One of the most important concepts in the New Testament, but probably one of the least understood, is the grace of God. It is filled with wonder, power, and encouragement. If we fail to grasp its meaning, we will fail to celebrate and appreciate our salvation. No one can be saved without the grace of God; no one will be able to have full assurance without understanding it. It is possible to be saved without fully understanding it, but there is the danger that in those misconceptions that I will trust myself, someone else, or something else, for my redemption, instead of the Lord. The Pharisees well represent the consequences of so doing. We will be perverting the Gospel in one way or another and frustrating the grace of God. (Gal. 2:21.)

Scriptures: Here are a few passages on grace:

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." (2 Cor. 8:9.)

"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17.)

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. . . ." (Titus 2:11-13.)

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 4.)

"For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Eph. 2:8.)

Before leaving the Ephesian elders, Paul said, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (Acts 20:32.)

The apostle John ended his revelation and the New Testament with these words. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (Rev. 22:21.)

Many of the misconceptions of grace come about due to incorrect definitions of grace. In Scripture, we should allow the context to define the word. Then we should use this biblical word in the way the writers used it.

We recall the life of Saul of Tarsus. He was fervently opposed to Jesus and the Gospel. He was a skillfully trained Pharisee excelling in zeal and devotion to the Torah. He led groups of fanatical Jews on rampages killing Christians. He was present when Stephen was stoned to death. He held their garments. He was an accomplice and instigator. From this background, we find some statements that Paul makes about himself.

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who before was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundantly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief." (1 Tim. 1:12-15.) From this context, grace is used in the sense of mercy, forgiveness, and giving to Saul something that he needed (salvation) but what he did not deserve. He was likewise permitted to preach the faith after he was saved. Paul was amazed at both of these acts of grace toward him. Paul is used as a pattern for others who desire to be saved. (1 Tim. 1:16.)

"For by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

(1 Cor. 15:10.)

Grace has to do with something for us, "for our sakes" according to 2 Cor. 8:9. We were in need due to our poverty; Jesus made us rich from his riches.

Someone wrote, "When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award---yet receives such a gift anyway---that is a good picture of God’s unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God."

Brother Cecil May, Jr. wrote an article entitled "By Grace" in Preacher Talk, April 1996. He wrote, "A few years ago a church out West, according to reports, split over what percentage of salvation is by grace and what percentage by works. One side said we had to achieve 80-90%, God would make up 10-20%; the other side said the proportions was more nearly reversed, 90-95% God, 5-10% us.

"The argument flows from erroneous definitions of grace. ‘By grace’ means freely, as a gift. (Rom. 3:24). Since we have sinned (Rom. 3:23), we have already earned our wages, death, condemnation (Rom. 6:23). If, in spite of our sin, we receive eternal life, it is a gift; we have already earned the opposite.

"A gift is not 80% earned, or 20% or even 1% earned. If it is a gift, it is given freely. . . . Justification is a gift, freely given, by grace."

Everyone should understand that whether one ever obeys God or not, there is a gift waiting to be opened. The unspeakable gift of his Son has already been given. Salvation is available to all. We have access into this grace (gift) by faith. (Romans 5:1-2.)

#1: Barabbas. One of the best biblical illustrations of grace is what happened to Barabbas. His name is even instructive. We first met Barabbas at the trials of Jesus when Pilate mentioned his name. He is called a notable prisoner (Matt. 27:16); one who committed murder in an insurrection (Mark 15:7); for sedition and murder (Luke 23:19); a robber (John 18:40). He had broken the law of the land and found guilty. He was imprisoned awaiting execution. He expected any moment to hear the soldiers coming to carry him off to a cross.

To his surprise, when the soldiers came he was released to go freely. He did not know that his name had been mentioned at the trials of Jesus. Pilate tried to appease the Jewish leaders by releasing a prisoner during the Passover. Instead of releasing Jesus, they demanded that Barabbas go free instead. Jesus should be crucified. Pilate’s effort to spare Jesus failed. Jesus went to the cross instead of a notable prisoner. Jesus took his place on the cross.

His name has two parts, Bar- and -abbas, which mean son of a certain man. This is a very ambiguous name. It, in effect, represents all of us. We go free and Jesus paid the penalty on the cross. That is what the grace of the Lord means. We are shown favor that we did not deserve.

#2: Inspection at the grave of the unknown soldier. (This illustration was given by Eddie Hendrix at our preachers’ meeting, April 10.) My wife and I saw the change of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. This is an impressive ceremony. The soldier guarding the tomb marches back and forth in front of the tomb with precise steps. His uniform is immaculate and his demeanor is serious. It is a high honor to guard the tomb which represents all the unknown American soldiers who have died in battle. An honor guard from the Honor Company of the 1st Battalion Group, 3rd Infantry, Fort Myer, VA, keeps a sentry on duty at the tomb at all times.

After WW1, the Allied countries of the United States, Belgium, Great Britain, France, and Italy decided to honor those who could not be identified. Each of these countries has a memorial to the unknown soldier. The memorial was completed in 1931. The inscription reads: "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." Since then, unknown soldiers from WW2, Vietnam, and Korean wars were buried near the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Every half-hour there is a changing of the guard between April and September; every hour between October and March; every two hours at night. When this occurs, the new guard must be inspected. The inspector stands very near to the soldier and raises his hand to examine the rifle. To be sure the gun is clean, he wipes the gun with white gloves on his hands. Twice he carefully checks for any grease or dirt on the gun. Then he turns his attention to the guard himself. He moves his head up and down, then from side to side. He marches around the soldier and looks at the back of his uniform. The soldier that we saw being inspected passed the test and was permitted to relieve the other soldier.

One day we will be judged by our Lord. With careful scrutiny, our lives (not our uniforms) will be judged. If any spot or blemish is found, we will be rejected of God. Just as the inspection begins, Jesus steps ahead of us to take the inspection in our place. If we were judged by our own merits, we would all be rejected. We have another who has satisfied the demands of complete holiness and righteousness. This is grace or favor extended to us. We are permitted the honor of being in God’s presence. Man is unworthy of such honor on his own.

#3: An organ transplant. This past week in the news was a story about a little girl needing a liver. Hers was failing rapidly and they needed a perfect match. Her father and mother were tested as possible donors. The father’s was not acceptable, but the mother’s was. Both mother and daughter had surgery for the transfer of part of the mother’s liver to the daughter. It was a perfect match and the girl lived.

During this story I learned that livers rejuvenate themselves in a few weeks. The mother’s liver will grow back to its original size and the daughter’s liver will adjust to her needs. Even though the mother gave part of her liver, she did not lose anything by so doing.

Only Jesus has the perfect match for us spiritually. Like the father who could not donate a part of his liver, there are many religious leaders who try to supply the needs of lost mankind. But no one other than Jesus has the perfect match. Salvation is not found in any other. (Acts 4:12.)

This illustration is helpful to complete the picture of what God desires to do for us. Salvation is not just wearing a clean, white garment over a dirty body. It is not just imputed or accounted to us. It should also be implanted as well. Implanted means that it becomes a part of your life. The liver transplanted grows and works in your own body. Jesus transforms our lives and enriches them. He lives within. (Gal. 2:20, Col. 1:27, Col. 3:4.)

#4: Telephone scam artists and investments. Recently I heard an interesting report on NPR about the devises of some telemarketers. They call the elderly at home during the day and entice them into making investments in their "companies." One woman named Mabel was talked into turning over her life’s savings, nearly $250,000.

In an effort to stop this scamming and indict those guilty, the FBI asked for volunteers among the retired to record the conversations. In order to do this effectively, they asked for permission from those receiving the calls to have their calls redirected to the volunteer’s office. She would answer the phone in the name of the elderly person. One volunteer, 60 years of age, took the calls for Mabel who had been duped out of her savings. She kept the man talking for a long time by asking questions about the investments and how she knew that it was a good investment. She even demanded to talk to his supervisor. The man refused saying, How would you know that he was my supervisor anyway? She got enough from him for the FBI to indict him for fraud.

There are many deceitful things in our world, temptations, allurements, traps. We are like the elderly; we cannot withstand the temptations and allurements alone. We need help to survive spiritually. Satan is cunning. Jesus, with our permission, has the calls redirected to Him. Someone else answers for us and withstands the cunning and deceit.

John wrote, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4.) "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against. . . Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand." (Eph. 6:10-13.)

This too is grace and favor. The Lord equips us and strengthens us. He shows mercy by giving us the power to deflect the darts of the wicked one. We are not just released from prison, like Barabbas, to make it on our own. We are given the means of overcoming because the Lord is with us and in us. We would all fail the inspection if righteousness is not both imputed (justification) and implanted (sanctification). The link between justification and sanctification is faith. Faith justifies and sanctifies. Faith is our access into the grace of God. (Rom. 5:1-2.)

Jesus was tempted and tested in the wilderness by Satan. He overcame him and defeated him completely. The Lord will provide a way of escape for us when we are tempted. "There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man, but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able to bear, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. 10:13.)

Just as God cannot be tempted with evil, God within us cannot be tempted. We can have great power over evil when God lives within us by faith.

I believe there are several reasons why there is such confusion over the subject of grace.

1) The greatness of the subject; the wonder of it all. Barabbas probably could not believe that he could really go free. A condemned person expects punishment. Great subjects contain many facets. It is not easy to grasp all at once the many sides of grace.

God can be made to seem like a lovesick father wanting his child to come home regardless of what the child does. He can be made to look like a push-over, a softy, one who does not know how to practice tough-love. But Paul warns,

"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God; on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness. Otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off." (Rom. 11:22.)

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb. 12:28-29.)

If we think that Jesus never turned people away, corrected them, or withstood their sinfulness, then we have misunderstood our Lord. He sternly rebuked the Pharisees with a scathing denunciation. (See Matthew 23.) Jesus will be the judge who will turn away the masses into eternal punishment. He came the first time to save; the second time will be without sin unto salvation for some and condemnation for the majority. (Heb. 9:28.)

If it seems that sermons err on the side of being gentle, approachable, lovable, filled with grace and forgiveness, it is because we should "err" on that side. Grace has the scent of scandal in it. Some might cry out, Where is justice? Some objected to Paul’s teachings because it seemed to imply that the more one sinned, the more grace would be shown. If we are not under law, then does that mean we can continue in sin? (Rom. 6:1, 15.) We are preaching grace with the right emphasis if people ask us what they asked Paul.

2) Where does law fit? One of the difficulties with grace is finding where to put grace in relation to law. This is a complex relationship, but there is an easy way to think about it. The Bible is made of two covenants; one law and the other grace. (John 1:17.) Just as law precedes grace in Scripture, it precedes it in our lives as well. By the law is the knowledge of sin. (Rom. 3:20.) In contrast, the law points out the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. Breaking the law of God brings forth judgment and penalty. In this sense, there is nothing wrong with law. It is holy, just and good. (Rom. 7:12.) The problem with law is that it cannot save; it can only point out your failures. Once we have lived for a while under law and understand it, we are ready for grace.

Paul described the relationship as a woman being married to her first husband (the law). It was a difficult marriage. She could do nothing to please her husband. He was ready to point out her flaws. He did not commend her or show mercy. He was stern and unbending. Then the first husband died leaving her free to marry another (Jesus and grace). This second husband was so different from the first. He knew her weakness, but pointed out her strengths. He was merciful and loving. She loved her second husband greatly. (Romans 7:1-4.)

No one can bypass law and go directly to grace. Living as a child in a home, we must first learn the basics. We must learn what is right and wrong. We are under tutors and guides. When we come of age, we are mature enough to live as free adults. (Gal. 4:1f) Law first, then grace.

3) People have a bent toward keeping score of their deeds and emphasizing their achievements. Charles Hodge wrote, "We don’t believe in grace. . . We believe in achievement! Man’s problem is pride; pride causes sin. Paul said, If any man glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Cor. 1:31.)" (Keynoter, "Achievement," Oct. 26, 1995.) Before people will accept grace, some must be humbled and broken by shame. We want to think that we did it by our goodness, our knowledge, our perfect doctrine, etc. We have a long list of things just in case one of them fails us!

4) There are loopholes that sinners will seek after. Jude wrote of some who turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. (Jude 4.) Every sinner should be warned that the grace of God is not a license to sin. "For, brethren, ye have been called into liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." (Gal. 5:13.) "As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God." (1 Peter 2:16.)

Some might feel that they have a license to sin after they go confess their sins to a priest. Mark it well! In Christ, there is no reason, argument, appeal, rationalization or situation where one may continue a life of sin willfully, knowingly, or purposefully. In Christ, we die to sin. (Rom. 6:2.)

Philip Yancey, in What’s So Amazing About Grace?, told a story about a man trying to abuse grace. A man named Daniel met with Philip late one night to talk. Daniel confided in Philip that he had decided to leave his wife of fifteen years. He had found someone else. Daniel knew well the personal and moral consequences of what he was about to do. His decision would inflict permanent damage on his wife and three children. Even so, he said, the force pulling him toward the younger woman was like a powerful magnet, too strong to resist.

Philip said that he listened with sadness and grief to Daniel’s story. During their dessert, he dropped the bomb shell. "Actually, Philip, I have an agenda. The reason I wanted to see you tonight was to ask you a question that’s been bothering me. You study the Bible. Do you think God can forgive something as awful as I am about to do?" The question, Philip said, lay on the table like a snake and he went through three cups of coffee before he attempted an answer. He thought of a comment by Augustine who said, "God gives where He finds empty hands." A man whose hands are full of parcels cannot receive the gift. Grace must be received.

There is a difference between condoning and forgiving. To condone means to treat evil as if it were good. But to forgive means to treat sin as sin and then forgiveness follows for one who is broken hearted over the sin. "Repentance is not an arbitrary rule. It is a description of what coming back looks like." (C. S. Lewis.)

One way to remember the meaning of grace is to recall the story Jesus told about the father with two sons. (Luke 15.) The younger son went into a far country and wasted his inheritance with riotous living. When he came to himself, he came home asking the father to make him as one of the hired servants. He said, I am no more worthy to be called thy son. The father celebrated the son’s return by killing the fatted calf and having a party in his honor. Remember that the older brother stood outside pouting. There was no party for him. His hand was full. He was not broken-hearted over his transgressions. He did not think that he had committed any. The younger son was forgiven and received; the older was instructed and entreated by the father. He lived at home, but was miserable and graceless.

5) Grace is for now, not at the Judgment. No one should think that grace means that one can live purposefully in sin all of one’s life and then at the Judgment be saved. The question, When is grace shown?, is important. Look at it in the Bible.

The prodigal was shown grace when he saw his need for it and came home. He was willing and ready to change his life. Mercy is suitable for one who is hurting, not to one who is rebellious and proud.

Jesus said that he would say to some at the judgment, Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matt. 7:23.) They were pleading with him to accept them. Some were knocking at the door after the bridegroom came, but they were shut out. When the door is shut, the time of grace is over. (Matt. 25:10.) The Lord also closed the door of the ark before the Flood. (Gen. 7:16.) When he did, grace was extended no more.

It seems to me that there are specially these hurdles that one must clear to receiving God’s gift by his grace: 1) Understanding something about grace, 2) desiring it fervently, 3) overcoming the desire for sin, 4) penetrating the hardness of heart caused by sin, and 5) wanting to be restored to a place of honor and escaping the shame of sin.