Todd's Road Grace Church would
like to invite you to listen to a sermon by our pastor, Todd
Neidert. We are located at 4137 Todd's
Road, two miles outside of Manowar Boulevard. Sunday services are
at 1030 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible study is at
945 a.m. Wednesday services are at 7 p.m. Nursery is provided for all services. For more information, visit our
website at toddsroadgracechurch.com. Now, here's our pastor, Todd
Nyberg. I'm reading from Romans chapter
five. I'd like to read verses 20 and
21 of Romans chapter five. Paul, the apostle, says, moreover,
the law entered that the offense might abound. But. Where sin abounded. Grace did much more abound, that
as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through
righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." I
have entitled this message, What is Sovereign Grace? Paul speaks of the reign of grace. What is sovereign grace? We first have to ask what is
meant by the word sovereign when we speak of the sovereignty of
God? What is meant by God is sovereign
or the sovereignty of God? You hear preachers use that term. What does it mean? God. has a will. God has the power
to make sure His will comes to pass, and God always does, in
fact, make sure His will comes to pass. His will cannot be thwarted. He's God. He's all-powerful. He's sovereign over all things,
and His grace is sovereign grace. Sovereign grace is the only kind
of grace there is. If it's not sovereign, it's not
grace. Now, God's sovereign grace means
He gives salvation to whomsoever He wills to give it. Romans chapter
9, verse 11, beginning in verse 11. Let me quote a passage of
Scripture to you. If you can read along, this will be helpful. For the children, talking about
Jacob and Esau, 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. It was said
unto her, the elder shall serve the younger, as it's written,
Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say
then? Is there unrighteousness with
God? Is God unfair in choosing Jacob and passing over Esau and
loving Jacob and hating Esau? What shall we say? Is there unrighteousness
with God? God forbid. For He saith to Moses,
I'll have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I'll have compassion
on whom I will have compassion. So then, it's not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."
God's grace is sovereign grace. That means He's in control of
it, and He gives it to whomsoever He's pleased to give it to. Now, in our text, we read in
verse 20 of Romans chapter 5, moreover, the law entered that
the offense might abound. The word offense is the trespass,
the breaking of God's law, the law entered. Now, what's meant
by the law? He's speaking of the Ten Commandments,
God's holy law, thou shalt have no other God before me, the commandment
against idolatry, the commandment against taking his name in vain,
the commandment regarding the Sabbath, the commandment to honor
your father and mother, to honor all authority, the commandment
not to kill, the commandment not to commit adultery, the commandment
not to steal, the commandment not to lie or bear false witness,
and the commandment not to covet. That's the law he's talking about,
the Ten Commandments The law entered, God's holy law, that
the offense might abound or overflow. Now listen real carefully. The
law does not restrain sin. It causes it to abound. When I put somebody under law,
that person is going to rebel because of our rebellious nature.
The law doesn't cause sin, but it exposes it. The law doesn't
make me sin, but it causes me to see my character. You see, I don't become a lawbreaker
when I break the law. I break the law because in my
heart I'm a lawbreaker. I don't become a liar when I
tell a lie. I tell a lie because I'm already
a liar in my heart. I don't commit adultery just
when I commit the act. I do so because that's what I
am in my heart. the law entered that the offense
might abound, what God's holy law does is expose our wicked
character. I'm by nature one who puts anything
before God. I am by nature an idolater. I make false gods up because
by nature I don't love God as it was revealed in the scripture.
I am by nature irreverent. I take his name in vain. I am by nature one who cannot
rest. I'm by nature a rebel against
authority. I'm by nature a murderer. Now, I've never committed murder
physically, but I've done the act in my heart. All you've got
to do is hate your brother without a cause, to be jealous of him,
to murder his character. And you're guilty of committing
murder before God. I am by nature an adulterer,
by nature a thief, by nature a liar, by nature eaten up with
covetousness. Sin abounds. in me. And that's what the law
does. The law exposes sin. What about you? Somebody replies,
well, I admit to committing some or even all of these sins, but
I wouldn't say that that describes my character. What kind of sinner
are you then? This exposes character. The law entered that sin might
abound, and that word abound means fills up and overflows
to where that's all there is. When sin abounds in you, you
say with Paul, I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth
no good thing, nothing but sin, totally and completely depraved,
unable to do anything but sin. Now, this is what the law exposes
to me. All I do is sin. I've not kept
one commandment one time. There's no such thing as partial
obedience. Not in my heart. I've not kept
one commandment one time. All I do is sin. I cannot not
sin. And I can't look down my nose
in judgment on anybody. And I have no claims on God.
If He saved everybody but me, He'd be righteous, holy, and
just. I am the place where sin abounds. Moreover, the law entered that
sin might abound. Paul said, I was alive without
the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. I thought I was fine until God's
law exposed to me that I was nothing but sin. Job said, behold,
I'm vile. I didn't know it before now,
but behold, I am vile. Now, does someone think I cannot
honestly Say that I believe that I'm that bad. OK. But you cut your own throat because
there is a specific place where God's grace over abounds. It's in that place where sin
abounds. Read once again, moreover, the
law entered that the offense might abound, but Where sin abounded,
in the place where sin abounded, where there was nothing but sin,
in that very place, grace did much more abound. What does the Bible mean by this
precious word, grace? I even like the way it sounds.
What does the Bible mean by this word? Grace means undeserved. kindness or favor given without
it being earned in any way. It's the opposite of works and
worthiness. Grace is the eternal, absolutely
free favor of God shown by His giving, not offering, but giving
spiritual and eternal blessings to guilty and unworthy people,
people where sin abounds. The only people God gives His
grace to is people where sin abounds. Grace is not in any
way dependent upon human worthiness. It's not dependent upon whether
you of your free will accept it or reject it. It depends solely
on God's will, not man's will, but God's will, not earned by
merit or lost by guilt. Grace is absolutely free of any
human influence. Grace is either absolutely free
of all influence by us, Or it's not grace at all. Saving grace is this, it can
abound in that place where sin abounds. If there's a real sinner
listening, you know, there aren't many real sinners in our day.
There's pretend sinners, sort of sinners, but if there's a
real sinner listening, someone who all you are is sin, listen
to me, in the place where sin abounds, Grace does much more
abound. I hope I'm not preaching to hypothetical
sinners. I hope I'm preaching to real
sinners. Now, verse 21. He says, well,
let's read 20 and 21 together. Therefore, the law entered, God's
holy law, that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound that as sin hath reigned unto death. Even so might grace reign through
righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Now,
here sin is described as a tyrannical king in its reign. Sin reigned
unto death. Sin had complete control. The one who reigns is the one
who controls, whose will is done. Now, here is the dominion of
sin. The cause of death is sin. The only reason people die is
because of sin. How much power do you have to
prevent death? Absolutely none. And that is
how much power you and I have to prevent sin. Paul said that
we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal soul. under sin, under the complete
dominion of sin. That's what I am by nature. But
here's the gospel. Just as you cannot prevent the
reign of sin, you cannot prevent the reign of grace. That's why it's called sovereign
grace. Grace is portrayed as a ruling,
reigning king whose will is done. The reign of grace is sovereign
grace, irresistible, invincible, saving grace. Ephesians 2 says,
for by grace you are saved. Grace is not something God just
puts out on the table and it's up to you to accept it or reject
it. No, sir, that's not grace at all. Grace is God's saving
grace. When He gives you His favor,
you're saved. By grace, you are saved. Now, you find me a man where
sin abounds, where sin reigns. Somebody says, I'm not like that.
Well, I'm not talking to you then. I have the ability to choose
the good over the bad whenever I want to. I've got a free will.
I'm not talking to you either. You go on playing your religious
games. But find me a man or woman where sin abounds. Where sin overflows to where
that's all they do and all they are is sin. Here's what you need. Reigning
grace. Sovereign grace. Your sin's all
your fault. You're not a victim. You're not
a victim. Everything, it's all your fault.
The only thing that will do you any good is sovereign grace,
grace that you cannot prevent, grace that will not take no for
an answer, sovereign, saving grace. Now, where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto
death, even so, in the same manner, grace reigns. I want to talk
for a few moments about the reign of grace. Did God know you would
be as bad as you are? Of course He did. He's God. But grace reigns in divine election. You see, He chooses people freely
by His grace. He doesn't wait and see what
you're going to do. There's a vast number of people
called the elect. whom he chose before time began
to be saved, and his choice was not because he foresaw they would
be good, or because he foresaw some work they would perform.
No, not in any way. I've already quoted this once.
Let me quote it again. Romans 9, 11, to 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. God's purpose in grace was that
salvation would have nothing to do with human merit. Good works do not recommend us. Bad works do not disqualify us. I'm in God's sovereign hands
and God's grace reigns in election when he chose sinners to be saved
by his grace. Grace reigns in the justification
of the sinner. Now, these people that God elected,
He's not going to bring them into heaven as sinners, as guilty. No, He makes them not guilty. That's what justification is.
Oh, what a glorious, glorious truth, the justification by grace. Paul said in Romans 3, 24, being
justified freely. Get that word freely. That means
without a cause in you. Freely by His grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus. How grace reigns in the
justification of the sinner. You remember the story our Lord
told in Luke chapter 18 about that man who was beating on his
breast, crying out, God, be merciful to me, the sinner. He didn't have one thing to recommend
him. All he was was sin, and he knew
it, and he cries, beating on his breast. He wouldn't so much
as lift up his eyes to heaven, but he beat upon his breast,
saying, God, be merciful to me, thee sinner. Our Lord said, I
tell you, that man went down to his house justified. Not merely forgiven, but justified
rather than the other, rather than the proud, You see, grace
reigns in justification. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Now,
this is the great mystery of the gospel. can take somebody
who's unjust and make them just the way they really are. It's
not just a piece of paper that says they're just. They really
are just. You see, the sins of God's elect
were placed upon Christ and they became his so that he became
guilty of them. And God's wrath came down upon
him as the sin bearing substitute. And he died paying the penalty
for sin. And just as truly, As he was
made sin, his righteousness, his perfect obedience is given
to everybody he died for so that they are justified. Not merely forgiven, but justified
without guilt before God. How grace reigns in justification. And grace reigns in the sin payment. I've got a question. What about
This sinner, speaking to you or any sinner, could possibly
merit God sending His Son to die. Nothing. But God is gracious. being justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God
so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever
believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What
a gift of grace that God would give His Son. We couldn't merit
this. And understand this gift of His
Son. This isn't just some kind of
offering that He puts on the table. It's up to you to accept
Him or reject Him. Not at all. No, He gives His
Son to people. He gives them complete salvation.
Everyone who believes, He gave His Son to. How grace reigns
in the forgiveness of sins. His pardon is full. It's free. It's everlasting. And it's irreversible. His forgiveness is not like ours,
narrow, difficult, half-hearted, with strings attached, but it's
full, free, bottomless, boundless and absolute to this extent. He says, their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more. And there's only one reason
why he remembers them no more. There's nothing there for him
to remember. Christ put them away. Oh, how His grace reigns in God's
forgiveness. His forgiveness is so glorious. And how grace reigns in the calling
of the sinner. The great illustration of this
is Lazarus. Lazarus was dead. He'd been in
the grave four days and his body had already started the process
of decay. And our Lord said, Lazarus, come
forth. Could Lazarus have said no? Absolutely not. You see, this
is reigning grace. Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead, came forth. Grace reigns in the calling of
the sinner. Ephesians 2, 1 says, And you
hath He quickened, and you hath He given life to, who were dead
in trespasses and sins. Now, if you believe, it's because
He gave you life. You don't have life because you
believe. You believe because you've been
given life by the power of God. He called you by His grace. The
reason you love God is because you've been given life. That's
the reason. His calling grace. How grace reigns in the preservation
of the sinner. Don't you know, if you're a believer,
you do. You're kept by the power of God. You know that if He took
His hand off you for a second, you'd fall away. You know that.
You know that. And the only way you're kept
is because you're kept by His power, kept by His grace. He said, My sheep shall never
perish. And that's our security. And
how grace... I'll tell you when we'll really
see the reign of grace. I'm talking about things I believe.
But I'll see so clearly the reign of grace, sovereign grace, when
I stand before God in judgment. And I hear Him say, Come, ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. I'll understand something about
the sovereignty of His grace when I am perfectly conformed
to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ and I stand without guilt
before God. Then, Lord, shall I fully know
Not till then, how much I owe. Sovereign grace. Who needs sovereign grace? People
where sin abounds. I need His sovereign grace to
reign over me. As sin hath reigned unto death,
even so might grace reign through righteousness. Don't miss that. Nothing unrighteous about this.
No passing over of justice and judgment. No minimizing the penalty
of sin. No, it's all perfectly fair through
righteousness unto eternal life. That thing of knowing the Lord
Jesus Christ, which is by Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, I'd like
to close by reading a passage of Scripture to you. I've been
talking about sovereign grace. It's what the Scripture teaches
regarding grace. In Hebrews chapter 4, verse 16,
we read, Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need. Sovereign grace sits on a throne. The Lord Jesus is the grace of
God. Sovereign grace, grace from a
throne. He says, let us come boldly unto
the throne of grace. Now, who is the us? Notice what
he says, let us therefore come boldly under the throne of grace
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of
need. I'll tell you who the us is.
It's people who need mercy and need grace. Oh, I need mercy. I need the mercy of God and I
need his grace. Now, he says, let us therefore
come boldly under the throne of grace. How in the world can
I come boldly? One reason, because it's a throne
of grace. It's a throne of complete, unmerited
favor. Because it's a throne of grace,
I can come boldly. And why do I come? To obtain
mercy and to find grace to help in time of need. When do I come
boldly to this throne of grace? In time of need. Which, in my
case, is all the time. Yet, I can come boldly, because
it is a throne of grace. Sovereign, saving grace. That is the only kind of grace
there is. Thank God for sovereign grace. I know who's thanking Him with
me. That person where sin abounds. Now, we have this message on
CD, cassette or DVD. You call the church or write
or email the address given and we'll send you a copy. This is
Todd Knockford, praying that God will be pleased to make himself
known to you. That's our prayer. Amen. To request a copy of the
sermon you have just heard, send a request to messages at toddsroadgracechurch.com. Or you may write or call the
church at the information provided on the screen.