BACK TO THE BASICS - GRACE
                                                
Introduction

I.   Grace is one of the most important doctrines in the Bible.
     A.   But it is one of the most misunderstood doctrines in the Bible.
     B.   It has caused much confusion in the religious world.

II.  Grace is "unmerited favor."
     A.   It is what God gives us that we desperately need, but do not deserve and could never
          earn."

III. The religious world has always had its extremes when it comes to the salvation of the sinner. 
     A.   Some have felt that man could be right with God based on perfect obedience to the
          will of God.
     B.   Others have felt that man could do nothing in order to be saved, that salvation was
          "wholly by grace."
          1.   What is the truth of the matter?
          2.   Can man save himself?
          3.   Is there anything that man can do to be saved? 

IV.  The Bible clearly tells us that we are saved by the grace of God (Eph 2:7-9).
     A.   But does this mean that we have no responsibilities in the matter of salvation?
     B.   Just what does grace mean?

Body

I.   SOME THINGS THAT IT DOES NOT MEAN. 
     A.   Grace does not exclude all law and all commandments.
          1.   Many Christians today will say that they are no longer under any law, saying
               instead that they are under grace.
          2.   But the New Testament teaches us that we are under the "Law of Christ" (1
               Cor 9:21; James 1:25; Rom 8:2).
          3.   We are told that the expression of our Love for God and Christ is to keep their
               commandments (John 14:15).
          4.   Obedience to God's commands matters (1 Cor 7:19; Gen 6:8; Gen 6:22).
     B.   Grace does not mean that there will be Universal Salvation.
          1.   Many believe that God's grace will somehow cover all sin w/o becoming a
               Christian.
          2.   But the New Testament tells us that not all will be saved (Mat 7:13-14, 21).
     C.   Grace does not mean "Faith only" (John 12:42-43).
          1.   " Faith only" salvation is the cornerstone of Protestant beliefs.  
               a.   It was a reaction to the "salvation by works" doctrines of the Roman
                    Catholic church.
          2.   But just as the extreme of "salvation by works" is wrong, so too is the extreme
               of "justification by faith" (Rom 3:28; James 2:24).
          3.   The Bible tells us that there are some things that are as important as faith in the
               salvation of the sinner.
               a.   Repentance (Luke 13:3, 5).
               b.   Confession (Mat 10:32).
               c.   Baptism (Mark 16:16).
          4.   What is the proper combination of grace, works, and love? (Gal 5:6).
     D.   Grace doesn't mean the impossibility of falling from grace.
          1.   God's word is filled with warnings concerning the Christian falling from grace
               (1 Cor 10:12; Heb 4:11; 1 Cor 9:27; Gal 5:4).
          2.   Paul plainly tells us that we can "fall from grace"

II.  WHAT  IS GRACE?
     A.   Grace is the means by which man can approach God, when we could never hope to
          be right by our own merits (Rom 11:6; Eph 2:8; 2 Tim 1:9).
          1.   Man has always tried to justify himself before God.
               a.   Men have sought God through philosophy.
               b.   Men have sought God through perfect obedience to a legal system.
                    (1)  Man cannot correct the sin problem on his own.
          2.   Those who stand outside of the grace of God deserve the punishment that God
               has reserved for sinners who have rebelled against Him (Rom 6:23).
     B.   God's grace is expressed in the sending of His Son to die for mankind (Heb 2:9; 2 Cor
          8:9; Eph 1:7).
          1.   The cross is the one place where the Justice of God (payment for the sins of
               mankind) and the Love of God (the desire of God for all to be saved) meet.
               a.   This is what Grace is all about.
     C.   God's grace is received by our obedience to the Gospel.
          1.   Grace and obedience are not mutually exclusive (Heb 5:8-9).
          2.   Since we receive the merits of the grace of God in Christ then we should
               understand when we enter into this relationship in Christ (Rom 6:3-4).
          3.   While works of self-righteousness are condemned in the New Testament, 
               obedience is never condemned, but is commanded (James 2:17-22).
     D.   To receive God's grace is to begin a new life (Titus 2:11-12).
          1.   God's grace is not an excuse for continued sin (Jude 4).
     E.   God's grace is a promise of eternal life to the Christian who remains faithful until death
          (Titus 3:7).

Conclusion

I.   Praise God for the grace that He has shed upon us, even though we did nothing to deserve it.

II.  Let us receive it with humility and seek to live it in our daily lives.


**   If you have any questions or if you would like to become a Christian, please let us know.

Alan C. Cole
26th St. Church of Christ
101-26th Street
Huntington, WV 25703
Phone - (304) 522-0717
E-Mail - Cole8@marshall.edu
Homepage - http://mupfc.marshall.edu/~cole8/