Amazing Grace                                                            

The Doctrine of Grace

Ephesians 2:1-10

 

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

 

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. BF&M 2000.

 

Χάρις  – Grace, from the Greek language we get the word charity. Grace is unmerited favor, or getting what you do not deserve. Grace is everything for nothing to those who don’t deserve anything. It is used 131 times in the Bible, of which are 124 uses of Grace in the New Testament. In the New Testament Paul used the word Grace 86 times. 

 

I. God’s Grace is Undeserved (Ephesians 2:1-3)
a. Man is dead before grace (v.1)
b. Man is disobedient before grace (vv.2-3)
c. Man is immoral enemies of God before grace (Philippians 3:18) “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”
d. Man is incapable of seeking God personally before grace (Romans 3:10-11) “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.”

 

“Grace is the first and last moving cause of salvation; and faith, essential as it is, is only an important part of the machinery which grace employs. We are saved ‘through faith,’ but salvation is ‘by grace’.” ― Charles H. Spurgeon

 

II. God’s Grace Displays His Ultimate Mercy (Ephesians 2:4-6)
a. Supplies us with eternal life (v.5)
b. Saves us (v. 5)
c. Sustains us with Christ (v.6)
d. Seats us with Christ (v.6)

 

 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

 

III. God’s Grace is an Unmistakable Demonstration of His Love. (Ephesians 2:7)

1 John 4:9-11 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Grace can be defined as God’s love in action.

a. God’s Grace is a Unique Gift for His Glory (Ephesians 2:8-10)
b. Salvation is a gift (vv.8-9)
c. Subdues man’s ability (v.9)
d. Serves God as a result (v.10)

 

God’s grace will turn a Wretch into God’s Workmanship!

John Newton, a slave ship captain who later became a pastor, wrote the song “Amazing Grace.” We have an Awesome God who bestows amazing grace!