Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
October 2, 2002 Randall Caselman
The Demands of Grace
Grace is God's unmerited favor extended to us. Where we should have died, Jesus died for us. Grace is God's initiative on our behalf. Grace is what we need, yet cannot provide for ourselves. What we couldn't do for ourselves, Jesus did for us by becoming flesh and dying on the cross for our forgiveness. Grace, what a concept!
His grace is seen in our existence. On Mars Hill, Paul declared that all we are, all that we ever hope to be, must be attributed to God. He is our creator, provider, and sustainer.
"It is in Him that we live, move and have our being." His grace has set us free from the law of sin and death. Death is the natural consequence for sin, but God's unmerited gift to us is that death has no more dominion over the saved.
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." God's grace has taken the curse of death and made it a blessing to those who are in Christ.
Grace is mentioned 169 times in the King James Bible, and 129 of these occur in the New Testament. The truth is,
we are saved by grace through faith. That fact needs to be constantly emphasized in our churches. It must never, never be taken for granted.
I hope you are not one who has bought into the argument that grace demands nothing on our part. God's initiative—God's gift to us--demands a response.
"For Christ's love compels us," Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5.14. We must never allow the concept of salvation by grace to become perverted to the point that obedience, commitment and discipleship are thought to be unnecessary.
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2.11-14) Do you see the demands, the responsibilities, the obligations that come with His grace?
Grace demands a LEAVING.
Our response to God's unmerited favor is to leave ungodliness and worldly lust behind. Consider these scriptures:
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning, so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?...We were 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...Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." (Romans 6.1-4 & 12)
"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God...I urge you to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul...live good lives." (1 Peter 2.9-12)
Grace demands a LIVING.
Just as sure as we are to put off sin and its evil desires, we are to put on a new way of life. Remember what Paul says:
"I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy (Grace) to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12.1)
"Count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus...offer yourselves to God as instruments of righteousness...You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6.11,14,17 & 18)
"Put on the new self...As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience...And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord." (Colossians 3.10, 12 & 17) And Peter adds,
"Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." (2 Peter 1.5-9)
Grace demands a LOOKING.
The first century Christians lived changed lives, because they expected Jesus to come today--immediately. The early church lived with the word Maranatha
("Lord come quickly" or
"Come O Lord"), on their lips.
"But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." (2 Peter 2.13-14) Grace demands we be anticipating the second coming of Christ. Look toward His
Second Coming as a part of grace, just as sure as forsaking sin and practicing righteousness.
Are we responding to the demands of His grace?
RANDALL CASELMAN
