The Works of Grace
The Works of Grace
The ESSENCE OF GRACE:
GRACE IS EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING TO THOSE WHO DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING
Grace Turns…
1. lions into lambs,
2. wolves into sheep,
3. monsters into men
4. and men into saints
Rose
Rev. Milton Grannum tells of a life-changing event that took place in a Leper colony in South America. He would visit, sing, pray and quote scriptures to the different patients. He came to Rose a women whose eyes had rotted, leaving her blind. In addition, her hands and feet had rotted away leaving only stumps. Blood would run down her face from mosquito’s biting her; she couldn’t swat them away. When he was ministering to her, he asked her what she would like him to do because he was leaving to return home shortly.
As tears ran down her cheeks from her rotted out eyes, she asked him to pray for her, so she could show her doctors Christ was alive in her life. She wanted them to know God’s grace.
Her concern was not for her own comfort, but for empowerment her witness.
God’s grace is NOT bestowed on us because of our good works, but it is bestowed on us to enable us to do the good works.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Grace that leads to: SALVATION.
Salvation is wholly by the grace of God: Ephesians 2: 8-9
“For by grace you have been saved though faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works. Lest anyone should boast.”
Grace that leads to: CONSECRATION.
Consecration involves two distinct acts on our part.
Consecration begins with “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts.”
Consecration grows as we “live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age…” Titus 2:12
Grace assists us to leave the old life
The grace of God instructs us in living the new life
Grace brings new purpose in life
Grace gives us a place with God
ARE WE EMBRACING CHEAP GRACE?
People these days are forever asking things like,
“Do I have to go to church to get to Heaven?”
“Do I have to give an offering?”
“Do I have to be baptized to be saved?”
More commonly, people don’t even bother to ask. They simply declare,
“You don’t HAVE to__________ to get to Heaven!” (Fill in the blank). I've had to listen to that one a lot lately.
A lot of folks who proudly say they never go to church and never will, but that they know they will go to Heaven.
Just to clear the air, I believe it is possible to make it to Heaven without being faithful in church attendance or being baptized or giving to the Lord. God is the ultimate judge about that.
BUT IF YOU'RE ASKING THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS, WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT YOU? WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU REALLY HAVE WITH GOD?
It's unbecoming of a believer to ask how little he/she can do and still make it over the line.
IN FACT, IF YOUR HEART AND YOUR TIME ARE INVESTED IN THIS WORLD INSTEAD OF THE LORD’S KINGDOM, YOU SHOULD QUESTION WHETHER YOU’VE REALLY BEEN SAVED.
Jesus said in Matt. 10:38 that we are not worthy of Him unless we take up our cross and follow Him. What are we going to do with that?
Illustrations
* Would you marry someone who said they want a marriage certificate but would like to spend as little time with you as possible?
* Would you men want to marry a girl who says, “Yes, I’ll go through this ceremony because I’ve always wanted a wedding ring, but I don’t want to go overboard and be intimate with you. Maybe we can live in separate houses and just share the same last name.”
* What if a man or woman said that they’d like to be married to you legally, but would prefer not to let others know who they’re married to?
That may be how the Lord feels when one of His professed believers says something like, “My faith is an intensely private matter, so I don’t ever discuss it.” (Matt. 10:32-33)
People insist you can get to Heaven any way you want to, and don’t even need Jesus Christ to get there.
Yet, she insists that she’s a Christian and is on her way to the pearly gates.
She’s one of the many who proudly tell me they avoid church services.
It never occurs to her to consult God’s Word about whether we can get to Heaven without Christ.
Neither does she evidence any concern about how the Lord feels about her views or her lifestyle. It's as if it's none of God's business. And His feelings don't matter.
Think about this:
Jesus Christ resisted all temptation for over 30 years for us. He endured an unfair trial and conviction for us. Then he hung naked on a cross and died an intensely painful and very public death for the whole world to know about.
He built His church so we could serve Him together and help each other carry out His commission; and made sure the gates of hell could not prevail against the church He died for.
Yet, many of us don’t want to live the lifestyle He created for us because it is bothersome or uncomfortable at times, or because we don’t want to be considered “fanatics” by the world.
For some of the people the only goal is to get to Heaven one day, and to do it with as little inconvenience on their part as possible.
* But please listen to me: Getting to heaven should NOT be your only goal. Neither should it be your main goal.
* Knowing the Lord and being shaped and led by Him should be our highest priority. If getting to Heaven is all we care about, then we are a portrait in selfishness - not to mention ingratitude.
Application
Our most sincere desire would be to know the Lord better and keep finding more opportunities to please Him.
We would want to be involved in the life of His Church, doing the many things the church is instructed (and privileged) to do in the epistles.
How to Grow on Grace
2 Peter 1:3-8 KJV
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
