WHAT GRACE CAUSES ME TO DO

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   All three members of the Godhead are associated with grace.

1.     The Father is “the God of all grace” (I Pet. 5:10).

2.     Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

3.     The book of Hebrews reveals that we can do “despite unto the Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29).

 

B.    Grace can be defined as

1.     Favor, unmerited favor

2.     The help or assistance God has bestowed upon man

3.     II Corinthians 8:9

 

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 

C.   This grace

1.     Hath appeared unto all men (Tit. 2:11).

2.     Was exceeding abundant (I Tim. 1:14)

3.     Was free of charge (Rom. 3:24)

 

D.   As Christians, we have been saved by the grace of God.

1.     Acts 15:11

 

But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

 

2.     Romans 3:24

 

Being justified by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

 

3.     Ephesians 1:7

 

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

 

4.     Ephesians 2:5

 

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved).

 

5.     Ephesians 2:8

 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God.

 

6.     Titus 3:7

 

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

E.    Having received this grace, we should be motivated, that is, moved to do many things.  Let’s look at some of these things under the title:  “What Grace Causes Me to Do.”

 

I.       GRACE CAUSES ME TO BE THANKFUL

 

A.   Grace has radically altered our lives.

1.     We were lost, but now we are saved.

2.     We were stained with sin, but now we are cleansed.

3.     We were dead, but now we are alive.

4.     We were enemies of God, but now we have been reconciled.

5.     We were enslaved, but now we are free

6.     We stood condemned, but now we look for a reward.

7.     We had no hope, but now we are filled with hope.

 

B.    Paul understood the transformation that had come to his life and was thankful (I Tim. 1:12-14).

 

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:  but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

 

1.     Thanksgiving:  “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord”

2.     The Transformation:

a.     From persecutor to preacher

b.    From enemy to evangelist

c.    From annihilator to apostle

3.     The Trigger:  “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant…”

 

C.   We, too, should be grateful for the grace of God (Col. 1:12).

 

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

 

II.      GRACE CAUSES US TO SERVE ZEALOUSLY

 

A.   Grace involves God’s assistance given to sinful man.

1.     It involves the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

2.     It involves the revelation of His will to man in the pages of the Bible so man can understand and apply God’s plan of salvation to his life.

 

B.    There is nothing man can do to pay God back for His generosity toward us.

 

C.   With this knowledge, there are two reactions that we can have toward God’s grace.

1.     We can see grace as a gift.  Realize that we can’t pay it back.  Therefore, we respond by doing little or nothing.

2.     We have the gift.  Our hearts are filled with gratitude.  We labor zealously.  This is not an attempt to pay God back, but is the result of a heart of gratitude for what God has done for us (See Paul, I Cor. 15:10).

 

But by the grace of God I am what I am:  and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all:  yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

 

D.   The death of Jesus was intended to make us people who are zealous of good works (Tit. 2:14).

 

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

 

III.    GRACE MAKES ME LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY

 

A.   It is the grace of God that conquers sin, but this fact does not grant us license to sin.

1.     Some in the first century did not understand this.  We are told that they turned the grace of God into lasciviousness (Jude 4).

 

For there are cetain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

2.     Paul addressed this error in the book of Romans (Rom. 6:1-2).

 

What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

 

B.    Grace does not yearn for us to sin.  No, grace teaches us to live righteous and godly lives (Tit. 2:11-12).

 

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

 

IV.     GRACE CAUSES US TO PRAY

 

A.   Every day of our lives we need divine assistance to walk in a world that is dark and evil.

 

B.    God’s throne is described as a throne of grace.  There we can find help in time of need (Heb. 4:16).

 

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

C.   Some of the assistance we can find at God’s throne of grace.

1.     Forgiveness of sins (I John 1:9; Acts 8:22)

 

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

 

2.     Wisdom (James 1:5)

 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 

3.     Blessings that are both material and spiritual in nature (Matt. 7:7-8; Phil. 4:6).

 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

V.      GRACE CAUSES ME TO FORGIVE

 

A.   One of the blessings of God’s grace is the forgiveness of my sins (Eph. 1:7).

 

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

 

B.    God’s forgiveness of me motivates me to forgive others.

1.     In our relationships, others are going to trespass against us.  These sins can range from slight hurts to major infractions against us.

2.     When the transgression occurs, I have a choice:  forgive?  Not to forgive?

3.     The grace that God grants me is contingent on my granting grace to those who sin against me (Matt. 6:14-15).

 

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

VI.     GRACE MAKE ME HOPEFUL

 

A.   Hope involves desire and expectations for things not seen as yet.

 

B.    Right now God has shown His grace to us in so many ways.

1.     If there is nothing after life, this grace means nothing.

2.     The grace that we receive affirms to us that there must be something beyond.

a.     II Thessalonians 2:16

 

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.

 

b.    I Peter 1:13

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Did you catch that last verse?

1.     We were talking about how the grace that we presently have gives us hope.

2.     Peter notes the grace that is to come should also fill us with hope.

 

B.    Ultimate salvation comes when Jesus returns.  That’s when each of us will experience the full magnitude of the riches of God’s grace.

 

C.   Some need to come and receive God’s grace. This is done through faith (Rom. 5:1-2).

 

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  in whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 

D.   Others need to return to God’s grace.  Their unfaithful and ungodly lives have moved  them away from God’s grace (Gal. 5:4).

 

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

 

E.    Remember, without God’s grace, no man can be saved!