"Saved By Grace" -- 2/3/08

Sunday, February 3, 2007

SAVED BY GRACE
Eph. 2:1-10

I. Let Us Not Forget that We Are Saved by Grace

During the past year I have emphasized again and again the danger of an empty profession of Christ. I have labored to make it clear that no one should feel secure in Christ because he once made a profession, walked down an aisle, said a prayer, was baptized, or joined a church. Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:21-23). I am not apologizing for this emphasis, because it is greatly needed; I am only acknowledging that I am very much aware of the fact.

This morning we will look at the other side of the coin. We will balance the scales with another aspect of the truth. That truth can be summed up by a passage that we know very well. Please turn with me to Ephesians 2. Now let’s read Eph. 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Saved by grace through faith. Is there anything of which we are more sure? This is one of those bedrock foundations that runs deep. We have been saved by grace through faith. To see this truth in a little more depth, let’s go back and read all of Eph. 2:1-10…
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7. That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

But now I have a simple little question: What does that mean? What does it mean to say that we are saved by grace? Someone might say, “We are saved, even though we don’t deserve it. ‘Grace’ means ‘unmerited favor.’” That is certainly true. Who can deny that God has not given us what we deserve, and that He has given us what we do not deserve? That is, we all deserve to be separated from God forever in hell. There are no exceptions. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way…” (Is. 53:6). Even our righteous deeds are like filthy rags (Is. 64:6). “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23). But instead of giving us what we deserve, God has given us the privilege of being His sons and daughters and enjoying Him forever and ever. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). None of us deserve that. These things are certainly true. Yes, God has given us what we don’t deserve. Salvation is a gift from Him, even though we can lay no claim to it of ourselvers.

But while that is true, it doesn’t fully answer my question: What does it mean to say that we are saved by grace? We don’t deserve salvation, but how does God give it to us? By grace? And what does that mean? Let’s suppose I say that by grace I am going to give _______ ten million dollars. You could say, “________ certainly didn’t do anything to deserve that ten million dollars, but you are going to give it to him anyway.” While that statement is true, it doesn’t explain how I am going to give him that large sum. How will I do it? By grace, but what does that mean? So I want us to think about salvation by grace this morning.

II. The Meaning of Grace

Let’s take a look at the meaning of grace in the New Testament. In doing so, we will focus both on the meaning of the word itself and also on the way the word “grace” is used. We won’t even begin to look at all the usages of “grace” in the New Testament, but you can find the many occurrences of the word by simply using a concordance and looking them up.

First of all, I want us to note that grace is power. Because many of us have grown up with the definition “undeserved favor,” it is easy for us to miss this truth, but we mustn’t. It is extremely important that we not lose this aspect of God’s grace. Perhaps one of the best places to see this is in II Cor. 12. You will recall that Paul had a thorn in the flesh, some type of infirmity that plagued him. Now let’s read the account in II Cor. 12:8-10…

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

We can easily see that here it wasn’t God’s favor that would sustain Paul, but it was God’s power. God and God alone would give Paul the ability to endure this thorn in the flesh. Not only would he endure it, but God would enable him to turn it into a cause for rejoicing. Grace is God’s enabling strength.

We can see the same truth right here in Eph. 2, the passage we read just a few minutes ago. What was our state before God did a miracle in us? We were dead in our trespasses and sins. If a dead man is going to be raised to life, what will be required? It will require far more than the favor of God; it will require great power, the same kind of power that raised Jesus from the dead (as we read about in chapter 1). After further describing this condition, Paul says this in 2:4-6, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved), 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Where did the power come from that made us alive with Christ and raised us up to sit in the heavenly places with Him? “By grace ye are saved.” Grace is power. It was the grace of God that made dead men and women live. Praise God! If we had only been severely ill, we might have been saved some other way, perhaps by good advice or by trying harder. But we were dead, and nothing but the powerful grace of God could save us.

Not only is grace power, but grace is love and divine favor. This is at the heart of the meaning of the Greek word translated “grace.” Grace is power, but it is not raw power operating without direction. No, it is God’s power directed by love. When this word is used in association with God, it always expresses the concept of good will, kindness, favor, and love. Power can be destructive, but the grace of God always blesses, because it is love, the very favor of God.

We see this aspect of grace right here in Eph. 2:1-10. Let’s read again verses 4-7…
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7. That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Notice the mercy and love mentioned in verse 4. While great power is required to raise us from the dead, it is the mercy and love that motivates God to exercise great power. “By grace are ye saved” – both the power and the love are a part of His grace. Then verse 7, “That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” “His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” further defines this grace of God. It is His divine favor.

Go back to chapter 1. Let’s read 1:7, “In whom [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” I believe the aspect of grace that is most emphasized here is God’s divine favor, His love, His blessing. Isn’t forgiveness a wonderful thing? God has sent away our sins. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12). So when God redeemed us through the death of His Son Jesus, He removed the debt of sin that was against us. Now notice that it is according to the riches of His grace. When He provided this redemption and forgiveness, it was in perfect accord with His grace, with His loving favor. How He has blessed us!

Now we come to the third aspect of this grace. Not only is grace power and loving favor, but it is also something else. In more theological terms, grace is gratuitous. That is, it is unearned. Some might say that its free, but that can be misleading, because it cost a great deal. But it is unearned. It is given without expectation of payment on our part. This is that idea of “unmerited favor.”

We find this aspect of grace emphasized in 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast." This salvation that is by grace is a gift of God. It has nothing to do with our works. Why not? Because if it did, we could boast about it. Because this salvation by grace through faith is totally unearned, we cannot take any credit to ourselves. I can never say that I am a Christian because of something I did. I can’t say that I was wise enough choose Christ, because Jesus Himself said: “You have not choosen me, but I have chosen you” (Jn. 15:16). It is all of grace.

We find the same truth emphasized in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Although we can find this concept in other parts of Romans, let’s come to the fourth chapter. 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.

Do you see it? If you work for it, then it’s no longer grace, because what comes by grace is totally unearned. But when a man doesn’t rely on his own works, but trusts the One who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned to him as righteousness, even the righteousness of God. That’s grace!
So we see that the concept of grace includes all three of these truths…
1. Grace is power.
2. Grace is love, divine favor.
3. Grace is totally unearned/undeserved.

While one aspect may be emphasized more that the other two in a particular usage, as we have seen, all three are always operating in grace. Let’s consider a verse where it is easy to see all three aspects of grace. 2 Cor. 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." Consider the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is power. Was power required for Jesus to become poor, that we might become rich? Absolutely, because Jesus’ becoming poor meant dying on the cross for us, and that required the power of grace. We see this in 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. In order to do that, He needed the grace of God; He needed God’s power.

Grace is loving favor. We see that here in II Cor. 8:9. What divine blessing that Christ would make us rich. And when Paul says “rich,” he is talking about treasures this world has never seen. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love him” (I Cor. 2:9). These riches are ours because of what Jesus did for us. Grace is totally unearned. We didn’t deserve these great riches that Christ has secured for us.

III. Gaining Perspective through Grace

So now let’s put some of this in perspective. It is certainly true that in our day there is much deception. It would almost seem that Jesus spoke the words of Matthew 7 especially for our day. There are many who profess Christ but who are walking on the broad way, and that is the way that leads to destruction. To many who call Him Lord, Jesus will say, “I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” BUT let’s never forget that our God has not changed. Though we might say with the Psalmist, “For the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men,” (Ps. 12:1), the character of our God has not changed. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). God is still Redeemer and Savior. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save…” (Is. 59:1). God is capable of saving the vilest sinner on this earth. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20).

And when God saves, it is by pure grace. No man will ever be saved because of what he does, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16). “I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Gal. 2:19). A person is not saved because he walks on the narrow way. Rather, he walks on the narrow way because he has been saved by the grace of God. A dead man cannot make Himself alive; only the grace of God can raise us to everlasting life. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

Let’s look at what Paul says in I Cor. 1:26-31…
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29. That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31. That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

In short, God has not called anyone because He found something good in him or her. If that were the case, the one called could point to some merit in himself that caused God to choose him. But notice the key statement in this passage. It’s in verse 29, “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” God has done things this way -- choosing the foolish, the weak, the things which are despised – so that no man can rob him of his glory. All the glory must go to God, because He alone is worthy. It is this truth that is behind salvation by grace. Only God has the power to save us; only God could pour out such favor on such vile creatures as we; only God could give salvation to people who have done absolutely nothing to earn it. “For by grace you have been saved.”

Hundreds of years before Jesus hung on the cross God gave David an appreciation for this truth. Listen to David’s words from Psalm 32:1-2, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” If God doesn’t impute iniquity, if He doesn’t place iniquity on our account, then when does He reckon to us? In Romans 4, Paul quoted these words of David from Psalm 32. In that context Paul reminds us of what God said about Abraham in Gen. 15:6, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). When God wipes away our sin by putting it on Christ, He also puts righteousness on our account, the very righteousness of Christ Himself. II Cor. 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Down through the centuries, this has been referred to as double imputation. Our sin was put on Christ, and His righteousness was put on us.

After elaborating on these great truths again and again in his letter to the Romans, Paul finally comes to the end of the doctrinal section and cries out: Rom, 11:33-36…
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35. Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Can you say “Amen” to that? Who taught God such wisdom and knowledge? Who was it that gave God this plan and God has repaid him? No, no one has been God’s counselor, for of God and through God and to God are all things, to whom be glory forever!

IV. Grace in the Present Tense

When we read in Eph. 2 that we are saved by grace through faith, we are reading about an event in the past. Literally, it reads, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” The sense is this: it happened in the past, but it extends into the present and the future. And so it is with this great salvation. It is very legitimate to say, “I was saved,” or “I have been saved,” but don’t think for a moment that we can restrict God’s grace to the past. No, grace is a present asset. We find this truth all through the New Testament, such as in Rom. 5:1-2, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Did you catch that? We stand in this grace now.

Now come to Rom.6:14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Paul says to believers, “Sin shall not rule over you; sin will not be your master.” Why not? Because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Obviously, this is not past tense, but present tense. Because we are presently under grace rather than law, sin will not be able to rule over us. Again, think about the nature of grace. Is this not great divine favor? God is so good that He not only delivers us from the penalty of sin by forgiving us, but He also liberates us from the power of sin. Do we deserve such a blessing? No way. We have done nothing to earn such a rich blessing. But the focus of this verse is on the truth that grace is power. If we were under the law, sin would rule us. Why is that? Because the law has no power to deal with sin. The law can tell us what’s wrong, but it cannot give us the power to obey. But grace is power. God’s grace enables us to obey the law, so that Paul can write in Rom. 8:3-4…

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Conclusion: Praise God for His Grace

Praise God for His marvelous grace. We have been saved by grace. Again, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (II Cor. 8:9). And because of the outpouring of His grace, we are indeed rich. Eph. 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Those blessings are ours because the grace of our Lord.

Surely it is fitting that we conclude this morning with those great passages of praise from Revelation 4 and 5. Rev. 4:8-11…
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

And Rev. 5:7-14…
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.