THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD

Intro.
1. Christians stand in the true grace of God - Rom. 5:1-2; 1 Pet. 5:12.
2. There are false views of the grace of God:
  a. Irresistible & selectively applied (Calvinism).
  b. Continuous cleansing (neo-Calvinism) - Cleansed even as we sin. This view of grace tends to minimize doctrinal correctness while championing unity in doctrinal diversity. (Applied in mdr, morality, denominationalism…)
3. What is the true grace of God? How does standing in grace affect our lives?
4. A scriptural framework in which to understand & be blessed by the "true grace of God."

I. THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD IS UNIVERSALLY AVAILABLE, BUT NOT UNIVERSALLY RECEIVED - Titus 2:11; Rom. 5:15 (12).

II. THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD IS ACCESSED THROUGH CHRIST BY FAITH - Rom. 5:1-2; Eph. 2:8.

III. THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD TEACHES US TO OBEY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST - Titus 2:11-12.
· Cf. Noah (grace, faith, obedience) - Gen. 6:8-9, 14, 22; Heb. 11:7.
· 1 Pet. 5:12 - The "true grace of God" includes…
-Obedience in holy living - 1:13-16.                 -Abstinence from fleshly lusts - 2:11-12.
-Submitting to civil government - 2:13-17.       -Spousal responsibilities - 3:1-7.
-Putting away worldliness - 4:1-3.                    -Abstaining from idolatry - 4:3.
-Fervent love for one another - 4:8.                  -Hospitality - 4:9.

IV. THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD DOES NOT TOLERATE SIN -- Rom. 6:1-2, 15.
· Grace does not say, "in spite of your sin you will be cleansed & saved."
· Grace calls us to repudiate & repent of sin - not let it live in us & reign over us - Rom. 6:11-12.
· "What about one sin just before I die??"
-Sin condemns……even one - Mk. 10:21.
-Hypothetical "what ifs" do not justify an ongoing practice of sin (Col. 3:9).
-Grace is greater than sin when we repudiate sin! - 1 Jno. 1:8-9.

V. THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD DOES NOT MAINTAIN FELLOWSHIP WITH FALSE DOCTRINE - Heb. 13:9; Gal. 1:6-9; Jude 3-4; 2 Jno. 9-11.

Conclusion
1. Do not be deceived by concepts of God's grace which overlook sin & minimize the importance of faithful obedience & sound doctrine.
2. Acts 20:24, 32 - The gospel is the word of God's grace. In order to stand in grace one must believe & obey the gospel!