Standing in God's Grace
by David Hartselle
(Rom.5:1-2)
Intro.
1. God's grace offers us an essential thing and a grave warning
a. (1) Gives us a new lease on life & (2) No blank check for careless living
2. By "Faith" we have "access into this grace"
a. True faith is accessible but NOT irresistible (Some claim that faith in Christ can only come through an irresistible calling by The Holy Spirit)
b. Faith is conditional rather than arbitrary (Jas.2:15-26 Faith is either by works, unconditional, or conditional - clearly conditional)
c. Faith is universal (Gentile as well as Jew) rather than limited (Tit.2:11-12 & Mk.16:15-16)
I. The Grace of God: A New Lease on Life
A. By Sinning We forfeited our Right To Eternal Life (Rom.5:12 fellowship with God)
1. We became ungodly rather than righteous Rom.5:6-7
a. We were "still without strength" and "still sinners" (What could Adam & Eve have done to undo their sin against God. They could offer Him nothing - they were ungodly!)
2. Our sin condemned us rather than justified us Rom.5:18
a. All have sinned & fall short of the Glory of God (Rom.3:9, 23) (We cannot pay for it, run from it, or magically make it go away. We are lost!)
3. By sinning we become enemies of God rather than friends of God Rom.5:10
a. It's NOT wrong to enjoy many things in the world but we must NOT make friends with those things that are anti-god, sinful - "friendship with world is enmity with God" (Jas.4:4)
B. By God's Grace We Get A New Lease On Life
1. God's Grace once more gives us peace with God Rom.5:1, 10
a. King David was estranged from Absalom (killing of Amnon but David longed to go to Absalom 2 Sam.13:39) After five years David & Absalom were reconciled
b. God wants us to be reconciled to Him (2 Cor.5:17-21 "Be reconciled to God")
1) Living in God's grace has the promise of the life "that now is" (I Tim.4:8)
2. Grace makes us once again righteous rather than a sinner Rom.5:8, 19
a. Grace "reigned through righteousness" through Jesus Christ Rom.5:21 [We are "redeemed" - - bought back - through Jesus' Blood ("forgiveness. . .according to riches of grace Eph.1:7)]
3. Once more justified rather than condemned Rom.5:9
a. NOT self-justification (Lk.18:9-13), Not peer justification (worldly I Pet.4:4 & religious peers Jn.5:43-44), Not preacher (Phil.2:12-13 "own salvation")
1) Not church justification (I Cor.5:1-6 approved by being - not only silent - puffed up)
4. Once Again rejoicing in hope Rom.5:2
a. Causes us: (1) Rejoice in trouble Rom.5:3-5 (2) Not to fear God's wrath vs.9 (3) Expect eternal life vs.5, 21 (Desire + expectation = hope * I Pet.1:6-9 "not seen you love")
C. God's Grace Gives Us Help To Maintain Our New Life
1. We have a great High Priest (Heb.4:14-16) who can relate to our temptations & struggles
a. Jesus is our Advocate to bring us back to God again and again I Jn.2:1-2
II. The Grace of God: No Blank Check For Careless Living 6:1-4, 12, 17-23
A. No Blank Checks of Calvinism
1. We must monitor how we live and make appropriate changes (Rom.6:12, 17 If we cannot choose on our own then what do these passages mean?)
a. Furthermore, we are told to present our "members as slaves of righteousness" vs.19
2. Should we think "We'll just continue in sin so that grace may abound?" Rom.6:1-2
a. Christians don't think that way (We don't want to sin any more)
b. We must constantly evaluate our conduct lest we "fall from grace" Gal.5:4-6 (It does NOT matter who you are but must follow Jesus with "faith working through love" vs.6)
B. No Blank Check of Willful Sinners (Rom.6:1-3 & Heb.10:25-31)
1. Willful ignorance (2 Pet.3:16 "untaught & unstable twist" - some change the meaning of God's Word to justify themselves)
a. Also, Willful indifference to the truth (2 Pet.1:10 "diligent to make your calling and election sure" & Heb.2:1-4 "how shall we escape?")
1) In a free country we may make some tremendous errors in judgment (If we don't want to embrace something we can just ignore - live & let live. Not with God's Word!)
C. No Blank Check of Living Half-converted Christian Lives
1. Some want repentance without reform (Paul explains why we can't think about continuing to "live in sin." We are dead to sin Rom.6:2)
a. Too many want forgiveness from becoming a Christian without a true change of life: stealing, offending someone, divorce/remarriage, speaking the truth, etc.
2. Some want Baptism (For remission) without understanding about the new life with Jesus
a. Paul says we are "buried" with Him in baptism and raised to walk in "newness" 6:3-6 (Eph.4:17-29 Two step process: Putting off the old man & then putting on the new)
3. Some want freedom without accepting responsibility (Big problem in the world is refusal to accept responsibility)
a. There is NO such thing as absolute freedom (When were slaves of sin we were free from righteousness but when "slaves of God" it implies "fruit to holiness" Rom.6:20-22)
Conclusion:
1. All can have a new lease on life. All the old debts paid but we must never interpret as a blank check to sin
2. To receive God's Grace we must obey the Word Heb.5:8-9. We are saved by God's Amazing Grace (Become slaves to righteousness)