THE IMPORTANCE OF GRACE Part 3

God’s mercy and justice. Why not take the concept one step farther why can’t God just offer amnesty? " If God offers us amnesty instead of justice, it would undermine the entire social and moral order.

"How much restraint can we expect people to observe if they are exempt from satisfying God’s requirements in any way? " Just as God has bound Himself to consistency in the laws of nature, He must also be consistent with the application of moral law.

God HAS to extend both grace and mercy in ways that are consistent with His justice. Romans 3:19-31

God’s mercy and justice. Why not take the concept one step farther why can’t God just offer amnesty?

Our need for justification What is justification, and why should we be interested in it? In order for us to be justified, what do we need? Mercy? Is that enough? Paul wrote that we have been “justified freely by His grace…” Let’s look further into Romans 3:24.

“…justified freely…” The thought begins in v. 22: “There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His grace THROUGH the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” So that’s the full thought, but let’s center in on v 24

“…and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” “…justified freely…” Neatly sandwiched in between “justified” and “by His grace” is the adverb “freely”. “The word literally means “gratuitously”, or “without a cause”.

“…justified freely…” This is where the problem usually comes many people understand from this phrase that our salvation is a free gift there is nothing we need to do God has done it all. But that passage is not saying our justification or salvation itself is free but the statement is QUALIFIED BY through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. it has been made freely available

“…justified freely…” Back in Ephesians 2:4-10; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” Back to the word “grace” (charis) – it means “gift”.

The word “grace” “…justified freely” Grace – a summary It’s God giving us something we don’t deserve – eternal life. Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve – eternal damnation.

Taking all the verses where "charis" occurs, and viewing grace in its broadest meaning, the following statement can be made regarding Grace. The Grace of God is the time that God has shed forth all of His mercy and favour extended to us a period of time, by which we have opportunity to redeem ourselves from our sins.

This time period is given so that we might be redeemed from our debt of sin. Our debt is due, yet God extends the payment period to allow us to obtain redemption If we do NOT redeem ourselves within our lifetime, by taking advantage of God's grace, then we shall suffer the consequences - eternal life in hell.

We see this principle used in modern banking. Our loan is a debt that is due every month. The day arrives, and we do not have the means to pay off that debt. The bank extends to us a short period of time in which we can redeem our debt without suffering any consequences. If we do not redeem that debt within this "grace period," then we shall suffer the consequences.

God has granted to each of us time. Time in which we can redeem ourselves from our debt of sin. God has given His Son as the means by which we might redeem ourselves (cf. John 3:16).

Two circumstances will govern our own period of Grace. The first circumstance is our lifetime. We do not know how long we shall live. God gives to all men opportunities to know His will, and to obey the gospel.

The second circumstance is the RETURN of Christ. If we are alive then, and have not yet taken advantage of this Grace, then it will be too late. That will be the end of Grace for all time. There will be no more time extended for us to be redeemed by God's Grace. Peter expresses this nature of Grace when he penned the following words:

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.“ (2 Peter 3:9).

Yet, if we fail to do this, then we only have a fearful expectation when we stand before God in judgement.

Paul gives a similar warning to those who heard him in Athens (Acts 17:30- 31). Paul warned that a time would come when men would have to face the consequences of their sins. God commands us to repent, now, and not delay.

That day will come when Christ will return and judge the world. That day will end this period of Grace. THE GRACE OF GOD IS WHAT WE RECEIVE THROUGH CHRIST What is Grace? That is the real question. We can define the meaning of Grace, yet never really know what Grace actually consist of.

We KNOW that it is the favour of God. We KNOW that it is something that we have not deserved. We KNOW that it possesses the opportunities for our salvation and redemption from sin. We NEED to KNOW what Grace embraces. (what is involved in God's Grace)

Without Christ Jesus, we would NOT have access to the Grace of God. The Grace of God comes THROUGH Jesus Christ and the sacrifice that He made on the cross.

Without HIS sacrifice who could ever know or receive the Grace of God. A fact that all agree on is that we cannot by ourselves or through our own means obtain the favour of God.