Sermon: Favor – Part 3 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 printer-friendly: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 MP3: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
by Chris Cumming
Welcome to Part 3 of our sermon on Grace. Our purpose here is to
explore the definition of the word, “Grace” and how it is discussed in
both our doctrinal statements and the Word of God.
Part 1 had twelve questions. All of those questions originated from our
doctrines and what each one discussed had to say about Grace. In Part
2, I gave you questions 13-18 in which we explored the scriptures on
grace referenced in the doctrines discussed in questions 1-6 of Part 1.
We will continue today in questions 7 through 12 from Part 1 and the
scriptures referenced in the doctrines quoted there. We will end this
sermon with additional scriptures on the subject of Grace.
19] Does Grace do away with the Law?
In question 7 we spoke of the subjects of Law and Grace from our
doctrine on the Law of God. The doctrine states that mankind thinks
that Christ came to free us from the “curse of the law” or that “Christ
is the end of the law” and references Romans 7:4. Notice…
Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body
of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is
raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Mankind believes that being dead to the law means that the Law is dead.
Such is not the case. The Law was not made dead but extended to point
to Godly principles or works. It is stated right there in the end of
the verse. It says in the last phrase of verse 4 “that we should bring
forth fruit unto God.”
The fruit we bring forth by the power of the Holy Spirit is fruit the
Law points to. The Law that says, “thou shalt not steal” is pointing to
the fruit of Honesty. We invoke Honesty. “Honesty” speaks to our
integrity, truthfulness and sincerity.
Notice some quotes about Honesty and as you do, think about how each
thought and/or action is a work wrought by the Holy Spirit; a work we
walk in.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of
wisdom.” Interesting he should say it this way, for in our study of the
biblical concept of wisdom we find that wisdom denotes action. Our
spiritual actions are works.
Another quote I found is “Honest hearts produce honest actions.” This
is right on point. The Law of God points us to Godly principles or what
we call the fruits of the Spirit and these fruits are invoked works or
these produced actions.
In Grace, God gives us knowledge and understanding about the principle
of Honesty. We take this into our heart and internalize it. Once
established in our heart, we give rise to action and our honest hearts
produce honest actions. Both the internalization and the actions are
Christ in us. This is the favor granted to us by God.
The doctrine on Law goes on to say that nowhere in the Bible can you
find “Grace” equated with freedom to disobey God. Notice Romans 3:31…
Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we
establish the law.
Continuing with my example of “Honesty” the scripture is asking whether
invoking Honesty makes void the Law. Paul says it well; “God forbid:
yea, we establish the law.”
For the phrase, “we establish the law” the People’s New Testament
commentary says, “Law is confirmed and rendered sacred.” Honesty, like
all Godly principles work. Principles are deep, fundamental truths that
have universal application. They apply to individuals, to marriages, to
families, to private and public organizations of every kind.
This is to say that Honesty [and all
Godly principles] work!
The fact these Holy things work as Romans 3:31 says, establishes the Law
and makes it Holy. God, I suppose, could have established any number of
devices to point us to these fruits of the Spirit of God, but He chose
the Law.
This all leads directly to the next question…
20] Are firstfruits under Law or Grace? Does righteousness come by
Law or by Grace?
We can answer this two-part question with the following verses:
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,
but under grace.
The Adam Clarke commentary has for “ye are not under the law” that law
exacts obedience without giving power to obey. It says that the law
condemns every transgression and every unholy thought without providing
pardon of sin. Absolutely true. We often conclude from all the
scriptures on sin, law and grace that sin is onto death but grace onto
life eternal. Notice Romans 5:20-21
Romans 5:20-21
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where
sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign
through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Wow, a minister could give a three-part sermon right here in this
verse. It is saying, in essence, that with law, we see sin and wow, is
there a lot of sin being shown to us, but in all this sin, grace abounds
[is greater in amount]. Verse
13 of this Romans 5 says that sin is not imputed [seen/known/
demonstrated/shown] where there is no law. Law shows the sin
and, at the same time acts as our schoolmaster to show us Godly
principle. Verse 21 says that sin, left alone and unconquered ends in
death. However, grace through righteousness ends in eternal life.
Notice how verse 21 says that “grace reigns through righteousness by
Jesus Christ. Grace, in and of itself, does not reap eternal life but
grace THROUGH righteousness. It is in and by Grace that we build
righteous character or become like Christ. Grace is the favor or pardon
that makes righteousness or the Salvation Process possible and all this
by Christ in so many ways [His life,
sacrifice of death, resurrection, example and doing righteousness in and
through us].
Now another verse to answer this question 20 [Are
firstfruits under Law or Grace? Does righteousness come by Law or by
Grace?]:
Galatians 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified
by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
That is, if one believes he is justified by the Law, he is missing the
whole point of Sin, Law and Grace. We are not justified by the Law. We
are justified by Grace and more specifically the righteousness we do
under Grace. If one says he is justified by the Law, Grace has no power
in his life. One commentary says that if one takes law over grace he is
renouncing the New Covenant.
Notice that this verse says “fallen from grace” as if one was in grace
but now is opting to declare that he is justified by the law. Whereas
one might want to conclude that the verse is talking about uncalled
individuals in the world embracing Law over Grace, I could not find a
commentary giving the primary focus to this meaning. Virtually all of
them are speaking to firstfruits who were called to Grace [the
Salvation Process under Grace] but then choosing to give up
that process for the Law.
The Jamieson, Fausset, Brown says, “Ye no longer stand in grace” It
then says, “Grace and legal righteousness cannot co-exist” and then
references Romans 4. Notice:
Romans 4:1-6
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the
flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but
not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted
unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of
debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom
God imputeth righteousness without works.
Clearly the “works” spoken of here are human works and not works of the
Holy Spirit.
Now I stated that the commentaries gave the primary focus of “ye are
fallen from grace” to actually firstfruits but the other meaning could
apply as we see in the John Gill commentary…
ye are fallen from grace - that is,
either from that grace which they professed to have; for there might be
some in these churches, as in others, who were only nominal Christians,
and formal professors; who had declared they saw themselves lost and
undone sinners, destitute of a righteousness, and professed to believe
in Christ alone for righteousness and strength, but now trusted in
themselves, and in the works of the law: or from the scheme of grace in
the whole of man's salvation, which will admit of no mixture of works [spiritual and man-made]; either it is one or the other, it
cannot be both; wherefore by their taking on the side of works [man-made],
they showed that they had entirely dropped the scheme of grace: or else
from the Gospel of the grace of God, from whence they were removed,
through the influence of false teachers; particularly the doctrine of
free justification by the grace of God, through the righteousness of
Christ; which was entirely set aside by their seeking to be instilled by
the works of the law; and from this they might be said to be fallen, who
were on such a bottom. ~John Gill
I believe both conclusions to be appropriate to the conversation.
Clearly, the so-called Christians of the world have claimed to be under
real grace when they were not.
Now another verse to answer this question 20 [Are
firstfruits under Law or Grace? Does righteousness come by Law or by
Grace?]:
This verse confirms what we have discussed so far in this question.
Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the
law, then Christ is dead in vain.
This verse is abundantly clear: If one claims righteousness by works of
the Law, they frustrate [prevent, thwart,
nullify or make ineffectual] spiritual Grace.
Interestingly we are already seeing examples of those claiming to be
firstfruits resorting to works of the Law.
Remember our studies in 1 Timothy?
1 Timothy 1:4-6
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister
questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of
a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
Focus on the last phrase in verse 6, "...have turned aside unto vain
jangling." Notice the John Gill:
have turned aside to vain jangling -
which he elsewhere calls empty talk, and vain babblings, 1 Timothy 6:20,
from the solid doctrines of the Gospel, and a solid way of handling
them, they turned to vain, idle, useless, and unprofitable subjects of
discourse, and to treating upon subjects in a vain, jejune, and empty
manner; entertaining their hearers with foolish and trifling questions
and answers to them about the law, and with strifes about words, which
were unserviceable and unedifying; they were unruly and vain talkers,
Titus 1:10. ~John Gill
Quote verses:
Titus 1:10
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they
of the circumcision:
The other quoted verse in the commentary was…
1 Timothy 6:20
…speaking of vain babblings
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane
and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
There is one more set of verses I want to cover here as we were talking
about the law being the schoolmaster that points us to the works of
Grace.
Galatians 3:24-27
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that
we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ.
Verse 24: The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,
meaning Grace, the Salvation Process and eternal life. Christ made
those all possible.
Verse 25: This verse is saying that as long as we are in faith [the
Salvation Process], we are no longer under a schoolmaster [the
Law]. Nothing here about the schoolmaster being done away.
It simply says that for that moment or measure of time, we are not under
the Law. Since we are human and subject to sin, we have the Law to be
our schoolmaster to help us in our repentance process so that we can
remain in the Salvation Process.
Verse 26: Are you in the Salvation Process. If you are, you are
a child of God.
Verse 27: When we allow Christ to work in and through us in the
form of good works, we are putting on Christ, which is to say we are
conforming to His mind and image [2 Corinthians 3:18].
Quoted verse:
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by
the Spirit of the Lord.
Wow, ten verses and exactly 1,570 words to explain a straight-forward,
two part question [Are firstfruits under
Law or Grace? Does righteousness come by Law or by Grace?].
Now to get into a few of the 159 verses and 170 uses of the word “Grace”
going from Genesis to Revelation.
21] Who, specifically is responsible for us having Grace?
John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.
Grace came by Jesus Christ. Consult the Treasury of Scriptural
Knowledge and you will be led to these verses showing Christ as central
to this.
Revelation 7:9-17
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood
before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders
and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and
worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and
honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which
are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are
they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes,
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and
night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among
them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the
sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and
shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes.
22] As a firstfruit, is the word of His grace able to build you up?
What is the “word of His grace” mean?
Acts 20:32
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace,
which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all
them which are sanctified.
Notice the commentary here…
And now, brethren - About to leave them,
probably to see them no more, he committed them to the faithful care and
keeping of God. Amidst all the dangers of the church, when human
strength fails or is withdrawn, we may commit that church to the safe
keeping and tender care of God.
I commend you
- I commit you; I place you paratithemai in his hands and under his
protection. See Acts 14:23.
And to the word of his grace
- That is, to his gracious word; to his merciful promise. Paul refers,
doubtless, to the gospel, including its promises of support, its
consoling truths, and its directions to seek all needful help and
comfort in God.
Which is able
- Which has power. Tō dunamenō. Which word, or gospel, has power to
build you up, Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is quick (living,
life-giving), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, etc.” Compare Isaiah 49:2; Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not my word like
as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in
pieces?” It is implied here that the gospel is not a dead letter; that
it has power to accomplish a great work; that it is adapted to the end
in view, the conversion and sanctification of the soul. There is no
danger in representing the gospel as mighty, and as suited by infinite
wisdom to secure the renovation and salvation of man. Compare Romans
1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 10:4.
To build you up
- The word used here is properly applied to a house which is raised and
completed by slow degrees, and by toil. It here means to establish, make
firm, or permanent, and hence, to instruct, to establish in doctrine and
in hope. The idea is, that the Word of God was able to confirm and
establish them, amidst the dangers to which they would be exposed.
And to give you an inheritance
- To make you heirs, or to make you joint partakers with the saints of
the blessings in reserve for the children of God. Those blessings are
often represented as an inheritance, or heirship, which God will confer
on his adopted children, Matthew 19:29; Matthew 25:34; Mark 10:17;
Hebrews 6:12; Revelation 21:7; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians
1:12; Colossians 3:24; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29.
Among all them which are sanctified
- With all who are holy; with the saints [both
words meaning firstfruits]. See John 10:36. Those who shall
be saved are made holy. They who receive a part in the inheritance
beyond the grave will have it only among the sanctified and the pure.
They must, therefore, be pure themselves, or they can have no part in
the kingdom of Christ and of God. ~Barnes
Notes
Now let me read the entire verse again because I have another question…
Acts 20:32
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace,
which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all
them which are sanctified.
Clearly the focus of Grace in this verse is the Word of God. Does this
verse come with a warning? Notice the four verses just prior to it.
Acts 20: 28-31
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God,
which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter
in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to
draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I
ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
This is quite a warning. Do you understand now why I continually
encourage you to immerse yourselves into the Word of God?
The word “immerse” means to let the Word of God occupy your full
attention. I want us to engage it wholly and deeply. I want us to
absorb it. I want us to consume it. It is the only way we can conform
to His image [2 Corinthians 3:18].
The immersion is made possible by this thing called, “Grace.”
23] I am asking you to become fully absorbed in Grace. How is that
accomplished?
1 Corinthians 5:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed
upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all:
yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
The phrase, “but the grace of God which was with me” means that we are
allowing God to influence and guide us.
The power to “labor more abundantly” is the work of the Holy
Spirit…Christ in and through us. This is the heart and soul of Grace.
24] Will God make it possible for me to “labor more abundantly”?
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
What God is saying is that He will provide for all our temporal needs so
that we can focus our mind and efforts on the Salvation Process and the
Work of God. In addition, He will give us the power we need to abound
to every good work.
This ends Part 3 of this sermon on Grace.
As we read in Hebrews 13:25,
“Grace be with you all. Amen.”
Index of Questions for 3-Part Sermon: Favor
Part 1:
1] Are the subjects of “law and grace” complex? If so, what does this mean regarding our study of doctrine?
2] When was grace conceived?
3] Must one have the Holy Spirit to experience grace?
4] Is it in or through grace that our sins and wrong choices are forgiven?
5] Is Salvation freely given to
us by God? If so, how?
6] A multiple-part question here…
a) can Salvation be earned?
b) does Salvation totally depend upon God’s grace?
c) must we live by and grow in faith?
d) must we have faith God will perform all biblical promises?
e) must we have faith the death of Christ pays the penalty for ones
sins and reconciles him to God?
f) must we have faith that the resurrection of Jesus Christ enables
us to have eternal life?
g) must we keep the commandments?
h) is obedience and good works necessary for salvation?
i) does good want everyone to have eternal life?
j) has God apportioned us a certain amount of time for this thing
called grace?
k) is salvation by grace and not by obedience?
l) is reward based on obedience and works?
7] What does our doctrine say specifically about the subjects of Law and Grace?
8] What does “grace” have to do with the New Covenant?
9] Who is being offered grace today, in this time before the return of Christ?
10] Does God offer us more than one kind of grace? Is there a physical kind of grace within the spiritual grace we have been talking about?
11] How many times is the word “grace” used in the Old and New Testaments [King James Bible]?
12] In the New Testament, what is
the most often repeated use of the word, “grace”?
Part 2
13] How are Grace and Healing from God related?
14] Isn’t there an instance in the Bible where Paul is praying to be healed for some unnamed infirmity?
15] What does the scripture mean, “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world?”
16] Does God forgive our sins?
17] Are we going to receive Salvation [given eternal life]?
18] What is the difference between Grace and Works? Is there a contradiction in Ephesians 2 regarding Works as they relate to the Salvation Process?
Part 3
19] Does Grace do away with the Law?
20] Are firstfruits under Law or
Grace? Does righteousness come by Law or by Grace?
21] Who specifically is responsible for us having Grace?
22] As a firstfruit, is the word of His grace able to build you up?
What is the “word of His grace” mean? With the follow-up question, “Is
there a warning that comes with the answer to this two-part question?”
23] I am asking you to become fully absorbed in Grace. How is that
accomplished?
24] Will God make it possible for me to “labor more abundantly”?
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