Abounding Grace

Socrates said intelligent individuals learn from everything and everyone average people from their own experiences. The stupid already have all the answers. Wellsite Socrates what I'm speaking to a very very intelligent graduates right and if they are very intelligent and will continue to learn and that this morning want to speak to graduates. I want to speak to all of us about the great subject of grace. The subject that would been singing about by the grace of God startles and stumbles many people, but the authentic followers of Jesus Christ. It not only inspires us, but it humbles us. When I came to Calgary 12 years ago. I desire to be blessed me about my ministry. My philosophy and I printed in one phrase I want to be a preacher of grace and the shepherds of souls, and so today I want to preach about grace. The grace of God do nothing about grace many people that I speak to think that forgiveness of their sins and eternal life are given by God as a reward for the good behavior, but salvation by grace alone is a proclamation of the Bible. Grace emphasizes that salvation is a free gift of free gift given by God that it is not art award based on what we do, but it is entirely a gift and grace by definition is undeserved is unmerited. It's not something that we work for a full feel unworthy of it. We are beginning to understand that because if you think you're worthy of Angel never received God's grace. That's why the Pharisees of the time of the Lord rejected grace they wanted a religion they wanted a mindset that brought great pride in each of them that they were following the law that they were better than others, and so they refused the grace of God, and they died like that would eternally dams Paul and the passage were going to look at the magnificent passage of the end of Romans chapter 5 talks about a burning dating grace and explains that as just one man. That is, Adam brought sin and death and condemnation to the world to all of us.

So another man our Lord Jesus Christ rings life and forgiveness and justification to all who believe last week of your here we look at Romans five verses 12, 13 and 14 and discovered that sin came into the world through Adam and through Adam's sin comes to all of us and that therefore comes to all because all absent and this is so important that we understand this because we will never really understand the grace of God until first, we see ourselves as God sees us with our sin is a tremendous debt between us and God died that we could never possibly atone for we ourselves could never get rid of. And we also see sin as such a powerful force in our lives that try as we might, we could never eradicate. We can never overcome the slavery of sin. Paul is explaining in this magnificent book of Romans is explaining the gospel, the good news that in love.

God sends his son, our Lord Jesus Christ into this world to save sinners to save the lost to say people who are undeserving to say wicked people, ungodly people, rebellious people. In fact, this policy either later. Romans five to save people who are the very enemies of God and in his grace, almost unbelievable, isn't it in his grace God offers us a gift of the free, unmerited, undeserved grace looks not to ourselves but looks to what God in Christ has done for us on the cross. Paul is explaining that this grace is to be personally received by each one of us, through faith alone. This is unbelievably good news. That's what the gospel means good news. This is good news for you, whoever you are, because however deep your sin and however long you've committed the sins and Ira Vermont you rebelled against God. God's grace comes to you today because God's grace always abounds.

And when you receive Jesus Christ as your personal savior. He forgives please get this, he forgives all of your sin and that means that never ever again will go God hold your sin against your other people will other people say well remember what you did five 1015 2015 years ago God will never ever do that your sins are gone forever Bible writers struggle as a word to explain those they say it's not as they pieces from the last your sins are buried in the deepest sea. In fact God says your sins and your neck with days I will remember no more than gone and they're gone forever. That's grace is an incredible thing of all the sins you've committed and that Christ calms and takes our sin in his own body and we are completely completely cleansed and purified call.

This message abounding grace for graduates for myself for all of you for Calgary church. I want this life of a binding grace. Jesus said in John 10 Burstein had come that they may have life and that they might have it abundantly on the abundant life is a life which understands more and more that God's grace abounds in here is what I want you to grasp this morning is an amazing truth. I want you to understand it in your mind, but I also want you to experiences in their very heart and soul and to integrate this into your life. There's there is always more grace. A binding grace in the Lord Jesus than there is sin and you you believe that what wonderful news. Let me say that again there is always more grace abounding grace in the Lord Jesus, then there is sin in you that's magnificent news for you and for me to send and read Romans five verses 15 through 21 and is really to try to understand that yes is not easy as passage in Scripture, but I think you can follow Paul's argument is really that together and sure about intelligent graduates will get it so let's try and follow Paul's argument as well we did with me.

But the free gift is not like the trespass.

For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

And the free gift is not like the results of that one man sin for the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, sold by the one man's of regions that many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might rain through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Please be seated. Never see if you got your Bibles open it with me at Romans chapter 5 and that we will reach we will look beginning at verse 15. I'm going to see in verses 15 through 19 the dogs are binding.

Grace surpasses the consequences of Adamson gods are binding. Grace surpasses the consequences of Adamson. So in these verses 15 through 19 therefore contrasts for trade-offs of your word here is the first one I gift instead of a trespass verse 15 but the free gift that's grace is not like the trespass footed. Many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. A gift instead of a trespass.

Adam fell and he lost his position before God and father told us in verses 12, 13, 14, that all of us have fallen in Adam and that means because of her sinfulness. Don't mind of good words on a good intentions or religion can restore us to this position. We had before the fall with God.

That is, we are unable to achieve our own salvation of fall is too great. The consequences are too severe.

Sin always takes us away from God and Satan.

Students always leads to disaster and that we may never very disciplined. We may managed to eliminate some sin in our life that we may try to live a better life.

But we cannot get rid of our sin. That is, we may deal with some of the fruits of the sin, but we will never deal with the root of our sin and instead of a trespass. What does God do the offers us a free gift and this gift is seen in the grace of God as he offers us his son Jesus Christ and the gift is to be personally received. Paul says here in verse 15. The free gift is not like the trespass dogs a binding grace in Christ far surpasses the devastating effects of Adamson note Adamson was devastating and brought sin to us all, and that his straight human history tells us the story that all civilizations and all people in all cultures and all nations of sin, and make a mess of their lives. So Adam brought tremendous devastation to the human race. But Paul is saying Adams trespass is far outweighed by the free gift of a binding of a binding grace. So here it is a gift inside door trespass. Secondly, verse 16 justification instead of condemnation. Verse 16 and the free gift is not like the result of that one man sin evolving us for the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation that's Adam, but the free gift following many track trespasses brought justification was condemnation of condemnation is a sentence God pronounces on us because of her send, God declares, without exception, that each one of us is sinful. We are guilty sinners. Paul puts it this way in verse 16. One trespass that Adams brought condemnation, but Adamson is not the only sin is each one of us here has trespassed was a trespass, a trespass is a deliberate act of disobedience. You know it's wrong and you still good you know you should do something and you failed to do it.

That is a trespass parts.

Adam trespassed you trespass I trespass and we all deserve to be under the condemnation of God. But notice the contrast instead of condemnation brought in these grace offers us justification again. Verse 16. The free gift following many trespasses brought justification. This is indescribable.

A binding grace. Christ died on the cross for many trespasses. What is justification missing it over and over again in our study of Romans is the declaration by God on the center who has accepted Christ to such faith in Christ and the verdicts was once condemnation but no in the grace of God as we receive God's grace in Jesus Christ as our personal savior and Lord, the verdict now is justification. It is a declaration that the individual who was guilty is not acquainted.

Think of this.

It is a criminal who is sentenced to the death sentence and he's in the condemned cell the verdict of condemnation on that has been pronounced on him.

Nine.

St. Paul is where all of us are, but into the cell comes our Lord Jesus Christ takes our sin takes our guild dies our dad and offers us not only forgiveness of sins. That's grace but offers us his righteousness gift instead of a trespass justification instead of condemnation third verse 17 life instead of death in this amazing with this policy.

Verse 17 is because of one man's trespass death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ day through sin. Verse 12 that rains the wages of sin is death. That's the inevitable end of all of us because of sin will dialogue.

Joan says the world is a place of symmetries were slaves to sin and that sin produces that death is inevitable. It is inescapable.

The reign of death comes on the whole of humanity, but not to St. Paul zoo presents this great message of a binding grace that is a possibility of a reign in life. For those who accept the free gift of notice is wonderful description of verse 17.

He says the abundance of grace and this abundance of grace. How can this message of life comes to those who are in the condemned cell put a bug to die. It comes St. Paul through the one man in the verse 17 through the one man Jesus Christ, that is, the reign of dad is exchanged for the reign in life, though. How can someone who is dead given life. Can someone whose heart has been hardened by sin. For many many years and someone who has transgressed over and over and over again like us in that individual under the reign of Dan receive life.

Some of you here have turned your back on God for the long, long time. You know it you've got your own way you think.

Well one day I may get right with God, but you turned your back on the long on God for a long time I meet many people who believe that there is no hope for them that they are so unworthy that have messed up their life so many times so deliberately is allowed and that they look back on the life is a guess of really messed up.

You'll need to tell me my sin I realize that but I feel that I'm so unworthy that God's grace can reach me policy. Listen in the gospel to good use. Life is offered to the dead.

Tell your story but a couple months ago. Some of us would Israel. Some of you were with us and that we visited Masada thing with a wonderful picture of that. It is, it may be the stronghold. The David the first are in the Psalms when he's trying to get away from Saul that went to the stronghold here is this bill, Herod built a palace on that and so on.

And as the Romans in A.D. 70 came into Jerusalem decimated Jerusalem, but in the temple so that one stone was not left on another and they might depart the super part of the day. Decided to exterminate all of the Jews and they killed thousands and thousands of them crucifying many of them just around the temple, a group of them decided to get away from the Romans, and they came to Masada. After the stronghold managed to climb up there. There was enough food to last possibly for years and at its own supply of water. They felt very very safe but the Romans were mighty warriors of the Romans were patient warriors as well and they knew how to win and so they besieged Masada.

The Jews on the top thought they were safe until the Jewish the Roman generals look for that and they did something which was breathtaking and weak as were there, we can still see the remains of it. They built a ramp so that they would come built up as a letter, a new monitoring so that it would come right up to the top and after many attempts. They finally got up to the top and the Jews on the side.

I knew that the next day, the Romans would come and kill them. Something remarkable happened that the Jews rather than being slave of the Romans decided to kill themselves and so they committed suicide other than the mother in a couple of little children survived and that when the Jews when the Romans got to the top of the cider. All the Jews were dead story of Masada. Many of you know the story in 1963. Some Israelis were excavating and Masada and they came across a jot of Roman jar and in the jar were a number of seats were taken to scientists who examined them, the scientists determined that these were Judean date palms from an extinct time variety that had vanished for 2000 years old and they determined that these seeds were 2000 years old. They were sold and forgotten for decades until a scientist and intelligent scientist young woman set us along thought about the seats and eventually was. She was given permission to see if you could get the seeds to germinate. Now there were 2000 years old. Judean palm dates from the palm tree are considered to be very nutritious, rich in nutrients and vitamins and minerals and fiber wonderful dates and eventually with the help of other scientists. One of these little seeds began to sprout a reduced guide mentioned the little bit of the story.

During the tour and I thought I'm very skeptical. I thought I really don't believe that it's true that I had that set us alongside the scientist raising the dead is very difficult. We felt we had raise the dead from these dead seeds 2000 years ago and I thought of that, and I thought if that can happen, the natural world, how much more in the spiritual world. If a seed can be germinated that has been dormant for 2000 years old. Do you not think that God who made the seeds, the God who is all-powerful, the God who gives life. The God who is abundant in life, the living God can give life to people like you and me who have fallen and dead in their sins and Adam and Didi Conn is our Lord Jesus Christ came the good news of the gospel is that Christ not only died for our sins and was buried, and rose again and you say that's 2000 years ago.

Yes, but the Lord Jesus is still alive is alive today and Paul is saying he will give you the free gift of righteousness, so that you may reign in life. All of this through the one man Lord Jesus Christ give his life here is abundant life here is really liberating to have the life of God in my soul that once I was dead.

Now I am alive you believe that do you believe that God can give life to the dead. Indeed, he can gift instead of a trespass justification is that of condemnation.

Third life instead of Dan for righteousness instead of sin. Martin Luther says this but this is very good. This sin underneath all of our sins is to trust the lie of the devil, that we cannot trust the love and grace of Christ and must take matters into our own hands. You think you know better than God graduates a good life in front of you. You really want to take your life in your own hands or do wanted to committed to this great God's who will give you a life of abundant life of the funding grace. Don't believe the lie of the devil who tells you you can live life better by yourself and with God.

If you go God's way. God is a remarkable thing. He gives us life instead of death, and he gives us righteousness instead of our sin. Verses 18 and 19. Therefore is one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification online for all men.

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Righteous. These verses are giving a succinct summary of verses 12 through 21. They also complete Paul thought in verse 12. One act of one-act of one man impacts the many through one man's disobedience the many are made sinners through one man's all being Germans. Many are made righteous righteous when you grasp this verse because when we receive Christ. I know only thing well.

He's forgiven all of my sins and he has and that is wonderful but he does more much more he gives us his righteousness the righteousness of Christ. I can live a life life fulfilling the potential that God has for me as is made me and then the image of God. And yes, I'd like either my I've fallen.

I've messed up and Christ comes in the binding grace and gives me life instead of that, and gives me righteousness instead of mine said does that happen because Christ takes over sin and we receive his righteousness. This is offered to you, then righteousness instead of sin.

So God's abundant grace surpasses the consequences of Adam's sin, but now in verses 20 through 21, we see the gods of binding grace surpasses your sin. I want to take this personally.

God's a binding grace surpasses your sin. Verse 29.

The law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more so that, as sin reigned in that grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord is incredible verses someone says well when the is the law for 10. I mean you've spoken about these two great man, Adam, and that Christ but what about Moses what about the law. Both the Bible and what the blood is the law increases sin is an amazing statement is that that's what he says now the law came in verse 22. Increase the trespass. He told us in verse 13, that sin was in the world prior to the Mosaic law.

What does the law do not allow comes from God. There's nothing wrong with the law is good comes from God, the law shows sin to be sin, it increases the trespass with the sword. Do you define sin, it revealed sins it increases sin and in a sense, it stimulates us to sin.

So your parents about two or three young children. The babysitter comes the little nervous to leave their beautiful precious little Calvary church children with this student who just graduated from Margaret Calvert a little nervous about that and either leaving or telling the children to do with the babysitter tells them to go the back of the sudden time and not to do that is not to do that and so on and is going to. The woman turns and says to her children and whatever you do don't beans up your nose of the children would never thought in a thousand years of putting things of the nose, but neither is a law that shall not beans up your nose depends are highly are the driving God when you know the kids are doing part of the beans. The law stimulates sin.

Here's another illustration.

One of these graduates, beautiful graduates sitting here last night wanted to like to celebrate with her friends and their parents. I guess tingling celebrate Bart's coming to church tomorrow, which of course is the highlight of the life you're coming to church tomorrow. And so we want you back at 1130 and answers with minutes.

I'm 18 I'm a man I'm graduating life in front of me who was telling me to be on the 11th coming what's going on with my parents and he comes in at midnight with is the law through. There's something about us inside us are following us that when were told not to do something is the very thing that we want to do. That's what Paul is saying in this way the law increases our rebellion. It increases our disobedience. Well, I can Adam. I don't know how many trees were in the garden of Eden brothers probably hundreds of them perfect trees, perfect fruit, but there's one you're not to take Adam and that is not very one that they take to not only is the law powerless to free us from sin. The law increases sin, but here's Paul's point where Satan increases grace God's grace abundance verse 20 where sin increased, grace abounded all the more Martin Lloyd Jones right. Grace always gives swear our sin always takes away God's grace surpasses the worst of sin and the worst of sinners. Grace abounds and overflows. It like a flower that engulfs us. Yes, sin increases more and more, but that is a separate abundance of grace supposes to the Ephesians and Ephesians 1. The God lavishes his grace upon us. John says in his prologue of the gospel.

It is grace upon grace is not like a wealthy person, a multimillionaire, I giving you $50 as a graduation present. When you know that a multimillionaire no God lavishes his grace upon us and overwhelms us is beyond comparison.

It's far far far outweighs Adamson, God's grace far far surpasses your sin.

This is a binding grace. What is lost in Adam is much more all the more restored and regained in Jesus Christ. That is, greater blessings flow through us through Christ and were lost throughout. Grace is that's God's infinite plan of salvation. What a magnificent conclusion in verse 21. Here, a binding grace living a life under not the reign of death and sent by the reign of grace and righteousness. And that leads to eternal life and to the abundant life amazing Grace, however deep your sin and its deep the grace of God goes deeper. Paul says in Ephesians 2. For by grace are you saved through faith is abundant grace. So here are still trying to get right with God by yourself, you say well messing it up yourself unworthy. Glad you see yourself as an workday. That means that you're ready to receive God's grace are you saved by grace, while all are in Adam. Only those who receive the abundance of grace in Christ.

Adam lost the way Jesus is the way Adam believe the lie. Jesus is the truth. Adam experience that Jesus is the way so I ask you is I asked you last week.

Are you in Adam, are you in Christ.

Notice how Paul uses the superlatives to describe God's grace. Verse 15 the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abundant for formatting verse 15 verse 17 it is the abundance of grace. Verse 20, grace abounded all the more it is much more. Verse 20 it is all the more God does not withhold his grace because of your said where there is sin, grace, super abundance, the grace of God is always always greater than your send you believe this, we believe the site Calvary church do we believe that God's grace is always greater than seven. We believe that that's a message that is the message of the world may see here that's a message that we need to practice someone's as well as teaching and grace makes me feel very uneasy here.

My if you're presenting a balanced view here. John and I in fact, this is quite dangerous. What use they good. I'm glad you're saying that because Paul is going to deal with that in Romans six, verse one what shall we say then are we to continue in sin that grace may abound in a couple of weeks will be will be thinking of that binding grace when we say that our people who will try to rob you of this abundant grace.

There are people who will want to bring your back under their legalistic worldview who will tell your jaw you and your freedom. Chuck Swindoll calls them grace tellers. They want you to pay for your sin.

They want you if they know of your sin, for you to go through life up with a closet over here they get some kind of pleasure and reminding you of your sin.

Don't listen to the grace colors. Please please understand when you take this personally today as I do for you the grace of God, abundance where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.

Verse 20 you say your sin very badly.

Grace abounds you're concerned by guilt, a binding grace is a John, my sins are very, very deep.

I've done some wicked things God's grace over flows is a people want to remind me of my past God's grace is greater still. Jesus tells a wonderful parable about his grace in which after 15 you know the story of the two brothers and and one once again his inheritance from his father. He gets it all because the far country has a great time. The parties he spends money everything he wants, he can buy, but the money runs out.

The firemen and he wakes up one morning and thinks what a fool I've been back of the father. My butt was all I needed and much more.

And then he did a very smart thing. He turned and headed home to his father. This is a good essay to my father have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and I'm not worthy to be your son make me as one of your hired servants for the right to acknowledge the sin he realized it was unworthy. He was unworthy of being part of the family he had blown it's really messed up and he understood the depth of the sin must understand something of the pain he caused his father but he began to head home and you know the story of the father who sees a son. The far way off and he runs and he hugs him and the meats they meet somebody kisses him, and they celebrate they kill the provided car for the day. Diane Sunday celebrated all his wonderful parts. There's the elder brother. He's a legalist and he doesn't like it and he thinks you know I bring it all the time, worked hard in the field and I never got this party all this fuss over this young man who wasted your your inheritance and is very angry at the 5% listen this my son was what it is alive.

He is lost on these findings. Let's celebrate an understanding of God's grace.

The elder son, representing the Pharisees of the altar of the New Testament.

They could not understand this overwhelming abundance, grace, people say God is finished with you don't believe them. People say that because you messed up in the past God will never use you again. Don't believe them. God's grace abound.

God's grace is always always greater than your sin is IME with people of messed up and they think I can't again expect God to forgive me. Of course God is in the forgiving business because grace abounds and flows added flows and the flaws it is a binding grace God's grace never ever runs out all of your trespasses are gone. Someone says what about my sin. Women hamburger wonderful him written by Horatius Baffert. It is well with my soul is our great verse and not him because he must've understood this message of a binding grace. He says my sin or the bliss of this glorious thought my sin not in part but the whole is nailed to his cross and I bear it no more praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord all my soul. That's grace that's a binding grace that is grace which is greater than your send it all is covered by the work of our blessed Savior on the cross and this grace not only saves us. This grace liberates us so I say to our graduates that say to all of us receive this grace takes humility. God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to humble yourself and acknowledge a blunted and God will overwhelm you with his grace and let this grace liberate you let this grace of mind in your life like this. Grace rained in your life that you receive this grace and you display this grace, this unhappy sleazy world that you display the very grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is radical. This is revolutionary.

This will turn your world upside down. But, as your pastor, I want you to know this. That is always, always more grace in the Lord Jesus than there is sin and you believe that there is always more grace. A binding grace in the Lord Jesus by noticing that your case is not hopeless you messed up receive God's grace. The father longs to forgive you, receive, and those of us who have been received by heavenly father through faith in Jesus Christ.

May we live this life of grace is grace which is greater than our sins can ask you to stand under the prey number, saying that wonderful him and I don't know what this message is made for you. But as I started that I was thought grace is a reply by this take me a long long time to understand the depths the wonderful damps of the sub bonding, grace, and I pray that in your life you received this grace. What would you do that some of you not yet say we crack to Christ the Savior. Some of your saving of messed up you with way from the Lord. Listen to those who say you've messed up too badly. However, Dickerson the grace of God is greater. There's always more grace in the Lord Jesus than that is sin a new father, gracious father, we thank you for this amazing grace is grace which is greater than our sins. I pray that our graduates every single one of them will understand this and the experiences attend live a life of grace for the pray for them. I pray for each one of us. Thank you for the Lord Jesus, for the Lord from heaven.

But, as in Adam all die, but as in Christ all shall be made alive. May we be made alive in him and live the life of this incredible grace. We ask it in his name