Our Sunday Message

What's So Amazing About Grace?: Ephesians 2:8-10, John 1:16
Pastor Charlie Chilton
February 17, 2008
Second Sunday in Lent

  Introduction – Would you please take your hymnal and turn to #330 – “Amazing Grace.” Let us read it together in unison. Sometimes in reading a hymn-poem it sounds different and gives us a new insight. (All read) Thank you! This is an unusual song and occupies a unique place in American life. It is the only song to be #1 on the “Top 40” chart (secular) and “Christian Music” at the same time by the artist Judy Collins. It is used on many different programs by many people who have no idea what it means. It is a simple word that means undeserved or unsought favor, unexpected favor, unconditional love. It is a love that expects nothing in return! May you have seen the acrostic: GRACE? It stands for GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE. I think it fair to say that it is the only New Testament word that has not been corrupted by time. So I question today with the title: “What’s so Amazing about Grace?”
   1. Grace – God’s answer to man’s religion or no religion. Religion seems to be about keeping people away from God! Man wants to save himself. Religion is his way of trying to do that. Man wants to play God or be his own God. Religion is about “do it yourself” and then concluding “my way is the best way.” Religion is about legalisms. It is about rules. If you meet the rules laid down for you then you are allowed into an “exclusive club.” Religion is about keeping people out. If they are not like you and not willing to follow your rules, you simply exclude them. Then you can erect barriers and check the cards of all who would enter to see if they measure up. This is rigidly enforced even though the Bible clearly says in Acts 10:15, “Do no call anything unclean that God has made clean.” I am reminded of a department store sale that had a large table as you entered the front door with a bold sign inscribed “Slightly soiled; greatly reduced in price.” If you are not good, you are not welcomed here. That is the word from religion. Religion is the only place where they shoot the wounded. There is no mercy if you don’t measure up to the expectations. The only thing you are guaranteed from religion is that you will be disappointed; if not today, then someday. Here I sound the alert! Here I tell you that Christianity is not a religion. Here I tell you that grace is unique to Christianity. You cannot find it in another religion in the world. Grace is a revealed truth from God. Grace is a gift revealed by God and given only by God. It is indeed God’s answer to man’s religion or his lack of any religion beyond self-worship.
   2. Biblical examples of grace: Let us return to the song for a moment. The author was John Milton. He was a slave trader. He dealt in human bodies. His was a most despicable way of life. He hated himself and was despised by most. He was successful and well to do. Hear the first verse again of his testimony; “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.” The day came when this man was introduced to Jesus Christ and Jesus forgave him of everything in his rotten life and changed him and made him a new person. He walked the rest of his life in amazement of that event. This is the specialty to Jesus. He helps people who have tried to help themselves, with or without religion and give them a new life. A new reason to get up in the morning. The Bible is full of examples of God’s grace through Jesus Christ and how we can join that experience. In Luke 14:25 there is the story about the banquet table. The Lord of the banquet has invited many to come and they all say “No thanks.” They are all nice people in the city but they all say “No thank you.” At this the Master becomes angry and says “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” That is, bring in all the folks that are defective and have no right to be here and could never come here based on their own strength to change their situation and become “presentable.” Then there is the story from Luke 15 of the so-called “prodigal son.” He is an outcast, he is messed up, he has disappointed his family, he has broken his father’s heart. But one day, at the end of his rope, staring starvation in the face, he “comes to himself” and says “I will go to my father. I will tell him how worthless I am” but, amazingly, when he got back home his father met him and forgave him and gave him full status in the family again. Ignoring all the wasted years he was away. Amazing grace, indeed! Then there is Mark 5:25 telling us about a woman who had nothing to smile about for twelve years. For twelve years she had been hemmoraging. For twelve years she had not been able to go to church and not able to tell anyone why not. For twelve years she had been in isolation with her misery and no one bothered. Then she saw Jesus and developed quickly a desparate plan and slipped up close to Jesus in the crowd and touched His robe. She was healed immediately. The pain in her stomach was gone and the pain in her heart was gone. She heard Jesus say, “Go in peace and be free from suffering.” It did not cost her a dime. She had been spending money for years looking for help and found it from God who heals for free. Or Mark 5:23 tells the story of the synagogue ruler, whose name was Jairus. He had an only daughter. She was twelve years old. She had died. The light of his life had died. Religion could not ease his grief but Jesus took the little corpse by the hand and gave her back her life. An amazing turn of events! Or Mark 7:24 relates the event in the lifeof the Syrophenician woman. A foreigner! An immigrant! Disliked by the majority. Her daughter was demon possessed. Jesus observed that her situation in that place was being a “dog,” not worthy of His time and concern. Her reply was that even dogs could expect crumbs. Jesus surprised all of the onlookers by healing the little girl! Jesus touched all that were untouchable by religion. Where religion ended was where Jesus began. Grace is unique to Christianity. Grace can only be found at the feet of Jesus and be received at the feet of Jesus. You see, all of these people that I have mentioned could well complain “Its not fair.” Its not fair that my child is sick, that my son is a rebel, that I have an incurable disease, that I am a foreigner!! Life is not fair! But I don’t want fair. I want grace. Grace can overcome any situation that is not fair. Give me grace!
  Conclusion: The secret word today is accessibility. It has to do with access to God and I have that through Jesus Christ. Read Hebrews 4:14-16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 10:19-22 agrees. One of the great pictures ever taken at the White House in Washington, D.C. was taken during the presidency of the late President John F. Kennedy. The President was holding a meeting in the Oval Office. The heads of the five most powerful nations in the world were in attendance. But there, under the desk of the President, was his son “John-John.” He had access to his father at all times, regardless of who else might be present. II Corinthians 9:8 proclaims “God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things at all times you will have all you need.” God’s offer to you today in the words of II Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you.”