GRACE PRINCIPLES
People are spiritually dead before they receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Even those who became believers as children had sinful natures and needed God's transformation (Ephesians 2:1-3). Grace is God's undeserved and unearned favor, kindness and love towards us. Motivated by love, the Father sent Jesus Christ to die for the sins of humanity. No matter how we come to faith in Jesus, none of us can take credit for it. We are saved only by God's grace.
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Is grace important? Scripture mentions the word “grace” more than 150 times in the New Testament, primarily in Paul’s writings. From his first-hand experience, he knew the critical importance of this theological concept. By opening and closing his letters with a reference to God's grace, Paul reminded the early church of the kindness and goodness of God (1 Corinthians 1:1-4). The Lord had cleansed them from their sins, provided for their salvation, and enabled them to live holy lives-all by grace.
These are samples of God’s Grace/Favor to Old Testament Saints:
- Genesis 6:5‑11, 14-21--NOAH Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
- Genesis 19:1‑29 DESTRUCTION OF SODOM/DELIVERANCE OF LOT--Genesis 19:19 Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life.
- Jonah 2:8 Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
- Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Examples of other incidents where the act of grace is evident:
- Genesis 21:14‑21 ABRAHAM SENDS HAGAR AND ISHMAEL AWAY. THE ANGEL OF GOD COMFORTS THEM.
- MOSES--GOD APPEARS IN A BURNING BUSH (Exodus 3:1-6); GOD SENDS HIM TO DELIVER ISRAEL (Exodus 3:7‑10);
DELIVERANCE OF THE ISRAELITES PROMISED (Exodus 3:16‑22). - Exodus 17:1‑7 ISRAELITES MURMUR FOR WATER AT REPHIDIM. GOD SENDS IT OUT OF THE ROCK.
- Exodus 21:1‑11 LAWS RESPECTING SERVANTS
- Exodus 22:26-27 LAWS REGARDING LOSS OF GARMENT
- Exodus 32: 1-14, 34:6 GOD THREATENED TO DESTROY ISRAEL FOR WORSHIPING THE GOLDEN CALF BUT RELENTED.
Grace make us humble (1 Peter 5:6). Whether awake or asleep, our continued existence depends on the Lord's faithfulness (1 Peter 4:10).
- We have the privilege of approaching the Father's throne with confidence. Worry and anxiety don't have to paralyze us. His grace will give us all we need to persevere through trials and adversity (Hebrews 4:14-16).
- Since we are completely dependent on God, pride has no place in our lives. In fact, believers should be
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the most thankful and humble people on earth (Hebrews 5:10).
THE INVITATION
★ You can't depend on your own goodness to get to Heaven. We've all sinned (Romans 3:23). Jesus paid the penalty for your sins with His death on the cross and His resurrection (John 3:16).
★ To be forgiven and be guaranteed a place in Heaven, you need to repent of sin, confess that you are a sinner, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart (Acts 2:21).
★ You can use the following prayer or your own words, but you must actually believe in your heart that your prayer is real:
Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed.
Please forgive all my wrongdoing and let me live in relationship with You from now on.
I receive You as my Savior and recognize that the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross was done on my behalf.
Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You.
In Your name I pray, Amen.
Rev. Dr. Nicholas J. Gray, Pastor Broadway Baptist Church Sedalia, Missouri 2015
