Victor Hugo wrote a great novel, Les Miserables. The novel opens with a young man named John Valjean, who had been unjustly imprisoned for seven years for a small offense. He left the prison with a rage in his soul. In the musical this is portrayed in the opening scenes as Valjean tries to find somewhere to fit in. He can’t fit and he is constantly shunned. As a parolee, he’s treated badly. His anger builds and builds.One night he goes to the home of a monsignor. He is given a meal and invited to spend the night. While everyone is sleeping, Jean Valjean sees some silver candlesticks and cutlery. He steals the cutlery and goes out into the street. The police catch him and bring him back to the monsignor. When the monsignor sees the young man, he sees something no one else sees. He sees Valjean through the eyes of Christ and with the love of Christ. Hence, the monsignor did a very surprising thing. He told the police that he gave the cutlery to Valjean and then he asked Valjean why
he didn’t take the candlesticks, too. Let me read you Victor Hugo’s incredible portrayal of that moving scene. “Jean Valjean was trembling in all his limbs; he took the two candlesticks mechanically, and with wandering looks. Now,’ said the priest, ‘go in peace.’
‘And when you return, my friend, it is unnecessary to pass through the garden, for you can always enter, day or night, by the front door, which is only latched.’ Then, turning to the police, he said, ‘Gentlemen, you can retire.’ - They did so and Valjean looked as if he would faint.The priest walked up to him and said, ‘Never forget that you have promised me to employ this money in becoming an honest man.’ Valjean
who had no recollection of having promised anything stood silent.
Shown grace beyond measure, Valjean made a fresh start and eventually became a wealthy factory owner who promised a dying woman that he would provide for her young daughter. He made good on his promise. Recognizing that Valjean had served his time, the monsignor didn’t hold his past against him. John Valjean was transformed by the grace, the unmerited favor, that the monsignor bestowed upon him. That is exactly what God’s grace is supposed to accomplish
in our lives; transformation. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t always accomplish such. When it doesn’t then we are guilty of abusing God’s grace. Although we have been saved by God’s grace, that is not its only purpose. God also intends that His grace transform us.
It should change us, making us more and more like Christ.
God loves us too much to leave us as we are.
2 Corinthians 5:17 declares that “IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION, THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW HAS COME.” When we come to Christ and are saved by grace, this grace ultimately transforms us. Little by little we think and act differently. Speaking of those who have received Christ and experienced God’s saving grace,Romans 8:29 says that God has, “….PREDESTINED THEM TO BECOME CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS
SON.” Christ-likeness is God’s desire for each one of us. As we mature in the faith we should reflect
more and more of the character and qualities
of Christ. Referring to this transformation, Paul
says in Philippians 2:5 that we are to, “…HAVE THE MIND (OR CHARACTER) OF CHRIST” In other words, Christ’s love, humility, compassion and righteousness should be more and more evident in our lives.
TEXT
Through the life of its human author, our text illustrates the transforming power of grace.Writing in the Gospel that bears his name, the apostle John said in vs. 14 of chapter 1 that Jesus was full of “GRACE AND TRUTH.” During their earthly years with the Lord the apostles noticed something remarkably different about Him. Then in vs. 16 he says, “…OF CHRIST’S FULLNESS WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED…. GRACE UPON GRACE.”
John knew firsthand what he was talking about. Christ’s grace rubbed off on him, changing him, making him a far different person as it did all of the
apostles. Christ’s ways became their ways. They adopted His values, standards and perspectives. Christ’s grace as seen in His love and compassion made them more loving and compassionate. The outpouring of God’s grace in their lives made them more desirous and willing to possess the character of Christ.
In our text John says, “….OF CHRIST’S FULNESS WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED….GRACE UPON GRACE.”The meaning of “grace upon grace” is “one blessing after another. ”The lives of John and Peter and the other apostles were transformed by the grace of God in Christ. Take John for instance. He was the man who, along with his brother James, was referred to by Jesus in Mark 3:7 as “THE SONS OF THUNDER.” He was tempestuous, brash, firey, and angry. John was the one who when angered by some Samaritans, wanted Jesus to, “….COMMAND FIRE TO COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO CONSUME THEM….” and their entire village. John was anything but loving,
compassionate or caring.
Christ’s grace, however, rubbed off on him. Christ’s love, warmth, compassion and acceptance became John’s.
Christ’s righteous and holy ways became John’s. Changed by God’s grace, John went on to become a very loving, kind, thoughtful and compassionate man. In fact, he went on to become the author of the book of 1
John which is often referred to as an epistle of love.
God’s grace changed him, making him more Christ-like.
By the end of the first century the ministry of John and countless others who had been transformed by grace, sent shock waves throughout the Roman world. Changed by Christ, their lives had an incredible impact for good. That is the way it is supposed
to be.
History tells the story of an attempted assassination of the first Queen Elizabeth. A woman who sought to kill the queen hid herself in the queen’s boudoir, awaiting the moment she would stab the queen to death.
She did not realize that the queen’s attendants would be very careful to search the rooms before her majesty was permitted to retire.Found hidden among the arments she was disarmed and brought before the queen. The would-be assassin realized that her case was hopeless.
She, therefore, threw herself down on her knees and
begged the queen to have compassion on her, to show her grace. To make a long story short, an incredible
thing happened as the queen eventually said to her,
“I pardon you out of my grace.” Amazingly, she continued on as a servant and history tells us that from that moment on Queen Elizabeth never had a more faithful and devoted servant than that woman
who had intended to take her life.That is exactly what the grace of God does in our lives, if we have truly experienced it. It transforms us into His faithful, devoted servants.
Motivated and empowered by God’s grace, we become as Scripture says, “NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST JESUS” God’s grace is intended to transform you and me. “IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION, THE OLD HAS COME, THE NEW HAS COME.” Once we come to Christ and receive Him as our Savior and Lord, God is then daily at work awakening grace within us, perfecting our character, making us more like Christ. But that doesn’t always happen in the lives of believers.Perhaps you are saying, “His grace isn’t transforming me!” I haven’t seen many changes in my character.” The problem is that we often fail to give God’s transforming grace a chance.
Theologian R.C. Sproul spells out the major reason why many believers are not transformed by God’s amazing grace. He makes his point by playing with the words from one of the great classics in American
film history. In the film, “My Fair Lady” there is the famous song, “I’ve Grown Accustomed to His Face.”
Dr. Sproul says that the song of modern Christianity is “We’ve Grown Accustomed to His Grace.” He says, that we’re in danger of having calluses on our
hearts. We are no longer amazed by God’s incredible grace. We easily take it for granted and overlook its
transforming power.And when our awareness of God’s
amazing grace diminishes we hinder the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives as He seeks to change us for the better. We then fail to grow in Christ as we should.
We fail to become “CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST” as we should.
Speaking of this serious and common problem, Paul says in Romans 6:1: “WHAT SHALL WE SAY, THEN? SHALL WE GO ON SINNING THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND?” In the very next verse Paul answers his rhetorical question by emphatically saying, “BY NO MEANS! GOD FORBID.”
Some believers in Paul’s day erroneously thought that if they continued on in their old sinful ways, divine grace would have more of an opportunity to display itself. The apostle shows his horror at such a suggestion when he says, “BY NO MEANS" or “GOD
FORBID.” That is abusing God’s grace. The opposite should occur.Touched and moved by the amazing grace of God we should be motivated and empowered to avoid our old sinful ways and live for the Lord.
The indwelling Spirit of God uses our awareness of God’s amazing grace to change us. The Holy Spirit uses God’s grace to motivate and empower us to obey and follow Christ in even the most difficult of circumstances. This truth is illustrated in the life of Joseph in Genesis 39. Repeatedly tempted by Potiphar’s wife to act immorally, Joseph steadfastly refused to yield to sin, saying,“….HOW CAN I DO THIS GREAT WICKEDNESS, AND SIN AGAINST GOD?” As Joseph thought about God’s grace in his life, God’s forgiveness, favor and blessings, he was motivated and empowered to say no to sin and to obey the Lord. This principle is simple yet powerful. As we continually reflect upon and stand amazed at God’s forgiveness, favor and blessing, it becomes easier to resist sin.
We then discover that slowly but surely our lives change for the better as we become “CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.”
This principle is profound and life-changing. God’s grace, His unmerited favor, changes us, for instance, as it humbles us. Accepted, forgiven and made “joint heirs with Christ” we cannot help but be humbled.
This humility turns us into different and far better people. It enhances our relationship with God and with others. Humility makes us more accepting and understanding of others. It makes us less critical and much more supportive. It helps us to become, literally “a new creation” or a new person. Another way in which God’s grace changes us is that it makes us more thankful. Reflecting upon the forgiveness
and eternal life that we have in Christ, we cannot help but be filled with gratitude. A grateful heart transforms us, making our lives infinitely better.
The joyful gratitude for what we do have frees us from resentment and jealousy over what we don’t have. It motivates us to yield our lives in loving surrender to the Lord. In so doing we become “a new creation.”
When I think about God’s amazing grace in my life, I am motivated and empowered to live differently. When I really think about God’s grace, His forgiveness of my sins, how can I not forgive others? When I think of His acceptance of me, in spite of my faults, how can I not accept others? When I focus in on His untold blessings in my life, it is much easier to obey Him no matter what the cost. When I dwell upon God’s unmerited favor, I am motivated and empowered to live a life that is pleasing in His sight. There can be no doubt about it, in dozens of different ways, God’s grace will transform us if we allow it to. It enables us to become “A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST” elevating our lives to a higher and more noble and more satisfying plain.
Chuck Colson tells about a visit he made with some Christian laymen to the death row at Indiana Sate Penitentiary. Twenty men were there awaiting execution and with them were 20 Christian volunteers, singing, praying and sharing Christ. Two men especially caught Colson’s attention as they talked and prayed together.
One was an inmate, a convicted murderer.He was waiting to die. The other was a Christian volunteer who had
established a caring relationship with the convicted killer. The incredible thing about the incident was
that the volunteer was the judge who had sentenced the inmate to the death penalty. Since going to prison the inmate had become a Christian; through Christ he experienced God’s transforming grace. This once hate filled, angry, vindictive man became a grace-giver, passing on God’s grace by loving and forgiving others. He was even able to forgive the judge who had sentenced him. Grace transforms.
We must always remember, that God, in His grace, uses the spiritual disciplines (prayer,worship, fellowship and the study of his Word) to transform us.We must, therefore, make time for these spiritual disciplines.
Praying and reading Scripture are of vital importance .
Worship and fellowship are not optional.As we make time for these much needed activities, God works mightily in our lives.Our lives change for the better.
CONCLUSION
An estimated 500,000 tons of water rush over Niagara Falls every minute. On March 29, 1948, the falls suddenly stopped. People living within the sound of the falls were awakened by the overwhelming silence.
They believed it was a sign that the world was coming to an end. It was thirty hours before the rush of water resumed. What happened? Heavy winds had set the ice fields of Lake Erie in motion. Tons of ice jammed the Niagara River entrance near Buffalo and stopped the flow of the river until the ice shifted again.
The flow of God’s transforming grace in our lives can be blocked by cold difference.
As we, however, allow ourselves to be moved and motivated by God’s amazing grace, wonderful, life-giving changes occur. We need not journey through life victimized by our weaknesses and shortcomings. Bad attitudes, harmful habits, uncontrolled temper, lust, greed, envy and a host of other sins need not get the best of us.Attitudes, habits, priorities values, behavior, and allegiances can change.Sometimes it is three steps forward and two steps backwards. Nevertheless, over the long haul transformation occurs. Christ-likeness is a life-long process. Oh, the victory, peace and joy that comes to those who allow God’s grace to change them, enabling them to “CONFORM TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.”
