ALL SUFFICIENT GRACE FOR EVEN ME

A. Psa. 103:8.
Luke 7:36-50, When a sinful woman washed His feet with her tears, Jesus explained her extraordinary devotion by pointing out that she loved much because she recognized herself as being in need of greater forgiveness.
a. Is it too much to say that the key to being what we ought to be is a proper gratitude for the grace of God through Christ? 1 Tim. 1:12?17.
(A) All of us have done things for which we are deeply ashamed. We may think we have
sinned so greatly that God’s grace is not sufficient to forgive us.
But the Lord’s grace is greater than all our sins: Beautiful song by Haldor
Lillenas that says, “Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus, deeper than the
mighty rolling sea; higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain, all sufficient
grace for even me.”
(a) “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”
There are at least four ways in which God’s grace is sufficient for us.
(2) #1, God’s Grace is sufficient to save us from Sin.
Christ died for us even though we did not deserve it. That’s the statement of Rom. 5:6-8, “For when we were still without strength, (When we were helpless to do anything about our sin) at the chosen time Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
That was God’s gift to you and me. Salvation is a gift of grace. That’s what Eph. 2:8, says.
(c) No one is too far gone in sin to be redeemed by Christ, 1 Cor. 6:9?11.
They were Not beyond the possibility of being saved. They came to God and
stopped doing those things and God gave them salvation.
(B) #2, God will give Grace To Help Us Deal With Obstacles to Our Salvation.
As for temptation, God is faithful to protect us from anything that would be too much for us to handle. 1 Cor. 10:13.
There will be times when it is God’s will for us to endure a hardship — at such times, His “grace is sufficient” to help us deal with it. Listen to how Paul describes his own experience with it, 2 Cor. 12:7?10.
But, we have a great advantage. In every case, we may, “come boldly to the throne of grace” and obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” That’s the promise God makes to you and me in Heb. 4:16.
#3, God’s Grace is Sufficient to Help us Do The Lord’s Work?
Our sufficiency, adequacy and ability to do His work is from God, 2 Cor 3:4?6. We can trust God to supply what ever we need to make us sufficient to accomplish what ever God wants done in our lives.
Eph. 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”
God is making changes in me that I could never make by myself. Like a potter molding a piece of clay, God is making me into what I should be, what He wants me to be. And His workmanship in me will make me acceptable in His sight. That’s the grandeur of God’s All Sufficient Grace.

2 Cor. 9:6-15. God’s grace has given us His word and 2 Tim 3:16?17, says that word will enable us to “Be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
b. #4, God’s Grace is Sufficient To Forgive Us When We as Christians stumble and sin.
That grace is, of course, conditioned upon our repentance, but when we repent, God is
gracious to forgive.
(1) 1 John 1:9?10. That’s His promise.
(1) In fact, “It is God’s grace that teaches us to turn away from sin.” Tit. 2:11-12.
None of us deserve God’s grace — if we deserved it, it would not be grace.
Rom. 5:20-21, tells us that, “Wherever sin abounds, grace abounds much more.” There is no sin so great that God’s grace cannot cover it.
When we come to see our own sins for what they really are in God’s sight, the “gospel” of God’s saving grace becomes the greatest message in all the world and that’s why they call it the “good news.”
God is a God of grace to His people.
The realization of that truth is what encouraged William Barclay to write these words: “O God, our Father, as we read your word, humble us at the sight of your holiness, and then comfort us with the memory of your mercy. Humiliate us with the realization of our sinfulness, and then uplift us at the sight of your love. Help us in your word to know our sin and to find our Savior”
(B) As the apostle stated in 1 Jno. 4:17-19, “If we are tormented by fear of God, it is
because we have not been “made perfect in love.”
(1) If we have not been made perfect in love, it is because we have not yet caught a vision of the depth of God’s grace. To be a genuine Christian is to have “tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1 Pet. 2:3.
(2) May we not “receive the grace of God in vain.” 2 Cor. 6:1.
(1) May we not insult or do despite to “the Spirit of grace.” Heb. 10:29.
(2) May we always be “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” 2 Tim. 2:1.
(3) Acts 20:32,

Spur - 8/5/2001 pm