The TrueThe TrueGrace of GodGrace of God

Romans 5:1-2Romans 5:1-2

1 Peter 5:121 Peter 5:12

……we have access we have access by faith into by faith into thisthis grace in which grace in which

we standwe stand

……this is the this is the true grace true grace of God in of God in which you which you

stand stand

False Views of God’s Grace

• Irresistible and selectively applied Irresistible and selectively applied (Calvinism)(Calvinism)

• Continuous cleansing (neo-Calvinism)Continuous cleansing (neo-Calvinism)– Cleansed even as we sin Cleansed even as we sin – This view of grace minimizes doctrinal This view of grace minimizes doctrinal

accuracy while championing unity in accuracy while championing unity in doctrinal and moral diversitydoctrinal and moral diversity

• Impossibility of apostasy (Gal 5:4)Impossibility of apostasy (Gal 5:4)• Unity in diversity (grace in spite of Unity in diversity (grace in spite of

error)error) 2

What is the True Grace of God?1 Peter 5:12; Romans 5:1-2• How does standing in grace affect our How does standing in grace affect our

lives? lives? • Does standing in grace mean there is Does standing in grace mean there is

a “king’s x” of exemption protecting a “king’s x” of exemption protecting us in everything we do? Rom 5:20-6:1us in everything we do? Rom 5:20-6:1

• We must have a We must have a scriptural framework scriptural framework from which to understand, stand in from which to understand, stand in and be blessed by the “true grace of and be blessed by the “true grace of God” God”

3

1 Peter 5:12• Universally Universally availableavailable, , but not universally but not universally receivedreceived– Grace has appeared, Grace has appeared,

bringing salvation to all, bringing salvation to all, Titus 2:11; Col 1:5-6Titus 2:11; Col 1:5-6

– Gift of grace abounds “to Gift of grace abounds “to the many” by Christ the many” by Christ Jesus, Rom 5:15, 12Jesus, Rom 5:15, 12• Gen 22:18: All nations Gen 22:18: All nations

blessed in the seed of blessed in the seed of AbrahamAbraham

• Gal 3:14: Blessing of Gal 3:14: Blessing of Abraham comes “in Christ…Abraham comes “in Christ…the promise …through faith”the promise …through faith” 4

1 Peter 5:12 • Accessed through Accessed through ChristChrist by faithby faith, Gal 3:9, Gal 3:9– Through Jesus “we have Through Jesus “we have

access by faith into this access by faith into this grace in which we grace in which we stand”, Rom 5:2stand”, Rom 5:2

– Saved “by grace, Saved “by grace, through faith…”, Eph through faith…”, Eph 2:8-92:8-9

5

1 Peter 5:12• Teaches us to Teaches us to obeyobey the the gospel of Christ, Tit gospel of Christ, Tit 2:11-122:11-12–Noah, Gen 6:8-9, 14, 22; Noah, Gen 6:8-9, 14, 22;

7:1 Heb 11:77:1 Heb 11:7•GraceGrace•Obedient faithObedient faith

– Jericho, Joshua 6Jericho, Joshua 6•Grace, 6:2, 16Grace, 6:2, 16•Obedient faith, 6:3-5, 6-Obedient faith, 6:3-5, 6-2020

6

1 Peter 5:12 • Teaches Teaches personal personal responsibilityresponsibility while you while you rest your hope fully on rest your hope fully on “the grace that will be “the grace that will be brought to you at the brought to you at the revelation of Jesus revelation of Jesus Christ”, 1 Pet 1:13 Christ”, 1 Pet 1:13 (Titus 2:11-13)(Titus 2:11-13)

7

1 Peter 5:12• Personal responsibility:Personal responsibility:–Obedience in holy, reverent Obedience in holy, reverent

living, 1 Peter 1:13-17living, 1 Peter 1:13-17–Abstinence from fleshly lusts; Abstinence from fleshly lusts;

honorable conduct, 2:11-12honorable conduct, 2:11-12–Submission to civil Submission to civil

government, 2:13-17government, 2:13-17–Spousal responsibilities, 3:1-Spousal responsibilities, 3:1-

77–Putting away worldliness, Putting away worldliness,

4:1-34:1-3–Abstaining from idolatry, 4:3Abstaining from idolatry, 4:3–Love and hospitality, 4:8-9Love and hospitality, 4:8-9–Resist the devil, 5:8-9Resist the devil, 5:8-9 8

1 Peter 5:12• Does not condone sin, Does not condone sin, Rom 6:1-2, 15Rom 6:1-2, 15–Grace does not say: “you Grace does not say: “you

will be cleansed and will be cleansed and saved in spite of your saved in spite of your sin”.sin”.–Grace calls us to Grace calls us to

repudiate and repent of repudiate and repent of sin – not let it live in us sin – not let it live in us and reign over us, Rom and reign over us, Rom 6:6, 10-12, 14-156:6, 10-12, 14-15

9

1 Peter 5:12

• ““What about one sin just What about one sin just before I die??” before I die??” – Emotional argument Emotional argument

designed to blunt the force designed to blunt the force of clear truth that sin of clear truth that sin condemns! Rom 6:23condemns! Rom 6:23

– Sin condemns…even one, Sin condemns…even one, Mark 10:21-22 Mark 10:21-22• QuestionQuestion: What sin can you : What sin can you

commit, be unrepentant, commit, be unrepentant, and still be confident of and still be confident of heaven?heaven?

– Hypothetical “what ifs” do Hypothetical “what ifs” do not justify the not justify the ongoing ongoing practicepractice of sin (Col 3:9) of sin (Col 3:9)

10

1 Peter 5:12 • Grace is greater than Grace is greater than our personal sin when our personal sin when we repudiate our sin we repudiate our sin and obey the truth of and obey the truth of GodGod–Confess sin; do not deny Confess sin; do not deny

it, 1 Jno 1:8-10it, 1 Jno 1:8-10–Stop practicing sin and Stop practicing sin and

instead, “practice the instead, “practice the truth”, 1 Jno 1:6-truth”, 1 Jno 1:6-7; Rom 6:1-27; Rom 6:1-2

11

1 Peter 5:12

• Does not allow us to Does not allow us to maintain fellowship with maintain fellowship with false doctrinefalse doctrine– ““Do not be carried away by Do not be carried away by

strange doctrines…be strange doctrines…be established by grace”, Heb established by grace”, Heb 13:913:9

– Different, perverted gospels Different, perverted gospels turn away from grace, Gal turn away from grace, Gal 1:6-91:6-9

– Contend against error…turns Contend against error…turns grace into lewdness, Jude 3-grace into lewdness, Jude 3-44

– Do not have God beyond the Do not have God beyond the doctrine of Christ, 2 Jno 9-11doctrine of Christ, 2 Jno 9-11

12

1 Peter 5:12

• Do not be deceived by Do not be deceived by false concepts of God’s false concepts of God’s grace…grace…–Overlook sinOverlook sin–Minimize importance of Minimize importance of

faithful obediencefaithful obedience–Diminish the value of Diminish the value of

sound doctrinesound doctrine

• The gospel is the word of The gospel is the word of God’s grace, Acts 20:24, God’s grace, Acts 20:24, 3232• BelieveBelieve and and obeyobey the the gospel gospel to stand in the to stand in the true grace of God!true grace of God!

13