God's Grace

Ephesians 1:2, 5-7

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will---to the praise of his glorious GRACE which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s GRACE, that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ.

1. The beauty of this word is absolutely phenomenal. There is no other word like it in the NT.  Here in Ephesians it appears 11 times.  And Grace is the root of all the blessings that are promised. In fact, when Dr. Robert Culver started teaching the Doctrine of Salvation at TEDS (Trinity Evangelical Divinity Seminary) he told us that Grace (Charis) should be written at the top of the page and every other salvation term would be subordinate to it.  Why?  Because it is uniquely God’s word.  Only God can and did create grace.  Man may reflect gracious behavior, but it will always be the result of God’s creativity, and it is indeed a grace gift (charisma) as Paul makes clear in Romans 6:23  “but the Grace Gift” of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

• Josie: “Grandma, I learned about grace today in Kid’s City.  Grace is a gift, you cannot earn it.”–Maybe this is the reason that man is not told in II Peter 1:5-8 to add grace to his faith.  It has already been provided by God Himself.  Furthermore, grace is not an element of the Fruit of the Spirit because God has already initiated giving the grace gift to us without any assistance from us. 
• Barclay:  All that we have is charisma, God’s free gift.  All is from God.  Every grace with which life is adorned, the grace which covers every sin, every natural endowment we possess, every gift which we can lay at the service of the Church, any office we may hold, every time we have been through something which threatened our bodies or our souls---God gave it, God did it, it is God’s “charisma”, all is of God. 

• “And every virtue we possess,
  And every victory won,
  And every thought of holiness
  Are His alone.”

2. Scriptures also highlight the breadth of this grace. Saving grace, preserving grace, serving grace, satisfying grace, sufficient grace, and even dying grace all are included.  (Illustration: A previous Sunday I talked with a former MC missionary and shared that one of our elderly senior citizens who became a child of grace at the age of 88 had passed away.  I shared with her that Roy had requested of me that I would pray that he would die.  I did agree to pray that he would be given dying grace and a few days later his wish was granted.  She agreed with the story because she too prayed for those dear to her in the same manner.  After all, there are some things a lot worse than dying.  

3. When I was ordained in Glen Ellyn back in 1970, Dr. Lloyd Perry preached on II Cor. 12:1-10. His meditation involved sharing directly the three secrets of Christian ministry with me.  First, he discussed the secret of The Abiding Vision or the Foundational Call, and I have meditated many times on the call to ministry I received at FWBC.  Secondly he warned me that an Abasing or Frustrating Thorn would be present in every ministry.  The thorns are varied and very sharp, and I have periodically reviewed them. But the last secret takes into focus the red letter words of Jesus provided to Paul.  “My grace is (always) sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” What a promise!  God’s abounding, fabulous grace is indeed amazing as John Newton wrote and experienced himself.  And I repeatedly draw strength for the moment when I drink from the fountain of such lavish grace. 

Illustration:  Jerry Bridges, author of The Discipline of Grace.

 Your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.

• Wonderful Grace of Jesus
• Grace that is greater than all our sins.
• Grace, tis a charming sound harmonious to the ear, and all of heaven will resound—Saved by grace alone
• He gives more grace, when the burdens grow greater . . .

Song: Click to hear "Wait on the Lord" by 1966 Singing Collegians

Wait on the Lord, His love he will unfold, Wait on the Lord, His grace you will behold.  Wait on the Lord, when everything goes wrong, When in your heart there is no place for song. 

 Wait on the Lord, to overcome each foe, The way to take the Lord will surely know.  Wait on the Lord, for those who wait are strong –His strength and grace to those who wait belong.  Wait on the Lord.  Wait on the Lord.  Wait on the Lord.

Benediction:

May the grace of Christ our Savior, and the Father’s boundless love, With the holy Spirit’s favor, Rest upon us from above.  Thus, may we abide in union, with each other and the Lord, and possess in sweet communion, joys which earth cannot afford.  Amen.