The sufficiency of the Grace of God

 

WHAT IS THIS GIFT OF GRACE?

 

According to its Greek root,

v     Grace is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. (Strong’s Concordance # 5485)

 

It is grace that enables us to be the person that God wants us to be

and empowers us to do what He wants us to do.

 

WHAT EFFECT DOES GRACE HAVE IN OUR LIVES?

 

1. We are saved by grace

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” Eph.2:4-5

 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God.” Eph.2:8

God “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which

 

was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”  2 Tim.1:9

 

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”  Acts15:11

 

“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you.” 1 Peter 1:8-10

 

2. We are justified by grace

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  Rom.3:23-24

 

3. We believe through grace

“He (Paul) greatly helped those who had believed through grace.” Acts 18:27

 

4. We are called by grace

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.” Gal.1:6

 

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace to reveal His Son in me...”

Gal.1 :15-16

 

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, settle and strengthen you.”1 Peter 5:10

 

 

 

5. We are established by grace

“For it is good that the heart be established by grace.”  Heb.13:9b

“So now, brethren, (Ephesian elders) I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:32

 

6. We minister by grace

To preach the mysteries

 “…if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you.” Eph 3:2 

“Of which I became a minister according to the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.  To me, who am the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”  Eph.3:7-8

 

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”  Eph.4:29

 

“And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. …………When he (Barnabas) came and had seen the grace of God he was glad.”  Acts 11:21-24

 

7. We are glorified by grace

“ .. that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess.1:12

 

8.  There is an abundance of grace

“For if by the one man’s offence many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the

grace of one Man, Jesus Christ abounded to many …… Moreover, the law entered that the offence might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom.5:15-21

 

9. God’s gifts are given by grace

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.”  Rom.12:6

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Eph.4:7

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

 

10. Hope comes by grace

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.”  2 Thes. 2:16-17 

 

 

HOW DO WE TAKE HOLD OF THIS GRACE?

 

1. By faith we have access to grace and a standing in grace

“Through our Lord Jesus Christ we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom. 5:2

 

 

 

2. Come to the throne of grace to find grace and mercy

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb.4:16

 

WHAT ARE WE TO DO ABOUT GRACE?

 

1. Testify to the gospel of the grace of God even as the apostle, Paul, did.

“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”(Acts 20:24)

Paul said: “And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”. (1 Tim.1:14)

The early church saw God “bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” Acts 14:3

 

2. Grow in grace

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever.” 2 Peter 3:18

 

3. Serve God with grace

“Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  Heb.12:28

 

4. Commission others to receive grace for the work of the ministry

The church in Antioch had commended Paul and Barnabas to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.  (Acts 13:43)

“From there they sailed to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.”(Acts14:26)

 

 

GOD MEETS US AT OUR POINT OF NEED IN JESUS

 

Jesus came full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:16-17

 

Jesus tasted death for everyone by the grace of God.  (Heb.2:9)

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully on the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 1:13

 

God gives grace to the humble

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:5 

 

“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.” Rom. 1:5