Lesson 139

Romans Chapter Eleven

The Faithfulness of God

 Israel’s Future  

 

The Doctrine of Grace (cont’d)

 

c.   Grace is the motivational principle for Christian living!

Understanding that the grace provision being in Christ is the foun­tain from which divine good production is to flow as we  walk by faith and have impact for Christ.

 

2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.   (divine operating resources that are ours in Christ)

 

1 Corinthians 15:9-11 We see here what Paul's life was based on,  to what he credits everything in his life.   God's Grace!!

- This passage point's out 3 important things here.

1. It was grace that had saved and transformed Paul.  "By the grace of God I am what I am.." 

 

 

2. It was grace that motivated Paul. "but I labored even more than all of them," 

 

 

3. It was the grace of God that  that enabled him to minister. "yet not I, but the grace of God with me."

 

Titus 2:12 teaches us that God’s grace in Christ is the dynamic means of instruc­tion and motivation for the Christian life.

 

Romans 12:1 we are to be motivated by what God has provided through Christ and His work on the Cross.

 

Ephesians 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

 

 

d.  Grace is to characterize the way of life for the believer in the Church age. 

The biblical liberty or the freedom we have in Christ under grace does not promote license but provides the motive and enablement for godly living according to the law of Christ (Rom 8:2) and for the glory of God and the love of others.

 

 

There are rules and imperatives that God lays out in Scripture that He expects us to live by, that are a part of the law of Christ and we live them out as we're being conformed to the image of Christ not as a means of merit, or on the basis of merit but as a response to God’s faithful grace provision.

 

True obedience is a response not action that is coerced and is not works.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Romans 6:14  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.  (as a way of life)

Romans 8:1-5

Titus 2:12-14 

Romans 12:1-2

 

As Titus 2:12-14 and Romans 12:1-2 (both) teach us, that God’s grace in Christ provides us what is necessary so that we're able to the deny the wrong things in life  (by the strength of God’s grace, that is His provision)  and to live out in obedi­ence the truths of God's word as our thinking is being renewed. 

- grace provides us the framework for our life in all aspects in Christ.

 

It be­comes quite evident from this that grace never means the right to unbridled living or doing as one pleases because we stand in the grace of God.

Romans 5:20–6:1 

Ryrie puts it this way, “The final cause of the revelation of the grace of God in Christ is not by creed, but character  (would add that is the character of Christ lived out)

 

e.  Grace glorifies God because it reveals God’s person, His glory and excellence. 

God’s gracious salvation and work for man in Christ is to the “praise of the glory of His grace.”  (Eph. 1:6,12,14)

 

Romans 4:1-5

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

 

2 Peter 1:2-4

 

 

 

f.   Grace guarantees the believer’s salvation. It makes it impossible for any man to get out of the plan of God from the standpoint of his position in Christ.   Why? Because salvation depends on the character and work of God in Christ and not on man’s record or works.  Romans 8:33-39

 

Believers will be judged or examined for their works for rewards, but not as a basis of salvation.  1 Corinthians 3:12-15

 

 

Unbelievers will be judged on the basis of their works at the Great White Throne Judgment, but they are only at this judgment because they have rejected the grace work for them of Christ at Calvary.