WHO IS GOD ?
PT. III
By Pastor Mike :

Brothers and Sisters in Christ , In this third part , I'd like to talk about GRACE .

Grace is one of God's many communicable attributes , and the term generally refers to His " undeserved favor " toward sinners . Often occurring in the contexts of blessing or salvation . God's grace may be thought of as either common ( general , universal ) or elective ( special , saving , regenerating ) .

Both the Old and New Testaments emphasize grace as a major concept . Whether one views the central theme of the Bible as the kingdom of God , prophecy fulfillment , law-grace , or any other overarching concept , grace plays a crucial role . The basic terminology of grace ( primarily hesed and hen in Hebrew and charis in Greek ) relates to concepts such as salvation , sanctification , and blessing .

KINDS OF GRACE :

COMMON GRACE :

Common grace is the universal but not saving blessings given by God to all people . Examples for common grace abound .

Physical Provision : God's common grace occurs in the physical realm , for He " maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. " ( Matthew 5:45 ) . Also , " The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. . . The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. " ( Psalm 145: 8-9 , 15-16 ) . God's provisions to all people of food , water , and air are acts of His grace .

Intelligence : God provides intellect to all . Mankind's intellect is the distinguishing feature between him and the animal world , for " So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. " ( Genesis 1:27 ) . Many scholars view God's image as the intelligence , or spiritual aspect , man was given at his creation , by which he can know their God exists ( Romans 1: 19-20 ) .

Morality : Although " all have sinned " ( Romans 3:23 ) , people are not as bad as they could be . One reason is because God has instilled a conscience in everyone : " For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another . " ( Romans 2: 14-15 ) . Therefore , conscience causes humans to establish laws or customs to protect society from the evils of human depravity .

Society : God's common grace is evident in society . Both believers and unbelievers bear children . Such childbearing is evidence of the common grace of God , who said , " And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. " ( Genesis 9:1 ) ; " And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. " ( Genesis 1:28 ) . This command occurs both before and after the Fall , so there is nothing unique in believers having children . Similarly , human government comes from God , " Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. " ( Romans 13:1 ) . Because of God's involvement in government , He commands believers to pray ; " I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. " ( 1 Tim. 2:1-2 ) .

Christian Events : Common grace is also shown through God's provision of salvation and Christian preaching . God's provision of salvation is for all , for  " Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. " ( 1 Tim. 2:4 ) ; " Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. " ( 1 Tim. 2:6 ) ; " The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. " ( 2 Peter 3:9 ) . Moreover , when Scripture declares that God ". . is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." ( 1 Tim. 4:10 ) and " .. the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men " ( Titus 2:11 ) , it stresses God's general provision of salvation so that all are without excuse . This provision is not saving initself , because man must repent of his sins and believe in Christ for salvation ( See Acts 3: 17-26 ) .

Elective Grace : Elective grace is God's special , unmerited favor toward sinful man that results in a sinner experiencing a new birth , conversion , Christian growth , perseverence in the faith , and ultimately , glorification with Christ . Instances of saving grace abound in Scripture , for every time someone is saved , elective grace is the key to such salvation .

One must notice the difference between God's common grace shown to all and His effectual grace given to the elect , God's children . Many evangelicals make the mistake of assuming God must show equal saving grace to everyone . Such a view of grace , however , denies the undeserved nature of God's free gift .

One may view elective grace as the hinge upon which the gospel turns , for it focuses on Christ , who is " . .  full of grace and truth. " ( John 1:14 ) ; " And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. " ( cf. verses 16-17 ) , and His atoning work , " 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. " ( Hebrews 2:9 ) .  Divine grace also has a role in every aspect of salvation  , for sinners are called by His grace . " . . and called me by his grace, " ( Galations 1:15 ) , repent due to His grace , " In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; " ( 2 Tim. 2:25 )  , believe due to grace , " 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 ) , are justified freely by His grace , " Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: " ( Romans 3:24 ) , and grow in sanctification as a result of God's grace , ( Romans 6 ) . At this point it may be helpful to consider the various subcategories of elective grace .

Prevenient Grace : Prevenient grace is the initial aspect of God's saving grace prior to human action . Scripture is replete with examples in which the Lord initiates salvation by His grace . Jesus told His disciples , " Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you . . " ( John 15:16 ) . Whenever we claim that we chose to follow Christ , we must realize that our choice to follow Him came after His choice of us - it was The Lord who initiated the work of salvation in us .

Moreover , God's elective grace precedes human action in that it was established before creation , and God's election / predestination of believers results in " the praise of the glory of his grace " ( Eph. 1:6 ) . Likewise , the text , " We love him, because he first loved us. " ( 1 John 4:19 ) stresses divine initiation in salvation . The individual's responsibility to believe is not removed from this equation , but faith is a result of God's work : " He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. " ( John 1: 10-11 )  . Paul also accentuates this priority of grace as unconditional , because God graciously saves apart from works ; " For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth " ( Romans 9:11 ) , " Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. " ( Romans 11: 5-6 ) . Such grace flows out of the divine plan centered in Christ before time , " Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began . " ( 2 Tim. 1:9 ) .

Efficacious Grace : Grace that is effective in accomplishing its intended purpose is efficacious grace . Because God is at work , He providentially carries out redemption and performs what otherwise could not be done . Thus , God's work of efficacious grace results in such actions as bringing life to the spiritually dead , giving light to those engulfed in darkness , finding and saving the lost , and setting the spiritually enslaved free .

Quite possibly the clearest example of God's efficacious grace in Scripture occurs at the heart of Romans - Paul's exposition of the gospel of grace . Paul writes , " And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. " ( 8:28 ) . The recipients of God's covenant love are the same ones who are predestined , called , justified , and glorified by God's grace .

Irresistible Grace : Irresistible grace is God's special grace that cannot be ultimately rejected . Built upon the notion of efficacious grace , irresistible grace is the drawing work of God that will result in the sinner's salvation through faith in Christ . Efficacious grace ( by which God effectually calls and draws sinners to Christ ) and irresistible grace are two sides of the same coin .

Moreover , this irresistible nature of God's special grace works hand-in-hand with the efficacious aspect , because those who come to Christ will not be cast out - " And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. " ( John 6:39 ) . So that no one misses the point about the divine sovereignty involved in salvation , Jesus emphasizes the certainty of the believer's future resurrection to life ; " And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. " ( John 6: 39-40 ) ; " No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. " ( John 6:44 ) . Jesus also underlines the eternal security of the believer when He speaks about His sheep ; " And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. " ( John 10:28-29 ) .

Sufficient Grace : When one speaks of God's grace as sufficient , it simply means that His grace is satisfactory to save believers both now and forever ; " Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. " ( Jude 1:24-25 ) . Man's works cannot be a cause for salvation , or else salvation would not be by grace alone - that is , grace alone would be insufficient to save .

Undoubtedly , every believer owes his salvation to the sufficiency of God's grace , for apart from God , the sinner is dead spiritually and " by nature the children of wrath " ( Eph. 2:3 ) . However , " But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved . " ( Eph. 2:4-5 ) . The threefold communicable attributes of mercy , love , and grace from an unbreakable bond in saving sinners . This saving grace guarantees our future salvation in Heaven for the purpose of displaying ; " That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: " ( Eph. 2:7-8 ) .

A word must be said about the sufficiency of grace in Christ's atonement . First , the general gospel call to salvation must go out to all ; " But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. " ( Acts 1:8 ) . Upon hearing the gospel , many will not repent of their sins and trust in Christ . Their failure to do so , however , does not negate the sufficiency of saving grace . Christ's atonement is a sufficient sacrifice for all ; " My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. " ( 1 John 2:1-2 ) . Not all will be saved , however - not because God's grace is insufficient , but because sinners fail to repent and believe ; " He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. " ( John 3:18 )  . Those who trust Christ do so as a result of God's grace ; " And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. " ( Acts 13:48 ) . Thus , we may conclude that the elective , or special , grace of God is sufficient to save all , but it is efficient only for God's elect - those who believe ( refer back to Eph. 2:8-9 ) .

The Greatness of God's Grace :

Perhaps John Newton's classic hymn Amazing Grace summarizes God's grace best : " 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. " The fact that sinners get to live on earth is a result of God's common grace . That some sinners trust Christ for salvation results from God's special grace . These truths , taken together , surely mean that God's grace is marvelous , wonderful , infinite , matchless , even AMAZING !

In my next and Final part of this sermon , I will talk about God's Agents . Until then , may The Lord Bless and keep you ALL - ALWAYS -
Your Brother in Christ ;
Pastor Mike