Amazing Grace

Introduction

Very pleasant good morning to all and a cordial welcome if you’re visiting with us today. It is a pleasant morning, a little cooler than maybe we’re used to this time of year in Orlando, but it’s a lot better than that 25 degree weather we had yesterday, isn’t it? You didn’t know it was 25? Well, it was where I was. In Northwest Arkansas, I was uh at Greenwood, a bedroom community for the Fort Smith area. And uh I’ll tell you, I’ve been in Florida so long my blood has gotten thin, and that cold wind went right through me. I was so glad to get back to warmer weather. It was a good week, and I appreciate you folks. Many of you ask about the week, and the brethren there asked me to preach through the book of Revelation, and so Lord willing it went very well.

Glad to see Brother Josh back too. He’s been in Rosenberg, sort of just southwest of Houston, and he says had a great week as well. Josh will be preaching tonight. Certainly thankful to see so many here and thankful to have some visitors with us today. I know this is a Sunday in which many people hold as maybe more important than the other 51 Sundays of the year. It’s an Easter Sunday as our as our uh nation regards it. And yet, of course, as we’ve observed the Lord’s Supper and certainly remembered the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection. We will do this same thing next Lord’s Day as we did last Lord’s Day, because really in the Bible, there’s no reference at all of lifting up one Lord’s day above others.

Acts 20 and 7, the disciples came together on the first day of the week to break bread. And thus, since it is a Lord’s Day, we worship him and shall do it each Lord’s day. We’re thankful that our Lord came to this world, that he lived a sinless life, that he died and died for you and for me, and that he now reigns at the right hand on the throne of heaven. We’re so thankful to be called the children of God. I ask Brother Jim to leave this song, Amazing Grace. I’ve sometimes wondered, though it’s an old and a familiar song to us, if we really mean the words that we say. I mean by that, do we really think of ourselves as John Newton described himself when he wrote this song over 200 years ago in 1779?

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see. Now we’re thankful for the grace of God, and certainly that we can be forgiven of sin, but how many of us think of ourselves or have ever thought of ourselves as a wretch? That’s pretty low down. That’s the person on the other side of the tracks. That’s the person who’s really lived an immoral life and an ungodly life, but me, most of us think I’m a pretty good fellow. Oh, I need to be become a Christian. I need to be baptized, but a wretch, that probably is not what we’ve thought of ourselves. John Newton certainly thought of himself that way.

You may have observed that there is a movie that has been current at least, called Amazing Grace. It’s more about really about William Wilberforce, who was uh a member of the British Parliament, who back in that period of time, over 200 years ago, worked tirelessly until the British Parliament indeed absolved slavery. But it’s called Amazing Grace, and John Newton is somewhat pictured in it, at least, as one who felt himself so much of a wretched man, a sinner. John Newton himself really was raised by an ungodly father. His mother, a pious mother, died when he was but seven years of age. And John Newton’s father was a sea captain, took his son to sea with him at age 11. You can imagine how he was raised in that kind of environment.

In fact, as a teenager, he soon deserted his father and joined the British, uh the British Navy. But you know, he wasn’t ready to be under any kind of authority like that, and he soon deserted that. Having been caught and put in chains and leaked beaten publicly, he himself, uh, after he paid his debt, went back to sea. That was really the only thing he knew very well at all. And it wasn’t long until they said he he was the captain of his own seagoing vessel. But it was the lowest kind of seagoing vessel. It was a slave trading ship. John Newton, of course, uh being captain of that made many trips. But he soon began to be bothered, his own conscience bothered him. That indeed he was taking human beings from one continent, taking them to another continent, and selling them as just mere merchandise.

But what really finally brought him to the pinnacle of a decision was in the midst of a storm in the Atlantic Ocean. It looked as though his own ship was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. And it was at that time John Newton made a vow to the Lord, if he would but let him get back to shore safely, he would never again go to sea. And certainly he would never again trade human beings as mere merchandise. Obviously, he was spared. His ship made it back. And said, not a person in all the British Empire would have ever thought that Captain John Newton would have traded the sea for the pulpit. He couldn’t read all that well, but somewhat, and went to school for 16 years at night school and in daytime working a day job, until after some 16 years, he began to preach.

And early on wrote the song. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.

It’s a tremendous subject. We probably never fully comprehend all that is involved in the grace of God. Well, we probably do remember best of all, we can quote John 3 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. What a great story. It should be one that never grows old to us. You’ve no doubt this audience has heard it many times. Perhaps you’ve read it. You might conquote this verse very well and have done it many times, but don’t partake of the Lord’s Supper because it’s something we do every Sunday by tradition. Don’t let the story of the cross become old hat to you. But thrill at the very fact that God, who indeed is the creator of heaven and earth, of the world in which we live, that who gives life to us all, that we can become the children of God, not because we deserve to, but by grace.

1. Saved by Grace, but Not by Grace Only

The word grace itself literally means unmerited favor. That God did not have to do that. There’s nothing, we’ve done this to deserve the fact that we can be called the children of God. Who are we to deserve that position in life? Even to be forgiven of sin. We’re saved by grace, as the scripture says. But let me hasten to say, it does not say by grace only. What a marvelous fact that we can be called the children of God by grace. There are those sometimes I think, as they preach, at least it sounds as though somehow everybody’s going to be saved. You ever been to a funeral, at least of a denominational preacher, but that that person is going to be right in heaven. It’s as though we hear some sound as though if if you’ve just been born in this nation, somehow everybody’s going to go to heaven.

But that’s not what the Bible says. In fact, salvation is by grace, but it’s not by grace only. If it were, then everybody would be saved. But you know the scripture says God desires all men to be saved. To come to the knowledge of the truth. In fact, in 2 Peter 3 and verse 9, God is long-suffering toward us, not willing that or wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. If, in fact, salvation is simply and solely by grace, or by grace only, then everybody would be saved. For God, if it were only in his choosing and making it possible and making sure that everybody’s saved, if he wishes none to perish, isn’t that the only logical conclusion? All would be saved.

But the fact is, not all will be saved. The Bible plainly speaks. Jesus Himself said, Enter in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat. Straight is the gate and narrow as the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Salvation is not going to be on the majority side. In fact, it’ll be only those who by faith come to the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation comes through the power of God, but on the basis of our faith in Him. If you have a Bible, look with me at Romans chapter 3. In Romans chapter 3, the Bible there says, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

2. That He Might Be Just and the Justifier

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. What a wonderful story to talk about the cross of Jesus Christ. That only through that means can we who have sinned have any hope of eternal life? I sometimes I ask people, though, why was it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross? If you had to answer the question, God gave his son, we know that’s the Bible story, but every thought about the why. Why was that essential? You know, you could raise the point, well, God being all powerful, could he not have saved us some other means?

If you believe the creation story from the dust of the ground, he formed man, breathe into his nostrils the breath of life. Why did he just say, I want everybody to have an opportunity to be saved? And without the gift of my only Son, couldn’t he have chosen that? Why was death of Christ essential? You know, the most frequent answer I get back to that question is, well, because he loved us so. We sing the song, why did my Savior come to earth to the humble goal? And then why did he choose a lowly birth? And we answer, because he loved me so.

If you could choose another way, you would. So the answer, well, because he loved us, that’s why he gave his son doesn’t really answer the question. He died. If you have your Bible open to verse 26, it answers the question I’ve raised. To declare, I say at this time, his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Now notice those two words, that he might be just and the justifier. We may not think of ourselves as wretched like John Newton did, yet, as verse 23 says, all have sinned. And even from the Garden of Eden, the Bible tells us that the punishment for sin in God’s law is death. He told Adam and Eve, here’s the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The day you eat thereof you shall surely die. And that very law is repeated many times in both the old and new testament. Ezekiel 18 and 20, the soul that sinneth it shall die. Romans 6.23, the wages of sin is death. And it’s not just talking about physical death, but rather a spiritual separation from God. Even as Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden of Eden. So it is that we’re driven from the presence of God. But more appropriately, even in the New Testament, Jesus speaks of the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. The penalty for sin is death. In a lake that burns with fire and brimstone. You see the answer that God might be just? Jesus died in my place. He died in your place.

If you read the article in Day’s Bulletin, and then even were singing the song before the Lord’s Supper, I’m the one who said, crucify him. I’m the one. I’m the sinner. And everyone who sits in this audience and recognizes that you have violated God’s law in some way and committed sin. A part of the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Indeed, what does it mean God may be just? You see, the law has to be upheld. If the law requires certain penalty, then that penalty needs to be paid. Our Islam friends don’t understand this point. You may talk to one who believes in the religion of Islam and they’ll tell you, oh, we believe in Jesus. We believe He’s a prophet of God. He’s just not the last prophet like Mohammed.

In fact, they’ll tell you as though they really believe Jesus is of God, but they deny the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Some years ago, when I was coming back from my last visit to Italy, and I’d changed planes in London, and the nine hour trip over, I was on a loaded plane, and I was seated by a young couple. I soon learned that they were Muslim. I learned that particularly when we had our first meal because it was a, I believe it must have been a ham sandwich or something like that. And they could not eat that unclean meat at the Old Testament law, of course, forbade. And they had forgotten to tell the airline, you know, that they had a special diet. Anyway, you can imagine nine hours.

We’re going to talk about a lot of different things. And sitting next to me, I’m going to talk about the Lord somewhere along the way in nine hours. You have to, you’re right. So, as the conversation goes, we got to talking about the fact that even in the religion of Islam, they understand and know the story about the Garden of Eden. They understand and know something about the penalty of sin is death. They understand and know that, but they don’t understand about Jesus. Why he died. Why it was necessary for his death, burial, and resurrection. And of course, in the long conversation, I ask her, well, why or how it is that you have forgiveness of sins? I believe through the blood of Christ. He pays the penalty for my sin.

And that’s why I believe that today we have the opportunity of salvation. How do you have forgiveness? I asked. She said, Well, well, we repent and pray. That’s how we have forgiveness. Repent and pray. Well, now, if you know anything about the religion of Islam, they they pray five times a day. They stop and and they do a lot of praying, probably more than some Christians. But repent and pray as forgiveness. So I used an illustration. I said, if the thief breaks into your house and and steals, and later he’s caught, and in fact uh admits his guilt. And he comes before the judge, and because of the crime he’s done, it’s worthy of ten years in jail. That’s the law. To be just, the judge should give him ten years.

But this uh this thief, now confessing, comes before the judge and says, Judge, I’m really sorry what I’ve done. I repent of it. I promise you’ll never do it again. I pray you, please forgive me. And the judge, being a merciful kind of judge, he says, okay, I think I will. Since you’ve repented and prayed, you can go free. I ask her, do you think that’d be just? Oh no, she said, That wouldn’t be just, you know. If he’s worthy of ten years, you ought to get ten years. And I said the very same point. How can the law of God saying death is the penalty for sin? How can God be just if the penalty is not paid? Jesus died in my place and in your place.

3. By Grace Through Faith

As the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 53 said, He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. With his stripes we are healed. That’s what’s involved. But that God might be just, he provides the means solely by grace. But he’s also the justifier. Not of everyone, but of the one who has faith in Jesus. You notice that passage that we started with in Ephesians 2.8 says, For by grace are you saved through faith. And that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. It does not say by grace only. It is by grace through faith, the dividing line or the separation between those who are saved and those who are lost is men’s part, which is faith. God’s grace is upon everyone. But faith. I don’t tell you, no subject has received greater controversy in application than this particular phrase, and maybe even this verse.

In fact, some of us might have kind of avoided talking about Ephesians 2.8, because it is often said, well, you know what says not of works. And it’s by grace through faith, and some have assumed as though it’s through grace only or though it’s faith only. But what we really need to do is to talk about what it means to believe. Grace and faith, they go together. They are both essential in the means of salvation. Man’s part by faith reaches to the cross. God’s part is the cross, and it’s for all.

4. Grace Is Access by Faith

You see, grace is access by faith. I love the passage in Romans 5 and the King James Version, the fact that reads like this. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice and hope of the glory of God. You know English. How’d you have access into this building? Came through a door, didn’t you? You entered by it. How do you enter into God’s grace? Through faith. It isn’t forced on anyone. But only those who through faith have access to this grace. Well, what does that mean? Great chapter of faith, Hebrews chapter 11. And when you look at it, it talks about different great characters of the Bible who by faith, like Hebrews 11 and 7, by faith.

Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house. Stop and think about it. There are those today who think, oh, you know, mentally I agree that Jesus died for my sins. And they think all that faith is is just the mental acceptance. I believe. But that isn’t the definition of faith, not the kind of faith it saves. Noah warned of God. He heard something. And he moved. He prepared. He did something. And faith is not nullified by action, and rather it is made perfect or complete. The very next verse, look at Hebrews 11 and verse 8. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed.

He went out not knowing whither he went. Action involved. If we really have faith in God and that Christ died for our sins, there’s action on our part. Hebrews 11, verse 29, speaking about the children of Israel. By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians are saying to do were drowned. By faith, verse 30, the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days. Thirteen times altogether they marched around that city. And it wasn’t just their marching. It wasn’t just the blowing of the ram’s horns or the shouting after that that made the walls fall. It was God’s power that made the walls fall. But their part had to be done by faith. They had to do what God said, and the way God said, do it.

And that therefore is really how we have access today by grace or into God’s grace. It is by faith. You see, faith, the Bible says, is the substance of things hoped for. It is that which stands under and supports that which we believe. It is the evidence of things not seen. Faith. It isn’t knowledge all the way, in the sense that you’ve never seen God, but there is much evidence that God is. The heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament show of this handiwork. There is much reason to believe in God. There’s also reason to believe the Bible is the word of God. No man could have written it if he wanted to. No man would have written it if he could have. There’s evidence.

Faith, therefore, is based upon what? Faith and hearing the word of God. Romans 10, 17, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Even the Apostle Paul to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20, verse 32, exhorted them to the word of his grace. It’s called the grace. The word of his grace, which is able to give you an inheritance among all them who are sanctified. So faith comes by hearing the word of God. Now, if man’s part, therefore, is going to be by faith in that grace. The scripture says it’s not of works, lest any man should boast. Wait a minute, somebody said right there. There’s our controversy, Bob. You know the Bible says salvation’s not of works. And therefore it’s faith only.

5. Not of Works, Lest Any Man Should Boast

It’s just a mental agreement, some say. And there’s where we have controversy. And it’s a subject in which really, in our friends among the denominational world, we’ve struggled trying to explain grace and faith and how works are involved at all. Now I should say to some, maybe we’ve got it all in the wrong position. Does not a work apply on this side of the cross or before the cross? Stop and think with me for a moment. For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. Is he speaking about our part or about God’s part? There’s the question. Look with me if you have your Bible open from a moment ago to Romans 3.

Go to Romans chapter 5. And I believe we find the answer that not a works really belongs on the other side of the cross. In Romans 5, verses 6 to 11, the Bible says, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for whom? The ungodly. Who deserved, who had done anything to deserve the cross of Christ? We were ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man, someone even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than being now justified by his blood. We shall be saved from wrath through him. Or if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Did you notice here? He said, We were ungodly, we were sinners, we were enemies. We did nothing to deserve the cross of Christ. And if you’re looking at why did Christ die on the cross, it’s not of anything we’ve done. I believe that’s really the text here. Not of works, lest any man should boast. Not of work. What did we do? Let me illustrate it. What if Brother Caps were to say, Oh, you know, you’ve been preaching here for a long time. You’ve done a good work. Tell you what, I’m gonna buy you a Cadillac. Now, Jim, you can do that if you’d like. I wouldn’t mind. But if I were to say, No, Jim, I’m not gonna let you buy me a Cadillac, I’m gonna help you with it.

And I reach in my pocket and I pull out a quarter. And I say, I’m gonna help you buy that Cadillac. And later, you know, I’m going down straight and I’m saying, We bought this Cadillac. He said, Crazy. You know that’s nothing. What have we done to merit the cross of Christ? Not one thing. We were enemies. We were ungodly. We do not deserve at all what he did for us. In fact, while many people want to say it says, oh, it’s by faith only, they’ll often read Ephesians 2, 8 and 9 and close their Bible. Did you know that we shouldn’t stop there? You know what the next verse says? For by grace we say through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are his workmanship what?

Created in Christ Jesus unto what? Good works. Wait a minute. What kind of works? Which God had before ordained that we should walk in them. How are you going to know any kind of works that God has ordained? What is he appointed? What are the works that God wants us to do? That’s different from just saying, hmm, I’m going to do what I want to do. I’m going to give God a five hundred thousand dollars and surely he’ll save me. You can’t buy your way into heaven. You can’t be the best person ever lived and got your way into heaven because every man has sinned. So we have to do what God has ordained. And you know how we find out the works God has ordained?

We find it out in that very source of faith. Faith comes by hearing. Hearing by the word of God. And you know, whenever we do what the word of God says, we haven’t earned salvation. We’ve still done it God’s way, and it’s by God’s grace, but it’s through faith, faith that does what God says. Listen to the passage in Titus chapter 2, verses 11 and 12. So Titus 2 and verse 11, I think sums up this probably best of all. When it says, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us. Listen to it. Grace has appeared to everybody, but it teaches us. Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we shall live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

Here we are working, walking in sin. And the grace of God teaches us. We have access into his grace by faith, and we even look onto the word of God. So the grace of God, the word of his grace teaches us. What’s it that says deny ungodliness and worldly lust? There’s some action. That’s walking in the works God has ordained when I repent. It teaches us to deny that. And it teaches me to do something. Here the works God has done ordained. To do what? It says to walk or live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. When I do what God said, I haven’t earned salvation. I’ve still simply done what God said in his way. In fact, what if Brother Caps bought me that Cadillac?

And he says, now, Bob, all you got to do is go down to the dealer and sign the papers. You just go sign the papers and they’ll give you the key and you can drive it home. And I say, well, look, if you’re going to give it to me, I don’t have to do a thing. If it’s going to be a gift, I’m going to sit right here. I believe you’re good, Jim, but I’m not going down to the dealership. You think I’ll ever get that Cadillac? May not get it anyway, you know that.

6. The Faith That Saves Is a Faith That Obeys

But what if, you know? All I got to do, I haven’t voided the gift by doing what he said. By my going down there and signing the papers, I’ve only done what he’s ordained for me to do, what he’s appointed for me to do, what he’s asking of me, and therefore I have not nullified at all the grace of that gift. Indeed, our salvation is by the grace of God. And that’s why the Bible says we’re saved by grace through faith. That’s why it says the faith that saves is a faith that obeys. In James 2, 14 through 26, what did the prophet, my brethren? If a man say he have faith and have not works, can faith save him? Verse 17, even so faith without works is dead.

Being alone. Notice the passage in Galatians 3. Yeah all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Notice who? Who by faith? Verse 27. Or as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Why baptism? Because God ordained that. In Romans 6, 3 and 4, don’t you know that as many of us as have been baptized into Christ, have been baptized into his death. He shed his blood at his death. It’s that’s blood that we’re redeemed. Or as many of you have been baptized into Christ. Those are the ones who put on Christ. Romans 6 and verse 4. And that’s why on the day of Pentecost, the first gospel sermon, when they ask Peter, what shall we do? Acts 2 38, he said, repent and be baptized, every one of you.

In the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, my beloved, we need to walk by faith. We’re justified. We shall live by faith. And that doesn’t finish at baptism. We continue to walk. Hearing what the word of God says. We follow what it says without addition, without subtraction. We try to have Bible authority for all we do. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. And in fact, that’s why in full assurance of faith we hold fast the confession of our hope. By faith. Our whole life is an act of faith. Are you a Christian? Let me illustrate this one more time. I think I’m reaching in my pocket.

I’ve got a five dollar bill. Trey Barfield, would you like to have this five dollars? Would you? You don’t, how about Caleb? Caleb, would you like to have it? If you come up here, I’ll give you this five dollars. Huh? Caleb? Rufus, have you taught these children?

I bet Jason would come up. Jason, wouldn’t you like to have this five dollars? There you go. See here someone. I’ll give him a five dollar bill. If he can get out, I thought he was coming. There he comes. Come on, I’ll give it to you. Now ask the audience Did he earn that? Was it a gift? Do you think I would have taken it to his? I didn’t take it to Trey or Caleb, did I? So he had to believe. He kind of made you doubt it when I held on to it a little bit there. But you know, he had to do what I asked him to do. We’re saved by grace through faith. A faith that responds to do what God asks of us to do.

Conclusion

That’s what salvation’s all about. I ask you this morning, have you done what God said? Are you a believer in Jesus the Christ? Have you repented of your sins? Denying ungodliness and worldly lust? Are you walking, living soberly, righteously and godly in this present world? Have you really come to the Lord for the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ? I’ll tell you, if you haven’t, you’re missing out on what really the riches of God’s grace are all about. Take your hymn book and turn to the hymn that we’ve selected for our invitation, number 330. Another one of those great songs, just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. And that thou bids me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come.

I come. Am I talking to someone in this audience whose heart’s been touched by the death of Jesus for your sins? And yet you’ve never responded in simple, humble belief. Confessing him and being baptized into his death. If I am, why not this morning respond? There’s clothing prepared for you here. The Baptist is ready. All it takes is your response to the gospel of Christ. If you’re a subject, we bid you come even now, while together we stand while we sing this song.