Stabilizing Truths in Unstable Times: God’s Grace for Me is Sufficient for Everything, Part 1

A foundational, stabilizing truth for every believer is that, as God's children, we are beneficiaries of God's grace. God's grace is manifested primarily in two ways: saving grace and sanctifying grace. God's saving grace was demonstrated in the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins and in God's drawing us to Himself for salvation through no merit of our own. God's sanctifying grace is demonstrated continually in us as He uses all things in our lives--including the difficult things--to make us more like the Lord Jesus.

What is Grace?

• Due to the many different uses of the word “grace” in the New Testament, this word is very difficult to narrow down to a concise definition.
• One concept that is found in almost every usage of grace is the fact “that all a Christian has and is… depends utterly on God through Christ.” - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• One concise definition of grace is God’s unmerited, divine, favor, and enablement.

God’s Grace is Sufficient for Salvation (Ephesians 2:7-9, 1:7)

• By what means is a person saved?
  • By grace – God’s undeserved favor
• By what vehicle is a person saved?
  • Only through faith in Christ alone
• Who gives a person the faith to believe? God
• Can salvation be earned through works? No
• So how is a person saved?
  • By God graciously giving to him what he does not deserve: the faith to believe in Christ

God’s Grace is Sufficient for Sanctification (2 Peter 3:18)

• What does it mean to grow in grace?
  • This is not talking about saving grace.
    • A true believer is made perfect in Christ. He cannot become more perfect and, therefore, cannot grow in saving grace.
    • This is talking about sanctifying grace or progressive sanctification. Progressive sanctification takes place only by God’s grace.
• How do we grow in grace?
  • Growth in grace is intimately connected with our growth in the “knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
    • The more you know about Christ the more you grow in grace.
    • The more you grow in grace the more you want to know about Christ.  The more you know about Christ the more you grow in grace.
    • This cycle goes on and on and is what we call progressive sanctification.

God’s Grace is Sufficient for Service (2 Timothy 2:1-7)

• God wants you to pour your life into others.
• God wants you to endure hardship.
• God wants you to compete as an athlete.
• God wants you to labor as a farmer.
• The tasks God has called us to do is too great for us to do on our own.  That is Paul’s point!
• The source of our ministry strength is God’s grace.  We can serve only by His grace.