Return to Class Topical Index

GRACE OFFERS – FAITH ACCEPTS

 

  1. You get a call from an old friend who is passing through town. He requests that you meet him at McDonald's at 2pm. He states that he has just returned from a trip to Israel and he has a gift for you.

  2. You change clothes, get in your car, and go to McDonald's at 2 pm

  3. He meets you and hands you a check for $1 million.

  4. THAT IS GRACE!

Now some questions:

  1. Did you EARN the million dollars?

  2. What if you decided that meeting him was too demanding and not worth the effort to rearrange your schedule?

  3. What if you went to Arby's because the food is better?

  4. What if you went to McDonald's at 4:30 because it was more convenient?

Among religious people there is much discussion place about the use, abuse, and misunderstanding of grace.

  1. Some think that grace is NOT involved at all – we must work, do, obey, keep every point of the law. Failure in any point means you can't be saved.

  2. On the other extreme, there are some who believe in “Automatic Grace.” Some believe grace is the ONLY thing that affects our salvation. Even in the church there are some who think that it does not matter how they live, what morals they have, what sins they commit, because grace covers them all. They believe church attendance does not matter. Neither does living a moral life. Neither does it matter if one lies, cheats, curses, commits fornication, or any other sin. God's grace will cover it all.

We must study the Bible while avoiding either extreme. Grace is involved in our salvation. But, grace is not a license to sin. Grace does not automatically expunge the guilt of sin from our record.

This study will focus on the three major issues about “GRACE.”

  1. Definition – What is Grace?

  2. Grace vs Works

  3. Automatic Grace

 

  1. What is Grace?

    1. “Charis” – 156 times in NT (KJV)

      1. Grace – 130

      2. Thank - 6

      3. Favor – 6

      4. Thanks – 4

      5. Pleasure – 2

      6. Acceptable – 1

      7. Benefit – 1

      8. Gift – 1

      9. Gracious – 1

      10. Joy – 1

      11. Liberality – 1

      12. Thanked – 1

      13. Thankworthy - 1

    2. Of form or person – She is a gracious person.

    3. Favor, kindness, friendship – You graced us with your presence.

    4. God's forgiving mercy – We are saved by grace.

    5. The gospel as distinguished from the law – Romans 6:14-15, John 1:17, Galatians 5:4, Galatians 2:21

    6. Gifts freely bestowed by God – Ephesians 2:8

    7. Christian virtues – 2 Peter 1:5-7 – Called the 7 Christian Graces

    8. The glory to be revealed

    9. Dictionary – GRACE, n. [L. gratia, which is formed on the Celtic; Eng. agree, congruous, and ready. The primary sense of gratus, is free, ready, quick, willing, prompt, from advancing.]

      1. Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; as a grant made as an act of grace. She is has such grace.

      2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him. And if by grace,then it is no more of works. Romans 11.

      3. Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin. My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Corinthians 12.

      4. The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Romans 5.

      5. A state of reconciliation to God. Romans 5:2.

      6. Virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, &c. proceeding from divine influence.

      7. Spiritual instruction, improvement and edification. Ephesians 4:29.

      8. Apostleship, or the qualifications of an apostle. Ephesians 3:8.

      9. Eternal life; final salvation. 1 Peter 1:13.

      10. Favor; mercy; pardon.

      11. Favor conferred. I should therefore esteem it a great favor and grace.

      12. Privilege. To few great Jupiter imparts this grace.

      13. That in manner, deportment or language which renders it appropriate and agreeable; suitableness; elegance with appropriate dignity. We say, a speaker delivers his address with grace; a man performs his part with grace. Grace was in all her steps.

      14. Natural or acquired excellence; any endowment that recommends the possessor to others; as the graces of wit and learning.

      15. Beauty; embellishment; in general, whatever adorns and recommends to favor; sometimes, a single beauty. I pass their form and every charming grace.

      16. Beauty deified; among pagans, a goddess. The graces were three in number, Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne, the constant attendants of Venus.

      17. Virtue physical; as the grace of plants.

      18. The title of a duke or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England, meaning your goodness or clemency. His Grace the Duke of York. “Your Grace” to address a judge

      19. A short prayer before or after meat; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered.

      20. In music, graces signifies turns, trills and shakes introduced for embellishment.

  1. What Grace Does – Titus 2:11-15

    1. Grace brings salvation – 11

    2. Grace appears to all – 11

    3. Grace teaches – 12

    4. Grace anticipates – 13

    5. Grace remembers – 14

    6. Grace prepares – 15

  2. Positions on Grace

    1. Catholic view

      1. No grace / All works

      2. Salvation is totally up to us

      3. Sacraments, Prayers, Candles, Rosary, Confession

    2. Protestant view

      1. All grace / No works

      2. Man cannot do anything to accomplish salvation. Salvation is only by God's choice

    3. Biblical view

      1. Combination – Grace AND obedience

      2. God has a part in our salvation

      3. Man must respond, believe, accept that offer

  3. Abuses of Grace – Jude 3-4

    1. Encourage sin

      1. Jude 4

      2. Romans 6:1

      3. Instead of teaching the responsibility of man – we think that grace will allow us to keep in sinning

      4. When confronted with some sin – we say, Grace will cover it.

    2. Salvation by Grace ONLY

      1. Many teach salvation by Grace Only

      2. Is there any part that man must do (obey, respond, accept)?

    3. Grace Excludes Works (Obedience)

      1. Some see GRACE and WORKS as mutually exclusive

      2. The Bible teaches – BOTH

      3. Ephesians 2:8-10

      4. Saving faith must be active and obedient – James 2:19-26

    4. Grace Foregos Righteousness

      1. Romans 5:21 – grace reigns through righteousness

      2. Grace – God's gift

      3. Righteousness – Man's acceptance of that gift

  4. Automatic Grace – 1 John 1:5-10

    1. No darkness in God – 5

    2. False claims will not help – 6

    3. Conditional promises – 7

    4. Claim no sin – Deceive self – 8

    5. Confession of sins leads to cleansing – 9

    6. Claim no sin makes God a liar – 10

  5. Salvation by Grace

    1. Is Grace the only thing that concerns our salvation?

    2. If YES – All will be saved – Titus 2:11

    3. BUT – Faith has a role – Mark 16:16

    4. Study Romans 5:2 – Access by faith into this grace

    5. Food will satisfy hunger – IF we apply the food (eat)

    6. Water will quench thirst – IF we drink the water

    7. Grace will save – IF we accept it with our faith

      1. Matthew 10:32-33

      2. Ephesians 2:8 – by grace through faith

      3. Acts 20:21 – repent toward God, faith toward Jesus

  6. How we use the term “Grace”

    1. “Oh, well. Grace will cover that.”

      1. Ephesians 1:7 has grace and forgiveness – dealing with the blood of Jesus

      2. NO verse teaches that grace will “cover my sins”

    2. “Grace will take care of my shortcomings”

      1. Grace is God's offer of salvation

      2. There are things required to accept that gift

      3. Grace is NOT automatic

 

Return to Class Topical Index