THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD--I Pet. 4:10

Introduction:  “Manifold”--poikilos (many colored)  There is no way of
knowing how many colors one can make and there is no way of knowing all
about the “grace of God.”

The word “grace” is found 155 times in the N.T., mostly in the

   epistles that Paul wrote where it is found 100 times.  Yet there are so

   many adjectives and phrases about grace, it’s no wonder the Holy

   Spirit wrote “manifold grace.”

 

I. THE TRUTH OF GRACE--Basically, Grace is Salvation

   A. Grace is a Decision--Grace is God’s decisive saving act in Jesus

      Christ, which took place in his sacrificial death.

      1. Rom. 3:24-- “Being justified freely (without a cause) by his

         grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

   B. Grace is a Deliverance--Not just a Doctrine but an Experience

      1. Eph. 2:1-3--Five Tragic Conditions of the Sinner.

         a. Dead in Trespasses-Vs. 1             d. Dominated by the Flesh-Vs. 3

         b. Directed by the world-Vs. 2       e. Doomed to wrath-Vs. 3

         c. Dictated by the Devil-Vs. 2

      2. Deliverance--Vs. 4-- “But God”--A Divine Conjunction

         a. “But” means “on the other hand”, “except”

         b. “But” suggests complete opposites-He was sick but now He

             is well.

         c. We are as completely saved now as We were once completely

            lost.  The only difference is “Grace.”

 

II. THE THRONE OF GRACE--Heb. 4:16-- “throne of grace”

   A. Grace is a Throne--a Throne represents Government. 

      1. Government--Is not primarily to Help the Citizen but also to Rule,

         Manage, and Regulate its Citizens.

      2. Government Protects its Citizens

   B. Grace is a Government--Rom. 5:21-- “...even so might grace reign

      through righteousness”

      1. Grace is a gift but grace is not given to let men go on in sin

      2. Rom. 6:14-- “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye

         are not under the law, but under grace.”

      3. “Under” means the believer is not “ruled” or “governed” by sin.

         a. Rom. 6:12-- “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body.”

      4. II Cor. 5:20-- “...we are ambassadors for Christ”

         a. “Ambassador”--a representative of the highest rank sent by

            one government or ruler to another. (We’re somebody!!)

         b. Extraterritorial Rights-- “outside the laws of the country

            that a person is in.”  An ambassador can walk free from

           arrest by the foreign country.  Quote II Cor. 5:17--We’re not

            only out of the country, we’re out of this world.

 

III. THE TRAINING OF GRACE--Titus 2:11--12 “For the grace of

   God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us”

   A. The Teacher-- “teaching”--paideuo--educating in school--Grace

      is a School teacher

      1. Grace works to train us away from the world--Vs. 12

      2. Grace works to train us to look for His coming--Vs. 13

   B. The Teaching--

      1. The moment we get Saved--Like a 6 year old entering School

         with one thing in mind--Graduating

      2. A Student is Taught, Tested, and Passed--If you fail, you have

         to take that year over until you pass.

      3. But Passing or Failing--you’re still a Student--Still saved.

      4. Question:  How do you know you’re Passing--When you start

         looking for Graduation Day!

 

IV. THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF GRACE

   A. The Profile--II Cor. 6:1-- “We then, as workers together with

      him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in  vain”

      1. “Vain”--useless--Grace is more than just a Start, Paul

         understands the whole of a Christian’s life from beginning to end

         is “by the grace of God.”

   B. The Position--Rom. 5:2-- “By whom also we have access by faith

      into this grace wherein ye stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory

      of God.”  Standing in grace, waiting on Jesus to Come.

      1. Anchored--Guaranteed by the Purpose of God--Rom. 8:28--

       “And we know that all things work together for good to them

        that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”

      2. Activated--Grace is activated by Human weakness--II Cor.

         12:9--“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for

         my strength is made perfect in weakness”

      3. Acknowledged--The grace of God makes the new man what he is.

         a. I Cor. 15:10-- “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and

            his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I

            laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the 

           grace of God which was with me.”

         b. Illustrate--It might be said that he remains as dependent on it

            as the released prisoner is upon the connections, help and

            tasks offered by the after-care service which makes life in

            freedom possible for him.  God has an “after-care” service for

            those who have just been released from the Devil’s prison. It’s

            called “grace.” 

 

    “Through many dangers, toils and snares,

    I have already come;

    ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

    And grace will lead me home.”

 

CONCLUSION: What will we do after grace? Eph. 2:7-- “That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through

 Christ Jesus”

1. The thought is that God can never exhaust those eternal resources of

  His grace. Eternally there will be fresh unveilings of His wondrous love.

2. In a moment of time, Satan unrolled before the eyes of the Lord , in

   the temptation in the wilderness, all the Kingdoms of the world  

   (6,000 years).Yet God is going to take ages to show us the Exceeding

   riches of His grace.