Monday, August 22, 2016

GRACE AND MERCY - By John Baker



GRACE AND MERCY
John Baker


Scripture Reading: Romans 5:21

The first word we will consider is "GRACE." All that we have in Christ is by God's grace. Though grace is simple to believe, it is more difficult to understand. The characteristic of God's dealing since the cross is grace. Grace is now reigning. Where sin had at one time reigned, now grace reigns, through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:21). Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). Grace overcame sin and death. Grace is the characteristic word for this present dispensation in which we are living. The apostle Paul was willing to lay down his life for this wonderful message of God's grace. "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received ofthe Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

The characteristic way God is dealing with men, though we do not deserve it, is by grace. It is because of the finished work on the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and what He accomplished there, that God now deals with mankind in grace. Grace is not some commodity that can be measured or portioned. Grace must be understood as an attitude in which God is dealing with the world. We have salvation and all the accompanying blessings by God's grace.

Scripture Reading: Titus 2:11

In the Bible the Greek word translated grace is "charis." In secular Greek, grace was the property of an act that  inspired joy, beauty, and gracefulness. It came to mean the  act itself - the grace, the favor, or the goodness. The act of  doing something beautiful became the grace. It was a favor  done without expectation of return. A simple definition of  grace is unmerited favor. But grace is much more than this.  Mercy can be unmerited favor. Grace is receiving from God  that which we do not deserve. Mercy is not receiving from God  that which we do deserve. God is merciful and loving. His righteousness cannot tolerate sin. Sin is between man and  God. God loves the sinner and would be merciful to us. But He  cannot be merciful to the sinner at the expense of His own  righteousness. So God acted in His grace and sent His Son to  pay for sin, and to take care of consequences of sin, forever.  Now He can be merciful to the believer because sin has been taken out of the way.

It is by the grace of God that the best as well as the  worst and every shade in between are saved. There can be  no salvation from the penalty, dominion, or presence of sin  apart from the God of grace and the grace of God. With  the apostle Paul we can say "But by the grace of God I am  what I am ... " (I Corinthians 15:lOa).

Scripture Reading: Romans 11:6

To better understand grace we can look at what grace is  in contrast to:

1. Grace is the opposite of debt (Romans 4:4-5). Debt is what someone owes. God is not in debt to anyone. He  does not owe us anything. The world not only fell into sin, but  murdered the only One who can forgive sin (the Lord Jesus  Christ). If I could do anything to earn salvation, then God  would owe it to me. That would be the opposite of grace. If I  work for wages - the wages are due as debt. But this cannot be  applied to salvation. No one ever obtained righteousness by  worth or work. Grace then is God giving to the sinner,  completely undeserved, salvation. Whatever God gives us inot out of debt, but out of the good heartedness of the Giver.

2. Grace is the opposite of works (Romans 11:6).  Works are what man does in an attempt to please God. If a  man is saved by grace, then he cannot contribute one thing to  his salvation. The minute one tries to add one work, as a  requirement for salvation, he frustrates the grace of God. It is  either all works or all grace. For if we add works to grace, it  isn't grace anymore. This is perhaps the most direct and  absolute contrast in Scripture. Grace is God acting according  to His purpose. Work is man seeking to present to God a  human ground for His blessing.

Scripture Reading: Romans 6:14

Grace is the opposite of debt and works and it is also the  opposite oflaw.

3. Grace is opposite of the law (Romans 6:14).  The law stands for all man can and should do to meet God's  righteous standard. Grace is the opposite. It is not what man  does for God, but what God has done for man, in His grace.  Grace takes away works legalism. We are not under law today,  but under grace.

In summary: Grace is the opposite of debt -- God does not  owe us anything. Grace is the opposite of works you cannot  obtain righteousness through good works. Grace is opposite  of law -- you cannot keep the law to be saved.

We aren't saved because of who we are or what we have  done. We are saved by grace. Grace is freely bestowed apart  from man's efforts. The believer is under the grace of God and  because of this, sin is defeated. Grace is based upon and  displayed by the finished work of Christ.

Grace is a way oflife. We live under grace. (Romans 7:5,6)  Upon this basis, sin shall not have dominion over the believer,  for we are not under law, but under grace. Grace is receiving  from God that which we do not deserve freely out of the love  and good heartedness of the Giver. Everything we have is by  God's grace - justification, redemption, salvation, hope,  glorification, etc. We should thank God every day for His grace.



THE DAY OF THE LORD IS AT HAND – TRIBULATION

By Les Feldick

 

 
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