Sermon #15311 Series: Miscellaneous
Sermons
Title: The
Grace Of God
Text: Romans 5:20-21
Introduction:
My subject tonight is The
Grace Of God. My text is Romans 5:20-21. “Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin
abounded grace did much more abound; That as sin hath reigned unto death, even
so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
our Lord.”
1. The source and fountain of grace is God the Father (Eph. 1:3), who purposed in
himself the everlasting salvation of an elect multitude before the world began,
and on behalf of that elect multitude made a covenant of grace with his Son,
ordered in all things and sure.
2. The mediatorial channel of grace is God the Son (John 1:17). The grace of
God is revealed and given to men only by the mediation of the Lord Jesus
Christ. “The law was given by Moses, but
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Certainly, that does not mean that
God did not save men by grace before the incarnation of Christ. He did.
Salvation has always been by grace (Gen. 6:8). And that grace has always been
found and given in Christ (Rom. 3:24-26). But grace and truth were fully
revealed in the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ. Christ alone always has
been, is now, and shall forever be the solitary channel of grace (Rom. 5:15,
17, 21; 1 Tim. 2:5; Tit. 2:11-14).
a. Grace does not come through
the church.
b. Grace cannot be conferred by
some pretentious, earthly priest.
c. And grace is not given
through the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
d. Grace comes to sinners
through Christ alone.
3. The only bestower of grace is God the Holy Spirit, who is called “the Spirit of grace” by the prophet
Zechariah (12:10). He is the One who applies the gospel to the hearts of sinners
with saving power. He quickens God’s elect while they are yet spiritually dead.
He conquers the rebel’s will, melts the hard heart, opens the blind eye, and
cleanses the soul. He gives ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The gospel of God is the message of grace, pure, free,
sovereign, eternal, immutable, irresistible, indestructible grace. It is called “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts
20:24). To the self-righteous religionist, it is a stumbling block. To the
learned, philosophical worldling, it is foolishness. Why? Because there is nothing in the gospel to
gratify the pride of man.
a. The gospel of God declares
that sinners are saved by grace alone, that man can never be saved, but by the
grace of God.
b. It declares that apart from
Christ, the unspeakable gift of God’s grace, there is no salvation and that the
state of every human being is desperate, hopeless, and irretrievable, except
God intervene (Eph. 2:1-4).
c. The gospel addresses men and
women as depraved, guilty, condemned, perishing sinners. It puts us all upon
one level.
d. The gospel declares that the
purest moralist is in the same condition as the vilest profligate, that the
zealous religionist is no better off than the most profane infidel.
e. Without Christ, without
grace, all are lost!
The gospel addresses every
descendant of Adam as a fallen, polluted, hell-bent, hell-deserving sinner,
utterly incapable of changing his ruined condition. The grace of God, which I
now preach to you by the gospel, is your only hope. All men, by nature, stand
before God’s holy law as justly condemned felons, awaiting the execution of his
wrath upon us (John 3:18, 36; Rom. 3:19). Our only hope is grace!
“Grace is a provision for
men who are so fallen that they cannot lift the axe of justice, so corrupt that
they cannot change their own nature, so averse to God that they cannot turn to
him, so blind that they cannot see him, so deaf that they cannot hear him, and
so dead that he must himself open their graves and lift them into
resurrection.”
(George S. Bishop).
Proposition: Our only hope of salvation
and eternal life is the grace of God freely bestowed upon sinners through Jesus
Christ, the sinner’s Substitute.
Divisions:
1.
The Character Of Grace.
2.
The Works Of Grace.
3.
The Illustrations Of Grace.
I. First, I want to show you THE CHARACTER OF GOD’S GRACE as
it is revealed in Holy Scripture.
All the religious world
talks about salvation by grace. But few understand the character of God’s grace
as it is revealed in the Word of God. And as soon as grace is defined in
biblical terms, man’s opposition to it comes to surface.
Grace is an attribute of God
that, like his love, is exercised only toward his elect. Nowhere in the Bible
do we read of universal grace, common grace, or of grace bestowed upon mankind
in general. The mercy of God is “over all
his works” (Ps. 145:9). But the grace of God is upon his elect. The mercy
of God is life upon this earth. The grace of God is eternal life. Mercy is
anything short of eternal wrath. The grace of God is eternal salvation. Grace
is the solitary source from which the goodwill, love, and salvation of God flow
to his chosen people.
“It is the eternal and
absolute free favor of God, manifested in the vouchsafement (infallible
promise) of spiritual and eternal blessings to the guilty and unworthy.”
(Abraham Booth).
Arthur Pink wrote, “Divine grace is the sovereign and saving favor of God exercised
in bestowing blessings upon those who have no merit in them and for which no
compensation is demanded.”
Grace is completely
unmerited and unsought. It is altogether unattracted by us. Grace cannot be
bought, earned, or won by anything in us or done by us. If it could, it would
cease to be grace. Grace is bestowed upon sinners without attraction, without
condition, without qualification. When it first comes, it comes as a matter of
pure charity, unsought, unasked, and undesired.
In Bible terms grace is
placed in direct opposition to works, worthiness, and merit in the creature
(Rom. 11:6; 4:4-5; Gal. 5:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9-10). Grace and works will
not mix. And any attempt by man to mix the grace of God with the works of man
or the will of man is both blasphemy and a total denial of grace.
(Romans 4:4-5)
"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but
of debt. (5) But to him that worketh
not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness."
(Romans 11:6)
"And if by grace, then is it no
more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more
work."
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should
boast."
(2 Timothy 1:9-10)
"Who hath saved us, and called us
with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (10) But is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"
(Galatians 5:1-4)
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us
free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ
shall profit you nothing. (3) For I
testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the
whole law. (4) Christ is become of no
effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from
grace."
If you will search the
Scriptures, you will find that there are four things which always
characterize the grace of God. Whenever men speak contrary to these four things
they deny the grace of God.
A. The grace of God is eternal (Rom. 8:28-30; 2 Tim. 1:9).
(Romans 8:28-30)
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover
whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."
(2 Timothy 1:9)
"Who hath saved us, and called us
with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began,"
Grace does not originate in time and cannot be controlled or directed by anything in time. Grace is eternal.
B. The grace of God is free (Rom. 3:24).
(Romans
3:24) "Being justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
When God declares in his
Word that his grace is free, he is telling us that his grace is -
1.
Without Qualification!
2.
Without Condition!
3.
Without Change!
C. The grace of God is sovereign (Rom. 5:21).
(Romans
5:21) "That as sin hath reigned
unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life
by Jesus Christ our Lord."
Grace reigns, everywhere,
over all things. If grace reigns, then it reigns from a throne. And the One who
sits upon the throne is sovereign. The throne of the sovereign God is called “the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). When
the Bible declares that grace is sovereign, it is declaring that God is
gracious to whom he will be gracious (Rom. 9:11-18).
(Romans 9:11-18)
"(For the children being
not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God
according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) (12) It was said unto her, The elder
shall serve the younger. (13) As it
is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (14) What shall we say then? Is
there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God
that showeth mercy. (17) For the
scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up,
that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth. (18) Therefore
hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy,
and whom he will he hardeneth."
1. Salvation and eternal life is the gift of God (Rom. 6:23).
a. If it is a gift it cannot be
claimed as a right.
b. If it is a gift it cannot be
earned.
c. If it is a gift, the Giver
is free to bestow it upon whom he will.
2. Nothing so riles man’s
hatred of God as the declaration that grace is free, sovereign, and eternal. This is the offence of the gospel.
a. Grace is abasing to man’s
proud heart, putting all upon one level.
b. Grace gives no recognition
to the imaginary righteousness of man.
c. Grace makes fallen man to be
utterly dependent upon the goodness of God for salvation.
D. And the grace of God is distinguishing (1 Cor. 4:7).
(1 Corinthians 4:7) "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that
thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"
(Exodus 11:7)
"But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his
tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a
difference between the Egyptians and
Israel."
Grace discriminates men.
Grace segregates men. Grace makes differences between men. Grace chooses some
and passes by others. God has his favorites, whom he has from eternity singled
out from the rest of Adam’s race, to whom he will be gracious.
1.
Grace separated Abraham from the rest of his family.
2.
Grace separated Jacob and Esau.
3.
Grace separated David from his brothers.
The only difference between
saved sinners and lost sinners is grace. Every child of God knows it and gladly
acknowledges, “By the grace of God I am
what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10).
II. Let
me briefly show you THE WORKS OF
GRACE as they are set forth in the Word of God.
I will not spend much time here. But I want you to understand that everything involved in the salvation of sinners is the work of God’s grace. There is nothing required for our salvation that is in anyway dependent upon, determined by, or conditioned upon us, not our worth, not our works, and not our will. We are saved by grace alone (Eph. 1:3-14; 2:1-9).
(Ephesians 1:3-14)
"Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in
Christ: (4) According as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love: (5) Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will,
(6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom
we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the
riches of his grace; (8) Wherein he
hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according
to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and
which are on earth; even in him: (11) In whom also we have obtained an
inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will: (12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first
trusted in Christ. (13) In whom ye
also trusted, after that ye heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye
believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
(Ephesians 2:1-9)
"And you hath he quickened, who
were dead in trespasses and sins: (2) Wherein
in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: (3) Among whom also we
all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of
wrath, even as others. (4) But God,
who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might
show the exceeding riches of his grace in his
kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should
boast."
A. God’s election is the election of grace (Rom. 11:5-6).
(Romans 11:5-6)
"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace. (6) And
if by grace, then is it no more of
works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more
work."
B. God’s covenant is the covenant of grace (Ps. 89:2-3).
(Psalms 89:2-3)
"For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy
faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. (3) I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David
my servant,"
C. Our adoption into the family of God was by grace (Eph. 1:5-6).
(Ephesians 1:3-6)
"Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in
Christ: (4) According as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love: (5) Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will,
(6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved."
D. The redemption of our souls by Christ was a marvellous work of
God’s grace (Heb. 2:9).
(Hebrews 2:9)
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for
the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of
God should taste death for every man."
(Hebrews 2:16)
"For verily he took not on him
the nature of angels; but he took on him
the seed of Abraham."
E. We are justified by grace (Rom. 3:24).
(Romans 3:24)
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus:"
F. We are forgiven by grace (Eph. 1:7).
(Ephesians 1:7)
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
G. Our regeneration and calling is by the grace and power of God the
Holy Spirit (Gal. 1:15-16).
(Galatians 1:15-16)
"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb,
and called me by his grace, (16) To reveal his Son in me, that I
might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and
blood:"
H. Our sanctification is by the grace of God (1 Cor. 1:30).
(1 Corinthians 1:30-31) "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who
of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption: (31) That, according as
it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
I. Our preservation in grace is by grace (1 Pet. 1:3-5).
(1 Peter 1:1-5)
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered
throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to
his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
(4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who
are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time."
J. And our resurrection shall be the work of God’s grace (John 5:25-28).
(John 5:25-28)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is,
when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall
live. (26) For as the Father hath
life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; (27) And hath given him authority to
execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. (28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all
that are in the graves shall hear his voice,"
(Revelation 20:6)
"Blessed and holy is he
that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no
power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him
a thousand years."
From the gates of hell to
the gates of heavenly glory, we owe our salvation to grace alone. When almighty
God has finished the work, he shall “bring
forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it!” (Zech.
4:7).
III. Let
me finish my message by showing you some of THE TROPHIES OF GOD’S GRACE.
The glory of the grace of
God shines forth most splendrously when we behold the unworthiness of those
whom he has saved by his marvellous grace (1 Cor. 1:26-31).
(1 Corinthians 1:26-31) "For ye see your calling, brethren, how
that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and
things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,
and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his
presence. (30) But of him are ye in
Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption: (31) That,
according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Here are four
trophies of grace which will serve to illustrate what I have so
feebly tried to preach.
A. Manasseh, King of Judah (2 Chron. 33:1-13).
Manasseh was a barbaric monster. He sacrificed his own children to fiery altars of idolatry. He filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. His sacreligious indecencies perverted the whole nation. He lead Judah into corruptions unmentionable even among the heathen. Yet, the grace of God touched his heart, renewed his soul, forgave his sin, and made him an heir of heavenly glory!
(2 Chronicles 33:1-13) "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty
and five years in Jerusalem: (2) But
did that which was evil in the sight
of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast
out before the children of Israel. (3) For
he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and
he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of
heaven, and served them. (4) Also he
built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem
shall my name be for ever. (5) And he
built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the
LORD. (6) And he caused his children
to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed
times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar
spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to
provoke him to anger. (7) And he set
a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God
had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem,
which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for
ever: (8) Neither will I any more
remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your
fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them,
according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of
Moses. (9) So Manasseh made Judah and
the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to
do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of
Israel. (10) And the LORD spake to
Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. (11) Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host
of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him
with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
(12) And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and
humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, (13) And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard
his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then
Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God."
B. Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9).
A more blood thirsty
persecutor of God’s church the world has never known than Saul. He was a
monster of a man, set upon the destruction of God’s lambs, bent upon the
annihilation of Christianity. His thirst for violence and murder was
insatiable. His rancorus heart was filled with violence. Never did a man live
who, in the opinion of human judgment, was more certainly deserving of eternal
damnation. Yet, this godless, implacable wretch of a man is today seated with
Christ upon his throne, a trophy of the grace of God!
C. The Corinthians (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
These people were the most
sensual, profligate people of the ancient Roman world. They were the most vile
of the vilest age in the annals of human history. Yet, through the infinitely
tender mercies of an ever gracious God, a great multitude of them today are
robed in white and crowned with glory.
(1 Corinthians 6:9-11) "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall
not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the
kingdom of God. (11) And such were
some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
D. The Man who now preaches grace to you!
·
I am Gomer!
·
I am Onesimus!
·
I am the prodigal son!
·
I am a sinner saved by grace!
1.
Grace chose me.
2.
Grace redeemed me.
3.
Grace preserved me.
4.
Grace called me.
5.
Grace keeps me.
6.
Grace will bring me home.
7.
And grace, the God of all grace shall forever be magnified, honored and
praise by me, in me, and for me (Ps. 106:8; Eph. 2:7).
(Psalms 106:8)
"Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make
his mighty power to be known."
(Ephesians 2:7)
"That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his
grace in his kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus."
(Psalms 115:1)
"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory,
for thy mercy, and for thy truth's
sake."
Amen.
1 Doctrine Series #18 Danville (Tuesday—05/22/90)
Lantana Grace Church, Crossville, TN (Friday PM—06/20/03)