God's Grace is For You

I have a question that I think everyone knows the answer. Is there enough grace for every Christian to avoid sin? Yes, absolutely!

Sufficiency of God's Grace

When Paul prayed and requested the Lord three times to remove his infirmities, Jesus answered him.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

This proves that every believer in Christ has sufficient grace to keep him from sinning and even help in time of difficulties. But our sufficiency is found only in God.

2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.”
1 Timothy 1:14 “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

Christ's Favorite Theme

Do you know what’s the favorite theme of Christ to present?

“Christ’s favorite theme was the paternal tenderness and abundant grace of God; He dwelt much upon the holiness of His character and His law; He presented Himself to the people as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let these be the themes of Christ’s ministers. Present the truth as it is in Jesus. Make plain the requirements of the law and the gospel. Tell the people of Christ’s life of self-denial and sacrifice; of His humiliation and death; of His resurrection and ascension; of His intercession for them in the courts of God; of His promise, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself.” John 14:3.” { COL 40.2}

The grace of our Lord was so abundant that this important theme must be clearly understood by everyone. So, if someone is lacking it, it's not due to a shortage of what has been provided, but because they have not received enough of what is given by faith and love.

The Measure of Christ's Gift

Yes, each of us receives grace based on the measure of Christ's gift.

Ephesians 4:7 says, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

The measure of the gift of Christ is entirely Himself, because Christ reflects the measure of all the fulness of the Godhead.

Colossians 2:9 “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

The fulness of the Godhead is truly immeasurable for it knows no limits. No boundaries. Yes, it is unlimited for it embodies the infinite nature of God. And that is the only measure of grace that is given upon each one of us. The only way to explain the grace offered to everyone in this world is the unlimited measure of the fulness of the Godhead.

But the Lord considers the different spheres and circumstances that surround us, to test our character. And the truth continues to be the test to measure us.

Romans 5:20 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

The Purpose of Grace

Why is grace given?

Romans 5:21 “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The grace is given, for it guarantees help so that we can stop sinning.

but under grace

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid

Those who preached the once-grace-always-grace stop in verse 14 and falsely claim that a believer cannot lose their salvation no matter what, because we are now under grace, and that a believer does not have to keep the law, and they stop right there. But verse 15 exposes their error. God forbid! Being under grace means you have the help and power from God to be obedient so that the curse of the law, which is death, shall not have dominion over us.

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “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. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Yes, we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ not by our own works. But, while our good works do not earn us salvation, we are created to do good works that honor God and serve others.

This is backed up by the following passage:

Romans 1:5 "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name."

So, God's grace help us to obey His law. That is the reason why there is the throne of grace in heaven where we can come boldly to God in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. “

Grace means

The word grace (Strong's G5485) means benefit, joy liberality, gift or favour.

“The Lord saw our fallen condition; He saw our need of grace, and because He loved our souls, He has given us grace and peace. Grace means favor to one who is undeserving, to one who is lost. The fact that we are sinners, instead of shutting us away from the mercy and love of God, makes the exercise of His love to us a positive necessity in order that we may be saved. Christ says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain” ( John 15:16).” ST, June 5, 1893

God has chosen each one of us out of many people in the world, to bring forth fruit for his glory.

The grace of God is also given "for the perfecting of the saints."

Ephesians 4:12-13 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

The ultimate goal is to make us become perfect in Christ Jesus, to a level that meets God’s standard, “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

Our Lord Jesus wants us to be perfect.

Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

So, perfection of character is possible in this world because he wants us to be perfect according to our capacity, and he has given us all his grace. Abundant grace is given to everyone where sin abounds, and it brings salvation to everyone to whom it is given. What God wants us to do with this gift of his boundless grace is to become like Jesus, who is the express image of God.

Frustrating God's Grace

But why, if grace is abundantly offered to all, bringing salvation in full, then why is it that some do not experience this fullness of salvation? Because this grace is received in vain when the love of sin still reigns in the heart, when the love of the world, the lust of the eye and flesh still dominate the heart. Because you won’t allow the grace of God to work in you and for you as it meant to be, and that means, it is possible to frustrate the grace of God.

Galatians 2:21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
The word frustrate (Strong's G114) means to set aside, neutralize, cast off, despise, disannul, or reject.

Paul said that he “do not frustrate the grace of God,” when he openly rebuked Peter for hypocrisy and dissimulation at that time.

Galatians 2:14-16 says, “But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gen-tiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? (15) We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, (16) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. God offers grace to the unworthy. We did not seek it, but it found us. God grant us grace because we are undeserving. But God does not use this grace to nullify or substitute His law.”

So, Paul rebuked Peter for acting a double part according to gospel by changing his attitude toward Gentile believers out of fear to certain Jews who were zealous for the ceremonial law. But the Lord permitted that to happen so Peter may see his weakness and understand he had nothing to boast of. The pope exalted himself as infallible which is blasphemy, and claimed as Peter’s successor, but Peter’s weakness was proof of human infallibility that he was no better than the other apostles. Even the best men will make mistakes in their decisions, and frustrate the grace of God, if left alone.

God offers grace to the unworthy. We did not seek it, but it found us. God grant us grace because we are undeserving. But God does not use this grace to nullify or substitute His law.

Some examples of frustrating God’s grace:

By trying to earn salvation through works as implied by Galatians 2:14-16 above.
By receiving it in vain without truly embracing its benefit. This means that just hearing the messages of mercy or the plan of salvation may not be enough to change the heart, because the gift of God needs to be received and applied to transform the heart as per 2 Corinthians 6:1.
By unbelief, by being stubborn and rebellious, always resisting the Holy spirit, having a perverse will, and even persistently holding onto even one sinful desire.

Proverbs 29:1 “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Acts 7:51 “Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.”
“A stubborn and rebellious heart can close its doors to all the sweet influences of the grace of God and all the joy in the Holy Ghost; but the ways of wisdom are “ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” (Proverbs 3:17)” 4T 626
“God has made provision that we may become like unto Him, and He will accomplish this for all who do not interpose a perverse will and thus frustrate His grace.” MB 76.2
“Even one wrong trait of character, one sinful desire, persistently cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel.” SC 30

All who profess Christ has received the grace of God. But a profession of faith and the possession of truth in the heart are two different things. Remember the sermon we had before about profession or possession? The profess Christians who don’t possess the truth by revealing Christ’s character in their daily life receive the grace of God in vain. He is working against Christ! And the enemy is exalted! He is a stumbling block to others! But that should not happen.

We are exhorted to fully embrace the grace of God and not take it lightly.

Let’s allow God’s grace to work in our heart, it will accomplish its purpose. The power of grace is nothing but the power of God. The power of God is abundantly supplied for each one of us to save us from sin, from our weakness, and temptations. It empowers us to overcome the attacks and devices of the enemy and help us live according to the will of God unto perfection.

Do not received God’s grace in vain for this is the gospel of Christ.

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Embracing God's Grace

If God saves you from your past sins by His grace, do not stop there but keep moving forward. Don’t allow the power of sin to control your life today and tomorrow. Hold on to the abundant grace provided. You must grow in grace.

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

In other words, to grow in grace means to have an increased ability to understand the word of God. We must be fully connected with Christ, so as to reach the perfection in the likeness of Christ by His grace.

2 Corinthians 6:1-3 “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (3) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:”

The word "ministry" here refers not only the ordained ministers but also includes everyone who accepts God’s grace or chooses the name of Christ. For the apostle Peter says, “as every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10.

Approved Ministers of God

The Lord does not want anyone to receive the grace of God in vain, for doing so will give the world a false representation of God’s character, his mercy and love, as well as allow the enemy to mock our God and prevent others from surrendering their hearts to Him. God’s grace must not be received in vain, because it leads to multiple offences and blames the ministry of grace. But when God’s grace is received in its rightful place, "no offence" will be given "in anything," and the ministry or His church will be blessed rather than blamed.

The Lord has given us, through the apostle Paul, a detailed list that shows the fullness and completeness of grace in a life that truly embraces it, allowing us to be approved by God.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, (5) In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; (6) By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, (7) By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, (8) By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; (9) As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; (10) As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

These are all the experiences we, as a follower of Christ, the remnant of her seed, can encounter and may be now encountering in this world, while walking in the straight and narrow path. These living experiences with Christ will build us up in perfection. When we do not receive the grace of God in vain, that grace will take possession and control of our life and use every experience to make us approved to God and build us up in perfection unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. We must be ready. The time of trouble is approaching fast. We need a living experience now, by God’s grace, that many are too lazy to get.

Dear ones, do you want to be like Jesus? I know everybody here does! Then receive the abundant grace he has freely offered. Receive it as He gave it, not as you think you deserve it. Put forth your greatest effort and do your best, allowing the amazing grace to work within and for your greatest good. Yes, we all stive to be like Jesus; by His grace, he will help us to attain the purpose He has for us.

The Lord is pleading with each of us today, do not receive God’s grace in vain, do not frustrate God’s grace by rejecting His favour or gift, do not neutralize His offers of mercy and salvation plan, do not disregard the gospel that brings salvation to all men. The Lord wanted us all to be saved and be with Him in heaven! And I will close on this.

Titus 2:11-14 says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

I hope and pray that you are blessed!

Truth is truth!

Gospel Order