Today marks the final blog in a 4 part series on sola gratia, taken from a sermon delivered in Nigeria earlier this month in which the truth of God's saving grace was proclaimed. Part 1 of this series pointed out the universal condemnation of all men; Part 2 dealt with the reality that Jesus served as our substitute and served as the propitiation for our sins; and Part 3 discussed the nature of the cross.
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When we ask God why He has given His only begotten Son to die for sinners, the answer comes back, "Because I Am love" (1 John 4:8). It is the nature of love to manifest itself in grace. Grace must be manifested if anyone is ever to be saved for all other attempts at salvation are inadequate to satisfy the justice of God.
Cain discovered this truth. He was the first to try to offer God the works of his own self righteous labor. The story is told in Genesis 4:3-5. "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."
As God rejected the works of men’s hands so He ultimately rejected an inadequate sacrifice. The author of Hebrews declares, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Heb 10:4). We say again that if ever a person is to be saved they must be saved on the basis of grace. Why? Because every other means of salvation is inadequate.
In examining the concept of the grace of God the subject becomes emotionally overwhelming because there is so much that testifies to the unmerited favor God displays. Do you not understand? It was while we were yet sinners that Christ died. While we were still hostile to the Christian message the gospel invitation went forth so that it can be said, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest an many should boast" (Eph 2:8–9). Realizing this, a precious lady wrote to me saying, "I would like to tell you a secret. It is that I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart. He is so much a darling to me, I am short of words to describe what He means to my soul" (Praise Banmah).
While grace comes to us as an expression of God’s love, while grace is the manifestation of unmerited favor, there are some practical results. First, because of grace we have a secure position in Christ. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit" (Rom 8:1). Dr. Harry Ironside used to teach that salvation was like Noah inviting a non Christian to place his trust in God's Word and come in to the ark of salvation. But some view salvation as Noah offering to put a peg on the outside of the ark and saying, "If you just hang on through the storm, you'll be saved." Salvation is not dependent on our holding on to God, but on our being securely held by God in Christ.
Second, because of grace we are under no obligations to try to gain merit with God by performing legal duties. Love, not Law, compels obedience. For if they which are of the Law be heirs of salvation, faith is made void, and the promise of none effect (Rom 4:14). Because of grace the heart wants to serve—not out of duty but out of delight.
In 1878, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, attracted Christian workers from all over the world. One man, who had once dreamed of becoming a bishop, crossed the Atlantic from America to England to enlist. Another man, a Methodist named Samuel Logan Brengle (1860-1936), left a very nice pastorate to join Booth's Army. At first General Booth accepted his services reluctantly. Booth said to Mr. Brengle, "You've been your own boss too long." In order to instill humility in Brengle, he set him to work cleaning the boots of other trainees. Discouraged, Brengle said to himself, "Have I followed my own fancy across the Atlantic in order to black boots?" And then, as in a vision, he saw Jesus bending over the feet of rough, unlettered fishermen. "Lord," he whispered, "you washed their feet; I will black their shoes."
"Higher than the highest heavens,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered;
Grant me now my spirit's longing
None of self, and all of Thee!"
Third, because of grace, we are superior to the angels. The angels do not know grace as far as the Scriptural references indicate which may be one reason why they are so fascinated with the salvation of men. The elect angels have been confirmed in holiness. The non elect angels have been confirmed in evil. Only man, fallen like the non elect angels, has been restored to righteousness, all because of the free grace of God. Titus 3:7 says, "That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
While grace is free, it is precious and should not be cheapened. The grace of God can be diminished, it can be abused. One way that grace is abused is by making a mockery of sin. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound?" (Rom 6:10). The logical answer is, "No," for grace is not a license to sin but freedom to operate according to the Law of Life of the Spirit in Christ Jesus. Paul never ceased to marvel that he was the object of redeeming grace. "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Cor 15:10).
By way of application and conclusion, do you know the grace of God personally and experientially? Can you sing with John Newton about God’s amazing grace?
"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun."
Embrace this amazing grace, for by grace alone are we saved through faith in Christ. Amen and Amen.
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