In the sermon "Grace Be With You. Amen," Gabe Stalnaker focuses on the theological richness of grace as expressed in 2 Timothy 4:22, where the Apostle Paul concludes his letters with a prayer for grace. The preacher emphasizes that grace is the essential message of the Gospel, the sum of salvation, and the divine favor that believers receive through Jesus Christ. Key Scriptures discussed include Romans 3:23-24, which underscores justification by grace, and Ephesians 2:8, which highlights salvation through grace. Stalnaker elucidates the practical significance of grace, arguing that the presence of Christ, which is synonymous with grace, brings comfort, justification, and assurance of salvation to God's people, thus reinforcing a core tenet of Reformed theology: salvation is entirely by grace alone.
Key Quotes
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. That is the sum of salvation. That is the hope of glory.”
“Grace clings to us. Grace, grace. What is grace? Here’s the answer. It’s Christ.”
“If God’s grace is with us, then we are justified freely... What does it mean to be justified before God? That means when God looks at you, he says no sin has been committed.”
“If Christ is with you and if his grace is with you, then you’re justified, you’re redeemed, and you’re saved. Period. Amen.”
The Bible presents grace as God's unmerited favor, most fully expressed in Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches that grace is the unmerited favor of God towards sinners, primarily expressed through the person and work of Jesus Christ. For instance, Romans 3:24 states, 'being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' This denotes not only a gift but a transformative power that justifies and redeems us. Furthermore, Ephesians 2:8 proclaims, 'For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,' indicating that grace is entirely from God, not dependent on our merits or actions. Grace, therefore, is central to the Christian faith, as it encapsulates the essence of salvation and our standing before God.
Romans 3:24, Ephesians 2:8
God's grace is affirmed in Scripture and through the person of Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of grace.
The truth of God's grace is established through the authoritative words of Scripture and the life of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:20 assures us that 'where sin abounded, grace did much more abound,' illustrating that grace is not only real but more powerful than our sin. Additionally, in John 1:17, we see that 'the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,' demonstrating that grace is grounded in the very nature of Christ, who fulfilled the law for us. The existence of grace in a believer's life is also evidenced through the transformative effects it has on our hearts, leading us from sin to righteousness.
Romans 5:20, John 1:17
Grace is essential for Christians as it signifies our unearned salvation and God's continual presence in our lives.
Grace is crucial for Christians because it embodies the core of the Gospel: salvation comes not by works but solely through God's grace. Ephesians 2:8 emphasizes that we are saved by grace through faith, highlighting that our relationship with God is based on His unmerited favor rather than our performance. This grace also assures us of God's abiding presence, as seen in 2 Timothy 4:22, where Paul expresses his desire for the Lord's grace to be with Timothy. Recognizing grace leads to humility in our walk with God, as it humbles us from relying on our merits and instead leads us to trust solely in Christ's finished work for our standing before God.
Ephesians 2:8, 2 Timothy 4:22
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