An Explosion of God’s Grace

Pastor Joe Fuiten, November 24, 2002

 

Scripture Reading:  Romans 5:17-21   Page 798

17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

The biblical comparison between death and grace in the text

            The result of Adam’s sin was death to the human race.  Now, in every generation since then, death has mowed mankind down like a mower cuts the grass.  So Paul describes death as reigning.  The way we say it today is that two things are certain, death and taxes.  Death is the universal reality.

            Here in Romans five, this idea is merely a premise statement for the comparison of what happens to those who receive God’s grace.  If we receive what Jesus Christ, the new Adam, provides we will reign in life.  Jesus Christ, by his one righteous act, his death on the cross, has made life possible for you and me.  This is not ordinary life but, as he says in verse 21, this is eternal life.

            In verse 20 Paul utters a most important concept.  Where sin increases, grace increases to match it and more.  There will never be a shortage of grace no matter how terrible things get in the world.  No matter what evil schemes the devil may plan the Lord has an “abundant provision” of grace to meet the need with more grace left over.

            I love the way the King James Version describes it in Isaiah 59:19b  “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”  There may be floods of evil, but God always has a superior banner that reigns in life.

 

            People underestimate the grace of God.  Somebody got stated the definition of grace as the unmerited favor of God which it is.  If you are a sinner here today who has done wrong, you will be very glad to know that you have not earned God’s grace, but he gives it to you even though you don’t merit it.  We don’t deserve it, but he still gives us his grace and covers our sins.

            Grace is far more than unmerited favor.  All the activity of God’s work is by grace.  The gifts of the Spirit have often been called the gifts of his grace because it is the Spirit that works in each life to get things done.  “But those in the state of grace do it through being moved by the in-working of the Spirit.”[1]

            When Cyprian was preaching on this subject he wanted his congregation to understand that grace could increase.  It was not static.  He laid out a couple of conditions, namely faithfulness to God and faith in God, but he saw grace as without limit.

 

But if you keep the way of innocence, the way of righteousness, if you walk with a firm and steady step, if, depending on God with your whole strength and with your whole heart, you only be what you have begun to be, liberty and power to do is given you in proportion to the increase of your spiritual grace.  For there is not, as is the case with earthly benefits, any measure or stint in the dispensing of the heavenly gift.  The Spirit freely flowing forth is restrained by no limits, is checked by no closed barriers within certain bounded spaces; it flows perpetually, it is exuberant in its affluence.  Let our heart only be athirst, and be ready to receive:  in the degree in which we bring to it a capacious faith, in that measure we draw from it an overflowing grace.[2]

 

            This is also God’s message for Cedar Park today.  There is no limit to God’s grace.  Certainly evil has nothing to do with it except to set the level below which grace cannot go.  I mean, grace will always be greater than evil.  If evil increases, so will grace.  God will see to it so his word can always be true.

           

God’s grace in Seattle today

I told you last week that I believed God was going to give us an abundant provision of his grace.  This is what I believe he is doing right now.

            Russ Heppner shared a wonderful story at the prayer meeting last night.  I would like to ask him to come and share that with us this morning.  If God is at work among the skaters, then God is truly giving his grace.

            Last week we finished signing the papers to purchase the five acres in Totem Lake.  It will close in a few days.  On Friday, my father brought in a check that had been given him by one of the families in the church.  It was a check for $25,000.  We are always thrilled by such a large donation.  This one meant a lot more than just money.  It was money designated for the Totem Lake property.  Almost immediately the Lord showed me that this was his blessing.  This was not just money.  This was grace money.  This wasn’t just money to pay a bill.  This was money to expand.  We were to take more land.  The enemy might like us to have less, but God’s grace is giving us more.  When I understood what was happening I was so spiritually charged up I had to go to the Chapel and shout for half an hour and rejoice in what God was doing.

            This past week we had the opportunity to lead people to Jesus.  People were born again this week and came into the kingdom of God.

            I can appreciate what John the Baptist said in John 1:14-17.

 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.(NIV)

 

            Here is why I believe we are in for an explosion of grace.  The fullness of his grace is the source of one blessing after another.  We are experiencing a resurgence of evil.  God’s grace will always be greater than evil.  It just naturally follows that there are a lot more good things to happen.  All we need to do is join the battle and reap the harvest.

 

            In the days when the sun never set on the British Empire and they ruled the world, they had a custom when their troops went off to war.  The entire unit would gather in the local church before setting sail to their distant battles.  They would sit shoulder to shoulder in their bright red uniforms.  In those days, the King and Queen called themselves “Defender of the Faith” and their troops represented them.  They would sing and worship and hear the preaching of the word.  Having been strengthened by the Lord, they would set out to their respective tasks.

            I see God’s strong ones gathering here.  We sit shoulder to shoulder.  We worship and hear the preaching of the word.  From here we go out to conquer the world.  If God’s grace is upon us, shouldn’t we raise rather than lower our sights.  A second threatening bible must mean a double blessing.[3]  (Maybe I am making too much of this, but I would note that our girls varsity soccer team won state again yesterday defeating Bellevue Christian and Archbishop Murphy.  I felt bad for the other teams, this is either great grace or I am lying, but I took it as another blessing)

            I think about our four school campuses and I say great grace be upon you in your work.  I think about our branch churches and I say great grace be upon you.  May God’s grace allow you to prosper and may there be many more in the years ahead. You that work in Sunday School and youth work, may God’s grace be upon you.  May people be saved and brought into God’s kingdom. For you that labor to strengthen families and marriages, may God’s grace explode so homes and lives are healed and renewed.  To each of you who work as counselors, may God’s grace give you wisdom so that wounded souls are healed.

            There is grace today according to the needs.  For every bit of evil there is even more grace.  Where sin increases, grace increases even more.


[1] Homily XIV. Romans 8:12,13  St. John Chrysostom

[2] Hippolytus, “The Epistles of Cyprian”, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Alexander Roberts, D.D., and James Donaldson, LL.D., eds., (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson), Vol. 5, pg. 276.

[3] Last week a second bible was left with occultic curses expressed upon it.