Category Archives: Grace

Ruth 2 – Grace, given and received (sermon notes)

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[Notes of a sermon preached in April, 2018]

‘As it turned out’ (v3) becomes a story of God’s grace, given and received.

1. Grace given by Boaz, who has

(a) unique integrity

This is seen from his first words to his last, from his first action to his last.  From Judges 17 on, the only man with real integrity.

(b) God’s heart for the stranger

v5 – “Whose young woman is that?”  v12 – “the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take shelter.”…

Quotes on grace

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‘Grace is getting what we don’t deserve.  Mercy is not getting what we do deserve.’ (Anon)

‘We were born broken.  It is the grace of God that mends us.’

‘Grace does not destroy nature, it perfects it.’ (Thomas Aquinas)

I am not what I might be,
I am not what I ought to be,
I am not what I wish to be,
I am not what I hope to be;
But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, ‘By the grace of God I am what I am.’…

Grace underpins every aspect of redemption

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Grace undergirds

(1) the doctrine of election to life. Paul wrote concerning the core of believing Jews, “there is a remnant chosen by grace” (kat eklogen charitos, Rom 11:5; cf. Eph 1:4–6).

(2) The doctrine of effectual calling. Concerning his life-transforming encounter with Christ near Damascus, the apostle wrote, “God … called me by his grace” (Gal 1:15).

(3) The doctrine of faith. Luke described disciples in Achaia as “those who by grace had believed” (Acts 18:27).…

10 flavours of works-based salvation

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What are some of the different ways in which we imagine that we can commend ourselves to God and merit our salvation?

1. The Work of Philanthropy

“I’m going to give money.  I’m going to help the needy.”

2. The Work of Service

“I’m going to volunteer.  I’m going to give my time, my skill, my expertise.  I’m going to get my hands dirty.”

3. The Work of Ritual

“I’m going to be committed to confession, communion, prayers, church attendance.”…

My life story

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I am not what I was, Ephesians 2:2-12

I am not what I shall be, 1 John 3:2

I am not what I should be, Ephesians 4:1

I am not what I desire to be, Philippians 3:12f

But, by the grace of God, I am what I am, 1 Corinthians 15:10

(Pickering, 1,000 Subjects, slightly adapted)…

Grace

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Hendriksen (New Testament Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:1) summarises the various shades of meaning of this great word:-

  1. A quality or attribute of God or of the Lord Jesus Christ: his kindness. In this connection 2 Cor. 8:9 is often referred to: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (However, in connection with this passage, meaning (b) might also be considered.)
  2. The favor toward his people which results from this kindness of disposition and which manifests itself a.
…

The grace of law

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Many members of the Galatian church, and many professing Christians since, have supposed that sinners are saved by their own best efforts, by keeping the law of Moses as promulgated in the Sinai covenant.

As Paul insists in Galatians 3 and 4, this is a fatal error, because it undermines the gospel of God’s free grace.

David Murray shows how the Sinai covenant is, in face, ‘a revelation of Jesus and his gracious salvation.’  Like this:-

  1. ‘The Sinai covenant painted pictures of grace.
…

Growing in grace

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See 2 Pet 3:18

‘The saints are not only compared to stars for their light, but to trees for their growth’ (Watson), Isa 61:3, ‘They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.’ Hos 14:5f. ‘Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.’

Christian growth is organic, and needs therefore to be both nourished and exercised.…

The Throne of Grace

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Some very short notes on the first few sermons from a series preached by Robert Traill (1642-1716).

Text: Heb 4:16

Sermon 1

Q. Where is God to be found (cf Job 23:3)? Ans. On a throne of grace: this the antitype of the mercy seat, Heb 4:4ff, which was characterised by (a) limited access; (b) solemn atonement, Lev 16:12ff; (c) communion with God, Ex 25:17ff.

Doctrine: God in the gospel sits on a throne of grace, and from it calls and invites sinners to come to him.…