THE GOSPEL OF GRACE By Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama) April 17, 2010 Galatians 1:15 says that God separated Paul at birth; "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace." When God saved Paul He said; "he is a chosen vessel unto me." (Acts 9:15) In 2 Timothy 1:9 Paul said that God had given him; "a holy calling before the world began." These verses and others tell us that Paul was a special person with a special calling. But what makes Paul so special? Why did God single him out from all others? Why did God choose him before he was born and even before the foundation of the world? It's not the man himself that is special, it's the message God gave the man that is special. What was so special about the message God gave to Paul? In Galatians 1:11-12 Paul wrote; "But I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." The Gospel Paul preached was given to him by divine revelation because according to Romans 16:25 it was a mystery; "kept secret since the world began." The Gospel Paul preached is called "The Gospel of the Grace of God." (See Acts 20:24) In this article you will see the blessings and benefits of the Gospel of the Grace of God. The Blessings And Benefits Of The Gospel Of Grace! (1) The Gospel Of Grace Declares That Men Are Saved By Faith Alone In The Death And Shed Blood Of Christ. In the Gospel of Grace God took the works out of salvation and made faith the only requirement to be saved. Romans 4:5 says; "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Ephesians 2:8-9 says; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Titus 3:5 says; "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (2) The Gospel of Grace Declares God Now Forgives All Sins And Sinners. This means there are no unpardonable sins or sinners today. There is no sin so evil or sinner so vile that God cannot forgive today. Acts 13:38-39 says; "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Colossians 2:13 says; "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (3) The Gospel Of Grace Declares That Salvation Is A Present Possession, Not A Future Attainment. Sinners are saved the moment they believe the Gospel of Grace. 2 Timothy 1:9 says; Who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling." Ephesians 2:8 says; "For by grace are ye saved." Titus 3:5 says; "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us." Romans 5:11 says; "We have now received the atonement." Colossians 1:13 says; "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins ." Rom. 5:9 says; "Being now justified by his blood." In Paul's epistle's salvation is spoken of in the past and present tenses for according to the Gospel of Grace sinners are saved the moment they believe. Salvation is a gift of God we now possess, not a future reward earned by works. (4) The Gospel Of Grace Declares That Believers Are Set Free From The Law Of Moses Upon Believing. Romans 7:4,6 says; "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ. But now we are delivered from the law." Romans 6:14 says; "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." We are free from the Mosiac law but not the 9 moral laws of God contained in the 10 commandments. The law we are set free from is described by Paul in the book of Hebrews. It is the religious laws and ordinances that God gave to Israel to observe in the Old Testament. We are also free from the curse of the broken law. See Gal.3:13 (5) The Gospel Of Grace Declares That All Believers Are Unconditionally And Eternally Secure In Christ. According the Gospel Of Grace; (a) Those who are saved by grace through faith without works are kept saved by grace through faith without works. (b) God forgives all sins without exception and distinction; past, present, and future. (c) We cannot be condemned by the law for we are set free from the Law. (d) Salvation is a gift received by faith not a reward earned by works. (e) God does not impute sin to the believers account. For these reasons and more those who believe the Gospel of Grace are eternally secure in Christ. Ephesians 1:13 says; "In whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." Ephesians 4:30 says; "Ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Romans 8:1 says; "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Philippians 1:6 says; "He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (6) According To The Gospel Of Grace There Is No Advantage In Being A Jew Or Disadvantage In Being A Gentile! In time past God gave the Jews the Law of Moses and circumcision. These two things gave them many dispensational and spiritual advantages above the Gentiles. It also separated them from the Gentiles and forbade them from keeping company with them. (See Acts 10:28) The only way a Gentile could be blessed or saved in time past was by becoming a Jewish proselyte and blessing the seed of Abraham, the Jews. (Gen.12:1-4) But the Gospel of Grace now declares that the law has been abolished (Eph. 2:14-16); circumcision is of no profit (Gal. 5:6); and that Israel has been cast away (Rom. 11:15) Therefore, there is no longer any advantage in being a Jew or disadvantage in being a Gentile. The Gospel of Grace has put Jews and Gentiles on equal footing. A Gentile does not have to become a Jewish proselyte to be saved and a Jew does not have to keep the law to be saved. God saves them both the same way; by grace through faith without works. (Eph. 2:8-9) And once they are saved they are placed into the church which is Christ's body and in the church there is total equality between Jews and Gentiles. (See Eph. 2,3) Ephesians 2:14-16 says; "For he is our peace, who hath made both (Jew and Gentile) one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby."