The Doctrine of Grace
The doctrine of grace teaches that salvation is a free gift of God's grace, given to those who do not deserve it, and based on the worthiness of the Savior alone.
William MacDonald emphasizes the foundational importance of the doctrine of grace in understanding salvation as a free gift from God, which is not based on human merit but solely on the worthiness of Christ. He explains that true assurance of salvation comes from recognizing that it is entirely dependent on God's grace, freeing believers from the anxiety of their own performance. MacDonald highlights that grace empowers believers to live righteously, transforming service into a joyful privilege rather than a burdensome obligation. He encourages a life enriched by grace, filled with thanksgiving and worship, as believers recognize the depth of their need and the greatness of their Savior. Ultimately, he asserts that grounding oneself in the truth of God's sovereign grace can profoundly change one's life.
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Â"If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.Â" (Rom. 11:6 NASB)
When a person gets grounded early in the doctrine of grace, he saves himself from a host of problems in later life. It is so basic to understand that salvation is a free gift of GodÂ's grace and that it is given to those who not only do not deserve it but who in fact deserve the very opposite. There is nothing meritorious a person can do or become to earn eternal life. It is given to those who abandon any thoughts of personal worthiness but who rest their case on the worthiness of the Savior alone.
If we see that salvation is all of grace, then we can have full assurance. We can know that we are saved. If salvation depended in the slightest degree on ourselves and our miserable attainments, then we could never know for sure. We wouldnÂ't know whether we had done enough good works or the right kind. But when it depends on the work of Christ, then there doesnÂ't have to be any nagging doubt.
The same is true of our eternal security. If our continued safety somehow depended on our own ability to hold out, then we might be saved today and lost tomorrow. But as long as our safety depends on the SaviorÂ's ability to keep us, we can know we are eternally secure.
Those who live under grace are not helpless pawns of sin. Sin does have dominion over those under law because the law tells them what to do but doesnÂ't give them the power to do it. Grace gives a person a perfect standing before God, teaches him to walk worthy of his calling, enables him to do it by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and rewards him for doing it.
Under grace, service becomes a joyful privilege, not a legal bondage. The believer is motivated by love, not by fear. The memory of what the Savior suffered to provide salvation inspires the saved sinner to pour out his life in devoted service.
Grace also enriches life by inspiring thanksgiving, worship, praise and adoration. The knowledge of who the Savior is, of what sinners we are by nature and by practice, and of all He has done for us causes our hearts to overflow in loving adoration to Him.
ThereÂ's nothing like the grace of God. ItÂ's the crown jewel of all His attributes. Get grounded in the truth of the sovereign grace of God and it will transfigure all of life.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Doctrine of Grace
- A. Salvation is a free gift of God's grace
- B. It is given to those who do not deserve it
- C. It is based on the worthiness of the Savior alone
- II. Assurance of Salvation
- A. If salvation depends on works, we can never know for sure
- B. But if it depends on the work of Christ, we can have full assurance
- III. Eternal Security
- A. Our safety depends on the Savior's ability to keep us
- B. We can know we are eternally secure
- IV. The Power of Grace
- A. Grace gives a person a perfect standing before God
- B. It enables us to walk worthy of our calling
- C. It rewards us for doing it
Key Quotes
“If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” — William MacDonald
“There's nothing like the grace of God. It's the crown jewel of all His attributes.” — William MacDonald
“Get grounded in the truth of the sovereign grace of God and it will transfigure all of life.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Understand that salvation is a free gift of God's grace, and not something you can earn through good works.
- Trust in the work of Christ for your salvation, and not in your own ability to hold out.
- Live under the motivation of love, rather than fear, and receive salvation as a joyful privilege.