ABOUNDING GRACE

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Text: 1Pet.4:10, Rom.5:20-21

This speaks of the many sided grace.
· We wants to look at Abounding Grace Rom.5:20-21. This verse stands out against the dark background of sin. And it’s dangerous working.

A lot of us know this verse of scripture in the King James Version – it uses the word abound for both part of the scripture.
But to get a better understanding of verse lets look at newer translations of the bible.
· The New English Bible says “where sin was thus multiplied grace immeasurably exceeded it.
· J. B Phillips “Though sin is shown to be wide and deep thank God his grace is wider and deeper still.
· Some other Bible commentators are not satisfied by just this so they try to explain it further for example. Donald Barnhouse suggested in his writings that “where sin reached a high water mark, grace completely flooded the world”.
Paul in this verse shows us that although sin has triumphed over us doing great damage, grace has triumphed over sin and now reign victoriously.
Some few salient things we must note about this grace.

I. Grace is not withheld because of sin.
· In normal day life, you and I do not operate this way. If we are offended by someone we tend to withdraw from the person and withhold favour, if people offend us greatly we even find it hard to be courteous or civil with such persons, but God is not like that. On the contrary where sin abounds grace abounds much more e.g Adam and Eve.
· They feared that grace will be taken from them.
· They had gone against his law – Gen.2:17.
· When God came, they hid in fear of the impending judgment.
· Rather he made great promise of the coming messiah who will destroy the works of satan and bring man back to paradise
· Adam and Eve on sinning made fig leaves for clothes but God clothed them with skin of animal speaking of Christ righteousness.

II. The Days of Moses – When the people of God came to Mount Sinai and the law was given to them. Exo.20:2-3 – While this laws was given – the people were busy, doing the opposite and contrary i.e, idolatrous worship, stealing e.t.c was this a barrier to grace – No! on that same mountain God gave instructions on the construction of the tabernacle and laws on how sinful man can approach God where sin abounds grace abounds much more.

III. In the New Testament Jesus appeared on earth as the perfection of Grace. Instead of receiving him the people made sure that he was killed. Pilate would have release him but the people urged on by their corrupt spiritual leaders shouted ‘crucify him’, ‘crucify him’,” So Pilate did. Even when he was been crucified Luk.23:34, he still prayed the father to forgive them. Even this great sin of crucifying the son of God did not cause grace to be withheld.
Paul’s word to the Corinthians depicts his own experience in. 1 Cor.15:9-10
“I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No I worked harder than all of them- yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Towards the end of his life Paul wrote to his young Protégé Timothy in 1Tim.1:12-16. “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our lord was poured out on me abundantly along with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trust worthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”

· Now you may consider yourself to have dashed all hope by some sinful action that rises up as a thick wall against grace and the devil could be harassing your life with this each time you want to come to God. I don’t know what that sin is – it may be sexual sin, adultery perversion or could you have murdered somebody. Destroyed somebody’s work or reputation you could have even being angry with God and cursed him and now you remember and shudder at yourself I want you to know that no dam erected by sin can stop the abundant flow of God’s grace – Grace is never withheld because of sin – Not the sin of Adam and Eve, the children of Israel, Paul’s not even your sin. In Jesus you find immediate and full forgiveness.
· E.g of the story of Isaac Newton.

Dr. Udoh
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