Glad for Crumbs of Mercy
The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's unworthiness and receiving salvation through the free grace of God, which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life.
Anne Dutton preaches about the overwhelming grace of God towards sinners, emphasizing her own unworthiness and the abundant mercy she receives through the sacrifice of Christ. She acknowledges her lowly state but rejoices in being treated as a beloved child and royalty by God. Dutton finds solace in the fact that salvation is entirely by grace, perfectly suiting her wretched condition, and she delights in living under the reign of grace that leads to eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Text
Dear Brother,
Never was a poor sinner more unworthy of favor from God or His people than myself. I deserve not a name and a place among the children, but am as vile as a dog, and would be glad for crumbs of mercy that fall from the children's table. But such is the free grace of God towards me, through the slain Lamb, that He deals with me as a child, a dear child, and feasts me as a prince with Him according to the royalty, the dignity of His own infinite state. If salvation in all its parts were not all of grace, it would not suit such a wretched, miserable sinner as I am.
But oh, blessed be God, there is salvation enough for me in Christ to be had of the freest grace--of grace in which there is no scantiness, but an immense and eternal fullness to fill my needy soul, through all time and to eternity! And glad am I, under all my sins, miseries and needs, to live under the reign of grace--of this grace which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ my Lord!
Sermon Outline
- The Humility of a Sinner
- The Fullness of Salvation in Christ
- Living Under the Reign of Grace
- Experiencing the reign of grace despite sin and misery
- 'The ultimate goal of living under the reign of grace: eternal life'
Key Quotes
“I deserve not a name and a place among the children, but am as vile as a dog, and would be glad for crumbs of mercy that fall from the children's table.” — Anne Dutton
“But such is the free grace of God towards me, through the slain Lamb, that He deals with me as a child, a dear child, and feasts me as a prince with Him according to the royalty, the dignity of His own infinite state.” — Anne Dutton
“And glad am I, under all my sins, miseries and needs, to live under the reign of grace--of this grace which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ my Lord!” — Anne Dutton
Application Points
- Recognize your own unworthiness and acknowledge the free grace of God.
- Understand that salvation is all of grace, not earned by human worthiness.
- Live under the reign of grace, experiencing eternal life through Jesus Christ.