GRACE WHAT IS IT AND GRACE WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT WORK? HOW DOES IT WORK?

John 1:17 (KJV) John 1:17 (KJV) For the law was given by Moses, For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:Romans 5:1212 Wherefore, as by Wherefore, as by one manone man sin entered sin entered into the world and into the world and death death by sin; and so death passed by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:20Romans 5:20 Moreover the Moreover the law enteredlaw entered, that , that sin sin might aboundmight abound. But where sin abounded, . But where sin abounded, grace did grace did much more aboundmuch more abound::

Romans 5:21Romans 5:21 That as That as sin hassin has.. reignedreigned unto death, unto death, even even so might grace reignso might grace reign through righteousness unto through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lordeternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord

.

A principle can be defined as the A principle can be defined as the way a thing operates or functions. way a thing operates or functions.

The old creation consisting of the unsaved The old creation consisting of the unsaved world operates world operates totally under the reigning totally under the reigning principle of law, sin, and death.principle of law, sin, and death.

The new creation in Christ operates only The new creation in Christ operates only under under the principle of grace.the principle of grace.

There are, since the resurrection of There are, since the resurrection of Christ, Christ, twotwo operating principles operating principles now functioning in the world. now functioning in the world.

1. Law, sin, and death principle1. Law, sin, and death principle

2. Grace, Faith principle 2. Grace, Faith principle

Romans 6:14 Romans 6:14 For sin shall not For sin shall not have dominion over you: for have dominion over you: for ye ye are not under the law, but under are not under the law, but under

grace.grace.

The Word clearly states that believers The Word clearly states that believers are not under the Law but under the are not under the Law but under the

principle of grace.principle of grace.

Hebrews 7:11-12Hebrews 7:11-12 For the priesthood being changed, For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a there is made of necessity a changechange also of also of the lawthe lawto put something in place of anotherto put something in place of another..

2 Cor 3:7-112 Cor 3:7-11 “that law had been “that law had been done away”done away” katargeōkatargeō to abolish nullify or make to abolish nullify or make something inoperative.something inoperative.

Romans 7:6Romans 7:6 “we have been“we have been dischargeddischarged from the law” from the law” katargeōkatargeō technical legal term that means technical legal term that means

discharged from some thingdischarged from some thing

How did God remove us from How did God remove us from under a law principle in order to under a law principle in order to place us under a grace principle?place us under a grace principle?

In the body of Christ, grace is the only principle In the body of Christ, grace is the only principle in which God operates now.in which God operates now.

How informed are we about what grace is and How informed are we about what grace is and how it operates?how it operates?

Is trying to live under grace by law, a Is trying to live under grace by law, a big problem?big problem?

Either a believer understands what it is to Either a believer understands what it is to be under grace or he doesn’t and be under grace or he doesn’t and therefore, if he doesn’t, therefore, if he doesn’t, he can not he can not operate under grace, because he misses operate under grace, because he misses the whole system.the whole system.

Let’s come up with a definition ofLet’s come up with a definition ofGRACE:GRACE:

Romans 6:14 (NASB) Romans 6:14 (NASB) For sin shall not be For sin shall not be master over you, for you master over you, for you are not under law are not under law

but under gracebut under grace..

Chester MaCalleyChester MaCalley: Grace is the unlimited : Grace is the unlimited and unmerited blessings from God, based and unmerited blessings from God, based on the totally adequate work of Christ.on the totally adequate work of Christ.

Aspects of GraceAspects of Grace::

1.1. Unmerited, uncompensated, or Unmerited, uncompensated, or unearned.unearned.

2.2. Unlimited, unrestricted, unrestrainedUnlimited, unrestricted, unrestrained

3.3. Blessings or favor from God.Blessings or favor from God.

4.4. The cause of God being gracious is the The cause of God being gracious is the work of Christwork of Christ

““How does a life under grace work in How does a life under grace work in everyday life?”everyday life?”

Three false assumptions about graceThree false assumptions about grace::

1.1. Law is the only way to control conduct. For society the Law is the only way to control conduct. For society the answer is yes because every human has a sin nature. answer is yes because every human has a sin nature. Laws are the Divine method to keep men Laws are the Divine method to keep men alive. alive. Harry Harry Ironside. Ironside. The false assumption is that law is the only way to The false assumption is that law is the only way to motivate conduct.motivate conduct.

2.2. Freedom from the law = freedom to sinFreedom from the law = freedom to sin

3.3. Grace has no power to motivate and control conduct Grace has no power to motivate and control conduct

How do we find out about and gain How do we find out about and gain an understanding of grace?an understanding of grace?

What is grace designed to accomplish?What is grace designed to accomplish?

1.1. To prevent sin from reigning. Romans 5:21To prevent sin from reigning. Romans 5:21

2.2. Ability to do the will of God.Ability to do the will of God.

3.3. BlessingsBlessings

4.4. Glorify God’s characterGlorify God’s character

Three principles of Grace:Three principles of Grace:

1.1. Grace is the system under which we live. Grace is the system under which we live.

2.2. Grace is comprehended in Jesus Christ Grace is comprehended in Jesus Christ via the Word via the Word

3.3. Grace is the way God operates. Grace is the way God operates.

What is liberty?What is liberty?

1.1. Liberty is Liberty is freedomfreedom from every form of tyranny from every form of tyranny 2.2. In scripture liberty is a In scripture liberty is a change of masterschange of masters. . 3.3. Submission to somebody is called freedom or Submission to somebody is called freedom or

liberty in scripture liberty in scripture

1 Peter 2:13 1 Peter 2:13 Be subject toBe subject to every ordinance of every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;as supreme;16 16 as freeas free, and not using your freedom for a , and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants as bondservants of God.of God.

Will the teaching of grace cause the Will the teaching of grace cause the believer to behave properly?believer to behave properly?

The teachings of grace include:The teachings of grace include: 1.1. SuperhumanSuperhuman manner of life manner of life 2.2. Enabling power of the Enabling power of the SpiritSpirit3.3. VoluntaryVoluntary conformity to the will of God conformity to the will of God4.4. Christian conduct is a Christian conduct is a free choicefree choice 5.5. This response is in This response is in harmony harmony with gracewith grace6.6. By By faithfaith in Christ in Christ 7.7. NoNo ground for ground for legalitylegality in any form. in any form.

Why is it that the life under grace Why is it that the life under grace can only be lived by faith?can only be lived by faith?

Faith can be summarized as follows: Faith can be summarized as follows:

11. Intelligent. Intelligent believing believing

2.2. Faith demands Faith demands contentcontent

3.3. Faith is an act that is explicitly Faith is an act that is explicitly non non meritorious meritorious

5.5. Faith is the only means of appropriation Faith is the only means of appropriation that that harmonizesharmonizes with grace. with grace.

6.6. The only act that The only act that eliminates prideeliminates pride. .

7.7. Faith is that which brings the Faith is that which brings the greatest of greatest of all blessings. all blessings.

8.8. EverythingEverything else in the Christian life is the else in the Christian life is the result of this result of this gracegrace

Can grace teach and motivate Can grace teach and motivate us to behave properly?us to behave properly?

Titus 2: Titus 2: 11-1211-12

For the grace of God hath appeared, For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, bringing salvation to all men, 12 12 instructing usinstructing us, to the intent , to the intent that, having denied ungodliness and that, having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts, worldly lusts, to live soberly and to live soberly and righteously and godly in this righteously and godly in this present world;present world;

..

..