Abundant Grace Rom. 5: 20 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

Paul said, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.,” [Rom 5:20].  That is abundant grace.  Jesus promised us abundant life in Jn 10:10; and part of that abundant life is abundant grace.  Last week we saw the abundant joy that is part of this abundant life.  Today, we are going to look at the abundant grace that accompanies our abundant life.

The Lord has given us abundant grace to:

Cover our sin – Rom 5:20 – Jn 1:14-17 – Eph 2:8-9 – before we were saved, we abounded in sin even though we didn’t realize how wicked and abundant our sins were.  But when we came to Christ, we found in him more grace than the sin we found in ourselves.  The more we recognize the depth of our sin [1 Tim 1:15], the more abundant the grace of God is to cover our sin.

Meet our need – 2 Cor 9:8 – 2 Cor 8:1-2 – Phil 4:19 – we are like a conduit when it comes to giving to God.  As we give from what we have, God gives to us, so that in all things we always have all sufficiency to abound to every good work.  Solomon said, “There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches,” [Prov 13:7].  Abundant grace supplies every need.  The greater the need the more abundant the grace.  God’s promise to “supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” was given to a giving church [Phil 4:15-19].

Fulfill God’s will – 1 Cor 15:10 – Eph 4:7 – 2 Cor 12:8-10 – Paul was equipped by the abundant grace of God to do the work of an apostle.  He labored more abundantly than others because of the abundance of God’s grace.  Likewise, we are given the grace of God for the work he wants us to do in the body of Christ.  Especially in our weakness, we are strengthened by the grace of God.  The weaker we are in ourselves, the stronger we are in his grace.

Strengthen our church – Acts 11:22-23 – Acts 20:32 – when Barnabas went to Antioch from Jerusalem, he could “see” the grace of God in the church.  God’s grace is not visible and yet the work of his grace was visible in the church.  They were doing things that they could have only done through God’s power.  God’s grace strengthens our church against her enemies and for the work God wants us to do.  The greater the need, the greater the grace to meet that need.

Glorify God – 2 Cor 4:15 – Eph 3:21 – the work of God’s grace among us redounds to the glory of God through the multiple thanksgivings of many.  The more we rely upon the grace of God, the more grace he gives.  The more grace he gives, the more God is thanked for his grace.  The more he is thanked, the more glory he receives.  God is to be glorified in the church.

Conclusion: you can see what’s going on here with the grace of God.  His grace is greater than our sin, our need, our work, and our weakness.  We must become more reliant on the abundant grace of God than on our own strength and supply.  As Paul said, “when I am weak, then am I strong,” [2 Cor 12:10].