1. ―Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.‖
Jonathan Edwards
Articulating the gospel one word at a time
odnimslovom.org | 2012

2.  ―In the New Testament, ‗grace‘ is a word
of central importance – the keyword, in
fact, of Christianity. The thought of grace
is the key that unlocks the New
Testament; and it is the only key that
does so. However well we may know the
New Testament, we cannot get inside its
meaning till we know something of what
grace is.‖
J.I.Packer
http://www.fbccs.org/resources/papers/grace.asp

3.  Grace is the lens through which all
Scripture can be properly understood.
 Loveis the lens through which all
Scripture can be properly put into
practice.

4.  Grace is the last message of the Bible.
 Grace is the last message of Paul‘s letters.
 A count of the word grace demonstrates that it is a
major New Testament theme. Here is the top 10 list:
• Romans (18) Note: Romans is the “book of grace”.
2 Corinthians (11)
Acts (11)
Ephesians (8)
1 Peter (7)
Galatians (7)
Hebrews (5)
1 Corinthians (4)
2 Timothy (4)
Colossians (4)

5.  Inthe New Testament the word ―grace‖ is
always a translation of χαρις (charis),
primarily signifying the unmerited
operation of God in the heart of people
through the Spirit. Charis does not exist in
the Old Testament.
 In
the Old Testament the word ―gracious‖ is
used (―chen‖) to denote ―beauty, favor or
good-will‖.
http://www.bible-researcher.com/grace.html

6.  Often last words are profound. Typically they are
significant. Sometimes they are inspiring.
Sometimes they are just plain odd.
 “Good bye. If we meet-”
Who: Mark Twain (Note: Spoken to his daughter
Clara.)
 “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”
Who: Steve Jobs, Apple CEO (His last statement
recorded by his sister on his death bed.)
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Last_words

7.  The
grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's
people. Amen.
Revelations 22:21

8.  2 Corinthians 13:14 “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
 Galatians 6:18 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit, brothers. Amen.”
 Ephesians 6:24 “Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying
love.”
 Philippians 4:23 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Amen.”
 Colossians 4:18 “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my
chains. Grace be with you.”
 1 Thessalonians 5:28 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
 2 Thessalonians 3:18 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”
 1 Timothy 6:20 “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn
away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called
knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have wandered
from the faith. Grace be with you.”
 2 Timothy 4:22 “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.”
 Titus 3:15 “Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us
in the faith. Grace be with you all.”
 Philemon 1:25 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
 Hebrews 13:25 “Grace be with you all.” (The Hebrews author is uncertain)

9.  Romans 1:5 ―Through him and for his
name‘s sake, we received grace and
apostleship to call people from among
all the Gentiles to the obedience that
comes from faith.‖
 Romans 1:7 ―To all in Rome who are
loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our
Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.‖

10.  The first lesson in the grace of God, from
Romans, the book of grace, is that grace is linked
together with apostleship and with peace. We
cannot separate grace from our Christian
duty, nor can we do our Christian duty without
grace. The grace of God is not divisive or
contentious, but fully linked together with the
peace of God.
 We need
grace and apostleship, grace and peace. These
are not opposite concepts.

11.  Romans next mentions grace in 3:24, after a discourse on the wrath
and judgment of our righteous God in chapters 1 and 2.
 Romans 3:21-26 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of
God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets
testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to
all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by
Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of
atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by
faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his
forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand
unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the
present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who
have faith in Jesus.

12.  The Jew did not wish to be judged according to his works, but only
according to his parentage. ―We are the children of Abraham‖ was
their cry. Their possession of the Law was proof to the Jews of their
favored status. The fact that the Gentiles did not possess the Law
was evidence of their rejection. While the possession of the Law was
vitally important to them, the practice of the Law was quite another
matter. Therefore, there were few legalists among the Jews—those
who believed that by keeping the Law, without failure, they could
merit God‘s blessings. There were many, however, who felt that
being a descendant of Abraham was their ticket to heaven, all they
needed for God‘s blessings.
http://bible.org/seriespage/righteousness-it%E2%80%99s-not-what-you-know-or-
who-you-are-romans-11-326

13.  As one person put it, ―The argument of the Book of Romans is not
the development of one single idea; it is more like a musical
composition, in that it is the development of a number of themes, all
intertwined.‖ (source)
 Romans 4:16-17 ―16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it
may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham‘s
offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who
are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is
written: ―I have made you a father of many nations.‖[c] He is our
father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives
life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.‖

14.  The promise given to Abraham has several facets. The promise had
personal, national and historical significance (Genesis 12:1-3).
Primarily, God promised to make Abraham a father of many nations.
This promise was God‘s grace to Abraham and his wife Sarah. The
promise reveals God‘s desire to build a new nation– a nation built
on grace.
 Romans 4:17 explains the grace of God in two all-critical ways: God
―gives life to the dead‖ and God ―calls things that are not as though
they were.‖ I believe that an understanding of grace in these two
ways is critical to the sanity and happiness of our life. We need to
understand God’s grace to give life and to give identity through his
promise which comes by faith.

15.  Romans 5:1-2 ―1 Therefore, since we have been justified through
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in
which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of
God.‖
 The past, foundational grace of Jesus‘ death on the cross justifies our
faith for God‘s grace to be given today.
 Believers stand daily on the grace of God, rejoicing in the future
hope of the glory of God, not in our glory.
 Access is a one-way path: grace flows from God to believers. Never
can we live today‘s life on yesterday‘s grace. Our good deeds today
can never add to God‘s infinite store of grace. Each day we seek
more of God‘s grace newly.

16.  The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin
increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in
death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:20-21
 ―Romans 5 begins and ends with two infinite realities that are needed to
explain each other and help us sense the magnitude of God‘s way of
salvation. The chapter ends in verse 21 with the infinite reality of eternal
life: ―So that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through
righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.‖ God‘s aim in
the work of redemption is the triumph of grace over sin and death unto
eternal life through Jesus Christ. The ―eternal‖ refers to life that never
ends. It is infinite life. Life of infinite duration.‖
John Piper
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/the-triumph-of-grace-through-
righteousness

17.  After speaking so highly of grace, Paul in Romans 6 immediately
qualifies that grace. The grace of God does not lead to sinning any
way we want.
 Romans 6:1-4 1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so
that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can
we live in it any longer? 3 Or don‘t you know that all of us who were
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were
therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order
that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
Father, we too may live a new life.

18.  Grace is not a license for immorality (Jude 1:4). Grace is far more
powerful than sin. Where sin once reigned, grace now reigns in its
place. Grace is sufficient to enable and empower me to live a new
life! Sin was my master. Now sin has no power over me because of
grace.
 Romans 6:12-15 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal
body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of
your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer
yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to
life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of
righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are
not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because
we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

19.  Romans chapter 7 through 10 continue to expound on multiple
themes like a Mozart symphony. The word ―grace‖ next appears in
chapter 11.
 Romans 11:1-6 ―1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no
means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the
tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he
foreknew. Don‘t you know what the Scripture says in the passage
about Elijah–how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 ―Lord, they
have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only
one left, and they are trying to kill me‖? 4 And what was God‘s
answer to him? ―I have reserved for myself seven thousand who
have not bowed the knee to Baal.‖ 5 So too, at the present time there
is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer
by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.‖

20.  Elijah worked hard for the Lord. Yet all his hard work only led to
depression, and failure to see God‘s chosen remnant of 7,000. When
I lived by works, I came to the point, like Elijah, where I thought I
was the ―only one left‖, the only one who really worked for the Lord.
When I let the flood of grace enter my heart, mind and soul, I saw
God‘s chosen remnant.
 I contend that Christians must be reminded daily of the correct
order of grace and works in Scripture. Grace always produces good
works, never the other way around.
 Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by
works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.

21.  Who is worthy? None beside Thee. The mountains shake
before Him, the demons run and flee, at the mention of
His name, King of Majesty!
 There is no power in hell or any who can stand before
the power and the presence of the great I AM. The power
of the I AM is not for a select few super apostles. That
same power from the same God in Ephesians is
available to every believer in Jesus.
 Worship Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWbEpiZ8IMs&featu
re=related

22.  How do I view myself? Some say, ―Be a wounded soldier‖. Others say, ―Be a
noble man.‖ Some say, ―Be a strong man.‖ Others say, ―Be kind and mind
your own business.‖
 What does grace say? Grace is not conformance to a set of ideas, but God‘s
transformation process in human hearts, minds and souls. Grace produces
good works, but good works do not produce grace. This is the only truth
that invokes a willingness to suffer and die.
 Romans 12:1-3 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God‘s mercy, to
offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your
spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be
able to test and approve what God‘s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect
will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of
yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober
judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

23.  Romans 12:4-8 ―4 Just as each of us has one body with many
members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member
belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the
grace given us. If a man‘s gift is prophesying, let him use it in
proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it
is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is
leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him
do it cheerfully.‖

24.  Differences. Wouldn‘t it be so great if we didn‘t have any
differences? How peaceful the world would be… if everyone would
just think and act my way? Isn‘t that how we think? The reality is
humanity is full of differences; it‘s in our DNA. In fact, the fabric of
life would be extremely dull without differences. So why do we fight
so hard to find unity by removing differences? Why do we think we
will find peace when we drive away people who think differently?
 The grace of God opens the way to unity, not by removing
differences, but by putting our differences to use. Just as one body
has many parts, the body of Christ has many people who do not all
have the same function. We have different gifts, according to the
grace given us.

25.  Romans 15:14-16 ―14 I myself am convinced, my
brothers, that you yourselves are full of
goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to
instruct one another. 15 I have written you quite boldly
on some points, as if to remind you of them
again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a
minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly
duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the
Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to
God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.‖
 May we remember the bold, beautiful, God-pleasing
effect of the grace of God.

26.  Grace. What image comes to mind? Beauty? Charm? Elegance?
Gentleness? What about boldness? Courage?
 Certainly grace is all those things, including boldness and
courage. In the book of Romans, Apostle Paul wrote boldly.
Throughout his mission journeys, he acted boldly, risking his
health and life to minister the gospel in the Gentile world. Why?
Because of the grace God gave him.
 When we hear bold words or see bold actions, we need to be
careful not to quickly dismiss them as ―graceless‖. And when we
see someone‘s charm or elegance, we should see beyond the
surface and find out whether God‘s grace produced such charm or
not.

27.  Grace is last mentioned in Romans in the last chapter.
 Romans 16:19-20 ―19 Everyone has heard about your
obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise
about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of
peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord
Jesus be with you.‖
 Accepting God‘s grace is not just for our initial meeting with Jesus;
it is for our entire life. To know God‘s grace means we let God be
God. Our job is not to crush Satan. Let God crush Satan.
 God is not our ―co-pilot‖. God wants to be our ―pilot‖. Our job is
not to ―crush‖ anyone, even Satan. Our job is to live by faith in
God‘s grace.

28.  Apostleship and Peace
 Justified Freely
 By Faith and by Grace
 Access by Faith
 Grace Reigns
 Power over sin
 No Longer By Works
 God is the great I AM (worship interlude)
 Sober Transformation
 Different Gifts of Grace
 Bold Words, Bold Actions
 God crushes, we have Grace

29.  The
grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's
people. Amen.
Revelations 22:21