God's Grace Is Eternal
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that God's grace is eternal and unchanging, present throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that God's grace is eternal and unchanging, countering the common belief that the Old Testament is solely about law while the New Testament is about grace. He asserts that God has always been the God of grace, and His immutability means that His grace has always been present throughout history. Tozer argues that the fullness of God's grace has not increased or decreased over time, and it was part of His redemptive plan long before Christ's sacrifice on the cross. The sermon highlights that grace is a constant attribute of God, not a new concept introduced in the New Testament.
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It is a typical and accepted teaching in Christian churches today that Moses and the Old Testament knew only God's law, and that Christ and the New Testament know only God's grace. I repeat: that is the "accepted" teaching of the hour - but I also hasten to add that it is a mistaken concept, and that it was never the concept held and taught by the early Christian church fathers. God has always been the God of all grace, and He does not change. Immutability is an attribute of God; therefore God at all times and in all of history must act like Himself! He is the God of all grace; therefore the grace of God does not ebb and flow like the ocean tides.
There has always been the fullness of grace in the heart of God.
There is no more grace now than there was previously and there will never be any more grace than there is now! The flow of God's grace did not begin when Christ came to die for us. It was part of God's ancient plan of redemption and was manifested in the blood and tears and pain and death at Calvary's cross!
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding God's Law and Grace - Misconceptions in Modern Teaching - Historical Perspectives from Early Church Fathers
- II points: - The Immutability of God - God's Unchanging Nature - Grace as a Constant Attribute
- III points: - The Fullness of Grace - Grace Throughout History - The Role of Grace in Redemption
- IV points: - The Relationship Between Law and Grace - Grace Before and After Christ - The Continuity of God's Grace
Key Quotes
“God has always been the God of all grace, and He does not change.” — A.W. Tozer
“The flow of God's grace did not begin when Christ came to die for us.” — A.W. Tozer
“There has always been the fullness of grace in the heart of God.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize that God's grace has always been a part of His character and plan.
- Challenge misconceptions about the relationship between law and grace in your understanding of Scripture.
- Embrace the fullness of grace in your daily life and interactions with others.