Introduction
The Bible is pre-eminently occupied in setting forth the gracious feelings with which God regards the children of men. Grace is the free bestowal of kindness on one whom has neither claim on our bounty, nor adequate compensation to make it.
The Meaning of Grace
The Greek word karis means
1. Favour—“You have found Favour” Lk. 1:30
2. Grace—“And the grace of God” Lk. 2:40.
3. Credit—“What credit is that” Lk. 6:32.
4. Thank— “Would he thank” Lk .17:9.
5. Gift—“Send. . .your gift” 1 Co. 16:3.
6. “Benefit— “You might benefit” 2 Cor. 1:15.
7. Commendable—“Commendable” 1 Pet. 2:20.
The Significance of the Grace of Christ
1. Provides salvation. “For it is by grace you have been saved” Eph. 2:8.
2. Encourages faith. “Great help to those who by grace had believed” Acts 18:27.
3. Justifies freely. “And are Justified freely by his grace” Rom. 3:24.
4. Brings eternal life “. . .So also grace. . .to bring eternal life” Rom. 5:21.
5. Overcomes sin. “For sin shall not be your master under grace” Rom. 6:14.
6. Enables choice. “So too. . .a remnant chosen by grace” Rom. 11:5.
7. Perfects weaknesses. “Power is made perfect in weakness”
2 Cor. 12:9.
8. Calls individuals. “And called me by his grace” Gal. 1:15.
9. Makes rich. “Grace might become rich” 2 Cor. 8:9.
10. It teaches. “It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness” Tit. 2:12.
11. Produces faith. “The grace. . .along with the faith. . .”
1 Tim. 1:14.
12. Produces love. “The grace along with the faith and love”
1 Tim. 1:14.
13. Gives encouragement. “By his grace gave us eternal encouragement” 2 Thess. 2:16.
14. Gives hope. By his grace gave us good hope” 2 Thess. 2:16.
Misusing the Grace of Christ
These are ways that grace can be misused
1 Receiving in vain. “Not to receive God’s grace in vain” 2 Cor. 6:1.
2 Setting aside. “I do not set aside the grace of God” Gal. 2:21.
3 Falling away. “You have fallen away from grace” Gal. 5:4.
4 By changing. “Who change the grace of our God into.” Jude: v. 4
5 By sinning. “Shall we go on Sinning so that grace may. . .” Rom. 6:1.
6 By insulting. “Who has insulted the Spirit of grace” Heb.10:29.
7 By missing it. “No one misses the grace of God” Heb.12:15.
Facts about the Grace of Christ
1. God of all grace calls us to his eternal glory. 1 Pet. 5:10
2. God will show the incomparable riches. . .of his grace. Eph. 2:7
3. God gives the administration of his grace. Eph. 3:2
4. God’s grace is given us before the beginning of time. 2 Tim. 1:9
5. God’s true grace is given in order to stand fast in it. 1 Pet. 5:12
6. God’s grace is given so that we grow in it. 2 Pet. 3:18
7. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Jas. 4:6
Application
John Newton was born in London in the year 1725. He could not live a godly life as he was engaged in the African Slave Trade. In
1748 he was touched by the grace of Christ. He was so amazed by it that he wrote the great hymn—“Amazing, Grace.” Is the grace of Christ amazing to you?