05.02 - Chapter 25 - The Greatness of Grace
Chapter 25 THE GREATNESS of GRACE
Grace Defined The most common Greek word for grace (charis) literally means, "favor." Grace is the kindly disposition toward man in the mind of God. Grace means that God is for us though we are against Him apart from regeneration. Grace is the operation of a holy and divine influence on the rebellious heart changing the heart and life forever.
Grace Distinguished As grace may be defined so it may be distinguished.
♦ Common Grace. Common grace is the grace that God shows to all of His creation. The Lord makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:45). A greater or lesser measurer of common grace is granted to all who hear the gospel indiscriminately.
♦ Prevenient Grace. Prevenient grace is the operation of the Spirit on the mind that precedes and excites its efforts to return to God. Prevenient grace anticipates a full disclosure of the gospel to the soul. On the road to Damascus, Saul of Tarus met the resurrected Christ. Three days later, blinded by his experience, Ananias, "a devout man according to the law,"came and stood by him and said to him, "why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:12, Acts 22:16) Saul arose. He was baptized. His sins were washed away. He called upon the name of the Lord.
♦ Sufficient Grace. Sufficient grace is that grace which is sufficient to lead to repentance and faith. Some people need much grace to be brought to saving faith for they are gospel hardened by years of sin. And yet, no sinner is too great for the grace of God to convert.
There were two thieves crucified with Christ at Calvary and both railed against Him.
Later, one repented and cried out, "Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43) There was sufficient grace.
♦ Efficacious Grace. Efficacious grace is that grace which is effectual in producing regeneration and conversion. It involves the idea of active power. Charles Spurgeon tells of how he learned about efficacious grace. "Well can I remember the manner in which I learned the doctrines of grace in a single instance...I can recall the very day and hour when first I received these truths in my own soul--when they were, as John Bunyan says, burnt into my heart as with a hot iron...One week night when I was sitting in the house of God, I was not thinking much about the preacher’s sermon, for I did not believe it. The thought struck me, "how did you come to be a Christian?’--I sought the Lord.--But how did you come to seek the Lord?--The truth flashed across my mind in a moment--I should not have sought Him unless there had been some previous influence in my mind to make me seek Him. I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, ’how came I to pray?’---I was induced to pray by reading the Scriptures. I did read them; but what led me to do so? -
Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith; and as the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make it my constant confession, ’I ascribe my change wholly to God.’"
♦ Habitual Grace. Habitual grace is that grace which is manifested by the indwelling ministry of the Spirit in the heart. When Joseph Parker, the great preacher of London was debating one day in a certain community with the enemies of the Church, a man shouted to him, "What did Christ do for Stephen when he was stoned!" Dr. Parker immediately answered, "He gave him grace to pray for those who stoned him." And it is true. Like the Saviour, Stephen cried out with his dying breath, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." (Acts 7:60)
♦ Cheap Grace. "Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism with church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipline, grace without the Cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
♦ Costly Grace. "Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man can knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ."
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer) Grace brought Christ down from heaven.
Grace stripped Him of His glory.
Grace made the Lord poor and despicable.
Grace made Him bear the burden of sin, sorrow, and shame.
Grace was in all Christ’s tears.
Grace came bubbling out of His side with blood.
Grace poured forth from His sweet lips.
Grace came out where the whip smote the Saviour, Where the thorns pricked His brow, And where the nails and spear pierced His holy side.
Oh! The unsearchable riches of Divine grace.
~*~
Author Unknown