The Radical, Revolutionary Concept of Grace

CS Lewis InstituteFellows RetreatJoel S. Woodruff

That was easy!

• “What makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world?”

• C. S. Lewis, a strong defender of Christianity and namesake of our Institute, came in late, sat down, and asked, “What’s the rumpus about?” When he learned that it was a debate about the uniqueness of Christianity, he immediately commented, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s __________.”

So, what is “grace”?

• Grace is Not a Blue-Eyed Blond.• ‘the last best word’ because every English

usage retains some of the glory of the original meaning.” - Phillip Yancey

• Grateful, gratified, gracious, gratuity, etc..• Persons non grata, ingrate

Hebrew - Grace

• Grace in the Old Testament, it usually comes from a word that means “to bend down or stoop.” It was used to denote “the stronger coming to the help of the weaker who stands in need of help either by reason of his circumstances or natural weakness.” (Dictionary of NT Theology)

NT Greek – “Charis”

• “the Greek word, “charis” translated grace is related to the word joy; grace causes joy. In the Christian understanding, nothing brings joy like the good news of what God has done in Christ to bring us salvation by his grace.”

- Walter Elwell

Working Definition of Grace

• “Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace.” - Donald Barnhouse

• GRACE IS EVERYTHING FOR NOTHING TO THOSE WHO DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING

Ephesians 2:8-9 The Message

• “Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in the world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and the saving.”

Why “works” doesn’t work

• “He is not obligated to pity and pardon; if he does so it is an act done, as we say, “of his own free will,” and nobody forces his hand. “It depends not upon man’s will or exertion, but upon God’s mercy” (Rom. 9:16). Grace is free because it is self-originated and proceeds from the One who was free not to be gracious.” - J. I. Packer

Jesus – the definition of grace

• Jesus’ actions – the story of the woman caught in adultery

• Jesus’ parables – the prodigal son and others

• Jesus’ last words and acts on the cross

Les Miserables

• Victor Hugo’s story of amazing grace• Jean Valjean – the prisoner, released by grace,

who goes from bitterness to living a grace-filled life

What does a man or woman full of grace actually look like?

• has been given “graces” or gifts by God. Ephesians 4:7

• has been given encouragement and hope.• 2 Thessalonians 2:16• is given help in times of need• Hebrews 4:16• is able to bear up under suffering• 2 Corinthians 12:9

Surrounded & Infused by grace

The man or woman of grace is• “under grace”, • “stands in grace,” • “abounds in grace,” • “shares in grace.” (See Romans 6:14; 5:2; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 1:7)

Stephen – full of grace

• Acts 7:54-8:1How Stephen’s last acts of grace lead to the conversion of Saul – the renamed apostle Paul who becomes the great communicator of grace in his time.

TV shows and movies

• ABC TV Show entitled, “Revenge”

in contrast to:

Movie, “An Amish Grace,” based on the real story of the tragic killing of 5 Amish girls.

Gordon MacDonald quote

• “The world can do almost anything as or better than the church. You need not be a Christian to build houses, feed the hungry or heal the sick. There is only one thing the world cannot do. It cannot offer grace.”

The Grace Question

• How do I respond to God’s grace on a daily basis and am I offering that grace to others as well?

David Seamands’ quote

“Many years ago I was driven to the conclusion that the two major causes of most emotional problems among evangelical Christians are these: the failure to understand, receive, and live out God’s unconditional grace and forgiveness; and the failure to give out that unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace to other people. . . . We read, we hear, we believe a good theology of grace. But that’s not the way we live. The good news of the Gospel of grace has not penetrated the level of our emotions.”

3 Responses to God’s Grace

1) Lack of Grace - Return to Legalism

2) Abuse of Grace – License or licentiousness

3) Freedom in Grace – Graciousness and Joy

The trap of legalism

Galatians 5:1, 4, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.”

Augustinian in theory/Pelagian in practice

• Eugene Peterson draws a contrast between Augustine and Pelagius, two fourth-century theological opponents. Augustine started from God’s grace and got it right, whereas Pelagius started from human effort and got it wrong. Augustine passionately pursued God; Pelagius methodically worked to please God.

• Peterson goes on to say that Christians tend to be Augustinian in theory but Pelagian in practice. They work obsessively to please other people and even God.

God’s grace – its relationship to His love

“Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more; And grace means there is nothing we can do to make him love us less.”

John Newton quote

“When we get to heaven, there will be three wonders:

(1) who is there

(2) who is not there, and

(3) the fact that I’m there!”

The Abuse of Grace

Romans 5:20-6:7

“Cheap Grace,” Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s term

The Risk of Preaching Grace

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than this, that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to this, that because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will redound all the more to the glory of grace.”

C. S. Lewis on condoning vs. forgiveness

Lewis explains that what I have termed “grace abuse” stems from a confusion of condoning and forgiving: Lewis continues, “To condone an evil is simply to ignore it, to treat it as if it were good. But forgiveness needs to be accepted as well as offered if it is to be complete: and a man who admits no guilt can accept no forgiveness.”…God took a great risk by announcing forgiveness in advance, and the scandal of grace involves a transfer of that risk to us. (- from Phillip Yancey)

The Christian as Trapeze artist

In Christ, we live on the trapeze. The whole world should be able to watch and say, “Look how they live, how they love one another. Look how well the husbands treat their wives. And aren’t they the best workers in the factories and offices, the best neighbors, the best students?” That is to live on the trapeze, being a show to the world.

Trapeze artist continued

• What happens when we slip? The net is surely there. The blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, has provided forgiveness for ALL our trespasses. Both the net and the ability to stay on the trapeze are both works of God’s grace. Of course, we cannot be continually sleeping on the net. If that is the case, I doubt whether that person is a trapezist.” Juan Carlos Ortiz

“The world thirsts for grace. When grace descends, the world falls

silent before it.” (Yancey)

1) 2 Preachers – Spurgeon and Parker““You know, Parker, you have practiced grace on me,” he said. “You have given me not what I deserved; you have given me what I needed.”2) Jessye Norman sings “Amazing Grace” at Wembley stadium