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I have been attending/leading a men’s Tuesday morning prayer meeting for years. It was going on even before I came to Eastwood as pastor. Each Tuesday morning, I share the gist of Sunday’s message with the men attending. I ask for prayer that the message would be clear, compelling and from God to you. This past Tuesday I asked what was the first thing that came to their minds when they heard the word ‘grace.’ Here’s a partial list: a person’s name, freedom, unmerited favor, not being deserving, free, God’s riches at Christ’s expense, and several more.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word grace? Maybe you think of a Bible verse. Here’s mine. Genesis 6:8.

The first time the word ‘grace’ is used in the Bible is Genesis 6:8.

The context of this verse is the totality of wickedness and evil in the ancient world. Adam and Eve’s transgression had led to a state where every thought and intention of people’s hearts was only evil continually.Had God not had mercy on the world by extending grace to Noah and his family, none of us would be here today. Humanity would have ended. It was

Let’s fast forward to the very last verse of the Bible, Revelation 22:21.

Actually the phrase grace to you and peaceis used twelve times in the NT. It was the way Paul addressed the readers of his letters. Isn’t it obvious? Grace is what we need and peace is what we desire. Grace is not a thing; it’s a person, Jesus Christ! God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Jesus is God’s grace gift to us. His sacrifice on the cross shows God’s love to all people. It is only by His grace.

Sometimes grace is only seen clearly when the offence is great. When the wicked act is so heinous we think forgiveness is not possible. But we all need grace. Without it none of us would survive the judgment of God.The moment you think that you are good enough or better than the sinner in the news, is the moment you condemn yourself. It is only by His grace!

Grace comes free of charge to people who don’t deserve it and I am one of those people. Philip Yancey

1. The Theology of Grace

You can’t work to obtain God’s grace. Grace is something that is given freely, like a gift. If you try to earn God’s favor you forfeit the gift. It is only by His grace.

If you are trying to work to earn God’s favor, you will never obtain it. God’s grace is not for sale. There is nothing you can do to merit it or deserve it. It’s free. It is only by His grace.

2. The Difficulty with Grace

Grace seems to set aside the law (God or man’s) or what is right. Grace seems to be illogical, especially when an offence is committed. We want justice. When we are really wronged maybe we want revenge. Why should I forgive someone who has deeply hurt me? Don’t they get off without having to suffer for what they did? How can God not punish and simply forgive? In a previous message we dealt with that problem. God poured out His wrath on Jesus who was totally innocent and had never sinned even once. No one gets “cheap grace”though. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a twentieth century theologian made the term “cheap grace” well known.

The difficulty with grace is that it can be taken advantage of, abused, cheapened. We can presume on God’s forgiveness. We can be planning to sin, believing that God will forgive anyway. Or excuse our sin by saying “no one is perfect.” God will cut me some slack. Here’s what the Bible says about that thinking:

3. The Practicality of Grace

Probably the easiest way to see grace in action is when we forgive someone who has wronged us.When we forgive another person for wrongs they have done to us, we show them grace. This is even more evident when the person who has hurt you is not sorry for what they have done. It makes it doubly hard to forgive. Forgiveness is not easy.I’m quite sure that there are people listening to this message that had a name or a face come to their mind just now. You’ve not forgiven and you don’t intend to. The offense is too great or you have rationalized your decision to not forgive. That’s dangerous. It puts you in bondage and you forfeit God’s forgiveness.

Ministry Time:
It is only by His gracethat you are here and have heard this message. The message of grace can change you and your eternity. Say yes to Him today. Don’t refuse God’s greatest gift.

Are you grateful for your salvation? Are you thankful for God’s grace? Do you need His forgiveness? Ask Him. He is as close as a prayer. Call upon His name right now. Trust in His grace. It’s greater than we can imagine.

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