THE GRACE OF GOD- – I CORINTHIANS 15:8-11

THE GRACE OF GOD

I CORINTHIANS 15:8-11

What is the grace of God? The Greek word charis means FAVOR, that is, that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, or loveliness.

In relation to God’s will, it refers to loving-kindness, the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ. By His grace He keeps and strengthens the believer and increases their faith, knowledge and affection. By His grace He moves in the heart of the believer to exercise his Christian virtues.

I. WHAT DOES THE GRACE OF GOD DO?

A. It saves those who receive Christ by faith, Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

1. The basis is grace.

2. The only means is faith, Romans 3:22, 25, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

B. It gives direction to our lives, Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

1. Salvation is God’s workmanship.

2. We were saved by His grace “unto good works.”

3. Our purpose in life is “that we should walk in them,” that is, glorify God through serving Him.

II. WHAT GRACE DID IN PAUL’S LIFE.

1 Corinthians 9:19-27

A. I made myself servant unto all, v. 19, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”

1. To them that are under the law, v. 20, “And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;”

2. To them that are without law, v. 21, “To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.”

3. I am made all things to all men, v. 22, “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

B. This I do for the gospel’s sake, v. 23, “And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”

1. Paul was motivated by what God’s grace had done for him and not by possible reward.

2. The change in the believer’s life should move him to serve the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

III. WHAT THE GRACE OF GOD HAS DONE ACCORDING TO PETER.

A. Peter shows that the Grace of God is not a new thing.

1. God determined in eternity past that Jesus would die for our sins, Acts 2:23, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”

2. Peter shows how that by the grace of God we have become “a peculiar people,” 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

a. “Peculiar” means a “purchased possession,” one who has been obtained, 1 Corinthians 7:23, “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.”

b. We were not a people before the grace of God, 1 Peter 2:10, “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

B. The God of all grace is mentioned by Peter referring our future glory, 1 Peter 5:10, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”