Limitless Grace
Notes
Transcript
Defining it is not the problem. Grace is unmerited favor. Confining it is where we get into trouble.
Grace refers to the condition of being given or shown favor, especially by someone in a position to exercise goodwill by meeting a particular need
Grace is the divine means by which God makes Himself everything we need to utterly abound.
“Grace means more, far more than we can put into words, because it means nothing less than the infinite character of God Himself. It includes mercy for the undeserving and unmerciful, help for the helpless and hopeless, redemption for the renegade and repulsive, love for the unloving and unlovely, kindness for the unkind and unthankful. And all this in full measure and overflowing abundance, because of nothing in the object, and because of everything in the Giver, God Himself. -W. H. Griffith Thomas
Only a personal experience of unconditional, unearned, and infinite love and forgiveness can move you from the normal worldview of scarcity to the divine world of infinite abundance. That's when the doors of mercy blow wide open! That's when you begin to understand the scale-breaking nature of the Gospel. R. Rohr
It is the medicine that heals our bitterness
looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
It is the floor where fallen people can come to their feet and stand
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Timothy, my dear son, live your life empowered by God’s free-flowing grace, which is your true strength, found in the anointing of Jesus and your union with him!
God calls us to Be Strong!
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
**This command demanded Timothy’s continuous active cooperation with God. (present passive imperative)
Our tendency is to treat grace like an antibiotic. The moment we feel better, we twist the cap on tight and close the medicine cabinet on the divine supply. Soon we’re just getting by instead of abounding, and soon after that we’re drowning.
I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.
God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
Restoration
Established
Strengthened
Supported
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Jesus didn’t try to balance grace and truth. He didn’t water down the law. Grace doesn’t dumb down sin to make it more palatable.” Jesus was known to teach the ultimate outcome and penalty for unrepeated sin without condemning the sinner. One of my favorite stories about Jesus is when He addressed the woman caught in the act of adultery.
She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”