John 3:16 For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.
Love
could have made God feel sorry for mankind
Love
could have caused God to feel sad concerning man’s plight
Love
could have left God angry at man for his sin and separation
Love
could have simply hurt God’s feelings
But,
God’s love motivated Him to give … this is “Grace”
God
was not obligated to give … He gave because He is full of grace
Important Points:
1. Grace is the unearned, unmerited, and
undeserved goodness of God towards all men.
2. Grace provides.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you
know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your
sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is
able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you
abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all
diligence, and in your love for us — see that you abound in
this grace also.
3. God’s grace is sufficient.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He
said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
4. Grace is God giving more than He has to
because He wants to.
Ephesians 2:7 That in the
ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
5. God’s grace surpasses man’s sin.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law
entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded
much more,
6. There is an inexhaustible supply of God’s
grace.
a. God gives it to whom
He will, when He wills
b. God offers man
direct access by inheritance
c. There is an entry
point which requires an access code
d. Next week in Block
Eight, I’ll teach you the code
Romans
5:2 Through whom also we have access by
faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of
God.
Commentary:
When
God created Adam and Eve, He was pleased with them and the relationship they
all enjoyed together. They were a happy family living in the blessings of the
goodness God intended. However, man rebelled against God, sin was born. Sin
separated God’s family and relationships were lost. Instead of God continuing
as a loving father, He was forced to become law giver and judge. The peaceful,
caring, and nurturing Creator now appeared angry, critical, and condemning.
Laws were made and the words seemed harsh and unforgiving. Man could never do
enough to please God, restore relationship, and appease sin. Laws were cold
letters graved in stone and every infraction punished. Many paid for their sin
with their very lives for failing to obey every word of God. The law was a
harsh, uncaring, unrelenting pathway leading man to death. No one could satisfy
God’s law, for the law required perfection or death and mankind was unable to
achieve perfection on his own. Somehow, sin’s requirement had to be satisfied
and mankind reconciled to God. Knowing there was nothing man could do, God gave
His only begotten Son, who was perfect in every way, holy, and without blemish,
a spotless lamb, and the Lord of all glory, to take upon Himself the sins of
the world, bear man’s punishment, and make relationship possible once again.
The holy nature of God disallows Him to peacefully coexist with sin. Therefore,
God even in His attempts to teach mankind the perfect law was yet unable to
tolerate failure. God hates sin and was therefore continually angry with man.
When Jesus paid the debt of sin, he satisfied God and made grace available. Our
relationship with God is dependent on grace paid for by what Jesus did. Grace
is the unmerited, unearned, and often undeserved goodness and favor of God. God
took sin and nailed it to a tree, not because He had to, but because He wanted
to. Now He is free to fellowship mankind, bless us through Christ and offer us
salvation, forgiveness of sin and eternal life. This is God’s grace. Everything
God has is available to us and all made possible through grace. We access this
storehouse of grace by faith.
Supporting
Scriptures:
·
Romans
5
·
Romans
6:1; 14 & 15
·
Ephesians
2:8-9
·
Acts
4:33
·
Titus
2:11
·
Revelation
22:21
God’s
grace does not provide justification to sin but a justification from sin.
