Grace of God in Salvation

Text: Selected Scriptures

Introduction:

 Importance of Grace in the Word of God

 Our salvation is because of His grace (1 Peter 1:10). He called us before we called on Him (1 Peter 1:2). We have "tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:3), so we are not afraid of anything that He purposes for us. His grace is "manifold" (1 Peter 4:10) and meets every situation of life. As we submit to Him, He gives us the grace that we need. In fact, He is "the God of all grace." He has grace to help in every time of need (Heb. 4:16). "He giveth more grace" (James 4:6), and we must stand in that grace (1 Peter 5:12; see Rom. 5:2).

 Titus 2:11-15 Blessings of Grace

 Grace Redeems (v. 11)

 Grace Reforms (v. 12)

 Grace Rewards (v. 13)
  1. Definition of Grace
    1. God’s kindness, beneficence bestowed upon the undeserving
    2. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve, mercy is not getting what we do deserve
    3. Comparisons
      1. Work 8 hours for pay: wage
      2. Compete against an opponent and win: prize
      3. Receiver an award for meritorious work: reward
      4. Receive a gift you don’t deserve: grace
    4. G-R-A-C-E: God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense
  2. Manifold Grace (1 Pe. 4:10)
    1. 1 Pe. 4:10
      1. Multifaceted grace
      2. Illus. many colors of a rainbow; multifaceted beauty of a diamond
    2. Facets
      1. Grace for salvation
      2. Grace for service
      3. Grace for trials
  3. Source of Grace
    1. God (1 Pe. 5:10)
      1. The fact that we can be gracious is the result of God’s image in us
      2. Cp. James 1:17 Every good things is ultimately from God
    2. Jesus Christ (John 1:14)
  4. Necessity of Grace for Salvation
    1. Eph. 1:7; Titus 3:7
    2. Eph. 2:5, 7-10
      1. The Love of God becomes "grace" and "mercy" in relation to people
      2. Not saved by God’s love, but by His mercy and grace
    3. Gen. 6:8
      1. Noah, a "good" man, needed grace
        1. Is. 64:6 "our righteousnesses are as filthy rags"
        2. Ro. 7:13 "exceeding sinfulness of sin"
      2. Q? Did Noah find grace or did grace find Noah?
    4. Law and Grace
      1. Either "under" law or "under" grace (Ro. 6:14-15; Gal. 5:4)
        1. Realm or sphere of activity
        2. You get "in" grace through faith in Jesus Christ
      2. Law Gives
        1. Punishment
        2. Guilt
          1. "all have sinned"
          2. Illus. You get pulled over for speeding and argue with the policeman, "I haven’t murdered or stolen." He’ll still give you a ticket. If you are guilty in one point you are guilty of breaking the Law!
        3. Knowledge of sin
        4. Greater urge to sin
          1. Illus. "Don’t walk on the grass" causes us to do it
          2. By nature we are rebellious and have an urge to break a law that is given to us.
      3. Grace provides a means for escaping punishment
        1. He. 2:9 "by grace tasted death for every man"
        2. Given freely (Ro. 3:24)
        3. Through Jesus Christ (Ro. 5:15-17)
        4. Grace covers any sin (Ro. 5:20-21)
          1. Illus. Dahmer’s supposed salvation. I have a difficult time with it, yet it is possible.
          2. Grace is sufficient
  5. Obtaining Grace
    1. Especially given to the humble
      1. Prov. 3:34 "gives grace to the lowly"
      2. James 4:6 "grace to the humble"
      3. Phil 2:10 "every knee shall bow"
        1. You will either humble yourself now or later
        2. Jesus is the only way
        3. Illus. Fram commercial "Pay me now or pay me later"
    2. Especially given to the upright (Ps. 84:11)
      1. Note: being upright does not cause us to "deserve" grace
      2. However, in dispensing grace, God gives it more to those who follow His will

Conclusion:

Responding to grace