What Is God’s Grace? 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 3

>> This is our third session on 1 >> This is our third session on 1 Corinthians 1:4-9. Corinthians 1:4-9. Corinthians 1:4-9. We're going to linger over the term We're going to linger over the term We're going to linger over the term grace of God. grace of God. grace of God. In fact, little In fact, little In fact, little counsel to preachers and Sunday school counsel to preachers and Sunday school counsel to preachers and Sunday school teachers, I suppose, maybe even to moms teachers, I suppose, maybe even to moms teachers, I suppose, maybe even to moms and dads as they teach their kids. When and dads as they teach their kids. When and dads as they teach their kids. When you're working your way through a you're working your way through a you're working your way through a passage or a book like 1 Corinthians, passage or a book like 1 Corinthians, passage or a book like 1 Corinthians, be willing in your exposition be willing in your exposition be willing in your exposition to pause and do topical reflections on to pause and do topical reflections on to pause and do topical reflections on key themes. key themes. key themes. Because if you pass over big phrases Because if you pass over big phrases Because if you pass over big phrases like this too quickly, like this too quickly, like this too quickly, people will not realize the the vastness people will not realize the the vastness people will not realize the the vastness and the depth and the importance of and the depth and the importance of and the depth and the importance of them. That word right there is used 100 them. That word right there is used 100 them. That word right there is used 100 times by Paul. One of his absolute times by Paul. One of his absolute times by Paul. One of his absolute favorites because it is so profound, so favorites because it is so profound, so favorites because it is so profound, so deep. It is the ultimate goal of the deep. It is the ultimate goal of the deep. It is the ultimate goal of the universe according to Ephesians 1:6, universe according to Ephesians 1:6, universe according to Ephesians 1:6, under the praise of the glory of his under the praise of the glory of his under the praise of the glory of his grace. That's what everything is aiming grace. That's what everything is aiming grace. That's what everything is aiming toward. You got to linger. So, we're toward. You got to linger. So, we're toward. You got to linger. So, we're going to linger here for 10 minutes on going to linger here for 10 minutes on going to linger here for 10 minutes on just this theme, and that's what I would just this theme, and that's what I would just this theme, and that's what I would encourage you to do periodically. I encourage you to do periodically. I encourage you to do periodically. I don't buy don't buy don't buy the hard distinction between expository the hard distinction between expository the hard distinction between expository preaching and topical preaching. I like preaching and topical preaching. I like preaching and topical preaching. I like expository topical preaching. I like expository topical preaching. I like expository topical preaching. I like topical expository preaching. I like topical expository preaching. I like topical expository preaching. I like preaching that moves verse by verse, preaching that moves verse by verse, preaching that moves verse by verse, phrase by phrase, word by word, and phrase by phrase, word by word, and phrase by phrase, word by word, and pauses long enough to unfold topics, pauses long enough to unfold topics, pauses long enough to unfold topics, glorious topics so that our people glorious topics so that our people glorious topics so that our people become doctrinally grounded. Okay, become doctrinally grounded. Okay, become doctrinally grounded. Okay, enough on preaching about preaching.

enough on preaching about preaching. enough on preaching about preaching. I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God because of the grace of God because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. that was given you in Christ Jesus. that was given you in Christ Jesus. That in every way you were enriched in That in every way you were enriched in That in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge. him in all speech and all knowledge. him in all speech and all knowledge. We'll just stop right there. Father, as We'll just stop right there. Father, as We'll just stop right there. Father, as we ponder your we ponder your we ponder your glorious glorious glorious grace. Teach us what it is, thrill us grace. Teach us what it is, thrill us grace. Teach us what it is, thrill us with it, build our lives on it, extend with it, build our lives on it, extend with it, build our lives on it, extend it to others through us, I pray, in it to others through us, I pray, in it to others through us, I pray, in Jesus' name. Jesus' name. Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen. So, I'm going to point to three meanings So, I'm going to point to three meanings So, I'm going to point to three meanings of the grace of God of the grace of God of the grace of God that I see in Paul that I see in Paul that I see in Paul from particular texts, and I'll give you from particular texts, and I'll give you from particular texts, and I'll give you the texts so you can think about them. the texts so you can think about them. the texts so you can think about them. The first one is a a disposition The first one is a a disposition The first one is a a disposition and I don't know if that's the best and I don't know if that's the best and I don't know if that's the best word. word. word. Let me try to explain what I mean. A Let me try to explain what I mean. A Let me try to explain what I mean. A disposition in God disposition in God disposition in God to treat to treat to treat sinners sinners sinners guilty people who don't deserve anything guilty people who don't deserve anything guilty people who don't deserve anything good good good disposition in God to treat sinners disposition in God to treat sinners disposition in God to treat sinners better better better than than than we deserve.

we deserve. we deserve. That's number one. Number two, well, That's number one. Number two, well, That's number one. Number two, well, we'll wait until we get there. Here's we'll wait until we get there. Here's we'll wait until we get there. Here's Here's where I see that. Here's where I see that. Here's where I see that. Romans 11. So too, at the present time, there is a So too, at the present time, there is a remnant remnant remnant chosen by grace. chosen by grace. chosen by grace. But if it is by grace But if it is by grace But if it is by grace it is no longer on the basis of works. it is no longer on the basis of works. it is no longer on the basis of works. Otherwise, grace Otherwise, grace Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace, which means would no longer be grace, which means would no longer be grace, which means that if you can earn that if you can earn that if you can earn your standing in the remnant because of your standing in the remnant because of your standing in the remnant because of works, it's not grace anymore. Grace works, it's not grace anymore. Grace works, it's not grace anymore. Grace comes to people who have no hope of comes to people who have no hope of comes to people who have no hope of improving their condition by their own improving their condition by their own improving their condition by their own efforts. We are desperately dependent on efforts. We are desperately dependent on efforts. We are desperately dependent on the freedom of favor that we don't the freedom of favor that we don't the freedom of favor that we don't deserve. That's grace. Or Ephesians 5. deserve. That's grace. Or Ephesians 5. deserve. That's grace. Or Ephesians 5. Ephesians 5. Ephesians 5. Ephesians 5. When we were dead in our trespasses, God When we were dead in our trespasses, God When we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ. And made us alive together with Christ. And made us alive together with Christ. And then right here, he breaks the sentence then right here, he breaks the sentence then right here, he breaks the sentence and he inserts, "By grace you've been and he inserts, "By grace you've been and he inserts, "By grace you've been saved." Precisely because it's the saved." Precisely because it's the saved." Precisely because it's the deadness deadness deadness and the act of God to make us alive and the act of God to make us alive and the act of God to make us alive which makes clear that that act is grace which makes clear that that act is grace which makes clear that that act is grace because dead people can't contribute because dead people can't contribute because dead people can't contribute anything to their resurrection.

anything to their resurrection. anything to their resurrection. That's why it's grace. He keeps going. That's why it's grace. He keeps going. That's why it's grace. He keeps going. "For by grace you have been saved "For by grace you have been saved "For by grace you have been saved through faith. This is not your own through faith. This is not your own through faith. This is not your own doing. It is the gift of God, not a doing. It is the gift of God, not a doing. It is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may result of works, so that no one may result of works, so that no one may boast." So you can see grace here and boast." So you can see grace here and boast." So you can see grace here and grace grace grace here is here is here is God's saving willingness to do for us God's saving willingness to do for us God's saving willingness to do for us what our works, what our works, what our works, our own doing, could never do. And the our own doing, could never do. And the our own doing, could never do. And the result is that we boast in him and not result is that we boast in him and not result is that we boast in him and not in ourselves. in ourselves. in ourselves. Here's a crucial Here's a crucial Here's a crucial one from Romans 3:24. one from Romans 3:24. one from Romans 3:24. "They are justified by his grace "They are justified by his grace "They are justified by his grace as a gift." as a gift." as a gift." Sometimes translated Sometimes translated Sometimes translated >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> "freely." >> "freely." >> "freely." "Through the redemption that is in "Through the redemption that is in "Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Christ Jesus." Christ Jesus." Grace towards sinners always comes Grace towards sinners always comes Grace towards sinners always comes through the redemption that is in Christ through the redemption that is in Christ through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, which is why in our text back Jesus, which is why in our text back Jesus, which is why in our text back here he said, "Because of the grace of here he said, "Because of the grace of here he said, "Because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus."

God that was given you in Christ Jesus." God that was given you in Christ Jesus." It's always in relation to Christ Jesus, It's always in relation to Christ Jesus, It's always in relation to Christ Jesus, in union with Christ Jesus. God doesn't in union with Christ Jesus. God doesn't in union with Christ Jesus. God doesn't strew his grace through the world strew his grace through the world strew his grace through the world without reference to the purchase without reference to the purchase without reference to the purchase of of of Christ by his blood. Christ by his blood. Christ by his blood. One more text on this first definition One more text on this first definition One more text on this first definition of grace. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. Christ. And then he explains what it is. And then he explains what it is. And then he explains what it is. That That That though he was rich though he was rich though he was rich yet for your sake he became poor. yet for your sake he became poor. yet for your sake he became poor. So that you by his So that you by his So that you by his poverty poverty poverty might become rich. might become rich. might become rich. So here we are beggars and utterly So here we are beggars and utterly So here we are beggars and utterly destitute. destitute. destitute. We are both poor in We are both poor in We are both poor in having no resources having no resources having no resources on our own and we are poor in being on our own and we are poor in being on our own and we are poor in being guilty before God and God undertakes guilty before God and God undertakes guilty before God and God undertakes to lay aside his outward to lay aside his outward to lay aside his outward glory glory glory his riches his riches his riches become an incarnate poor teacher become an incarnate poor teacher become an incarnate poor teacher die in our place so that this die in our place so that this die in our place so that this incarnation and this substitution incarnation and this substitution incarnation and this substitution could make us spiritually the children

could make us spiritually the children could make us spiritually the children of God. That's grace. of God. That's grace. of God. That's grace. Here's the second meaning. to do to do what what what he calls us to do. Where do I get that idea? So not just an Where do I get that idea? So not just an inclination in God to treat us better inclination in God to treat us better inclination in God to treat us better than we deserve but actual power in our than we deserve but actual power in our than we deserve but actual power in our lives to bring to pass what he calls us lives to bring to pass what he calls us lives to bring to pass what he calls us to do. By the grace of God By the grace of God I am what I am. I am what I am. I am what I am. And his grace toward me was not in vain, And his grace toward me was not in vain, And his grace toward me was not in vain, but on the contrary, I worked. but on the contrary, I worked. but on the contrary, I worked. His grace produced this. His grace produced this. His grace produced this. I worked harder than any of them, though I worked harder than any of them, though I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, it was not I, it was not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

but the grace of God that was with me. but the grace of God that was with me. This work right here This work right here This work right here was grace. was grace. was grace. The grace of God The grace of God The grace of God powerfully active in the heart and powerfully active in the heart and powerfully active in the heart and muscles of Paul muscles of Paul muscles of Paul enabled him enabled him enabled him to work. And then he says, "It wasn't me to work. And then he says, "It wasn't me to work. And then he says, "It wasn't me working. It was grace working." Or here working. It was grace working." Or here working. It was grace working." Or here it is again in 2 Corinthians 9, it is again in 2 Corinthians 9, it is again in 2 Corinthians 9, "God is able to make all grace "God is able to make all grace "God is able to make all grace abound to you, abound to you, abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all so that having all sufficiency in all so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times you may abound in things at all times you may abound in things at all times you may abound in every good work." every good work." every good work." Grace is power to do the good works Grace is power to do the good works Grace is power to do the good works called called called uh God calls us to do. uh God calls us to do. uh God calls us to do. One more on this tech on this One more on this tech on this One more on this tech on this definition. definition. definition. Three times I pleaded with the Lord Three times I pleaded with the Lord Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this thorn in the flesh that hurt about this thorn in the flesh that hurt about this thorn in the flesh that hurt so bad, so bad, so bad, that it should leave me. that it should leave me. that it should leave me. But he said to me, But he said to me, But he said to me, "My grace "My grace "My grace is sufficient for you.

is sufficient for you. is sufficient for you. My power My power My power is made perfect in weakness." is made perfect in weakness." is made perfect in weakness." Paul will be carried through Paul will be carried through Paul will be carried through this this this suffering, and he will be carried by suffering, and he will be carried by suffering, and he will be carried by grace. grace. grace. The power of God The power of God The power of God to sustain Paul to sustain Paul to sustain Paul against his thorn is grace. against his thorn is grace. against his thorn is grace. And then the third And then the third And then the third definition definition definition of grace in Paul's usage of grace in Paul's usage of grace in Paul's usage is is is the actual gifts gifts He gives. He gives. He gives. God gives. God gives. God gives. I think that's what we see right here, I think that's what we see right here, I think that's what we see right here, but I'll come back to that at the end. but I'll come back to that at the end. but I'll come back to that at the end. Two more verses. Two more verses. Two more verses. Ephesians 3 Ephesians 3 Ephesians 3 verse 8. To me, though I am the very verse 8. To me, though I am the very verse 8. To me, though I am the very least of the saints, least of the saints, least of the saints, this grace this grace this grace was given, was given, was given, namely, namely, namely, to preach to the Gentiles the to preach to the Gentiles the to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. So, unsearchable riches of Christ. So, unsearchable riches of Christ. So, there are specific graces.

there are specific graces. there are specific graces. In this case, it's the grace to preach. In this case, it's the grace to preach. In this case, it's the grace to preach. When Paul preached, he was experiencing When Paul preached, he was experiencing When Paul preached, he was experiencing a gift. a gift. a gift. Sometimes called spiritual gifts, Sometimes called spiritual gifts, Sometimes called spiritual gifts, sometimes called, like here, a grace. sometimes called, like here, a grace. sometimes called, like here, a grace. This grace was given to me. This grace was given to me. This grace was given to me. Or Romans 12:6. Or Romans 12:6. Or Romans 12:6. Having gifts Having gifts Having gifts that differ according to the grace given that differ according to the grace given that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. If prophecy in to us, let us use them. If prophecy in to us, let us use them. If prophecy in proportion to our faith, and so on. proportion to our faith, and so on. proportion to our faith, and so on. So, grace is parceled out in various So, grace is parceled out in various So, grace is parceled out in various measures in the form of measures in the form of measures in the form of spiritual gifts. And now back to our spiritual gifts. And now back to our spiritual gifts. And now back to our text. text. text. I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God because of the grace of God because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ, that was given to you in Christ, that was given to you in Christ, that in every way you were enriched in that in every way you were enriched in that in every way you were enriched in him, and then he spells out the him, and then he spells out the him, and then he spells out the particulars, in all speech and particulars, in all speech and particulars, in all speech and knowledge. He's going to unpack these knowledge. He's going to unpack these knowledge. He's going to unpack these spiritual gifts more over in chapter 12, spiritual gifts more over in chapter 12, spiritual gifts more over in chapter 12, 13, and 14.

13, and 14. 13, and 14. So, I think here uh Paul is speaking So, I think here uh Paul is speaking So, I think here uh Paul is speaking first of first of first of God's disposition that enables him to God's disposition that enables him to God's disposition that enables him to treat the Corinthian sinners better than treat the Corinthian sinners better than treat the Corinthian sinners better than they deserve, and then also they deserve, and then also they deserve, and then also the specific form of that grace as it the specific form of that grace as it the specific form of that grace as it comes to them enriching them in every comes to them enriching them in every comes to them enriching them in every way with these particular spiritual way with these particular spiritual way with these particular spiritual gifts. gifts. gifts. Paul was a lover of the grace of God. Paul was a lover of the grace of God. Paul was a lover of the grace of God. May God make us profoundly conscious May God make us profoundly conscious May God make us profoundly conscious every day. We live by grace. We're saved every day. We live by grace. We're saved every day. We live by grace. We're saved by grace. We do everything we do by grace. We do everything we do by grace. We do everything we do by grace. by grace. by grace. Should make us the humblest and the most Should make us the humblest and the most Should make us the humblest and the most thankful and the most courageous thankful and the most courageous thankful and the most courageous of all people.