ALL HAVE TURNED AWAY, THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE.”
THE SIN NATURE WAS PASSED ON TO ALL OF US AS A RESULT OF THE FALL. WE ALL STAND CONDEMNED TO A LOST ETERNITY AS A RESULT OF WHAT ADAM AND EVE DID.
ROMANS 5:12: THEREFORE, JUST AS SIN ENTERED THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN, AND DEATH THROUGH SIN, AND IN THIS WAY DEATH CAME TO ALL PEOPLE, BECAUSE ALL SINNED—
OUR NATURE AND PROPENSITY IS TO SIN, WE FIND OURSELVES SEPARATED FROM A LOVING GOD, CONDEMNED TO DIE ETERNALLY AND INCAPABLE OF SAVING OURSELVES.
WE ARE INCAPABLE OF SAVING OURSELVES BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE SPIRITUAL LIFE. WE ARE DEAD SPIRITUALLY. THIS IS STATED PLAINLY IN Vvs. 2-3 OF OUR PASSAGES. HERE WE FIND THAT WE ARE DISOBEDIENT TO THE THINGS OF GOD. WE ARE TOLD THAT WE ARE DEPRAVED AND TO BE DEPRAVED MEANS THAT WE ARE INCAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING GOOD.
NOW WE LIKE TO PLAY A GAME THAT I LIKE TO CALL THE OTHER GUY. THE BASIS OF THE GAME IS TO SHOW THAT I AM NOT AS BAD AS THE OTHER GUY. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALL THAT BAD. IN ORDER TO PLAY THE GAME YOU MUST TAKE A PRE-TEST, SO HERE IT IS:
1. HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO EVEN THOUGH YOU KNEW THAT GOD SAID YOU SHOULDN’T DO THAT?
2. HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING YOU WOULD NOT WANT GOD TO SEE YOU DOING?
3. HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT YOUR MOTHER SEE YOU DOING?
4. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT THAT SINCE YOU WERE BETTER THAN SO-AND-SO, THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE PROMOTION OR THE AWARD OR THE THANKS THAT THEY GOT?
5. HAVE YOU EVER NOT TOLD THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH IN ORDER TO SAVE YOUR SKIN?
6. HAVE YOU EVER LINGERED A LITTLE LONGER IN A ROMANTIC GAZE AT SOMEONE AND WONDERED? NEED I SAY MORE?
THE STRANGE THING ABOUT THIS GAME IS THAT I HAVE YET TO PLAY IT AS NOONE CAN PASS THE PRE-TEST.
WE ARE DEAD, DISOBEDIENT, DEPRAVED, AND DOOMED IN OUR SINFUL NATURE.
VERSE 3 SAYS THAT WE ARE DOOMED IN OUR SINFUL STATE. WE ARE OBJECTS OF WRATH NOT FROM MAN, BUT FROM GOD.
ROMANS 6:23: FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH
SIN IS COSTLY AND ALWAYS REQUIRES DEATH.
HEBREWS 9:22: IN FACT, THE LAW REQUIRES THAT NEARLY EVERYTHING BE CLEANSED WITH BLOOD, AND WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IT WAS THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS OFFERED IN SUBSTITUTION FOR THE OFFERER. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IT WAS JESUS’ SAVCRIFICE ON THE CROSS. IT WAS HIS PERFECT SACRIFICE, HIS SHED BLOOD, THAT BOUGHT FOR US THE OPPORTUNITY OF FORGIVENESS SHOULD WE ACCEPT HIM AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:21: GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
SIN HAS LEFT US TOTALLY DOOMED TO AN ETERNITY APART FROM CHRIST IN HELL. IT IS A PUNISHMENT THAT WE DESERVE AND IS JUST.
POINT THREE: THE MIRACLE OF GRACE
HAD PAUL STOPPED AT VERSE 3 WE WOULD RIGHTLY BE MOST DISAPPOINTED AND FORELORN. THIS PASSAGE IS NOT FINISHED YET. LOOK AT VERSE 4:
EPHESIANS 2:4-5:
BUT BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US, GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, 5 MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN TRANSGRESSIONS—IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED.
ONE THING I WANT YOU TO NOTICE IN THE FIRST THREE VERSES IS THAT PAUL SPEAKS IN THE PAST TENSE. “YOU WERE DOOMED,” “YOU WERE DEAD”.
IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN TODAY THE WONDERFUL GRACE OF GOD HAS LIFTED YOU FROM THE MIRES OF SINFUL DESPAIR AND PLACED YOU WITHIN HIS HEAVENLY CARE.
CONSIDER THE ACCOUNT OF LAZARUS. LAZARUS WAS DEAD FOUR DAYS. HE DID NOT GO TO JESUS, JESUS BROUGHT LIFE TO HIM. JESUS DID NOT WAIT FOR US TO COME BEGGING TO HIM FOR SALVATION, HE BROUGHT GRACE TO US. JESUS CALLED LAZARUS BY NAME TO BE RESURRECTED. IN THE SAME WAY HE CALLS EACH OF US BY NAME TO RECEIVE HIS GRACE. JESUS NOT ONLY KNOWS YOU HE LOVES YOU. HE LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO LEAVE YOU DEAD IN YOUR SINS. JESUS DID NOT LET LAZARUS STAY THE WAY THAT HE WAS. WHEN HE RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD, HE WOULD NOT ALLOW DEATH TO CONTINUE TO BIND HIM. “TAKE THE GRAVE CLOTHSE OFF LAZARUS AND LET HIM GO!” THE STENCH OF DEATH CANNOT STAY ON ONE RAISED BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
THE GRACE OF GOD WILL TRANSFORM OUR LIVES AND WE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. PEOPLE WILL KNOW THAT WE ARE SAVED, THEY WILL KNOW THAT WE ARE SANCTIFIED, AND WE WILL KNOW THAT WE ARE SUSTAINED BY HIS GRACE UNTIL WE MEET HIM FACE TO FACE IN GLORY.
THE PERSON WHO TRULY KNOWS THE GRACE OF GOD WILL NEVER TURN THEIR BACKS ON HIM. SALVATION IS A WONDERFUL LOVE STORY THAT WILL NEVER END.
PAUL SAYS IN
EPHESIANS 1:7-8:
IN HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE 8 THAT HE LAVISHED ON US.
THE MIRACLE OF GOD’S GRACE IS THAT HE MADE US ALIVE TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
JOHN 10:10: THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL.
CONCLUSION:
IT IS IN THE WONDERFUL GRACE OF GOD THAT WE GAIN THE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION. THE ASSURANCE THAT I AM SPEAKING OF, IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IF I SHOULD DIE TODAY, I KNOW BECAUSE CHRIST IS MY SAVIOR THAT I WOULD GO INTO HIS PRESENCE. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND AT ALL, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE NO DOUBT IN YOURS.
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.
THIS SHALL IS DEFINITIVE AND CONCLUSIVE. YOU CAN KNOW, YOUR FAMILY CAN KNOW, THE PEOPLE YOU ARE AROUND CAN KNOW THE BLESSED PROMISE THAT TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.
I LOVE THE FAITH OF THE HYMNWRITERS. FANNY CROSBY WROTE OVER 9000 HYMNS, AND ALTHOUGH BLINDED BY AN ILLNESS AT THE AGE OF 6 WEEKS SHE NEVER BECAME BITTER. ONE TIME A PREACHER SYMPATHETICALLY REMARKED, “I THINK IT’S A GREAT PITY THAT THE MASTER DID NOT GIVE YOU SIGHT WHEN HE SHOWERED SO MANY GIFTS UPON YOU.” SHE REPLIED QUICKLY “DO YOU KNOW THAT IF AT BIRTH I HAD BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ONE PETITION, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT I SHOULD BE BORN BLIND?” “WHY” ASKED THE SURPRISED CLERGYMAN. “BECAUSE WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN, THE FIRST FACE THAT SHALL EVER GLADDEN MY SIGHT WILL BE THAT OF MY SAVIOR.”
AS ANOTHER HYMNWRITER WROTE, “ONLY THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE WILL DOUBT THE MARVELOUS, INFINITE, MATCHLESS GRACE OF THE LORD.”
