I preached the following message straight out of the SOP on Sabbath, June 29, 2002:

The Cost Of Grace

We have been spending the past few weeks at our weekly Prayer & Bible Study Meeting studying the different aspects of grace which coincidentally has been the theme of a daily devotional book that Beth & I are reading called “God’s Amazing Grace.”

The theme for the month of June was “The Cost Of Grace” which gave me the idea for the title of this message.

What I want to do is to share with you some thoughts from this book that caught my attention.

Ephesians 2;1-9 says:

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Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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We are saved by grace.

Grace is a gift of God.

First of all, what is the definition of grace?

For the answer, I went to an online dictionary and this is what I found:

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Grace is “unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification, a virtue coming from God, a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace.

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Unmerited divine assistance or underserved divine assistance.

Grace is unmerited favour, and the believer is justified without any merit of his own, without any claim to offer to God.

What is the purpose of grace? The obvious answer from Ephesians 2:8 is to save us from the penalty of sin.

Grace, therefore, may be and is a gift, however, there is a cost to the giver of divine grace.

When you give somebody a gift, you first need to purchase that gift.

Christ purchased the gift of grace which He freely gives to whoever will accept His gift of grace.

What was the cost of grace that Christ purchased for us? It is the price of this grace that Christ purchased for us that makes salvation so valuable.

The price paid for our redemption was God the Father’s infinite sacrifice in giving His Son to die for you and for me. Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice. The Father consented to this sacrifice in giving His only begotten Son to die in the sinner’s place, that you and I, by a life of grateful obedience, might escape the penaly of the law of God.

God so loved the world that He gave Himself in Christ to the world to bear the penalty of our transgression.

God suffered with His Son, as the divine Being alone could suffer, in order that the world might become reconciled to Him.

The last part of John 14:30 says that the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

The life of Christ was a perpetual warfare against Satanic agencies. The prince of evil himself personally conducted the warfare.

Not even once did Christ give in to any of the temptations of the devil. Not even once did Christ step on the devil’s ground, to give him any advantage.

The first part of Isaiah 63:3 says, “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me.“

Christ also suffered unutterable loneliness. Through childhood, youth, and manhood, Jesus walked alone. He carried the awful weight of responsibility for the salvation of men.

He knew that unless there was a decided change in the principles and purposes of the human race, all would be lost.

Throughout His life His mother and His brothers did not comprehand His mission. Even His disciples did not understand Him.

Alone He treaded the path; alone He bore the burden. He bore the burden of out guilt. The Sinless One felt the shame of sin.

When Jesus was no longer with His disciples on this earth, they began to see how they might have shown Him attentions that would have brought gladness to His heart.

The same want is evident in our world today. But few appreciate all that Christ is to them. If they did, the great love of Mary (Matthew 26:6-13) would be expressed, the anointing would be freely bestowed. Nothing would be thought too costly to give for Christ, no self-denial or self-sacrifice too great to be endured for His sake.

It says in the last part of Hebrews 4:15 that Christ was in ALL points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

For 40 days He ate and drank nothing. I knew that He never ate anything during those 40 days, however, I never realized that He also never drank anything.

He realized the power of appetite upon man; and in behalf of sinful man, He bore the closest test possible upon that point. The controlling power of depraved appetite, and the grevious sin of indulging it, can only be understood by the length of the fast which our Saviour endured that He might break its power.

Christ came to earth to unite His divine power with our human efforts, that through the strength and moral power that He imparts, we might overcome in our own behalf. With man’s nature, and the terrible weight of man’s sins pressing upon Him, our Redeemer withstood the power of the devil upon this great leading temptation, which imperils the souls of men.

If man should overcome this particular temptation, he could conquer every other temptation. It is interesting that sin came into this world from the indulgence of appetite in the eating of only one kind of fruit from which flowed out a multitude of other sins.

In redemption, the denial of appetite was the first work of Christ.

Intemperance lies at the foundation of all moral evils known to man.

What amazing love has Christ manifested in coming into the world to bear our sins and infirmities, and to tread the path of suffering alone, that He might show us by His life of spotless merit how we should walk, and overcome as He had overcome.

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1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

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Christ spent much time in agonizing prayer praying for His disciples and for us.

Luke 16:12 says, "And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."

How often do we pray? Better still, how long do we pray?

Christ was frequently bowed all night in prayer to God. Christ chose the stillness of the night, when there would be no interruption. Jesus could heal the sick and raise the dead, yet He prayed.

A thought just struck me while preparing this message.

· Why don’t we have an all night prayer session as a church?
· Better still, why don’t we spend at least one whole night in prayer as Christ did?
· I wonder what would happen if we did?
· A real revival within each of us, and within the church of Fredericton?
· Would the cost be too great to do such a thing when comparing the cost of what Christ did for us?

Christ is our example.

Are we tempted and fiercely buffeted by the devil? So also was He who knew no sin. He turned to His Father in these hours of distress. He came to earth that He might provide a way whereby we could find grace and strength to help in every time of need, by following His example in frequent and earnest prayer.

1 Peter 1:18,19 says in essence that we were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,….but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.

WHAT A PRICE!!!!! It was through infinite sacrifice and inexpressible suffering that our Redeemer place redemption within our reach.

Christ has purchased the will, the affections, the mind, the soul, of every human being.

Whether believers, or unbelievers, all men are the Lord’s property.

We are His by creation, and His by redemption.

BEHOLD THE CROSS!!!!!

BEHOLD THE VICTIM UPLIFTED UPON IT!!!!!

Look at those hands, pierced with cruel nails.

Look at His feet, fastened with spikes to the tree of Calvary.

Christ bore our sins in His own body.

That suffering, that agony, is the COST OF GRACE!!!!!

THE PRICE OF OUR REDEMPTION!!!!!

Christ has bought us at a dear price, and offers us grace and glory, if we will receive it.

If there is anybody here who really in actuality hasn’t yet received it, I hope you will do so today.

Now, if we have received it then we need to show it by being a living sacrifice of love for Him and fo all of humanity.

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Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

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Christ desires us to be representatives of Himself, expressing the fragrance of His character, His own pure thoughts, His divine attributes as manifested in His sanctified human life, in order that others may behold Him in His human form, and be led to desire to be like Him --- pure, undefiled, wholly acceptable to God, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.

Is it your desire to be His ambassador?

The gospel of Christ is a blessing that all may possess. The poorest are as well able as the richest to purchase salvation; for no amount of worldly wealth can secure it.

It is obtained by willing obedience, by giving ourselves to Christ as His own purchased possession.

We are to seek the Pearl of great price, but not in worldly market places, or in worldly ways.

The price we are required to pay is not silver or gold, for this belongs to God.

God calls for your willing obedience.

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Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

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All His gifts are promised on condition of obedience. God has a heaven full of blessings for those who will cooperate with Him.

As I said in the beginning of this message, grace is unmerited favour, and the believer is justified without any merit of his own, without any claim to offer to God. BUT while he is justified because of the merit of Christ, he is NOT free to work unrighteousness.

Faith works by love and purifies the soul.

Faith buds and blossoms and bears a harvest of precious fruit.

Where faith is, good works will appear.

Have you been looking unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of your faith?

Have you been beholding Him who is full of truth and grace?

Have you accepted the peace which Christ alone can give?

If you have not, then yield to Him, and through His grace seek for a character that will be noble and elevated.

Seek for a constant, resolute, cheerful spirit.

Feed on Christ who is the Bread of life, and you will manifest His lovliness of character and spirit.

The very best you can do will not merit the favour of God.

It is Jesus’ worthiness that will save you, His blood will cleanse you.

BEHOLD THE CROSS!!!!!

BEHOLD THE VICTIM UPLIFTED UPON IT!!!!!

Look at those hands, pierced with cruel nails.

Look at His feet, fastened with spikes to the tree of Calvary.

That suffering, that agony, is the COST OF GRACE!!!!!

THE PRICE OF OUR REDEMPTION!!!!!


[ July 14, 2002, 03:25 PM: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]

Daryl thank you for this message. Amen

Powerful, Daryl. Thank you.

It's the same with our salvation as it is in commmerce: there's nothing that's really free. Whatever is given away as being 'free', is free only to the taker; somebody, somewhere, had to pay for it.

In the case of our salvation, God's grace is a free gift, free to us: but God Himself paid a hefty price for that free gift to us. May we never forget that!