GRACE
DR. JIM DIXON
EPHESIANS 2:1-9
NOVEMBER 27, 1994
Max Lucado pastors a church in San Antonio, Texas. He is also the author of many fine books. One hot summer afternoon, a few years ago in Texas, Max Lucado was sitting under an oak tree reading a book. He was feeling pretty good as just a short distance away, a few feet away, his daughters were selling lemonade. They had made a little sign that read, “Lemonade, 5 cents.” Some of the letters were uppercase; some of the letters were lowercase. They were various sizes, but it got the job done. People could see the sign and stopped by to get lemonade. Seven people had come by so far that afternoon to buy lemonade. Max knew each of them because he had set the whole deal up. He had invited the neighbors to come and buy lemonade. He wanted his daughters to learn about free enterprise. His oldest daughter was six years old, and she was the cashier. She was receiving the nickels, and they had 35 cents so far. The youngest daughter was four years old. She was serving as the hostess, putting ice in the paper cups and pouring the lemonade.
Max was sitting there under the old tree, flipping the pages of a book, and feeling pretty good. Suddenly he heard a voice that was not familiar to him. A man said, “I’d like to buy a cup of lemonade, please.” Max looked up and saw that this was a man he did not know. This was a real customer. He had come into the neighborhood, saw the lemonade stand, and wanted to buy some lemonade. Max was kind of anxious to see how his daughters would do.
His youngest daughter immediately reached for a dirty cup. Max, not being too far away, whispered, “Get a clean cup.” And she did. The customer heard this and smiled. Then Max’s daughter reached for the ice to put it in the cup. There was no more ice. The customer noticed this, smiled, and said, “That’s okay. I like warm lemonade.” Then the youngest daughter began to pour the lemonade in the cup. Having filled seven cups already, the pitcher of lemonade was very low. It filled a third of the cup, and what did go in was kind of sugary and thick. The customer smiled and said, “That’s okay. That’s how I like it, and that’s plenty.”
He then gave the girls a dollar bill. As they only had seven nickels, 35 cents, they could not give the man any change. Max stood up and checked his pockets; he did not have any change either. The customer could see what was going on. He smiled again and said, “No problem. You can keep the change.” He told the two girls what a great job they were doing. Then he got in his car and drove off. While Max intended the afternoon to be a lesson in free enterprise, he realized what really happened was a lesson in grace.
We all need lessons in grace, and grace is our subject this morning. Grace is perhaps the most beautiful word in the English language. It is used hundreds of times in the Bible and is at the very heart of the gospel. This morning we have four teachings from scripture related to grace. The first is very brief. The Bible tells us the word grace means gift. Grace means gift. You have often heard that grace means unmerited favor, and that is true. Grace does mean unmerited favor, which is what a gift is. It is unmerited favor. If you have earned it, it is not a gift. A gift is grace. The Greek word used in the Bible that is translated grace means gift.
You have probably not heard of Euphrosyne, Aglaia, and Thalia. These three women in Greek mythology were the daughters of Zeus. They were called the Graces in Greek mythology because they gave gifts. It was believed that the Graces made women beautiful and the men handsome. The Graces gave talents and skills and abilities to people at birth. The graces gave gifts. Gift is what the word grace means. Gift is what the word “charis” means. The Bible tells us God has given gifts. God has shown favor.
Worldwide, theologians speak of a kind of common grace. There is a common grace. There is a sense in which God has shown grace on everyone. Life is a gift. Life is a manifestation of grace, and to people the world over, God has given gifts and abilities, skills and talents. They are all grace. God has given gifts to all people.
There is a second teaching this morning, and it is far more important. The Bible tells us that God reserves His best gifts for His children. God’s greatest grace is reserved, set apart, for His children. November 18th was Drew’s birthday; he turned 17. On November 18th there were 15 million people in the world who had their birthday, but we only bought a gift for Drew. The reason is that we favor Drew. We favor Drew, and we favor Heather. We favor our children because they are our children. We show favor to them, and we give special gifts to them. Through the years, not just on their birthdays, we have given many gifts to Drew and Heather. Now that Heather is in college and Drew is about to go to college, we are realizing that these gifts are getting bigger. But we do not mind because we have grace toward them. We favor them. We want to give gifts to them.
God is like that, too. God gives His greatest gifts to His children. Someone might say, “Everybody is a child of God.” But theologically speaking, the Bible says that is not so. John 1:12 says, “But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God.” When we receive God’s Son, Jesus Christ, when we embrace Him, when we accept Him as Lord and Savior of our lives, when we invite Him to come and be our Lord and Savior, we become God’s children, sons and daughters of God; and we receive the greater gifts, the greater expressions of grace. We receive forgiveness of sin. We receive salvation. We receive everlasting life. These are the great gifts God gives to His children. Through the gospel, God invites the world to become His children.
There is a tragic story that came out of the events of Vietnam. This happened years ago. A mom and dad living in San Marino, California, were very wealthy and had a son who was a soldier in Vietnam. One night they received a phone call. It was early in December and the holidays were approaching. They were stunned to hear that it was their son as they thought he was still in Vietnam. He said, “Mom and Dad, I’ve been released from the army, and I am going to be home for the holidays.” They were so excited and did not know what to say. Their son continued, “I have a buddy, and I would like to bring my buddy home with me.” They said, “Fine, Son.” He said, “This buddy’s in pretty bad shape. He was shot in the war, and he’s had both of his legs amputated and one of his arms amputated. He’s missing one of his eyes and one of his ears. He’s really in bad shape.”
His parents said, “Bring your friend to the house. He can stay for a few days. That’ll be fine.” He said, “Mom and Dad, you don’t understand. I don’t want to bring him for a few days. I want him to come and live at our house. This guy’s really hurting and needs a home.” His mom and dad said, “You don’t realize what you’re asking us to do. He needs special care, and we could never give him the care he needs. We really wouldn’t be able to do that. We wouldn’t have time. We’ll look forward to seeing you for the holidays. Feel free to bring your friend for a few days.” The son hung up the phone.
The next day, his mom and dad received a phone call from the police. The officer said, “We found a young man here. He’s a Vietnam vet, and he’s had both of his legs amputated. He’s had one arm amputated. He’s missing an eye and an ear. A bullet went through his head. He’s committed suicide. Our records indicate that he’s your son.” It was then that the mom and dad realized that their son was probing, trying to see whether they really wanted him home, whether they were willing to care for him.
When I heard that story the first time I thought of the prodigal son, that great story that Jesus taught—one of the greatest stories in the gospel. A son came home, damaged goods, and the father received him with open arms. That is the kind of grace that God has. That is God’s message to the world through the gospel. He wants men and women to come home, and He wants them to become His children. The Bible says God is not willing or wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). His best gifts are for His children, and His message to the world is, “Come home through faith in My Son Jesus Christ.”
On December 7, 1989, just five years ago, there was a massive earthquake in Armenia. You may have read about it in the newspapers. It was a devastating earthquake. Literally tens of thousands of people were killed in a moment in time. The earthquake registered 8.2 on the Richter scale. It is the kind of earthquake that California is dreading. This earthquake leveled cities. In one city in Armenia, there was a dad who after the earthquake found himself and his wife safe in their home. They were relieved but were concerned as their only son was at the elementary school at the time. The dad went looking for his son.
He arrived at his son’s elementary school and was horrified. The school was leveled. It had fallen to the ground. There was stone and steel and debris everywhere. He knew approximately where in the building his son’s classroom had been. He walked over the rubble, over the stones and steel, and came to the place where he believed his son’s classroom was. He began to move stones. People came to him and said, “You’re wasting your time. We’re sorry, but everyone in this building is dead.” Time passed, and he continued to move stone. People came and told him to go home. First responders came and said, “We’ll take care of it. Go home.” Every time someone talked to him, he asked them to help; but no one would help. He continued to move stones. Twelve hours passed.
The father continued to move stones for 12 hours and 24 hours and 36 hours. Then in the 38th hour, he moved a large stone and saw a kind of tunnel going downward. He called into the tunnel. He called the name of his son, and said, “Son, are you there?” He heard a faint voice saying, “Dad.” It had been 38 hours; miraculously, his son was still alive.
There were thirty-three children in his son’s classroom. Fourteen were still alive. They were hungry and thirsty and cold. When his son was interviewed, he was asked, “How was it?” The son replied, “All the other kids had given up. They were saying, ‘We’re going to die,’ But I told them that my dad would come. I told them not to worry. I promised them that my dad would come. I knew nothing would stop my dad. He would come.”
We have a Father in heaven like that. We have a Father in heaven who is not willing or wishing that any should perish. He comes for His children to save us. He invites the world to be His children. His best gifts are saved for them.
There’s a third biblical teaching related to grace. The third teaching is this: Grace can be abused. Grace is a gift, and the best gifts are reserved for God’s children. But for those who believe, for those who have become children of God, for those who have had their sins forgiven, for those who have received salvation and eternal life, there is this warning: Grace can be abused.
I heard a story about a guy at a supermarket. He was in the checkout line and was ready to pay the cashier. But first the cashier gave him a big box with a bunch of pieces of paper in it. She said, “Pick a piece of paper.” He said, “What’s going on?” The cashier said, “We’re having this contest; and if you pick the right piece of paper, your groceries are free today.” So he reached into the box, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to the cashier.
The cashier said, “Congratulations! Your groceries are absolutely free today.” He had picked the right one. The guy looked down into his shopping cart. He had a loaf of bread and a can of coffee. He was thinking what a waste, as he would get all his groceries free today. He looked behind him. The woman with a shopping cart next in line had a massive number of items in her cart. It was filled with groceries, some clothing, and a VCR. Thinking quickly, he turned to the woman. “Honey,” he said, “Can you believe it? We won.” She looked rather confused, but he winked at her and she was a pretty quick read. She played along, and the cashier bought it. Believing that they were husband and wife, she gave them everything for free. Out in the parking lot they divided up the items and went their separate ways.
That is grace abused. It is clever, but it is grace abused. God wants us to understand that we can abuse grace. God wants us to know that when we do not take sin seriously, we abuse His grace. Jesus wrote to the southern churches in Asia and had a message for them. He spoke to them, and he warned them of the Nicolaitans and the Balaamites. The Nicolaitans and the Balaamites were false teachers, teaching the children of God that they did not need to worry about sin. They could do whatever they wanted to do because they were under grace. They were the libertines. They said, “You can live however you want. You don’t need to worry about sin anymore. You’re under grace.” Jesus warned the churches.
The Bible speaks of those who pervert grace to license, grace into licentiousness. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Shall we sin the more that grace may abound? God forbid!” (Romans 6:2). Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book The Cost of Discipleship, spoke of cheap grace. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without repentance. It is people who do not take sin seriously. We are sons and daughters of God through Christ. We are the recipients of His grace, and His grace is amazing. God wants us to hunger and thirst after righteousness. His grace was costly. His blood was shed for us, and His body was broken for us.
So there is this warning in scripture. Grace can be abused. It is a gift, and it’s greatest expression—the greatest gifts, the deepest grace—is offered to God’s children, reserved for them. God wants His children not to abuse these gifts, not to abuse grace.
Finally, because we have received God’s grace, He commands us to be thankful. God knows we can never pay Him back. He has washed us whiter than snow. He has cleansed us. He has called us into His family. He has made us His very own children. We are sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters in Christ. He has given us a kingdom to serve. He has given us eternal life. We are bound for heaven. He knows we can never pay Him back, and He does not expect us to. But He does expect us to be grateful. He expects us to have thankful hearts. As mentioned, the word grace in the Bible is the word “charis.” And the word “charis” not only means to show favor, but also it means to give thanks.
When the apostle Paul says “charis deto theo,” “thanks be to God,” it is the word grace. It is this word that is rendered thanks. All through the New Testament, you see the word “charis” used in the sense of thanksgiving. Even the primary word for thanksgiving, “euchristia,” is built on this word “charis.” If you have received God’s mercy, if you have received God’s grace, if you have received His gifts, God expects you to be grateful and thankful.
In Deuteronomy 6 Moses is standing before the children of Israel. Moses never entered the Promised Land, but he was addressing the children of Israel as they were soon to enter the Promised Land. Moses says to them, “When the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, with great and goodly cities, which you did not build and houses full of all good things which you did not fill and cisterns hewn out which you did not hew and vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and when you eat and are full, then take heed, lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Deuteronomy 6:10-12). What a great passage. God’s message to those of us who are His children this morning is beware lest you forget. God does not want us to forget what He has done for us. He does not want us to forget His grace toward us.
In Luke 17 we are told of a man with leprosy who returned to Jesus after Jesus had healed him. The man said, “Thank you.” And Jesus said, “Did I not heal ten? Where are the nine?” Only one man returned to give thanks. God wants us to understand that we are His children when we receive His Son as Savior and Lord, and He expects us to be grateful. He expects us to be grateful day by day in this attitude of thanksgiving, which is part of grace.
Thanksgiving is an attitude we should have not simply because God has shown grace to us in the past. It is an attitude we should have in expectation of God’s grace in the future. If you really know that you are God’s child and you know that He favors His children, you have confidence no matter what you are going through right now that He has grace toward you, that He has favor toward you, that He provides for you. There is an expectation of provision and blessing.
One of my favorite passages is Hebrews 4:14-16. “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” That expression in time of need is a colloquialism in Greek. It is the exact equivalent to our English expression in the nick of time. That verse literally means grace to help in the nick of time. Let us approach the throne of God with confidence that we might receive mercy and find grace to help in the nick of time. Is it not true? It seems that God’s grace comes in the nick of time.
There is a gratefulness that we have day by day knowing we have a God who will not fail us or forsake us, a God who is with us always. He is Jehovah Jireh. He is the Lord who provides. We are also grateful because we know we are bound for heaven. I do not know what heaven means to you, but heaven means much to me. Hardly a day goes by that I do not thank God for heaven. Since I was very young, I have always sensed, though I do not know if it is true, that I am not going to live to old age. I know it does not matter, because I am bound for heaven. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you are bound for heaven. John Newton wrote, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we’d first begun.”
I love my family. I love Barb, and I love Heather and Drew. They are God’s grace in my life. They are His gift to me, and sometimes I feel like I love them too much. If you have ever seen Shadowlands, the story of C. S. Lewis when his wife Joy died, there is a scene where he is by her bed. She has just passed away. She has left this world and has gone into the presence of the Lord. Lewis feels her loss. He is holding her hand and starts to cry. “Sweet, Jesus,” he says, “forgive me if I loved her too much. Forgive me if I loved her too much.” Sometimes that is how I feel about Barb and about Heather and Drew. You probably feel the same way about your family.
You cannot protect your family. You cannot keep them safe. I cannot keep Barb safe. I cannot keep Heather and Drew safe. I know that Heather and Drew are going to heaven. They believe in Jesus Christ. I know Barb is bound for heaven. She believes in Jesus Christ. Our family lives with this knowledge day by day. There is a gratefulness, a thankfulness, in the midst of it all. There is joy that comes from God’s grace. This world does not make sense apart from God’s grace. It would be difficult to live apart from God’s grace. The Bible tells us grace is a gift. Unmerited favor. God’s best gifts—the forgiveness of sin, salvation, eternal life—are reserved, set apart for His children. God invites the world through the gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ, to become His sons and daughters. God warns us as His children that grace can be abused. We need to hunger and thirst after righteousness. God expects us to have grateful hearts. Thanksgiving is a part of grace. Let us close with a word of prayer.