WHAT IS RADICAL HYPER GRACE?
Introduction:
During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods' appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. "What's the rumpus about?" he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."
After some discussion, the conferees had to agree. The notion of God's love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and the Muslim code of law -- each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God's love unconditional.
Grace basically is undeserved favor.
(In Tagalog Biyaya, kagandahang loob, grasya sa hindi karapatdapat)
Grace is about receiving God's nature, His Spirit and His empowerment to live the life He has called us to live. This is the life of faith, love, hope, truth and being led by the Spirit. It's impossible to live this life through the law. It can only be done through grace. Grace is what causes us to access God's ability and strength, and reign in this life.
Grace is Jesus saving you, forgiving you, blessing you, empowering you to live His life in you, even if you are undeserving.
I. Grace is not just a subject/attributes of God Grace is Jesus personified.
Grace is not just a doctrine, a lesson, an attribute of God but a Person and His name is Jesus.
Grace is not one of God’s blessings but all of them wrapped up together in Christ.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
For the grace of God has appeared to all men... Jesus is the Word that became flesh.
Titus 2:11
II. Grace is not just for salvation, we are saved by grace and kept by grace.
Just as we do not enter the Christian life by our own works, it is not also our deeds and performances that keep and sustain our Christian life. It’s all the works of God, even our faith are freely given.
Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
III. Grace is not a license to sin, Grace empowers us over sin.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Titus:2:11-12
IV. The gospel is the good news of the grace of God
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24
V. Important things about the grace of God.
1. Grace produces divine enablement 1 Corinthians 15:10
2. Grace can strengthen us in our weakness 2 Corinthians 12:9
3. Grace can give one all good things Psalms 84:11
4. Grace can men to repentance Zechariah 12:10
5. Grace can impart great blessings Acts 4:33
6. Grace can bring salvation Titus 2:11
7. Grace can impart faith Acts 18:27
8. Grace can justify Romans 3:24
9. Grace can overcome sin Romans 5:20
10. Grace can give boldness Romans 15:15
11. Grace can give power 1 Corinthians 15:10
12. Grace can establish you against false teachings Hebrews 13:9
13. Grace is what separates true Christianity from the rest of all the religions in the world.
In Romans 5:20 ...but where sin abounds grace super abounds
the Greek charis huperperisseuo means grace hyper, exceed bounds, overflow
