The Power Of Grace

THE POWER OF GRACE

Jeremiah 31: 1-3

During the early days of Covid when we were suppose to stay home I came across a documentary on Netflix on the Apostle Paul and his missionary trips. The individual who created the documentary is a Theology professor from a seminary in the midwest. Each summer he would take some of his students to the Middle East and follow Paul’s paths to the various cities, many of which now no longer exist or have a new and different name.

It was quite interesting to see what the terrain was like as well as to see the ruins of many of the ancient cities. It was also very plain how difficult these journeys were for Paul. Sometimes we have a tendency to forget that there were no cars or airplanes two thousand years ago.

Unfortunately, that documentary series is no longer on Netflix. I tried recently to find it, but it has been removed to make room for new shows.

Paul is a very important purveyor of information on the theology of Christ’s words while he walked and preached in Galilee. It is easy to forget that Paul was not of the original twelve Apostles, yet he understood quite clearly what Christ’s message was. Fortunately, we have his epistolary letters that he sent to the various churches he founded. Letters that teach, praise and admonish. Letters that help us to understand and convict us of the love of Christ.

One of the important topics that Paul covered is about the Grace of God. Turn with me to Ephesians 2:8 - 10: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

So, after reading these two verses I have a question for you, a very simple question but one that has a lot riding on it insofar as yours and my salvation depends on the correct answer. The question: What is grace?

Several of you have said that grace is unmerited favor from God. That is correct but, it is not the complete description of what grace is. We just read from Ephesians that we are saved by God’s unmerited favor; meaning we do not merit God’s favor and we certainly have not earned it. I believe there is more to God’s grace than just His favor.

To begin seeking the answer to what more comes with God’s grace than just his unmerited favor we will look at two more verses. The first verse I want us to look at is Acts 20:24: “But I don't place any value on my life, if only I can finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”

What did Paul say he was teaching? The gospel of what?? God’s grace. Paul’s preaching was about the gospel of God’s grace. It is his sole purpose to the exclusion of all else, including his well being and health that he is preaching this important message to Jews and Gentiles alike.

Now let us look at the second verse. Turn with me to Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

So what does Paul say is the gospel? It is the power of God! The original Greek word for power is dynamis. The root of the this word is dynam which gives words such as ‘dynamic’ and ‘dynamite.’ Thus, we could say that the power of God is like dynamite. It is powerful, explosive even.

Paul is saying in effect that the Grace of God is so powerful, dynamic and explosive that it can change people. Paul is also saying that he has no fear to preach the gospel wherever he goes because the power of God’s grace is life-changing for him and for others. Life-changing enough to bring salvation to those who believe.

Paul believed so much in this message that he made four journeys to take this gospel message to as many people as he possibly could. He traveled from Judea to Syria, Thrace, Macedonia, Phyrgia, Cilicia, Galatia and eventually Rome. He traveled literally over a thousand miles to deliver the Gospel. It was that important to him.

He knew that the power of God’s grace could convert anyone. It can convert the alcoholic,

the addict,

The thief,

The abusive husband or father,