Ink & Fire: Words that Changed the World Part Five: Embrace Grace

Micaiah Irmler

Romans 3:1-26 NKJV

Note: Grace is a word we throw around, but often water down.

We say “grace before meals.”

We give people “grace periods.”

We describe dancers as “graceful.”

We say “they fell from grace.”

We hear banks give a grace period.

We even used to call kings and queens your grace.

But do we know what it means?

Romans 3:1-26 NKJV

1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?  2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.  3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?  4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words,And may overcome when You are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)  6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?  8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. 9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written:“There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands;There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside;They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,  22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;  23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,  26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Note: Paul is going to pivot from guilt to grace.

Question: Why would Paul Pivot?

Remember: There was no rug big enough to sweep our sin under.

Note: You could even say that grace grabs the wheel.

Note: Paul is going to introduce grace to ground zero.

Grace Meets You In It vs. 9-18

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written:“There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;“The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Note: Paul wanted the Christians at Rome and us to know You’re more sinful than you thought, but more loved than you imagined.

Question: What level of good is good enough? No one has an answer for how much good we should do.

Note: This is why all other religions say just make sure your good outweighs your bad.

Note: If you understood grace you cannot be a Mormon. If you understood grace you cannot be a Catholic. If you understood grace you cannot be a Buddhist. If you understood grace you cannot be a Jehovah’s Witness. If you understood grace you cannot be a Muslim. If you understood grace you cannot be a Sikh. If you understood grace you cannot be in the occults.

Remember: They all require you to do something.

Remember: The is not a message of merit.

Note: Paul exposes our guilt so that we will see the greatness of God’s grace.

You Don’t Need a Second Chance.

Grace is not God giving us a second chance—it’s God giving us .

Quote: “Grace is not a Principle. Grace is a Person. His name is Jesus.” – Judah Smith

Grace cost Jesus everything so it could cost you nothing.

Free for you still meant expensive for Jesus.

Grace Carries You Through it vs. 21-26

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,  22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;  23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,  26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Remember: Grace doesn’t lower the bar it lifts you up to it.

Note: In Romans 3, we see this: We’re guilty. God is just. Jesus steps in and absorbs the . We get His righteousness in return.

Remember: If grace got you in, then grace keeps you going. You don’t graduate from grace.

Grace got you in. Grace keeps you going. You never graduate from .