The Grace of God

Memory Verse: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2.

Introduction: What is the grace of God? "By grace are ye saved," Paul states in Ephesians 2:5. This spiritual element, which is so important in achieving eternity for us, needs to be clearly defined and its work understood.
  Grace is declared to be a gift from God; therefore it is not something we can obtain otherwise. It is declared to be the favor of God, the mercy, forgiveness and love of God, all combined into one single word: "grace." When it is extended to us, we can be assured that our sins have been absolved--that we have been fully pardoned and that God's favor and mercy rest upon us.
  When we approach our Creator with godly sorrow and repentance of our sins, God extends grace and we are pardoned and redeemed to a new life. As Esther once approached the throne of King Ahaseurus, he held out to her the golden sceptre, because she had "obtained favor in his sight" (Esther 5:2). Even so, God holds out to us the "golden sceptre" of grace for our pardon and eternal redemption, the free gift of God. In the case of ancient monarchs, the "sceptre" was extended only to the few who happened to strike the fance or favor of the kings. But the God of all creation extends His sceptre to "whosoever will" accept it (John 3:16).
  God's work of grace may be compared to the pardoning power given to the governor of our State. We have laws to protect society, and in some cases the violation calls for the death penalty. A governor, as chief executive, has the power to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment; or to grant a full pardon if, in his judgement, conditions merit a pardon. The pardon is a favor that is called "grace," but it in no way changes the law of the state. The pardoned criminal is freed from the penalty, but the pardon does not give him license to commit the same crime again. He is no longer under the condemnation of the law, but under grace. He is not "under the law" as long as he obeys the law. As a favor to man, God laid man's sin upon His Son. Christ bore the condemnation of the law, saving man from eternal death. As Christ dies for all men, by His death shall all men live, who will claim salvation!

Questions:

1. Since Adam, has any mortal been born who has not sinned? Romans 5:12; 3:9-12,23; 1 John 1:8.

2. By what standard is sin determined? 1 John 3:4; Romans 4:15.

3. What then causes us to believe that God's commandments (holy laws) preceded creation itself? Romans 5:12,13; 7:7,8; John 8:44; 2 Peter 2:4; Psalm 119;142,144,152,160.

4. By what means was mankind ransomed from sin and death? John 3:16,17.

5. What is this love of God also called? John 1:16,17 (atonement laws); Romans 5:15,21.

6. What can grace do for mankind? Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:6,7.

7. What is required on our part to be redeemed by grace? John 1:14; 3:18-21.

8. Does sin reign where grace reigns? Romans 6:1,2,6,7; 1 John 2:2-6.

9. When are we "under the law" and fallen from grace? Romans 6:10-18; 1 John 3:4-8,15; James 2:9-12.

10. Is salvation the "work of the law" or the work of Christ? Romans 4:15,16; 5:16-20; 10:8,9,13; Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12.

11. What connection is there between faith and grace, and by which are we justified? Romans 3:24; 5:1; Ephesians 2:8.

12. To whom is grace given? Proverbs 1:7-9; James 4:6.

13. How will we act "under grace?" Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 3:22.

14. How may grace be retained in this life? Hebrews 12:1,2,13-15; Philippians 4:13.