Episode 99 - God's Amazing Grace

Of all the gifts God gives us, and the one that is the most important, is God's grace.  In this episode I talk about that gift and how we find eternal hope because of it and through it.

Please join me as I look at this incredible gift.  I published a book about various teachings of Paul. This information about God's grace was part of that book.  If you would like to obtain a copy of this book, please use the link below.  All proceeds from this book go to Bibletalk.TV to help further the gospel of Christ.

https://a.co/d/4ku2Bqn

You can learn more about hope by visiting my web site: https://ourjourneytohope.com

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Transcript

Hello Friends, I’m your host Dr. Dave Laton and thank you for joining me in Our Journey to Hope.

It is my desire through this podcast to bring you information about how to discover, sustain, or perhaps regain hope.  

In this episode I want to share with you some thoughts about God’s Amazing Grace.

 You are probably familiar with the hymn, “Amazing Grace”.  It was written by John Newton and has become one of the most know hymns.  It is common to hear it sung or played at funerals.

Although John Newton was the composer of this inspiring hymn, his spiritual growth took many different turns in his life.  Although he had a religious mother, he chose to live a very worldly lifestyle, including working as a slave trader.  At one time, Newton himself even served as a slave.   

As the story goes, during a storm that nearly sank a slave ship upon which he was serving, Newton recalled his former life and resolved to return to his religious roots.  It was during this storm that Newton credits, as he states in his hymn, “The hour I first believed.” 

 Most hymn books have only four or five stanzas of the hymn.  The original version has thirteen verses.  The first verse, which is not in most hymn books, reads, 

 “In evil long I took delight, unawed by shame or fear; Till a new object met my sight, and stopped my wild career.”

 The Apostle Paul could have written those words.  Paul, like John Newton previously worked to enslave others, in Paul’s case, Christians.  But after encountering Jesus, he changed.  He became one who vigorously defending Christians and taught about freedom found in Jesus.  In his letter to the Romans, Paul refers to his previous life as a life of slavery to sin but by the grace of our Lord, he became a slave to righteousness. 

 I want to look at some of the thoughts Paul has on God’s amazing grace.  

 The word grace is sometimes understood as an expression of beauty and elegance.  It can be used as an expression of granting favor or honor.  But to Paul, it was the expression of ultimate love by God who gave His son so that we could be saved from the consequences of our sin. 

 No other concept is more strongly communicated by Paul than that of grace.  He opens and closes every letter with wishes of God’s grace.  Perhaps this is because it is what he needed the most was and was so wonderfully and graciously given to him.  He also teaches us that we must understand this foundational concept.  For this reason, it is easy to see why Paul, throughout his letters so strongly and consistently prayed for, spoke of, and wished grace for others. Paul could argue that grace is the greatest gift God makes available for us.  

 We see God’s grace from creation.    It was through God’s grace that we were created.  It was through God’s grace that Adam and Eve could live after willfully disobeying God.  It was through God’s grace that he promised a savior (Genesis 3:15).   It is still through God’s grace that today, we have hope in salvation. God did not have to save us, but He did.  That is the nature of grace.

 Paul discovered that Jesus, Himself persecuted to death by those like Paul, was the savior of all who would repent and turn to Him.  In Paul’s case, his intellectual reasoning would not do.  He needed the event on the way to Damascus (Acts 9) that would humble him and show the power of our Lord, and more importantly, God’s loving grace.  He would learn that this grace was available even to those who reject it and work against it.  Paul would spend the rest of his life not only teaching us about God, but also of God’s wisdom, love, and grace.   

Paul was the image of one who expressed God’s grace.  Like Jesus, he even sought to teach and bring to repentance those who sought to harm him.  A great example is found in Ephesians 6 where we see Paul is in captivity.  Notice his attitude starting with verse 18 as he is ending his thoughts on encouraging us to stand firm against Satan.  Paul requests prayers on his behalf, not for his freedom from persecution, but rather that he would have the right words to say and take advantage of the opportunities, even in captivity, to teach God’s word.  He does not pray against his captors but prays that he would say and do the right thing so that even they would have the opportunity to experience God’s grace.  That attitude is an example of God’s grace.

We see Paul’s focus on grace throughout his letter to the Ephesians.  Paul begins the letter encouraging us to praise God.  He does so because God has granted us what he calls, His “glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6).  Later in the letter Paul gives perhaps one of the greatest statements regarding grace and its importance.  In chapter 2:8 Paul states, 

 “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

This letter is originally written to Christians in Ephesus.  It is not written as a lesson on how to be saved.  Paul is reminding the Ephesian Christians of the great gift God has given them and that they (and we by extension) must not turn back to the world and the sin that is such a part of it.   

Sadly, this incredibly insightful verse is misunderstood by many.  Paul is not teaching us that salvation is given only by grace, or even a seemingly magic combination of grace and faith.  To do so is to misunderstand both concepts and how they work together.  In this lesson, we are focusing on grace, but it is important to note that grace, although freely given, must be received.  It is through our faith, shown in our trust in God and willingness to accept His grace and demonstrating that through an active and obedient faith that we are granted salvation offered freely by our Savior.  Yes indeed, we are saved by grace through faith.  And yes indeed, we cannot earn it.  As someone once asked, “How can we earn that which has already been given to us?”  Someone else said, “We do not work for our salvation; we work because of our salvation.” 

I wondered a bit off track there so please allow me to get back to the point.

We stated that Paul opens and ends his letters with grace.  We also see that throughout his letters he continues to teach grace.  Here are a few examples of key verses on grace found in the teachings of Paul: 

 Romans 3:20-24 –Paul is discussing the difference between the works of the Law and righteousness of God seen apart from the Law.  He expresses that the righteousness of God is seen in our faith in Jesus Christ and that all have sinned, but we are justified before God by His grace, through Jesus.  Of special note here is that it is given as a gift from God.  Also note that Paul is writing to Christians, those that have already obeyed the gospel and are now disciples of Jesus.

 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 – Paul is relating how he pleaded with God to remove what he calls a “thorn in the flesh.”  We do not know what the specific request was, but from this verse, we see the strength he was able and we too are to receive from God’s grace.  We see that God’s grace is sufficient to sustain Paul as he continues in his ministry.  In this verse we also see why God did not answer Paul’s prayer, and we learn why we are dependent upon God’s grace.  God answers Paul that it is through Paul’s weakness that God’s power is seen.  It is not by any kind of personal power, superior intellect, or strong personality that made Paul effective, but entirely through God’s power.  That was true for Paul and is even more so for us.   

 Ephesians 4:4-7 – Paul is teaching the importance of maintaining unity.  He gives us the great verse listing seven “ones”.  These are one, body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and God and Father.  He then expresses that we have each been given grace as a gift through Christ. 

 Titus 2:11-14 – Paul is stating that God’s grace brings salvation to all people and teaches us how to live as God’s people. 

 God’s grace is at the heart of Paul’s teachings.  Even when Paul is giving practical lessons on our citizenship in God’s Kingdom, he reminds us that we are granted citizenship through God’s grace, not earned, but through our faithful obedience to His son, Jesus. 

Grace is a wonderful gift, indeed the most precious of all given by God.  Without it, there would be nothing; with it, there is everything; without it, nothing else matters; with it, everything true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise has purpose and merit and is worthy of our thoughts.  

 It is through God’s grace that we can have true and lasting hope.

 Friends, thank you for joining me as together we journey to hope.  I trust in some small way we have encouraged you to discover, sustain, or regain hope through this effort.   

 I invite you to contact me if you have questions or comments, or if you wish to share with me something you’ve experienced in your journey to hope.  My email is info@ourjourneytohope.com.   

 And please, share this podcast with someone whose hope is being challenged.

I look forward to sharing more with you soon.  Again, I'm Dr. Dave Laton, and thank you for listening.  And until our next episode, remember, we give all glory to God our Father.