“GOD’S GRACE”

The Teaching Ministry of Rick Trice

Presented at:

EMMANUEL BAPTIST 2/22/98

FIRST BAPTIST RATON 3/8/98

JOHNSON MESA 7/22/01

TRINITY FELLOWSHIP 4/24/05

Scripture Reference:  HEBREWS 4:12-16

WHAT IS GRACE?

SOMETHING TO MUMBLE TO GOD BEFORE WE ATTACK THE FOOD ON OUR PLATE?  A WAY TO WALK? A MOVEMENT (HE’S SO GRACEFUL)   A WAY TO DRESS? A WAY TO ENTERTAIN? (SHE IS SO GRACIOUS)

HERE’S A CATCHY ONE:  “GRACE : ‘GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE’”

SO HOW DO WE GET IT? HOW DO WE RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE?   GRACE IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE BORN WITH; IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE LEARN. IT IS COMPLETELY, AND EXCLUSIVELY, A GIFT FROM GOD.

EPHESIANS 2:6-9 (READ)”IN ORDER THAT…HE MAY SHOW THE INCOMPARABLRE RICHES OF HIS GRACE…THROUGH CHRIST JESUS,…IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH…”

*BY GRACE WE ARE CALLED (GAL 1:15 ..”He who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace...”

*BY GRACE WE ARE JUSTIFIED (Rom 3:23-24..since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption wich is in Christ Jesus”

*BY GRACE WE ARE SANCTIFIED (ROM 6:14..”For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

THE BIBLE REFERS TO GRACE AS: 

GOD’S FAVOR

GOD’S LOVING-KINDNESS

UNDESERVED FAVOR

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

ABUNDANT LIFE

FAVOR UPON FAVOR

GIFT UPON GIFT

THE VERY POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

SO WHY IS GRACE SO IMPORTANT in the Bible?

“GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU” BEGINS EACH OF PAUL’S LETTERS:    (ROM 1:7, I COR.1:3, 2COR1:2, GAL 1:3, EPH 1:2, PHIL.1:2, COL 1:2 I TH 1:1, 2TH 1:2, ITIM 1:2 {’grace, mercy and peace from God be yours’},IITIM 1:2 {’grace, mercy and peace from God’}, TITUS1:4 {grace and peace from God the Father}, PHILEMON :3.

“GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS BE WITH YOU” ENDS EACH OF PAUL’S LETTERS.

PETER BEGINS HIS WRITINGS “GRACE AND PEACE BE YOURS IN ABUNDANCE”)  (I AND II PETER, REVELATION)   IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE THOUGHT OF AS “DEAR SIR” AND “SINCERELY YOURS.”

THE LAST STATEMENT OF THE BIBLE ADDRESSES GOD’S DESIRE THAT WE RECEIVE GRACE (REV. 22:21)

THE OPENING VERSES OF THE OPENING CHAPTER OF THE OPENING BOOK OF THE BIBLE REFERS CONTINUOUSLY TO GOD’S GRACE.  (GEN 1:1)  “IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED....” “...GOD MOVED...”“...GOD SAID...”“...GOD SAW...”“...GOD APPROVED...”“...GOD SEPARATED...”“...GOD MADE...AND IT WAS SO...”“...GOD CALLED...AND APPROVED...”“...GOD SAID.....AND IT WAS SO...”“...GOD SAW...AND APPROVED...”“GOD CREATED....GOD BLESSED.....GOD SAID....GOD APPROVED...AND IT WAS SO.”

(GEN 1:31)-”GOD SAW EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD MADE, AND BEHOLD, IT WAS VERY GOOD (VERY SUITABLE, VERY PLEASANT) AND HE APPROVED IT COMPLETELY.....”

GOD’S HAND IN CREATION REFLECTS HIS HAND ON US.  IN FACT, I THINK ANY TIME GOD MOVES, SPEAKS, OR ACTS, THAT IS GRACE.  THE CREATED WORLD IS SATURATED WITH GOD’S GRACE.  JESUS SAID, “IF YOU DENY ME, THE VERY STONES WILL CRY OUT IN WORSHIP.”

IF WE ARE THEN SATURATED WITH GOD’S GRACE, HOW DO WE ACT ON THAT?

LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING? DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A SAINT OR A SINNER?   THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SAINT AND A SINNER IS THAT A SAINT IS SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED, THROUGH GOD’S GRACE, REDEMPTION FOR HIS OR HER SINFUL NATURE. A SAINT IS NOT SOMEONE WHO IS GOOD, BUT SOMEONE WHO EXPERIENCES THE GOOD OF GOD; THE ACTIONS OF GOD; THE WORD OF GOD; IN THEIR LIVES!

THAT IS GRACE .

SO THEREFORE, IT IS ONLY THRU BEING HONEST BEFORE GOD ABOUT OUR ONGOING SINFULNESS, THAT WE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE HIS GRACE FOR OURSELVES.

THE BIGGEST EVENT OF MY LIFE (AND HOPEFULLY YOURS) WAS WHEN I CONFESSED TO MY CREATOR THAT I WAS A SINNER, AND ACCEPTED THE REDEEMING BLOOD SACRIFICE OF JESUS IN PAYMENT FOR THAT SIN.  THAT WAS RECEIVING GOD’S GRACE (ACTIONS/WORDS/)

THE BIGGEST REVELATION OF MY LIFE WAS WHEN I REALIZED THAT I AM DEEPLY LOVED BY GOD AND THAT EVEN TODAY THERE’S NOT A SINGLE THING I CAN DO TO EARN IT.

BUT THE BIGGEST ONGOING STRUGGLE I HAVE IN MY LIFE IS WHEN I FORGET AND START THINKING CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS SOMETHING I CAN PERPETUATE. OR WORSE, WE BEGIN TO THINK THAT GOD DOESN’T LOVE US ANYMORE.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU LET GOD LOVE ON YOU?  “OH, GOD CAN’T LOVE ME, THERE’S UNCONFESSED SIN IN MY LIFE”

MY BIBLE SAYS GOD IS AN UNCHANGING GOD; SO WHICH IS IT TO BE? EITHER HE LOVES YOU AT ALL TIMES, IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; OR THE GOD MY BIBLE IS A LIAR.

(IS. 64:6 --”MY RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AS FILTHY RAGS”)

(EPH. 3:8-9) “..OF FREE GRACE YOU ARE SAVED, NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY SHOULD BOAST...”

SO HOW DO WE ACT ON GOD’S GRACE?

WE RECEIVE IT; WE BECOME A VESSEL FOR IT; WE PASS IT ON TO OTHERS:

(ZECH. 12:10 --”I WILL POUR OUT MY GRACE; THEY SHALL LOOK UPON ME WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED; THEY SHALL MOURN HIM....”)