The grace of
God is what separates us from the Old covenant saints. The Bible tells us that
Moses, brought the law to God’s people, but Jesus Christ, brought grace and
truth.
The Bible
goes on further to tell us that the law was weak, because it did not give the;
people the power to be able to keep it, but from our study today, you will see
that grace did.
The grace of
God, is not the freedom to be bound by a habit, and still be a Christian, it is
not the ability to fall into more sin and be forgiven. The grace of God, will
not be made more available, to those who willfully and knowingly, decide to
continue in sin.
WHAT GRACE IS
A SAVIOUR
We can see this from the book of Titus chapter
2 and verse 11:
For the grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to all men,
This portion
of the scripture tells us that grace brings salvation, in other words, grace is
a savior. You and I can still see a further explanation of this from Ephesians
chapter 2 and verse 5:
5 Even when we were dead in sins hath
quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved ;).
The above
scripture again tells us that we are saved by grace, and not of works. This is
repeated even more clearly in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8:
8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and not by yourselves: it is the gift of God:
A TEACHER
Grace is a
teacher, in Titus chapter 2 and verse 12 again, we read another important side
of what grace does:
12 Teaching us that denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should learn to live soberly, righteously,
and godly, in this present world;
Grace
teaches us to deny ungodliness, it teaches us to deny worldly lusts, it teaches
us to live soberly, it teaches us to live righteously. Grace in no way teaches
us lewdness, seduction, fornication or adultery. Grace teaches us self-control.
Therefore, when a man or a woman or a church is struggling with sin, there are
two things that may be involved.
The first is
that it may be that he or she has not yet received the teaching of grace, or
has not received grace, has received the grace of God in vain.
GRACE:
THE POWER OF GOD AND THE STRENGHT OF CHRIST
In the Book
of 2 Corinthians chapter 12, Apostle Paul talks about thorn that he had in his
flesh. This was a messenger of Satan that was sent to buffet him and he said
that he prayed about it so many times. The Lord spoke to him and here is what
he said:
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.
Jesus said
that his grace was and of course is still sufficient for Paul, you and I if we
believe. He goes on to explain that this grace is his strength, which is made
more abundant to strengthen you in your weakness. Apostle Paul later called it,
the power of Christ. Grace is therefore the power to resist sin.
THE
ANOINTING/ THE MIRACLE WORKING POWER OF GOD
In the Book
of Acts chapter 4, we read about the great manifestations of the power of God
that took place as the Apostles prayed together. Peter and John had healed a
lame man. They then went ahead to explain to the elders and leaders of the
synagogue who threatened them to stop using the name of Jesus. In Acts chapter
4 verses 31-33, we see the manifestation of power and great grace, leading to
signs, miracles and wonders.
GRACE IS
A TRANSFORMER (it changes lives).
In the Book
of 1 Timothy chapter 1 verses 11-14, Apostle Paul explains how that he was a
wicked and an injurious man to the body of Christ, but the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, changed his entire life.
11 According to the glorious gospel
of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,
who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful putting me into the
ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer and a
persecutor and injurious: but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in
unbelief.
14 And the grace of our LORD was
exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Jesus Christ.
In the last
verse, which is 14, Paul the Apostle explains how that he obtained his
change-it was by the grace of our Lord.
You can
still prove the transforming power of grace further from what Apostle Paul said
in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 10:
10 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 labored
more abundantly than them all: yet not I but the grace of God which was with
me.
I am what I
am by the grace of God, actually means; I became who I am now, by the
transforming power of the grace of God. Note also, that he talked about how
that grace enabled him to do more work than all the other apostles.
GRACE IS
HELPER
In Hebrews
chapter 4 and verse and verse 6, Apostle Paul, explains another side of
grace-the enabler, or the help:
6 Let us therefore come boldly unto
the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the
time of need.
Conclusion-the
grace of is a person-Jesus Christ the son of God.
Song:
Jesus-God’s righteousness revealed!
