Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

GRACE, MARVELOUS GRACE

1. Undeserved, unmerited favor: Eph. 2:7, 8; Rom. 11:5, 6
2. The Bible speaks of the "manifold grace of God": 1 Pet. 4:10

1. Theory of some Christian people:
   1. That the dispensation of grace began with the resurrection of Christ.
   2. That the Jews lived under the dispensation of law, and not under grace.
2. Some Bible facts about the dispensation of grace:
   1. Began with the fall of man; it began when sin had separated our first parents from God and their home -
      1. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men." - Tit. 2:11
      2. Compare 1 Pet. 1:20 with Rev. 13:8
   2. The grace of God has been the hope of men in all ages -
      1. Noah was saved from the waters of the flood by grace alone - Gen. 6:8
      2. Lot was saved by grace alone - Gen. 19:18
      3. Israel was saved by grace - Ex. 33:12, 16; Jer. 31:2
3. The manifold grace of God:
   1. The grace of pardon - EXAMPLES -
      1. The woman caught in the act of adultery - John 8:11
      2. The thief on the cross - Luke 23:42-44
      3. Mary Magdalene out of whom Christ cast out seven devils - Mark 16:9; Luke 7:47
      4. Some wonderful promises - Isa. 1:19, 20; 55:7
   2. The grace of deliverance - EXAMPLES -
      1. Our Lord's statement to the Jews - John 8:36
      2. Compare Rom. 5:20 with chapter 6; 15:1-3; 2 Cor. 4:15
      3. Christ has promised to set the prisoners free - Isa. 61:1-3
4. The grace of obedience: The grace of deliverance comes from the same manifold grace of God as the grace of pardon and the grace of deliverance - Phil. 2:12, 13; 4:13; Eph. 3:20; 2 Pet. 1:2-7

1. Mistaken theory:
   1. That grace is a release from a moral obligation.
   2. That grace lessens the seriousness of sin.
2. But the facts are different:
   1. We are warned not to use the grace of God in vain - 2 Cor. 6:1; Heb. 12:15; Jude 4
   2. One can fall from grace and be lost - Gal. 5:4; Heb. 10:29 ILLUSTRATIONS
      1. The nature of grace is well illustrated by our Lord in John 15:1-11. Our remaining in grace is conditioned upon our abiding in Christ.
      2. Ezek. 18:24 confirms the fact that we are free moral agents; we may use or abuse our privileges under grace.
3. Grace brings very serious obligations to the beneficiary of grace:
   1. It forbids sin - Rom. 6:1-3, 14; 1 John 3:7-9
   2. "Go, and sin no more" - John 8:11
   3. "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" - John 5:14
4. Light from heaven makes us doubly responsible to God and to our fellow men:
   1. Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-28
   2. "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" - Jas. 4:17
5. The manifold grace of God provides all that pertains unto salvation and godliness to all who let it reign in their hearts: