2014 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: THE GRACE OF GOD HAS APPEARED I. INTRO  Read Titus 2:11. II. JACOB AND THE GRACE OF GOD III. JONAH AND THE GRACE OF GOD IV. THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST  Read Jn 8:2-11.

 When Jesus came to this earth, He was the personification of grace and truth (Jn 1:14). ~ This one incident in the life and ministry of our Lord tells us much about the grace which our Lord shows to men.  But it becomes very apparent that Jesus was more interested in the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees than in judging this woman.

~ But no one could quite work up the courage to claim sinlessness.  It is clear from Jn 8:11 that this woman had sinned. ~ Why then did our Lord not condemn her? Why could the Lord Jesus do and say these things, and not cast the first stone at this woman? ~ The reason is simple and can be summed up in but one word: grace.

~ Jesus’ purpose in His first coming wasnot condemnation but salvation. ~ His purpose in coming was to suffer the death sentence Himself. ~ He came to die for that woman’s sins! ~ He was not minimizing her sin, or its consequences, but rather He was anticipating that day when He would bear the punishment for sins on the cross of Calvary.

 And this is what we celebrate every Christmas.  Read Titus 2:11 again. ~ Accd. to the Complete Word Study Bible Dictionary, grace is “the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor. Cháris stands in direct antithesis to érga, works, the two being mutually exclusive.”

~ GRACE IS GOD’S GIFT TO US.  And this “grace of God has appeared.” ~ Again, accd. to the CWSB Dictionary, “appeared” means : “to shine…, to show forth, exhibit, shine light upon, e.g., upon the surface. Usually used in the pass. meaning to show oneself openly or before the people, to come forward, appear, with the idea of sudden or unexpected appearing. Often used in Greek literature of the

gods and hence the significance of theNT epipháneia, appearing…. The word is often used… of the incarnation of Christ.” The word is often used… of the incarnation of Christ.” ~ So in other words, God’s grace, His unmerited favored, “appeared” most especially and specifically in the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ~ God did not only give grace as something fro ~ God did not only give grace as something from Himself but actually gave Himself!

V. CONCLUSION  Is there a word sweeter to a condemned sinner’s ears than the word grace?  Have you ever thought you were too sinful for God to save? ~ Then grace is the good news that God has for you. ~ R.L. Deffinbaugh: “Your salvation is not based upon how good you are, and your salvation is not prohibited by how sinful you have been…. You are

never too sinful to be saved, only too good, too self-righteous, too self- sufficient.” ~ Nowhere is grace more eloquent, more glorious, more precious, more sweet, more beautiful than when it stands in contrast to sin – our sin.  G. S. Bishop: “Grace is a provision for men who are so fallen that they cannot lift the axe of justice, so corrupt that they cannot change their own natures, so

averse to God that they cannot turn to Him, so blind that they cannot see Him, so deaf that they cannot hear Him, and so dead that He Himself must open their graves and lift them into resurrection.”  Have you ever been mad at God? ~ And why were you mad at God? Because you felt God did not give you what you deserved.

~ GRACE IS NOT OBLIGED TO GIVE THE UNWORTHY SINNER ANYTHING. ~ And there are no grounds for protest for the unworthy sinner if God withholds His grace, because grace is not something he earned or deserved anyway.

 GRACE IS SUCH WONDERFUL NEWS, SUCH A GLORIOUS OFFER, TO THOSE WHO ARE SINNERS, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY DESERVE NOTHING OTHER THAN GOD’S WRATH. ~ It is only repulsive to the self- righteous.  GRACE IS ALSO THE BASIS FOR HUMILITY.

~ On one hand, grace declares that all men are equal in their lost condition. (Cf. Rom 3:23) ~ On the other hand, grace not only declares all to be equally lost, grace also declares all who are saved are equal as well. ~ Eph 2:8-9 ~ Grace puts all men on level groun ~ Grace puts all men on level ground.

 GRACE MUST BE THE RULE OF LIFE FOR THE BELIEVER. ~ It must be the dominant theme of our lives as we live in this world and serve God in His church. ~ We are to be gracious to others, just as God has been gracious to us. ~ We must always be on guard against those who would undermine grace ~ We must always be on guard against those who would undermine grace.

 Of all the truths which should move our souls, prompt our worship and inspire our service, and produce humility and gratitude, it is the truth that God is a God of grace, and that grace has been manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. ~ If you would receive the grace of God, you must do so by accepting the gracious gift of salvation God has provided in and through Christ.