Let's Talk about Grace -- 10/15/06 (Eternal Realities)

Sunday, October 15, 2006

LET’S TALK ABOUT GRACE

We are living in a day when man is the center of everything. The universe is centered around man. After all, what else is there? Oh yes, there is a God, but if He is acknowledged, He is shoved to the periphery. Yes, God is on the fringes, while "man is the measure of all things."

Please allow me to remind you of man’s condition. Man is not the Creator; man is the creature. Whether he acknowledges it or not, he is subject to the God who created all things out of nothing. Not only is man only a part of creation, but he is also a rebel. At the very core of his being, man is a rebel from the time he enters this world. He is bent on having his own way, as spelled out in Is. 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way…" Though he tries to cover it up, man is in rebellion against the God who created him. And even his best deeds are like filthy rags. And make no mistake about it, the Creator is not pleased with the rebels He created. Unless something radical is done about the situation, man finds himself under the wrath of God (Jn. 3:36).

How we need mercy. "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Lk. 18:13). "Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions" (Ps. 51:1). "O Lord…in wrath, remember mercy" (Hab. 3:2).

We understand something about mercy. And praise God for His wonderful mercy. Were it not for His mercy, He would punish all of us with the punishment we deserve. And make no mistake about it, anyone who wants to get what he deserves is a fool. As rebels against the God who has done us nothing but good, we deserve judgment and hell. The man who demands justice is also a fool, because no man can stand before the justice of God. But as God had mercy on Lot and led him out of Sodom before He rained down fire and brimstone, so God has been merciful to us.

And we relate this mercy closely with the forgiveness of sins. Again, come back to David’s prayer: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions." How did God show mercy? By blotting out transgressions. Later, David tells of that experience in Ps. 32:5, "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah." O how we love the truth of Ps. 130:3-4, "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." Praise God for His mercy and forgiveness.

Now with that in mind, let’s talk about grace. Where does grace fit it in? We all know that grace is a very biblical and a very powerful concept. So how do we define grace? What is the definition of grace that most of us grew up with? I would say that it is one of those words for which most Christians have a ready answer. Right, grace is undeserved favor, or unmerited favor. Suppose you have a payment due on October 15. You don’t pay it until October 20. To your amazement, there is no penalty. Why? Because there was a 10-day "grace period." You didn’t deserve such treatment, but it was given to you anyway. We could find dozens of such usages in our society.

And we often relate grace to the forgiveness of sins. For example, let’s read Eph 1:7, "In whom [in Jesus Christ; see verse 6] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." The forgiveness we receive is according to the riches of His grace. We don’t deserve to be forgiven, but He forgives us anyway. This is the most common way we think of 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.

Yes, it was grace that brought that undeserved salvation. "For by grace are ye saved through faith…" (Eph. 2:8).

But now I have a question for us to ponder? So what is the difference between mercy and grace? I suspect that many of us use them interchangeably, but surely there is a distinction between the two. Though they are closely related, each emphasizes a particular truth. So what is the difference?

Over 125 years ago there was a volume published which was entitled Synonyms of the New Testament, by Richard Trench. From time to time, I find this book helpful. It compares the Greek words that are commonly translated "mercy" and "grace." The author brings out a very definite distinction between these two concepts. God’s mercy meets man in the misery of his sin, while God’s grace meets man in the guilt of his sin. We can see that, as mercy is closely related to pity. In the New Testament, we find a man crying out to Jesus, "Have mercy on me." Basically, he is saying, "Take pity on my miserable condition." But grace goes beyond that. It is by grace that a person is justified by God, so that he no longer stands guilty. You may have to chew on that, but I think you will find it is a valid distinction between these two concepts.

However, that distinction does not go far enough. As I went through the New Testament, I found that "unmerited favor" could be substituted for grace in many passages, and it would seem to fit quite nicely. In many of these passages, grace certainly seems to be related to forgiveness of sins, as we just read in Eph. 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." God richly gives us a forgiveness that we do not deserve.

Now listen to me. Please hear me carefully. Grace begins with the forgiveness of sins, but it goes far beyond forgiveness of sins. If we limit grace to such forgiveness, we forfeit the richness of grace which we find in the New Testament. Please allow me to show you this in a couple of different ways.

First of all, I want us to understand that grace is a New Testament concept. Yes, I am aware that the word "grace" is used in the Old Testament, but it is not the same concept we find in the New Testament. In the King James, this Old Testament word is translated "grace" about half of the time and "favor" about half of the time. "Favor" would serve us better, that it might be distinguished from the grace of the New Testament. The Old Testament word that comes closest to the meaning of "grace" in the New Testament is the Hebrew word "chesed." When the Old Testament was translated into Greek (the language of the New Testament), the New Testament word for "grace" was not used to translate the Hebrew "chesed." Instead, the New Testament word for "mercy" [eleoV] is consistently used to translate it.

Please come to the first chapter of John. Most of us are quite familiar with this chapter, so let’s come directly to verse 14 and begin reading… (John 1:14-17)
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Jesus Himself was full of grace and truth, as we are told in verse 14. But then in verse 17 we have a contrast. The law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Of course, there was truth in the Old Testament. "Let God be true, and every man a liar." But we know that Jesus is the very embodiment of truth, for He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Though there is truth in the Old Testament, truth came in and through Jesus in a way that it had never been seen. In the same way, grace is a New Testament concept. If someone wants to argue that we can find grace in the Old Testament, I won’t argue with him. However, what we find in the old covenant is just a shadow of new covenant grace.

There is plenty about mercy in the Old Testament. Again and again, we are told that God is merciful. And as we saw earlier, David praises God for forgiveness in the 32nd Psalm. So we must look for something more in the new covenant, something that comes uniquely through Jesus Christ.

Now while you are chewing on that, let me show you something else. There are many uses of the term "grace" in the New Testament that will not bear the definition "unmerited favor." In the first place, who are the recipients of "grace" in the scripture? Believers. Peter begins his first letter by pronouncing grace upon the believers who are scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythynia (I Pet. 1:1-2). He ends his second letter by telling the believers to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pet. 3:18). Non-believers have not received the grace of the new covenant. Nevertheless, all people have received "unmerited favor," whether Christian or non-Christian. Has every man received favor of God? Yes. If not, no person would be alive. But which one has earned that favor? Not one. No one can earn anything with God, for even our best deeds are like filthy rags. So we see that while the definition "unmerited favor" may fit some specific situations, it won’t do for a general definition of grace.

Now let’s come to some specific passages where the term "grace" is used. Let’s begin with Rom. 4:1-5…
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Here grace is contrasted with work. In the argument of the entire fourth chapter, we see that the righteousness Abraham received came about as a gift of grace, rather than a debt God owed him as a result of his good works. You could plug in "unmerited favor" for "grace" and it would work fine.

But now come to Heb 2:9 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." By the grace of God, Jesus tasted death for every man. Now it is Jesus who is receiving grace. So is Jesus receiving unmerited favor from God the Father? No, it can’t be. Jesus isn’t like any other man. You and I can receive unmerited favor from God, but not Jesus. He has earned the favor of God. While we have no merit of our own, Jesus has all merit. Jesus did the perfect will of the Father. He was crowned with glory and honor because He earned that glory and honor. Whatever He received from God the Father, it was not unmerited favor.

The problem with our concept of grace is not in that we emphasize how God has forgiven us of our sins, though we didn’t deserve that forgiveness. That is absolutely true. The problem is that we tend to stop right there. We restrict grace to the forgiveness of sins. That, my friends, is a perversion, a twisting, of God’s grace. We think of God’s mercy and grace, and we make little distinction between the two. What we must understand is that God’s grace goes far beyond mercy and forgiveness.

We read of God’s grace in Eph 1:7 and Rom. 4:4, and we saw that it is there closely related to forgivness. But now let’s come to Romans 5 and 6. Now let’s read Rom. 5:12-21…
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13. (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Praise God for what He has done in Christ. We were in Adam. And because we were in Adam, we were sinners. Long before we sinned, we were sinners, because that sin was in our very nature. And because of the sin of Adam, death ruled in us. Verse 19 tells us how God turned the bad news into good news. "For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Praise God that Adam was a type of the one to come, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, the last Adam, undid the damage afflicted on us by the first Adam.

And then comes the verse we love, verse 20, "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Praise God! Isn’t that good news! No matter how terrible the sin, God’s grace is greater. You stole what was not yours, but God’s grace is in Christ is great enough to forgive that sin. Another committed murder, but God’s grace in Christ is great enough to forgive even that sin. Another molested a child, but God’s grace is great enough to forgiven even that sin. And if you don’t believe that, then you have understood God’s grace.

Now here is where things get interesting. If God’s grace is so great that He can forgive any sin, no matter how great, then sin isn’t such a bad thing after all. No matter what I do, God is going to forgive me. That means it really doesn’t matter how much I sin. Why should I care if I sin, even if I commit terrible sins, because God is going to forgive me. Where sin is abundant, God’s grace is super-abundant!

Paul recognized that such a misunderstanding of God’s grace was possible. That is why he follows the words of 5:20-21 with the words of chapter 6. We have read this many times before, but we need it as much now as we ever have. So let’s read Rom. 6:1-14…
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Paul asks the question: "So shall we just go on and sin all we want, so that God’s abundant grace may be seen? Wouldn’t more and more sin bring out the beauty of God’s grace?" That’s what Paul is asking. Now hear me well. If grace is only about forgiveness of sin, the answer might well be "Yes." But Paul answers with a strong negative: "God forbid." Literally, "May it never be." Perhaps in the slang of our day, "No way." Then in the verses that follow, though he doesn’t use the word "grace" again until verse 14, Paul makes it crystal clear that grace is far more than forgiveness of sins. When God’s grace invaded our lives, we died to sin. Let that sink in. And if we died to sin, how can we go on living in sin?

After pursing this argument carefully through verse 13, Paul then states: "For sin shall not have dominion over you." That is, "Sin shall not lord it over you. Sin will not be your master." Paul has already told us why. It is because we died to sin. But now how will he sum up his argument? He has stated that sin shall not have dominion over us, but will he again tell us why that is so? Yes. Listen again to verse 14: "For sin shall not have dominion over you; for you are not under the law, but under grace."

Isn’t that amazing! We would expect just the opposite. We would expect Paul to say something like this: "Sin will not lord it over you, because there is more than just grace in operation here; there is also law. There are things that are not lawful for you to do. So don’t think that just because God has extended grace, you can do what you want to do." But that is not what Paul says. Of all things to reinforce the truth that sin shall not lord it over us, he reminds that we are under grace.

Here is why that is so amazing. It is because of the perversion of grace in our day. Because we have come to see grace as license to do whatever we want to do, we can hardly conceive of Paul checking sin by reminding us we are under grace. In our day, to be under grace is to have freedom to do most anything we want to do – namely, to sin freely with no consequences.

Conclusion

I want to imprint Rom. 6:14 on our minds. If we will let the Spirit of God take these simple words, many of us will be forced to change our attitude about grace. Specifically, the Spirit will take the Word and renew our minds, and how we need to have our thinking renewed by the Spirit. Because of what is being taught all around us, we are being deceived.
That’s as far as I want to go this morning. I want to us to stop, while Rom. 6:14 is fresh in our minds. I also want to leave you with a few other scriptures…
Rom. 6:1-14
I Cor. 15:10
II Cor. 12:9
Heb. 4:16
and some questions…

1. How does grace relate to sin?
2. If grace is a new covenant concept, what does this have to do with the ministry of the Holy Spirit?
3. Why do we so desperately need grace in our lives?