Sermon #19 Zechariah Series

Title: Grace! Grace!

Glorious Grace

Text: Zechariah 4:6-7

Subject: God’s Grace

Date: Sunday Evening — November 6, 2005

Readings: Merle Hart and Ron Wood

Tape # Zechariah #19

Introduction:

There is nothing we need like we need grace. And there is nothing more pleasing and delightful to our great God than the exercise of his grace in saving such worthless sinners as we are. He “delighteth in mercy!” He waits to be gracious! The wonders of divine grace are the greatest of all wonders. The wonders of divine power and wisdom in the making of this great world are marvelous. The wonders of his justice in punishing sin are a great deep. The mysterious prudence of his good providence is a subject worthy of constant meditation and praise. But nothing is so wonderful as the wonders of grace. That is what I want to talk about tonight. — Grace! Grace! Glorious Grace! My text is Zechariah 4:6-7.

(Zechariah 4:6-7) “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (7) Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.”

The sound with which the gospel rings is, “Grace, grace!” And that will be that shout which will ring in heaven forever.

The purpose of the chapter is to comfort and encourage the children of Israel, in the building of Jerusalem and the temple after their return from Babylon. In the Book of Ezra (3:12), we read that “many of the priests and Levites, and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice,” because the temple they were building lacked the grandeur and beauty of Solomon’s temple.

The prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, were sent to comfort them encourage them to go on with the work. They did so by proclaiming the glories of the gospel that were to be displayed in this latter house, glories that would make this temple indescribably more glorious than Solomon’s temple.

(Haggai 2:3-9) “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? (4) Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: (5) According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. (6) For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; (7) And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. (8) The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. (9) The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Obviously, this all of this is figurative, speaking of the glory of the gospel temple, the church (1 Cor. 3:16-17). This is the same thing Zechariah saw in chapter 3. — “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at; for behold, I will bring forth my servant, the Branch” (v. 8). And the same subject is continued in this chapter. Zechariah’s vision in chapter 4 is about the glorious grace of the gospel, which was to be manifested by Christ in this temple. — “And they shall bring forth the headstone with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.”

The headstone is that which crowns and finishes the whole work, signifying that the entire gospel dispensation was to be finished in by grace alone. This headstone, we are told, shall be brought forth and set in place with repeated shouting or rejoicings at the grace of God, telling us that the grace of our God, the grace by which we are saved, the grace by which God builds his church is glorious grace.

When Christ, our mighty Zerubbabel has finished his mediatoral work, when he presents the kingdom to the Father, saying, “Lo! I and the children thou hast given me,” when he presents us faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy, crying, “Grace, grace unto it,” the glorious grace of the triune God will forever shine brilliantly in every part of the great work of redemption. The foundation was laid by grace. The building is reared by grace. And the whole work shall be finished and crowned by glorious grace. — “And if by grace, then it is no more works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace; otherwise work is no more work” (Rom. 11:6).

The Works of Grace

We see the glory of God’s grace in all the works of salvation performed by grace.

(Romans 5:20-21) “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I want us to briefly examine every aspect of salvation as it is set forth in the Holy Scriptures and see that salvation is in its entirety ascribed to the free-grace of God in Christ.

Illustration: A local Campbellite preacher wrote, “The Bible says that ‘salvation is by grace’; but it never says, salvation is by grace alone.” He is right. The Bible nowhere says it; but it teaches it everywhere!

It is my intention to show you from the Word of God that God alone deserves and shall have all the praise of salvation, because salvation is the work of God alone.

For Us

First, let’s look back at what God has done for us. Salvation begins in eternity. Long, long before God began his work of grace in us he began his work of grace for us. If your thoughts about salvation are limited to what you experience in time, you have a very limited and perverse view of God’s work. Salvation includes the past, the present, and the future. I have been saved; I am being saved; and I shall be saved.

In surveying this momentous, glorious thing called “salvation,” let’s begin where God began, with the eternal election of his people in Christ.

To whom are we indebted for this, the first of all spiritual blessings? Pride says, “To me!” Self-righteousness says, “To me!” Free-will says, “To me!” “Election must be based upon something God foresaw in me!” Faith joins with the Word of God and says, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for they mercy, and for thy truth’s sake!” — “Grace, grace unto it!”

“‘Tis not that I did choose Thee,

For, Lord, that could not be;

This heart would still refuse Thee,

Hadst Thou not chosen me.

My heart owns none before Thee;

For Thy rich grace I thirst;

This knowing, if I love Thee,

Thou must have loved me first.”

Hear the testimony of the Apostle Paul (Rom. 11:5-6).

(Romans 11:5-6) “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (6) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

· “There is a remnant.”

· “According to the election of grace.”

· “And if by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace.”

“Grace ceases to be grace unless it is totally and absolutely irrespective of anything and everything, whether good or bad, in the objects of it.”

Augustus Toplady

We affirm that God’s election of some to salvation and eternal life was a work of unconditional grace, because grace and conditionality are two incompatible opposites. The one totally negates and destroys the other. They cannot exist together, anymore than two objects can occupy the same place at the same time. If you slip in works, you push grace out. If you establish grace, you push works out.

God’s next work for us revealed in the Scriptures was the everlasting covenant of grace, ordered in all things and sure from eternity.

Are the blessings of that covenant made between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit conditioned upon our works, or are they conditioned upon God’s work? Is the immutability of the covenant determined by man’s free-will, or by God’s sovereign will? Are repentance, faith, obedience and perseverance conditions of the covenant, or fruits of the covenant? What saith the Scripture? (Heb. 8:8-12; 2 Tim. 1: 9-12; Rom. 9:9-16).

(Hebrews 8:8-12) “For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: (9) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. (10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

(2 Timothy 1:9-12) “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (11) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. (12) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

(Romans 9:9-16) “For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. (10) And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (11) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) (12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (14) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.”

Illustration: The Reading Of The Will.

· The Covenant was established in eternity.

· The Covenant was put into force at Calvary.

· The Covenant is read in the preaching of the Gospel.

· The Covenant is received by faith.

· Faith itself is a covenant gift of grace (Eph. 2:8; Jer. 32:38-41).

(Ephesians 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

(Jeremiah 32:38-41) “And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: (39) And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: (40) And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. (41) Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.”

What do we say, with regard to God’s covenant and all the blessings of it? When we think of the covenant then, and all its blessings, let us sing this song – “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake!” — “Grace, grace unto it!”

Then, in the fullness of time, God sent his Son into the world to suffer and die as our Substitute, to make atonement for our sins and redeem us from the curse of the law.

Read the Scriptures with me (Isa. 53:6, 8-10; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; 1 Pet. 2:24; Rev. 5:9-10).

(Isaiah 53:6) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

(Isaiah 53:8-10) “He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (9) And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. (10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”

(2 Corinthians 5:21) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

(Galatians 3:13) “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”

(Hebrews 9:12) “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

(1 Peter 1:18-20) “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”

(1 Peter 2:24) “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

(Revelation 5:9-10) “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

The whole doctrine of the gospel stands or falls upon this one point – “How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures!” (1 Cor. 15:3). Be sure you understand the doctrine of the Scriptures. I am not preaching a theory of the atonement. I am preaching the biblical doctrine of the atonement!

(1 Corinthians 15:1-3) “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

· Christ died by the will of God!

· Christ died as a Substitute for God’s elect! “For the transgressions of my people!”

· Christ accomplished the redemption of his people when he die don the cross by satisfying Divine justice for us!

· Christ’s work of redemption is a finished work of grace!

“‘Tis done! The great transaction is done,

I am my Lord’s, and He is mine!”

· To be redeemed is to be forgiven!

· To be redeemed is to be justified!

· To be redeemed is to be accepted!

Where in the Bible are these things said to be the possession of all men? Where are these great blessings of redemption attributed to the free-will of man? These works of redemption are the works of God’s free-grace alone!

Redeemed sinners in heaven, what say you to the great and glorious work of redemption? Hear their answer – “Thou art worthy, O Lamb of God, for thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation!”

Redeemed sinners upon the earth, what say you about the redemption of your souls? “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake!” — “Grace, grace unto it!”

Those are the great works of God for us, by which we are saved. Not one of them are dependent upon or determined by man’s free-will. They are all the works of God’s free-grace in Christ.

· Electing grace!

· Covenant grace!

· Redeeming grace!

“To God be the glory, great things he hath done!”

In Us

Second, I want us to briefly consider what God is doing in us (tit. 3:4-7).

(Titus 3:4-7) “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

This is the experimental part of salvation. It is as essential as election and redemption. As the work of God for us is altogether of grace, so the work of God in us is a work of grace alone. Listen to the Word of our God – “It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profitteth nothing!” (John 6:63).

Regeneration is a work of grace alone (Eph. 2:1-4).

(Ephesians 2:1-4) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: (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: (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. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”

The conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment is the work of grace alone (John 16:8-13).

(John 16:8-13) “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”

Faith in Christ is the work of grace alone (Eph. 1:19; 2:8; Col. 2:12).

(Ephesians 1:19) “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,”

(Ephesians 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

(Colossians 2:12) “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

When we declare faith to be necessary to salvation, the Hardshell cries, “There, is not believing a work? Have you not slipped in works?” No! Faith is God’s work in us!

Good works are the work of grace (Gal. 5:22-24; Eph. 2:10). — “It is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure!”

(Gal 5:22-24) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

(Ephesians 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Perseverance is the work of grace alone (John 10:27-28; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:5; Jer. 32:38-41).

(John 10:27-28) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

(Philippians 1:6) “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

(1 Peter 1:5) “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

We believe in the perseverance of the saints because we believe in the perseverance of the Savior.

Yes, even sanctification is the work of grace alone. Let me camp here for just a minute. Contrary to the report of some, I do know the difference between sanctification and justification. I know wherein the two differ; and I know wherein they agree. They agree in this – Both are works of grace!

Sanctification is holiness. To be sanctified is to be made holy. This great work of God is never once ascribed to the will, or work of man. It is always ascribed to the grace of God alone. Grace makes unholy men and women holy.

· By imputed righteousness in justification.

· By imparted righteousness in sanctification.

To be sanctified is to be made a saint. It is not the pope who makes men saints. Neither do sinners make themselves saints. Grace alone makes sinners to be saints!

The word “sanctify” is used six times in the New Testament. The word “sanctification” is used five times. “Sanctified” is used 16 times. But never even once, in those 27 places, is sanctification ascribed to the will or works of man. It is always ascribed to God and his glorious grace.

We are said to be sanctified…

· “Through the truth” (John 17:19).

· “By faith” in Christ (Acts 26:18).

· “By the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 15:16).

· “In Christ” (1 Cor. 1:2).

· “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11).

· “By the will of God, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ” (Heb. 10:10).

· And “by God the Father” (Jude 1).

But never, not even once, in the New Testament is sanctification said to be the result of any man’s will or work. It is the work of God’s free-grace!

What does God say about the work he is doing in us? He says, “My grace is sufficient for thee!” What have saved men in the past said about it? “By the grace of God I am what I am!” And what do you and I say about it? “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake!” — “Grace, grace unto it!”

With Us

Lastly, think for a minute about what God shall do with us. The Lord is not done with us yet. There are a few things yet to be done. But none of them depend upon us!

Soon the Lord God will bring us safely across the swelling Jordan into our heavenly Canaan (Ex. 15:16-18).

(Exodus 15:16-18) “Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. (17) Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. (18) The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.”

Our dear Savior, who has led us through the wilderness of life, will not leave us at the edge of the river. He will bring us into the land of rest. That heavenly city standing before us…

· Is Built Upon A Foundation Of Grace.

· Has A Door Of Grace.

· Is An Inheritance Of Grace.

As God brought Israel into Canaan, not for their righteousness, but for his name’s sake, so he will bring us into glory, not for our righteousness, but for his name’s sake.

Illustration: “He’s got more to lose than me. If I perish, I’ll lose my soul, but God, He’d lose his glory!”

Illustration: Darrell McClung — “Thank God for that man in heaven! Thank God for Christ! O how I thank God for the blood of Christ!” – “I’m still looking for that Man in heaven!”

In the resurrection day the Lord Jesus Christ will complete his work of grace for us, in us, and with us. There will be a glorious resurrection!

· Christ is coming again!

· He will unite our bodies with our souls!

· He will conform us to himself perfectly!

· This mortal must put on immortality!

· This corrupt, corruptible, corrupting man must and shall put on incorruption!

There will be a glorious judgment! That judgment will not be to decide who shall enter into heaven, but to demonstrate who is worthy and why! In that great day our God will display in us, to wondering worlds of men, angels, and devils, the wonders of his matchless grace!

(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.”

There will be a glorious presentation!

· “Then cometh the end!”

· “Lo, I and the children!”

· “Holy, without blame, before him!”

(Jude 1:24-25) “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.”

There will be a glorious introduction! The Lord Jesus Christ will introduce us, a great, glorified multitude, which no man can number, into everlasting glory. There we shall forever increase in the knowledge of, and love for, and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ.

This inheritance of heavenly glory, whatever it is, is an inheritance of free-grace! It is ours by…

· Eternal Predestination! (Eph. 1:11).

· Lawful Purchase! (Heb. 6:20).

· The Gift Of God! (Rom. 6:23).

In heaven’s everlasting glory this shall be our endless, melodious song of praise – “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake!” — “Grace, grace unto it!”

The whole work of salvation is the work of God’s free-grace by Jesus Christ. He alone shall have the praise for it. “This is the word of the Lord…Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts…He shall bring forth the headstone (for the completion of his temple) with shoutings, crying, grace, grace unto it!…(His) hands have laid the foundation of (his) house; his hands shall also finish it!” (Zech. 4:6-9).

The believer boasts not of his free-will, but of God’s free-grace alone (1 Cor. 1:29-31; Phil. 3:3).

· Grace chose me!

· Grace redeemed me!

· Grace called me!

· Grace keeps me!

· Grace shall bring me home to God!

Attributes of Grace

The great glory of God’s grace is manifest in its attributes.

· Grace is eternal (2 Tim. 1:9).

(2 Timothy 1:9) “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

· Grace is immutable (Mal. 3:6; Rom. 11:29).

(Malachi 3:6) “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

(Romans 11:29) “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

· Grace is sovereign (Rom. 9:11-24)

(Romans 9:11-18) “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) (12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (14) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. (17) For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. (18) Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”

· Grace is effectual (Eph. 2:8-9).

(Ephesians 2:8-9) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

· Grace is Free! — “I will love them freely!” — We are “justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

· Grace is righteous (Rom. 5:20-21).

To God alone I ascribe all praise for his free-grace. “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake!” — “Grace, grace unto it!” Grace! Grace! Glorious Grace! Shall be the everlasting theme of my praise and adoration before the throne of God my Savior in eternal glory!

Amen.