Grace that makes you say, “WOW!”
Illustration- Christian Conference in Britain, “oh that’s easy, its grace.”- C.S. Lewis
What do you think of when you hear the word grace?
In the Christian community we are surrounded by the word. I mean I go to a school named Grace Bible College, this church is a part of the Grace Gospel Fellowship and we all have sung songs such as Amazing Grace
We are constantly surrounded by this word, but do we truly understand the magnitude of grace…
Grace is an incredibly critical and important doctrine to our Christian faith.
This morning we are going to look at grace. We are going to look at his notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, absolutely unconditional.
In order, to get a good understanding of it we are going to look at some scenes in Jesus’ life.
Interestingly enough, Jesus never once used the word grace. Rather, he taught it and he lived it.
In looking at some instances of Jesus displaying this grace it is my hopes that we:
Proposition- Come to an understanding of God’s grace and then live it!
The first step in understanding God’s grace is realizing it is:
1) Not something we can EARN
This is a foreign idea because we live in a society that is based on earnings and rewards.
For example, we work tirelessly for a week or two, then anxiously await our hard earned paycheck. Correct me if I am wrong, but I have never heard of anyone going up to their boss after they receive their paychecks and saying, “thank you oh thank you for this undeserved gift. How can I possibly thank you enough.” No, this is not how it works. You earned that paycheck.
We are engrained with the idea: the more and harder we work the more we will receive in return.
This idea is very present in the business world.
For example, this idea is present in the Ford Corporation
1) Ford employees are graded on a scale of 1 to 27. 1 would be given to clerks and secretaries whereas 27 is chairman of the board. You must reach grade 9 to receive an outside parking place. Grade 13 brings with it such perks as a window, plants and an intercom system. Grade 16 offices come equipped with private bathrooms.
2) Military practices this idea as well. Assigned a title, uniform, salary and code of behavior, every soldier knows exactly where he or she stands in relation to the other. You salute and obey superiors; you give orders to the inferiors.
3) Sports franchises rewards those who complete passes, throw strikes, or make baskets, and has no place for those who fail.
We are constantly engrained with this idea that the harder we work the more we receive.
This however is the exact opposite of grace and opposite to the way Jesus presented it as he was here on earth.
Illustration- painting with Mike Kronkrite
He told the:
Parable of workers (61)
Read: Matthew 20:12-15
These other workers got what they did not deserve. But that’s God’s grace. It is not based on what we can do or what we deserve or earn. He freely gives it to us.
Similarly, its human nature to think that we can gain God’s love or his love is based on what we do and how we respond to him. I know in my life I often judge my relationship with God on:
The BUCKET (69-70)
God’s love for me is not determined on how full my good bucket is compared to my bad bucket. Rather, God’s love no matter what I do overflows the good bucket.
*Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.
Grace means that God already loves us as much as an infinite God can possibly love.
It is absolutely not determined on what we do, it is not earned.
The second we must understand about grace is that it:
2) Allows Second Chances
Modern day terms- Exams and Sports (softball- “if I could just have that pitch back”)
That’s how life is. But that is not how grace is.
Parable of the Gracious Father-Luke 15
Grace allows second chances, that is what God does for us.
When we stumble, when we struggle, when we are disobedient, and unfaithful. God is always there to welcome us back with open arms.
I do not think there is any greater example of this then the life of the Apostle Paul (pg 66)
He was a devout Jew. He hated the name of Jesus. He purposed in his heart to do everything he could to stop the spread of Jesus’ name. He went from church to church ravaging them, dragging the believers out and having them thrown in prison.
This great man who wrote about half of our New Testament confessed, “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man.”
HE KNEW GRACE, HE UNDERSTOOD GRACE, BECAUSE HE HAD EXPERIENCED GRACE.
This grace changed Paul’s life forever
God’s grace gave Paul a second chance.
The third thing we need to understand about grace is that it is our:
3) Means to salvation
In our Junior High SS class Melinda has been teaching us about the different religions of the world. In each of them, it is interesting that salvation is always something that is worked for.
Fortunately, that is not how it is for us as Christians.
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For 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."
Our only way to salvation is by grace. And this grace was offered at the Cross.
Illustration- Jesus’ death
It is only by the grace of God, that he would choose each us who are sinners, completely separate from him. We who can do no good in compared to his greatness, etc. He has taken us out of this state that is mentioned in:
What an amazing grace!
4) Application-
So, what do we do with all of this understanding of grace?
We have looked at it being something:
We cannot earn, we seen that it allows second chances, and that it is the means to salvation.
Chuck Swindoll said it well, “knowing grace is one thing, living it is another.”
Similarly, we have been given this grace by God; therefore, it is our privilege as well as obligation as Christians to show this grace to others.
Lets turn to Matthew 18:23- we are going to look at the parable of the unmerciful servant.
Unfortunately, this is a pretty accurate portrayal of many churches
When the world thinks of the church, they do not often see grace. In fact,
Phillip Yancey quotes a prostitute who was down and out in Chicago. She was asked if she had ever thought about going to church. Shockingly, she replied, “church! Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. That would just make me feel worse.”
Illustration- I have had to opportunity to talk to some of my friends about church and spiritual things and it seems they perception of the church is very legalistic or cold-hearted. Talking to them, I never get the sense that church is giving off an aura of grace.
Actually, I just got to talk to a man the other night. OK, I have a confession to make. Pastor Scott about a month ago confessed he is a digs through dumpsters. Well, I am here to confess that me and some friends from school went trick or treating last night. However, the redeeming factor is that we dressed up as door-to-door evangelists. We had a chance to talk to a few people about God or even quote Bible verses a couple times. It was a lot of fun.
There was man, “I’m not buying anything” “Good luck with your sales”
How come we are not perceived as giving off grace? Where are we missing the mark?
When your friends or your relatives see you, do they see grace?
Do they see you extending favor or kindness to others or to themselves?
C.S. Lewis writes, “to be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
Conclusion- Grace is the best gift Christians can give the world because it is the best gift we have ever received. From an early age we are taught to survive in a world that does not know grace. We are taught mottos such as: the early bird gets the worm, no pain no gain, there is no such thing as a free lunch, demand your rights, get what you pay for. (64)
None of these reflect grace.
Illustration- Celebration of changes in South Africa, Jessye Norman sings Amazing Grace. (page 255)
She begins to sing: Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now I am found- was blind but now I see.
After those first two lines something remarkable happens in that stadium. Seventy thousands fans stood silent.
By the time she reaches the second verse, “twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” She had the entire crowd in her hands.
Then came the third verse, “tis grace has brought me safe this far, and grace will lead me home,” several thousand are singing along
The world thirsts for grace. When grace descends, the world falls silent before it.
Lets leave here today and give the world some grace.
