-
The Nature of Grace
-
Grace is God acting freely
-
According to His nature
-
According to His love
-
Without obligation
-
Grace is God acting righteously through the cross of Christ
-
Sin is punished
-
His justice is satisfied
-
Not because God is big-hearted
-
It is because His judgment has been fulfilled
-
Grace has no cause in the receiver
-
Its cause lies wholly in God
-
Its cause is totally in the giver
-
Grace does not act where there is desert
-
Grace does not act where there is ability
-
Grace does not help — it does all
-
Grace is sovereign
-
It has no debts to pay
-
It is a pure gift
-
It cannot be repaid
-
Has no promises to fulfill
-
Can act toward whomever it pleases
-
Can choose the least worthy for its highest favor
-
It is not withheld because of demerit
-
It cannot be lessened because of demerit
-
The receiver must stop trying to become worthy
-
The receiver must acknowledge complete unworthiness
-
The receiver must acknowledge complete inability to attain worthiness
-
The receiver must find worthiness in Christ alone
-
Human pride has no place in grace
-
The natural man "hates" grace
-
The receiver "loves" grace
-
The Place of Man in Grace
-
He is totally, fully and completely acceptable and worthy in Christ
-
He is not "on probation"
-
His past life and old position does not exist before God — he died at the cross
-
His present life is Christ
-
Grace is bestowed, it is never withdrawn
-
The Proper Attitude of Man under Grace
-
To believe and receive
-
To consent to be loved while unworthy
-
To refuse to make resolutions or vows — that is trust in self (flesh)
-
To expect to be blessed (receive love) though realizing more and more lack of worth
-
To count on God's goodness
-
To be tender in conscience toward Him
-
To be thoroughly grateful
-
To continually tell of His goodness and mercy
-
The Discoveries of Man under Grace
-
To "hope to be (do) better" is to fail to see ourselves in Christ
-
To be disappointed with yourself is to have believed in yourself rather than in Christ
-
To remain in discouragement (depression) is to be self-centered rather than grace (Christ) centered
-
Devotion comes not from our will to show it but from the gratitude for grace received while unworthy
-
To put devotion first and blessing second is reversal of God's order; that is law not grace; blessing does not depend upon devotion; grace bestows undeserved, unconditional blessing — devotion follows
-
Salvation is the work of God for man — it is not the work of man for God
-
Salvation is the bestowal and actual impartation of eternal life — it is not the beauties and artificial imitations of ethical living
-
Salvation is the imputed righteousness of God — it is not the imperfect righteousness of man
-
Salvation is according to the faithful calling of God — it is not according to the fitful carefulness of man
-
Salvation is a divine reconciliation — it is not a human regulation
-
Salvation is the canceling of all sin — it is not the cessation from some sin
-
Salvation is being delivered from, and dead to, the law — it is not delighting in or doing the law
-
Salvation is divine regeneration — it is not human reformation
-
Salvation is being acceptable to God — it is not becoming exceptionally good
-
Salvation is completeness in Christ — it is not competency in character
-
Salvation is possessing every spiritual blessing — it is not professing any special betterment
-
Salvation is always and only of God — it is never of man. It is the unsearchable riches of Christ. It is unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.