From time to time you read of certain individuals who have made professions of faith in Christ. Some are hard for us to accept. Not long ago I read an account in the Baptist Bible Tribune that said General Manuel Noriega from Panama, had accepted Christ as his Savior while in prison. Is it true?
Last week I read where Alice Cooper had accepted Christ. He is a rock star who became popular in the early seventies. He was the first "shock-rock" act. He used to parade on stage with make-up and live snakes and simulate killing babies on stage as well as all sorts of other morbid behavior. He is now a part of a church in Phoenix, Az. Is it true?
Why is it easier for us to believe in the power sin than in the power of God's grace? Why do we read of these testimonies with skepticism? There are thousands of testimonies from people whose lives have been transformed in incredible ways. Many of these people's lives were worse than a rock star or a dictator.
The fact is that there is nothing that God's grace can't erase. When I look at my own life, and consider all that God has done in me, I am even more convinced that there is nothing that God's grace can't erase. This is the message of Romans 5:12-21. Paul is saying, in this wonderful passage, that though our lives have been ruined by sin, we have been rescued by grace.
I. The Meaning Of God's Grace
A. We Are Morally Undeserving People.
Note: Luke 7:36-50
1. According to this account, Simon the Pharisee had an understanding of religion…
2. But a "sinful" woman understood the meaning of grace.
3. And awareness of our sin is essential if we are to appreciate the wonder of God's grace.
B. God Is Holy And Just.
1. Unless we understand the truth that as morally undeserving people we deserve only judgment…
2. We can never truly appreciate divine grace
3. Note: Ephesians 2:1-3
C. We Are Powerless To Change Our Condition.
1. We cannot restore our relationship with God through religion or rituals.
(Rom 3:20) "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
2. There is nothing that we can do to bridge the gap between God and ourselves.
(Rom 3:23) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
D. God Is Not Obligated To Help Us.
1. God owes us nothing!
2. We deserve eternity in the Lake of Fire…
3. Because we have sinned against Him.
4. However, God chose to do just that.
5. He determined to provide a way that sinful man could be reconciled back to Himself.
6. This is pure grace!
(Rom 9:15-16) "For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. {16} So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."
II. How Grace Works in Our Lives.
A. God's Grace Is Able To Deal With Sin
1. Sin is our real problem.
a. We sin by choice, and we are helpless to do anything about it on our own.
b. Sin utterly destroys lives through its presence, through its power, and through the penalty we ultimately pay.
c. This passage declares that God's grace eliminates sin.
2. Grace eliminates the penalty of sin.
a. Sin has consequences; it ultimately leads to eternal separation from God.
b. But, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the penalty has been paid.
(Rom 6:23) "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
3. Grace eliminates the power of sin.
a. Think about the misery that exists in our world, and see how much of it is the result of sin.
b. Consider the refugees of Eastern Europe…why are they suffering?
c. Because of the sinfulness of man.
d. Virtually all human suffering is the result of someone's sin.
e. Death came into the world through Adam's sin.
f. It is the addictive power of sin that keeps many people from living happy productive lives.
g. Paul says those who receive God's abundant provision of grace also receive the gift of righteousness, and that gift enables them to have real life.
h. God promises that sin will not have dominion over us, it has lost its power.
B. God's Grace Is Available In Endless Supply
1. It is an endless supply of forgiveness.
a. How many times have you heard someone say words to this effect: "I'm not a bad person-I mean, I've never killed anybody."
b. Killing tops the list of bad things that people can do; it carries the greatest punishment in this country.
c. Our culture believes that murder is the worst sin that a person can commit.
d. Yet, significant men in Scripture were guilty of murder.
1) Moses killed an Egyptian
2) David killed Uriah
3) Paul was instrumental in the death of a number of Christians before he himself became a Christian.
e. Murder is permanent.
1) It is something we have to live with every day.
2) It cannot be undone.
3) But it can be forgiven; God's grace is powerful enough to forgive any sin.
f. God offers forgiveness to us...it is available in an endless supply.
2. He also has an endless supply of righteousness.
a. Righteousness is a gift from God.
b. Not our own righteousness…but His righteousness.
c. We received this righteousness with God as a gift - it is not something we can ever earn or deserve.
(Rom 3:22) "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"
3. He also offers us an endless supply of strength.
a. God offers us the power to live victoriously in this life.
b. It is not God's plan that we should be defeated by sin, or that we should remain victims of its power.
c. We cannot be all that God intends for us to be on our own limited supply of resources.
d. So He freely and generously gives us all the strength we could ever possibly need.
(Phil 4:13) "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
e. There is no limit to God's grace and mercy in our lives.
f. Forgiveness, righteousness, and strength are available to us in an endless supply.
C. God's Grace Makes Salvation Possible.
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. v21
1. We didn't have a choice regarding our physical nature, we were born sinners.
2. But we do have a choice regarding our spiritual nature.
3. We can choose to receive God's abundant provision of grace and His gift of righteousness.
4. No matter how good a person may be, that person still needs to experience God's grace; without it he or she will never be saved.
(Eph 2:8-9) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast."
If it were not for Christ and the cross, we would not be able to experience salvation. God's grace makes it possible. We may have been ruined by sin, but the good news is that we have been rescued by Christ. There is nothing that God's grace can't erase
(1 Tim 1:15) "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."
Some need the forgiveness of sin that God extends in saving grace. Others need restoring grace to deal with weaknesses and habits. Still others need sustaining grace to face a hurt or difficulty. We receive grace when we humbly ask for it.
"…God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Jas. 4:6b