The Lord’s Favorite Theme

Jesus was both a teacher and a preacher. It is often said that during His ministry He spent more time healing the people than in either preaching or teaching. Ellen White says, in the book, Christ’s Object Lessons, 40, that there was one subject that He favored above all others. “Christ’s favorite theme was the paternal tenderness and abundant grace of God; He dwelt much upon the holiness of His character and His law; He presented Himself to the people as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” If the grace of God was His favorite theme, it should also be our favorite subject to study and to know well. The Bible has many fascinating passages on the subject of grace, but especially in the book of Ephesians.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:3–7.

Notice that by the glory of His grace He has caused us to be accepted in the Beloved and that we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins according to the richness of His grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8.

The Importance of Grace

Grace brings salvation; it is grace that brings forgiveness of sins. This is all that many Christians seem to know about grace, but it has far more to do than bringing forgiveness of sins. In 11 Corinthians 12:9 and 10, we read that the apostle Paul prayed three times for the Lord to deliver him from a certain affliction. His prayer was not answered in the affirmative, but the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then said, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

We are living in a pessimistic age today where the subject of grace is not understood. Many are discouraged and doubt their salvation believing it impossible to reach the Bible standard for the Christian, because they see themselves as such sinners. Grace does not only bring forgiveness of sins, but it is divine power that gives all the help and assistance needed for whatever circumstance.

The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient.” Sufficient for what? The Bible is very specific about its requirements. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14. Only holy people whose lives are in perfect harmony with the law of God will dwell in God’s presence. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’ ” Romans 7:7. “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Verse 12. “… the law is spiritual.” Verse 14.

The law is holy. Holy people will be in harmony with the law in their outward life, their inward life, their thoughts and their feelings as well as their words and actions. But we find that we have a sinful human nature. “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Romans 8:7.

What can we do then with this impossible situation? It is through grace alone that a person receives power to accomplish what God requires in their life. It is through grace alone that a person is able to resist and subdue the tendencies of the fallen nature. Paul discusses this in detail in Romans 6, 7 and 8. “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3, 4.

Everything that God requires can be accomplished through grace. Successfully resisting the tendencies of the sinful, fallen depraved human nature can be done only through grace. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14–16.

It is through grace that we can receive the help that is needed to resist temptation. One great battle that occurs in the human heart is against unlawful thoughts. Jesus talked about it in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Paul says, “Some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:2–5.

If every thought is in obedience to Christ, the thoughts will be pure, and through grace the mind will be barricaded against licentiousness. Salvation comes only through grace. Without grace we can never be holy, and unless we are holy we cannot see God. Grace enables us to do what is right, not only with our hands, but to control our minds, our thoughts and our words. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:11, 12.

Notice, he says this grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men. The apostles predicted it; Jude predicted it; Peter predicted it and Paul predicted that in the latter days there would be some people who would come into the church and make merchandise of the grace of God. They would use the subject of grace to lead men to believe that you can live any way you want and just keep asking to have your sins forgiven.

Grace is provided to forgive sins, but it is also the power of God to enable you to live righteously now. To live soberly means to not be intoxicated; righteously means doing what is right; and godly means to live in a holy way, in the present.

Paul describes himself in I Corinthians 15:9, 10: “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

He said, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” It is through grace that we receive everything including the forgiveness of sins. It is grace that subdues the tendencies of the fallen sinful nature to enable us to live a holy life in harmony with all of God’s requirements.

My Grace is Sufficient

Jesus sent out His disciples on the missionary journey and told them that persecutions (Matthew 10:23) would come. He told them that they would be hated (verse 22) by all men. Then He said, “Do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Verse 26. He said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Verse 28.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29–31. Jesus here says that in spite of the fact that you are going to be hated by all nations and even your own family will deliver you up to death, He said, you do not need to be afraid. He repeats over and over again, do not fear them; do not worry. Why? Ellen White explained this in The Desire of Ages, 354. She said, “God’s grace will be dispensed to His servants to meet the emergency.”

Do you have any emergencies in your life or get into difficult situations, either in your job, or with your family, or with your friends? There is enough grace for all who are going through crises or emergencies. Our Lord is equal to any emergency; He gives to us more grace as it is needed.

“His grace is sufficient” means all that you need. If you are weak and sinful and need more grace, you will receive all the grace that you need. That is the divine promise. “My grace is sufficient for you.” Not only has He promised you for the crisis situation you are in, but also in the future. You never need to worry about any crisis or emergency for God has promised His grace is sufficient.

The Bible teaches that God’s children are children of a divine King; not only a Creator and Redeemer, but a King. The title written over His cross was Jesus of Nazareth, King; of the Jews.

If you are the child of the King, then you are an elevated person in thought, ennobled in mind and in body. God wants to lift you up from the miasma, the pit, the fog and darkness of sin. He wants to lift you up into a holy, righteous, and peaceful atmosphere and ennoble your mind so that your thoughts, aspirations, desires and your feelings will be holy and righteous. This is only possible when God imparts to you His grace.

We need God’s grace; it is our only safety. We have a fallen, sinful human nature and without grace every thought, word and action will be sinful because it proceeds from a fallen, sinful, selfish human heart. Selfishness is the root of sin. But grace lifts you into a holy, righteous and peaceful atmosphere of mind.

We are all surrounded by an atmosphere, which can be poisonous with sinful thoughts and desires, or righteous, pure and holy because we have received the grace of God. Our only safety is to receive the grace of God and to walk by His grace. It is only by His grace that our tongues are controlled. Notice what James 3:6–8 says: “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, or reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

An uncontrolled tongue breaks up marriages and causes divorce. It causes trouble in the family between parents and the children. It causes strife and commotion and unhappiness in the church. It causes a world of trouble in the workplace and nations are set at war with each other by the tongue. James says that no man can tame it. The only hope that we have of getting it under control is to receive grace. “Of ourselves we cannot control the unruly member. Divine grace is our only hope.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 175.

To receive grace is the only way we are going to be able to control our tongues; the only way we are going to be able to form new habits that will be in harmony with the law of God; the only way we can have help sufficient for the emergencies and trials that we go through in life. That is the only way we can receive salvation. That’s the only way our thoughts can become pure. That’s the only way we can do everything that God requires. That is the only way we can be barricaded against licentiousness, and it is the only way that we can overcome the depravity of human nature and receive forgiveness of the sins that we have committed. It is the only way we can be saved. Salvation is entirely of grace.

How Can You Receive Grace?

In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” He says in verse 11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?”

Number 1—Ask for it!

This is the most powerful and precious gift that God has to give to you without money and without price. Before you leave the bedroom in the morning or the dinner table, pray to the Lord and say, “Lord, please, bestow your grace upon me and help me to walk by faith and be empowered by grace to do your will, today.” The gospel is the power of God unto salvation and it imparts to man the grace of God by which we are saved and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.

Number 2—How do you ask?

Jesus said, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in His heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:23, 24. You will not receive grace unless you ask and expect to receive it.

Number 3—In Luke 6:38 is a divine principle:

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

The more grace you give to others the more you will be able to receive. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:6. The Christian’s words should be continually imparting grace to others.

Grace is something unique to this sinful world. Angels do not need it because they have never sinned. Human beings need grace because of our fallen, depraved nature that makes all kinds of mistakes. Grace is linked with mercy. We should show the same grace and mercy to others that God shows us. Notice what James 2:13 says: “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Those who refuse to give grace or mercy to others cannot expect their heavenly Father to show them grace or mercy. Jesus expressed this same thought. He said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14, 15.

A principle for receiving grace is to give grace to others. We receive grace through faith; ask for it and believe that you will receive it. Paul expresses that very succinctly in Ephesians 2:8. He says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” I’ve heard many people say that we are saved by faith. All the faith in world would not save you if it was not for the grace of God. If Jesus had not died on the cross to pay the price for your sins, all the faith in the world would not save you. But you are saved through faith because grace is available, and when you have faith in God and you believe, then the grace will be given to you.

Where Does Faith Come From?

If you receive grace through faith, where do you get the faith that you need to receive the grace that you want? Paul says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. The Bible is a treasure house for grace. It is in the Bible that you find the promises of God, and if you accept these promises and ask for them by faith you will receive all the grace that you need. It does not matter how much treasure you mine, you will never run out. The grace of God is an inexhaustible treasure, but to receive it, we must do our part and cooperate with the heavenly agencies. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13.

It is God Who works in you a work of grace. Grace is promised only to those who are humble. “Surely He [God] scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs 3:34. Grace cannot be purchased with money. It cannot be acquired with silver or gold or any of the precious things of this earth. It is given free to all who seek it by repentance and faith.

If you are willing to forsake your sins and follow Jesus, all the grace needed will be given to overcome temper, wrong words, wrong thoughts and wrong feelings. He will give you all the grace that you need. There is only one thing that you do need to be concerned about and that is that you use it for what it was intended, to follow Jesus and do His will.

But what happens if you receive the grace of God and refuse to live soberly and become intoxicated; you don’t live righteously, but break God’s law and live wickedly? Then you have received the grace of God in vain. Paul talks about this in II Corinthians 6:1. He says, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you, not to receive the grace of God in vain.”

“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy under the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:28–31. It is a fearful thing to receive the grace of God in vain and instead of using the power to follow Christ, continue to live sinfully.

The great delusion of our time is that people profess to accept Christianity, get baptized and become members of a church, but don’t follow Jesus and receive His power to overcome their besetting sins and live righteously. The grace of God is used for lasciviousness and loose living believing that there is always time to confess their sins. Watch out! The God we serve is not Someone to be trifled with. This is not a game. It is dangerous to be guilty of presumptuousness and misuse the grace of God.

How is it with you? Even if you are the weakest and most sinful person, God has promised you all the grace that you need that you might be able to follow Jesus and walk as He walked. We are still living in probationary time. Do not be like the foolish virgins in Matthew 25 who ran out of oil. They did not have enough grace in their lamp to carry them through the second coming of Christ. Call on God today and He will hear and answer your prayer and shower you with His blessings. His grace is equal to any emergency.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.