Extraordinary Grace
Definitions of Grace:
• God’s unmerited favor
• God’s power released on our behalf
• God doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves
• God’s riches at Christ’s expense
“Grace is the opposite of merit…Grace is not only undeserved favor,
but it is favor shown to the one who has deserved the very opposite.”
— Harry Ironside
John 1:14-17 NKJ
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and
truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of
whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He
was before me.’” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace
for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth
came through Jesus Christ.
Truth: You’re living in sin.
Grace: I’ve taken your sin on Myself.
Truth: You’re bound by sin.
Grace: I’ve come to set you free.
Truth: You can’t overcome sin on your own.
Grace: I’ve conquered sin so you can live in victory over it!
3 Major Truths About Grace:
- GRACE is a FREE GIFT from GOD.
Romans 5:15-16 NKJ
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense
many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of
the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like
that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which
came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift
which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even
though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he
raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by GOD’S GRACE that you
have been saved!)
Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
God saved you by his GRACE when you believed. And you can’t take
credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the
good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we
are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so
we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. - GRACE operates through RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Romans 5:17-21 NIV
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one
man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant
provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through
the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass
resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act
resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the
disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also
through the obedience of the one man the many will be made
righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might
increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so
that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through
righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Righteousness: the ability to live in God’s presence without a sense
of condemnation, inferiority or rejection
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJ
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him. - GRACE must be received by FAITH.
Romans 5:1-2 NIV
Therefore, since we have been justified through FAITH, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we
have gained access by FAITH into this GRACE in which we now
stand…
Hebrews 11:1 NKJ
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJ
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him.
“You cannot earn grace. You have to receive it by faith!”