Grace

Three questions:
1. Do we understand grace?
2. Do we really believe it (is true)?
3. Will we let it change our lives? 

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

CENTRAL TRUTH: God’s grace is the only way to be saved.  God wants you to freely receive His grace, and He wants you to freely share His grace with a broken world.

Grace – Unmerited gift or favor
G - God’s
R - Riches
A - At
C - Christ’s
E – Expense 

Mercy is God withholding something we do deserve.
Romans 3:23  “For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23  “ For the wages of sin is death…”
Grace is God giving us something we don’t deserve.
Romans 3:24  “being JUSTIFIED as a GIFT by His GRACE through the REDEMPTION which is in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death, BUT the FREE GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE in Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

All other religions say DO.
Christianity boldly declares DONE! 

Romans 5:8 “BUT GOD demonstrates His own love toward us, in that WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for us.”

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST.” 

What do you boast in?
Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. 

Galatians 6:14 “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” 

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 

Application
1. Do you know His grace that leads to salvation?
2. If you’ve been saved by His grace, do you still live in His grace or have you now set it aside?
3. Do you extend the same abundant grace to others? 

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 

“It is easier to be enthusiastic about Humanity with a capital ‘H’ than it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise unattractive. Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular.” -C.S. Lewis 

The more aware we are of our own brokenness and our own need for grace, the more willing we will be to embrace others in the midst of theirs.