All of Grace

Q: What does the Bible say about salvation by grace?

The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, a gift from God, not based on human effort or works. According to Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul emphasizes that 'by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.' This idea captures the essence of salvation in the Christian faith. Salvation is a divine work where grace, defined as God's unmerited favor, delivers us from the curse of the law and the wrath of God against sin. It is not an act that relies on human merit but solely on the grace bestowed upon humanity by God through Christ. Thus, believers are called to understand their salvation as a profound gift, highlighting that no one can earn their way to heaven, but must instead receive God's grace.

Q: How do we know faith is a gift from God?

Scripture indicates that faith is a gift from God, bestowed upon believers to enable them to trust in Christ for salvation. The New Testament conveys that faith itself is not an inherent quality of humans but rather a divine gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.' This refutes the idea that faith can be generated by human effort or works. Moreover, passages like Romans 10:17 highlight that 'faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,' suggesting that the Holy Spirit works through Scripture to awaken faith in believers. Therefore, true faith is anchored in God's initiative rather than human ability, confirming God's sovereign grace in salvation.

Q: Why is grace important for Christians?

Grace is foundational for Christians as it signifies God's unmerited favor, essential for understanding salvation and the Christian life. Grace is central to the Christian faith because it establishes the basis of our relationship with God. Ephesians 2:5 reminds us that 'even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved.' This underscores that God's grace transforms our lives and empowers us in our Christian walk. Understanding grace prevents believers from becoming boastful, as Paul notes, 'not of works, lest anyone should boast.' It encourages humility and reliance on God's strength instead of our abilities. More so, grace drives discipleship, as believers are called to reflect God's grace in their interactions with others, promoting love and forgiveness.

Q: What does it mean to be chosen by grace?

Being chosen by grace means that God has elected certain individuals for salvation based on His will, not on any merit of theirs. The concept of being chosen by grace illustrates that God's selection for salvation is rooted in His goodness rather than the merits or actions of individuals. Romans 11:5-6 states, 'Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if it is by grace, it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.' This indicates that God's election is sovereign and not contingent upon human behavior. Believers are reminded of their privilege in being chosen, as Ephesians 1:4 affirms that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. This understanding encourages humility and gratitude among Christians, as they recognize their position is derived from God's grace alone.

The title of this message today
is All of Grace. All of Grace. Now, my text is
a very, very familiar passage of Scripture. Two verses of Scripture
which are quoted quite often and are very familiar to most
of you. But actually, I believe that
these two verses of Scripture are understood, really understood
by very few people. Now, if you're interested in
this message, I invite you to get your Bible and follow along
with me as I speak today. We're going to be speaking from
Ephesians, the book of Ephesians, Paul's letter to the Ephesians,
chapter 2, verse 8 and 9. And immediately you recognize
this passage of Scripture. Probably many of you could quote
it. It goes like this, For by grace are you saved through faith. and that not of yourselves, it
is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For
by grace are you saved through faith." What is Paul saying here?
Well, let's break it down and take each sentence and see what
Paul is saying. First of all, he's saying this,
by the grace of God, you have been saved. Now, that's the proper
translation of that opening statement. For by grace have you been saved. For by grace have you been saved. What does it mean to be saved?
Well, the word saved means to be delivered. We've been saved
or delivered from a covenant of works. We're not under a covenant
of works for salvation. We're under a covenant of grace.
We've been saved or delivered from the curse of the law. The
scripture says, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in everything
written in the book of the law to do them. But Christ hath redeemed
us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us. So
we're saved or delivered from the curse of the law. And then
we're saved or delivered from the wrath of God, the wrath of
God against sin. And then we're delivered or saved
from judgment. There is therefore now no judgment
to them who are in Christ Jesus. No condemnation. We're delivered,
saved from judgment. Paul is writing here to believers.
He's writing to the church at Ephesus. And he says it's by
the grace of God that you have been saved. You have been saved. Now in I Corinthians he says
to you who are being saved, Christ is the wisdom and the power of
God. And then he says over in the book of Romans, now is our
salvation nearer than when we believe. So you have salvation
in three tenses actually. The believer has been saved by
the grace of God. He is being saved by the grace
of God. And his salvation is nearer now
than when he believed by the grace of God. So by The grace
of God, you have been saved. Now watch this. For by the grace
of God, you've been saved. What is grace? Well, grace is
the goodness of God. Grace is the free mercy of God. Grace is undeserved. It's unmerited. It is unearned. Someone said
this, grace. grace is God giving us what we
don't deserve, what we haven't earned, what we haven't merited,
what in most cases we haven't even sought. God Almighty's free
grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Now I tell you this, the grace
of God does not try to save, it saves. For by grace you have
been saved. Grace doesn't try to save somebody.
I hear preachers often saying, well, God's trying to save you.
No, the grace of God does not try to save, it saves. The grace
of God doesn't do its best to save, it saves. The grace of
God does not make us savable, it saves us. And the grace of
God does not need any help from us. It's for by grace you have
been saved, saved from all past sins, saved from all present
sins, and saved by His grace from all future sins." Now, this
is a statement that sometimes agitates a few people, but nevertheless,
it's true. For by grace, you have been saved,
delivered from the curse of the law, from the penalty of the
sin, from the wrath of God, from judgment, from condemnation,
from all sin. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's
Son, cleanses us from all sin, not our past sins only, all sin,
past, present, and future. Now watch the next word. For
by grace you have been saved through faith, through faith,
not without faith, not apart from faith, but through faith,
that is, through the means of faith. Now faith is not the Savior,
Christ is. But faith believes God. That's
what it says about Abraham. What shall we say that Abraham,
our father, hath found as pertaining to God? Well, he's found righteousness. Well, how did he find it? He
believed God. He believed that God saved him.
God redeemed him. But Abraham believed. In other
words, God chose Abraham and Abraham believed God. God didn't
choose him because he believed. He believed because God chose
him. God called Abraham, and faith responded. God didn't call
him because he responded. He responded because God called
him. God blessed Abraham, and Abraham received God's blessing
by faith. And that's what I'm, what he's
saying here to the Ephesian church. He said, it's by the grace of
God you've been saved. Through faith, through the means
of faith. Christ Jesus is the Savior. Faith's
not the Savior. Christ is the Savior. He's our
Savior by His obedience and by His blood, but faith receives
Christ, and faith rests in Christ, and faith rejoices in Christ,
and faith builds on Christ, and faith walks with Christ. For
by grace you have been saved through faith, not apart from
faith, not by faith, but through faith. Faith is the means. You
see, when I reach and take a glass of water, my taking the glass
does not quench my thirst. I'm thirsty. My taking the glass
does not quench my thirst. The water does. The water satisfies. The water quenches. Faith takes
the water. And Jesus Christ is the water
of life, and faith receives Him. And Jesus Christ is the bread.
He is the nourishing bread. He is the satisfying water. He
is the redeeming Redeemer. Do you see? The redeeming Savior.
Faith receives Him, rests in Him, rejoices in Him, and builds
on that foundation. Now let's go on with our text.
For by grace have you been saved, delivered through faith. Now
watch it. And that not of yourselves, And
that not of yourselves. You know, a person who is a child
of God, a person who's a believer, and there are many of you listening
to me who are believers, children of God, you're an heir of everlasting
life. But a person who is a true believer,
a true child of God, will take none of the credit for what he
is. None of the credit for what he is. Paul said, I am what I
am by the grace of God. by the mercy of God. A true believer
takes no credit for what he is, what he has, what he knows, or
what he will be, because it's all of grace, all of grace, all
of grace. That's the title of this message.
It's all of grace. It's all by the grace of God,
not of yourselves, not of yourselves, lest any man should boast. Paul
wrote in 1 Corinthians 4, 7, who makes you to differ? You're
different. You're a believer. Others aren't.
You trust God. Others don't. You believe the
Bible. Others don't. Who made you to differ? You have
received life. Well, what have you received
that you have you didn't receive? Now, if you received it, why
do you boast as if you didn't receive it? 1 Corinthians 15,
10, by the grace of God, Paul said, I am what I am. And grace, my friend, is not
of yourselves. Otherwise, it wouldn't be grace.
And salvation is not of ourselves. Or it wouldn't be sure. It's
by grace through faith that it might be sure. Jonah 2, 9 says
salvation's of the Lord. It's not of ourselves. And let
me show you something. Faith is not of ourselves. Faith's
the gift of God. It's the gift of God. Now listen
to this verse again. For by grace, for by grace have
you been saved through faith. We're saved by the grace of God
through faith. And that not of yourselves. Faith
is not of yourself. It's the gift of God. Faith's
the gift of God. Everything about salvation's
the gift of God. Redemption's the gift of God.
Salvation is the gift of God. Forgiveness is the gift of God.
Repentance is the gift of God. Have you repented? Listen to
the Word of God. The goodness of God led you to
repentance. The goodness of God led you to
repentance. It's God that convicted you of
sin. It's God that revealed to your
heart Christ. It's God who brought you to see
Him and mourn over your sins in the light of Christ's mercy.
And faith is the gift of God. It's given unto us, not only
to suffer for Him, but to believe on Him. You see, this is the
record. God hath given us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son. I John 5, 11. Romans 6, 23, listen. The wages of sin is death, but
the gift of God The what? The gift of God. Thanks be unto
God for His unspeakable gift. The gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord. For by grace have you been saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves, the salvation not
of yourselves, the forgiveness, the repentance, the faith. Thy
people shall be willing in the day of thy power. By the grace
of God, I am what I am, I know what I know, I have what I have,
and my future is in the kingdom of God, by the grace of God.
Therefore, salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast. Lest any man should boast. No
part of our redemption is by works. Because it's not by works
of righteousness, which we've done. But according to his mercy,
he hath saved us. Therefore, we conclude, Paul
said, a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Actually, in the first place,
we don't have any works, not that can please God. Because
in the flesh, no man can please God. In the flesh dwelleth no
good thing. Isaiah said, we all do fade as
the leaf. Like the wind, we've been, like
leaves, we've been driven away. And our righteousnesses, our
righteousnesses are filthy rags in God's sight. Let me tell you
something, and that goes for everybody listening to my voice,
including this preacher who's doing the talking. We have no
works that are acceptable to God in themselves. because the
best works that we can do have too much flesh in it and sin
in it, and it makes it filthy rags in God's sight. You see,
in order for God to accept anything, the Scripture says it has to
be perfect, and there's nothing about us perfect. Well, how does
God accept us then in Christ? How does God accept our prayers?
Through the Mediator, Christ Jesus. How does God accept our
works? Because God, Christ, makes them
holy. How does God accept our worship? Because we come to Him
in Christ's name. There'll be no human glory in
heaven. God has given Him all preeminence. God forbid, Paul said, that I
should glory save in the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. Do you see what Paul's saying here in this verse? The
reason I said so, few people actually have entered into the
depths and the meaning and the riches of this verse. For by
grace, free grace, sovereign grace, God's grace, unchanging
grace, prevenient grace, efficient grace, for by grace have you
been saved. It's done. The great transaction's
done. Christ has obeyed the law, imputed
to us a perfect righteousness. Christ has died for all our sins. You have been saved through faith,
not without faith, not apart from faith. Thy people shall
be willing in whom you trusted after you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation. You trusted Christ. You have
been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. Even
the faith to believe is the gift of God. It's not of works. It's not of merit. It's not of
human deeds. It's not by morality. It's not
by keeping the law. It's not of works, lest any man
should boast and brag and glory in this flesh. Christ will not
share His glory. He'll have all the preeminence.
Every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. It's all of grace. One of the
old hymn writers wrote this hymn. Grace, it's a charming sound. It's harmonious to the ear. Heaven
with the echo shall resound and all the world shall hear. Grace
wrote my name in God's eternal book. Grace gave me to the Lamb
who all my sorrows took. Grace taught my soul to pray. Grace made my eyes overflow. Grace has kept me to this day,
and grace will not let me go. For by grace, all of grace, have
you been saved through faith, that not of yourselves. It's
the gift of God. And let me tell you something.
The man who knows the grace of God and the gift of life does
not glory in what he's done for God or what he's done for others. He never brags or boasts about
what he's done for God or what he's done for others in the name
of God. And any man who glories in what
he's done for God or for anyone else in the name of God knows
nothing about grace. Oh, he may use the word, but
he's never experienced it. He may speak of the doctrine,
but he's never entered into it. Grace humbles the heart. Grace
humbles the spirit. Grace exalts and magnifies the
Lord Jesus. Grace ascribes all that I am
and I have to the goodness of God and not of myself. Let's look through the Word of
God and trace this word grace. Grace. And see the blessings
that we have by the grace of God. All of grace. All of grace. grace, unmerited favor. First
of all, our election is by grace. Our election is by grace. Romans
chapter 11, verse 5 and 6, listen. Paul writes, Even so, at this
present time there is a remnant, there's a remnant according to
the election of grace. And if it is by grace, then it's
not works. Otherwise, grace is not grace. There's a handful, there's a
remnant, there's a flock by the election of grace. And if by
grace it's not of works, what do you mean by election, preachers? I mean this, I mean you didn't
choose God, God chose you. That's what our Lord Jesus said
to His disciples as they sat about Him one day, In John 15,
16, he said, you've not chosen me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I chose you. Did you ever read the first chapter
of Ephesians? A few weeks ago, I talked about
being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
And one of our dear listeners wrote to me and said, my neighbor
and I, missed that broadcast but we've been, we heard about
it and we've been looking for that in the Bible chosen before
the foundation of the world and we haven't been able to find
it. Have you found it? It's in the Bible several times. Look at Ephesians chapter 1 verse
3. Listen to it. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. according as He chose
us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children according to the good pleasure
of His own will." Did you read that? Look it up again, Ephesians
1, 3, 4, and 5, and I'll ask you three questions here. Did
you choose God or did He choose you? Well, it said He chose us. He chose us. Well, when did He
choose us? Well, it says before the world
began. Well, why did He choose us? Why
me? Why you? We're no better than
anyone else. There's no difference. Why did
He set His affection on us? Why did He send His Son to die
for us? Why did He choose us? Why did He write our names in
the book of life? According to the good pleasure OF HIS OWN
WILL. EVEN SO, FATHER, IT SEEMED GOOD
IN THY SIGHT. SO, OUR ELECTION IS OF GRACE,
BY GRACE. AND THEN, SECONDLY, OUR REDEMPTION
IS BY GRACE. PREACHER, WHAT DOES REDEMPTION
MEAN? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY REDEMPTION? WELL, REDEMPTION IS TO PURCHASE,
PAY THE PRICE, OR BUY BACK THAT WHICH HAS A PRICE ON IT. YOU
GO TO THE PALM SHOP PUT YOUR WATCH IN. THEY GIVE YOU SOME
MONEY. THAT BELONGS TO HIM NOW. IT'S
HIS WATCH. HE PUTS A PRICE ON IT. NOW, IF YOU WANT IT BACK,
YOU GOT TO COME REDEEM IT. YOU'VE GOT TO COME BACK AND PAY
THE PRICE ON THAT WATCH. AND WHEN YOU PAY THE PRICE, YOU
REDEEM IT. YOU GO DOWN TO THE STORE AND YOU REDEEM ANYTHING
THAT YOU BUY. YOU PAY THE PRICE. YOU PAY FOR
IT. AND THAT'S HOW GOD ALMIGHTY BOUGHT US. HE PAID FOR US. IT
WAS A PRICE ON OUR SOULS. THE LAW HAD US IN CAPTIVITY.
The justice of God had us in its clutches. The soul that sinneth,
it shall surely die. Which sin? Which sin? And God sent Christ into this
world to redeem us, to buy us back, to purchase us from the
law. How did He purchase us from the
law? He met the demands of the law. He met the requirements
of the law. He met the price of the law. He was tempted in
all points as we are, yet without sin. He met the price of justice. Justice says die. The sinner
must die. Christ died on the cross. That's
why He died on the cross, to pay for our sins. In whom we
have redemption. Look at verse 7 of Ephesians
1. In whom we have redemption through His blood. We're bought
back through His blood. You're bought with a price, the
Scripture says. We're redeemed not with corruptible
things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of
Christ. as a land without blemish or
spot, redeemed by the blood." Listen to it. We have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sin according to the riches
of His grace, grace, free grace, free, unchangeable, sovereign
grace, all of grace. Election is by grace. There's
arraignment according to the election of grace. We're redeemed
and forgiven of sins by His grace through the redemption that's
in Christ Jesus. Thirdly, our calling. Our calling
is by grace. Now, the Apostle Paul was sitting
down in prison, and he's writing a letter to young Timothy. Timothy,
he called him his son in the faith, his son in the ministry.
And he's sitting down there in prison, and he writes the epistle
to Timothy, 2 Timothy. And he says in chapter 1, verse
9, Timothy, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Don't be ashamed of the gospel.
And don't be ashamed of me, God's servant. But you be ready to
bear the afflictions of the gospel. You be ready yourself to bear
the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God
who had saved us and called us. Who called us? the same one who
saved us. He saved us and called us, listen,
not according to our works, but according to His own purpose
and grace, which was given us in Jesus Christ before the world
began. Did you hear that? We love Him
because He first loved us. We choose Him because He chose
us. We come to Him because He calls
us. We're kept by the power of God
through faith. Paul said, Timothy, God has saved
us and called us, not according to our works, but according to
His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ. I tell
you this, God loves us in Christ. He forgives us in Christ. He
redeems us in Christ. He accepts us in Christ. And
it was given us in Christ before the world began. Fourthly, we're
justified by grace. Justified by grace. Now nearly
every person will give this definition of justification. This definition. Not guilty. Not guilty. In other
words, Christ took our guilt and our sins and left us without
sin. So we are justified. just as
if I had never sinned. Isn't that wonderful? Justified,
not guilty, just as if I'd never sinned. That's true, but it's
by the grace of God. For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God and being justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that's in Christ Jesus. There
it is, whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith
in His blood, justified freely by His grace through Christ Jesus. That's the gospel. Now, last
of all, our daily walk, our worship and prayers are all dependent
on His grace. It's all of grace. Hebrews 4.14, seeing then we
have a great high priest that's passed into the heavens Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, let us come boldly unto the throne of
what? Grace. God's throne is threefold. Throne of justice. You don't
want anything to do with that. Throne of glory. You don't want
anything to do with that. Throne of grace. That's where
you want to come. That you may obtain mercy and
find grace to help us every day. in our time of need. When's your
time of need? Right now. Right now. Last five
minutes, right now and the next five minutes. All my life is
a time I need His grace. Come to the throne of grace because
it's all of grace. Now this message, all of grace,
is on a tape, a cassette tape. On the other side of this tape
will be a sermon I'll preach next Sunday on the new birth.
If you want it, send two dollars and we'll mail it to you. Here's
the address. Until next Sunday, may God bless
you, everyone.

All of Grace

What does the Bible say about salvation by grace?

How do we know faith is a gift from God?

Why is grace important for Christians?

What does it mean to be chosen by grace?

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All of Grace

What does the Bible say about salvation by grace?

How do we know faith is a gift from God?

Why is grace important for Christians?

What does it mean to be chosen by grace?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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