Grace Greater Than All Our Sins Hebrews 6: 1-12
The first verses portrays those who would know truth & conviction yet deny Jesus and follow after false confession (Judaism)
vs.9 then brings us to a place where sinful meets Grace (Better Things)
It is a gift that transcends time, space, religion, humanity, - all that can bind
It goes beyond all that we can attain – "of God" – not the same as "gifts"
John 4- Woman at the well is given it
Acts 8- Simon the sorcerer tries to buy it
Romans 5- Given through Jesus
Romans 6:23- The gift contains eternal life
Eph 2:8-9 Described as GRACE
What is Grace? What do we already know?
1.A Gift of God
2.Given through Jesus
3.Provides eternal life
(SALVATION)
vs.9 shows that it goes farther than just this- "Better Things...accompany Salvation"
What are some of these things?
1.Security.
Watchman Nee.- new convert "afraid of losing salvation"- reply, Dog Faithful,house trained, obedient, never makes a mess, A Pure Delight.... Son- messy, throws food, dirtys clothes, not very obedient- Who’s gonna inherit my kingdom?
My Son-
Galatians 4:6-7 (And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our heart crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.) NASB.
God doesn’t look at our perfection but our adoption.
This opens such a great door – Prayer
Phil 4:6-7 (Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.) NASB
Why is this security?
My son, Aaron in pool- farther I go toward the deep end the harder he holds on- yet the water is over his head at all times
THIS LIFE IS OVER OUR HEADS!!
2.Separation
H.A. Ironside- picked up an Indian convert to take to a Bible conference.
Asked what the Indian made of Law and Grace-
Saw a sign on a street "Do not spit here"-- everyone had !
They visited a fine house, NO SIGN, LOOKED ALL OVER FOR SPIT- NO SPIT, How funny- where the sign was there they spitted -here no law; But because they love THE HOUSE and THE OWNERS no one spits. Rules do not change a person, Situations Change people.
OUR NEW SITUATION
Romans 6:1-2 (What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound? God Forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?)KJV
How can we that move from human morality to grace continue to sin.
Noah & the Ark- Those that had come aboard didn’t ask to have a perch on the side of the ship- they came in and enjoyed all the benefits of the Salvation that was given unto them.
Husband & Wife- No Love, Husband had a list of demands-wife followed them (very detailed). Husband finally died- wife fell in love. New couple was a picture of love- Got Married. They served each other- Wife found old husband’s list -it dawned on her – she’s doing the same chores. Yet now its out of Love, because of a relationship. Before the relationship Did not exist only work. Now the relationship brings about the work.
ETHICS cannot bring about the relationship – the relationship brings the meaning.
"Not By Works"
Ethics are human ideas- Grace is God’s proven way- therefore we can trust Him enough to separate ourselves.
Romans 12:1-2 (I beseech ye therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God) KJV
You may be saved, but are you set apart – This includes all of you
Eph 4:29 (Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers) KJV
The hardest part of us to controlled, yet it is the most important
(bywords, slander, gossip, etc.)
3.Service – It is Why we need security!,
It is the result of separation
John15:15-17 (Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.) KJV
WAIT- this says- "I don’t call you servants, but friends"
This looks like we are equal with Christ- of course this must prove the liberals who say that MAN IS GOD
BUT- look back at vs.14 (not read)
Jesus’ definition of friendship,
John 15:14 (Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you) KJV
What kind of friend is this??- sounds like a bully, sounds like a 1 sided relationship
Now we see that man is not God, but is under God’s hand
BUT-look back at vs.13 (not read)
Jesus’ version of his side of the relationship
John 15:13 (Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends) KJV
Now the truth comes out about our Lord
1.Yes He calls us friends
2.Yes He sees friends as followers of His will
3.However the gift of His Grace was a parental gift that requires no sign to make us do otherwise- because we love His house and its owner
This life is not our own- through God’s grace we realize that nothing can come in between His Great love-
Romans 8:35 (Who shall separate us from the love of Christ...) NASB
Indeed Salvation brings "better things"
through the greatest gift a friend has ever given!!
Grace Greater Than Our Sin- Julia H. Johnston 1910 - # 164 Bapt. Hymnal
3rd verse
"Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe; You who are longing to see His face, will you this moment His grace receive? 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."
Will you partake today??
