THE DOCTRINE OF AMAZING GRACE
THE STORY OF JOHN NEWTON
8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. 10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Ephesians 2:8-9
There’s a story told about C.S. Lewis attending a conference on comparative religions. Several people were debating what was unique about Christianity. After numerous suggestions were rejected, Lewis interjected. “What’s unique about Christianity? Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.”
GRACE – God’s favor and power for living
1.Saving Grace – Saving grace is the free and unmerited operation of God’s person and presence that initiates the spiritual life of God’s people. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2.Common Grace -Common grace, as an expression of the goodness of God, is every favor, falling short of salvation, which this undeserving and sin-cursed world enjoys at the hand of God; this includes the delay of wrath, the mitigation of our sin-natures, natural events that lead to prosperity, and all gifts that human use and enjoy naturally. The deadliest force in the world is not nature, not winds, not rains, not earthquakes. Dangerous force is not animals, jungle. The dangerous force – most dangerous and deadly force is humans. They can plot evil. They can devise harm. They’re not like animals who kill because they’re designed to kill. That’s how the food chain works. Humans are designed to give life, but they are amazingly crafty at creating death.
The Bible says all have sinned. All have sinned. In fact, if you go back to the beginning in the book of Genesis, you read this: “Now the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The earth was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on earth and the earth was filled with violence.” The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:9
So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45
How?
1.Self Revelation
2.Conscience
3.Word
4.Law – Government
5.Providence
1.Self Revelation
2.Conscience
3.Word
4.Law – Government
5.Providence
3.Sanctifying Grace Sanctifying grace is God’s freely given presence and power to restore the fullness of God’s image in which we are created. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18
29 For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers.” Romans 8:28-29
4.Sustaining Grace – God’s power to hold us together in a time of need (like glue) My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.”
1 Peter 5:12
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above