GRACE NOT SO AMAZING
Kevin D. Paulson
Few hymns stir the heart of the Christian quite so powerfully as the lyrics of John Newton’s “Amazing Grace.”
Once a coarse, cruel slave trader, Newton penned these lines from the depths of a penitent and broken heart:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I’m found.
Was blind, but now I see.
Some years ago, I read and analyzed a bestselling book on the subject of God’s grace. Because of the book’s popularity and growing influence, I was advised by a friend to read and write a review of it, which I did.
I won’t mention the book’s title or author, for various reasons.
But I will say this book represented, for me, evidence of serious and tragic decline in the Biblical faithfulness of mainstream evangelical Christianity.
The book uses such phrases as the following to describe the grace of God with reference to human beings:
Unconditional grace
Unconditional forgiveness
No strings attached
At one point, early in the book, the author declares, “I would rather convey grace than explain it.”
But unless we permit the Bible to explain what God’s grace is, we won’t be able to convey it.
- Grace in the Bible
So what does the Bible say about divine grace?
Ex. 34:6-7:
"The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth,
"Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty."
John 1:14:
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
Rom. 5:20:
"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."
Rom. 3:24:
"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Eph. 1:7:
“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."
But praise God, the Biblical doctrine of grace doesn’t stop with forgiveness!
You know, some folks are really good at asking for forgiveness!
Like the abusive husband who keeps begging his wife to give him still another chance.
Like the child who squanders a parent’s trust over and over again, yet continues to ask for more.
Like the pastor or evangelist who gets caught in a grievous sin, yet keeps right on committing it, declaring himself “under the blood of Jesus.”
Now God’s forgiveness is a wonderful thing, folks!
I wouldn’t be standing here tonight if it weren’t for God’s forgiveness!
But what we’re going to see in Scripture tonight is that God’s grace and God’s salvation go way beyond forgiveness.
Now let’s look at what I call “the other half of grace,” the half too many who speak so often of God’s grace just now, have neglected so direly.
II Cor. 9:8:
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
II Cor. 12:8-9:
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Too much of the grace-talk in the church these days is all forgiveness and no power!
II Tim. 2:1:
"Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
Titus 2:11-12:
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
"Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."
Heb. 4:15-16:
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Heb. 12:28:
"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."
Here we see the other half of grace, which few contemporary Christians speak about.
Last night we studied the verse that says:
Rom. 6:14:
“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
We learned that to not be under the law means to no longer be under the law’s condemnation. But we are still, as grace-filled Christians, under the law’s authority.
In the verses we have thus far considered tonight, we can see how God’s grace not only forgives, but imparts power for victory also.
That’s why Paul says in another passage:
Gal. 5:18:
“If ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”
He goes on to describe the fruits of the Spirit in the Christian life:
Gal. 5:22-23:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
“Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
In other words, when we are filled with God’s Spirit, we are obedient to the divine law, and therefore no longer under its condemnation.
That’s why Paul declares elsewhere:
Rom. 8:4:
“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
- The Conditions for Receiving God’s Forgiveness
Now we’re going to look for a moment at the Biblical conditions for receiving God’s forgiveness. We spoke earlier of a popular Christian author who writes of what he calls “God’s unconditional grace and forgiveness.”
Is this Biblical?
Let’s look at the evidence:
In describing the one who receives God’s forgiveness, the apostle Paul quotes from the Old Testament:
Rom. 4:7-8:
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
Now let’s look at the verses Paul is quoting from:
Psalm 32:1-2:
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is covered.
“Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”
Notice how Paul uses the Old Testament as the basis for his salvation theology. It isn’t the first time.
Rom. 1:17:
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Where is he getting this from?
Hab. 2:4:
“The just shall live by his faith.”
Paul declared to Timothy:
II Tim. 3:15-16:
“From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
So I really have trouble when people start calling themselves “New Testament Christians.”
What were the only Scriptures Timothy was taught from his childhood? Obviously the Old Testament. The New Testament hadn’t been written yet.
So what does the psalmist mean when he says those whose sins are covered by the Lord, to whom God will not impute iniquity, are those “in whose spirit there is no guile” (Psalm 32:2)?
What does it mean to have a guileless spirit?
I Peter 2:21-22:
“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps.
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.”
Rev. 14:5:
“And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
So when the psalmist says a guileless spirit is necessary in order for us to receive God’s forgiveness, he means we have to both confess and forsake our sins.
First we have to admit we are sinners, because we have transgressed the divine law.
Then, through His power and by His grace, we are to renounce and forsake our sins.
II Chron. 7:14:
“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and heal their land.”
Prov. 28:13:
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Isa. 55:7:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
Matt. 6:14-15:
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
I John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- The Conditions for Gaining Eternal Life
Two men, during the ministry of our Lord, approached Him with the most momentous question ever to cross human lips.
One of these was the rich young ruler.
Matt. 19:16-17:
“And behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
“And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good; there is none good but One, that is God; but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Luke 10:25-28:
“And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
“He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
“And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live.”
Rom. 8:13:
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
But notice carefully how this happens. “Through the Spirit.”
Not in our own strength.
When we try in our own strength to obey the law, that is what Paul is speaking of when he says we are not saved by works (Rom. 3:20,28; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9).
Jesus drew the same contrast when, after the rich young ruler went away sorrowfully, the disciples were a bit confused.
Matt. 19:25-26:
“When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Two verses summarize the gospel in a nutshell:
John 15:5:
“Without Me ye can do nothing.”
Phil. 4:13:
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
IV. Conclusion
Years ago, some of us remember a certain Governor of Alabama by the name of George Corley Wallace. What many do not know is how the once-bitter segregationist experienced the power of God’s transforming grace.
Sometime after the1972 assassination attempt in Laurel, MD, which crippled the Governor for life, he paid an unexpected visit to the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where Martin Luther King Jr. had once served as pastor.
A service was in progress as the Governor entered the church door in his wheelchair.
The service abruptly stopped. It isn’t difficult to imagine the emotions of those present as Governor Wallace made his way toward the front.
Asking the pastor if he could say a word, he turned his wheelchair around, and addressed the congregation. He spoke of the pain he had endured since the attempt on his life, and how it had given him occasion for thoughtful reflection. He acknowledged how he knew he had caused similar pain, and indeed much more, to African-Americans and many others.
And he asked their forgiveness.
As he wheeled his way down the aisle toward the door, the choir arose spontaneously and began to sing:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see!
Maybe there are some here tonight who think they are too wretched for God to save.
Think of Governor Wallace.
Think of wicked King Manasseh in the Bible, who filled Jerusalem with innocent blood . . .
God is not only able to forgive the vilest of sinners. He is able to change them also.