“Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!” So declares the famous hymn, Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord. But what is grace? It is common for people to speak of grace in positive tones, or to demand it from others: “show me a little grace!” But often when we speak in those terms, grace is something we demand because we think we deserve it. When the Reformation recovered the Biblical truth of God’s grace to sinners in Jesus Christ, it recovered the exact opposite belief – that God’s grace to sinners is His blessing on those who do not deserve it at all. In fact, sinners instead deserve God’s wrath! God would be completely just to withhold any blessing or mercy from those who have broken His law, dishonored His authority, and mocked His rule. The wonder of God is that He showers His grace upon undeserving sinners. It is only by the grace of God that we can be saved from our sin, and that grace comes because of the saving work of Jesus Christ. “Sola Gratia” (Ephesians 2:1-10)

I. Why Do We Need Grace?
A. We Are Incapable of Good
B. We Are Enslaved

II. What is Grace?
A. It is Undeserved
B. It is God’s Love

III. What Does Grace Do?
A. Grace Saves
B. Grace Equips

Questions for consideration: (1) Why is it important that we understand we need grace? If we don’t acknowledge our need, how does that affect the way we treat others? The way we think about God? (2) Some speak of grace as a help that God gives to those who obey Him. What does that thinking do to our evangelism? To life in the Church? (3) Why is it important to know that grace equips us?