Desert Church of Christ
Pahrump, NV
We welcome you to our assembly!
Our assemblies:
Sunday morning Bible study: 10:00 AM
Sunday morning worship: 11:00 AM
Sunday evening Bible study: 5:00 PM
Wednesday Bible Study: 6:00 PM
Evangelist: David F. Sims
God’s
Abundant
Grace
“abundant grace was upon them all” Acts 4:33
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Grace is a word we sometimes use…
– Saying “grace” over a meal (thanksgiving)
– Observing a “graceful” ice skater (elegance)
– Commenting on a “gracious” host (charm)
– Of a person who “graces” us with his presence
– In reference to royal person as “Your Grace”
– Even use “Grace” as a child’s name
– Ancient Greeks used it as a legal term in reference to a
judge’s authority to choose how to dispose of a case
• How does the Bible define and use the word?
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
Shades of Grace
Definitions and Demonstrations
Please open your Bible & follow along as we
explore the meaning of God’s abundant grace!
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Outline: Shades of Grace
– Grace in the Old Testament
• Definition
• Uses in the O.T.
• Examples
– Grace in the New Testament Epistles
• Definition
• Uses in the N.T. Epistles
• Examples
(Don’t worry…we’ll examine grace in the Gospels in a future lesson!)
God’s Abundant Grace
• Hebrew: ḥēn (pronounced: khain)
Acts 4:33
– Kittel’s Theological Dictionary:
• “the kind turning of one person to another as expressed in an act of
assistance” Kindness expressed in action
• “Does not just denote the kind disposition and then the outer act as
something detached from the inner mood. It rather means the
attitude of a person in its direction to another in a specific gracious
action” The action reveals the specific attitude…a thoughtful gift!
– Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies:
• “A free and spontaneous willingness to bestow good on him that is
destitute of it, either in a way of kindness or in a way of compassion;
hence, to show favor, mercy, pity, as the act of previous goodwill”
– New Bible Dictionary:
• “It is used of the action of a superior, human or divine, to an inferior. It
speaks of undeserved favor….”
God’s Abundant Grace
• Uses in the Old Testament
Acts 4:33
– Describes both the kind action of God and the divine motive
behind each action…the motive and action are inseparable (Ex.
33:18)
– In God’s grace, it is God’s kind motive that kindly acts. Motive
precedes action, and is not predicated on the receiver’s merit.
– Usually translated “favor” or “grace” in the OT
• “Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD” (Gen. 6:8; NASB)
• “grace has been shown from the LORD” (Ezra 9:8; NASB)
• Hebrew: ḥānan (pronounced: khaw-nan)
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Gracious: a generous response to a need or request
Descriptive of God’s benevolent and condescending nature
“God has dealt graciously with me” (Gen. 33:11)
“Be gracious to us, O LORD, be gracious to us” (Ps. 123:3)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Old Testament Examples of Favor
– Favor between men
• Joseph found favor with Potiphar (Gen. 39:4) – promotion!
• Ruth found favor from Boaz (Ruth 2:8-13) – benevolence!
• Esther found favor from the king (Est. 5:2) – mercy!
– Favor from God to men
• Abraham found favor in God’s sight (Gen. 18:1-3) – a child!
• Lot found favor in God’s sight (Gen. 19:18-22) – spared his life!
• Moses found favor in God’s sight (Ex. 33:13-17) – appearance!
– Notice that the gifts of favor were freely given, not because
of compulsion, obligation, or the merit of the receiver.
– The O.T. prophets inquired of the coming grace (1 Pet. 1:10)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Greek: charis (pronounced khar-iss)
– Kittel’s Theological Dictionary: favor, goodpleasure;
demonstration of a ruler’s favor
– Strong’s Dictionary: the state of kindness and favor
toward someone, often with a focus on a benefit given
to the object
– B.,A.,&G.’s Greek-English Lexicon: the gracious intention
of God; practical application of goodwill, a sign of favor
– Common definition: “unmerited favor”
• Greek: charisma (a gift freely given)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• “Grace” is used in several ways in the N.T.:
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It is given to each Christian (Eph. 4:7)
Its presence (fruit, effect) can be observed (Acts 11:23)
It is a state in which one should continue (Acts 13:43; Heb. 12:15)
It is revealed in the Gospel (Acts 20:24,32)
We are saved by God’s grace (Acts 15:11)
We are justified by God’s grace (Rom. 3:24)
It is free gift through Jesus’ sacrifice (Rom. 5:15)
It requires our faith (Rom. 4:16; 5:1-2; Eph. 2:8 )
Key to forgiveness of sin (Eph. 1:7)
Of roles in the church (Eph. 4:7,11-12)
Our conduct & speech (2 Cor. 1:12; Eph. 4:29)
In benevolence (2 Cor. 8:1-4,7)
Of miraculous powers/non-miraculous talents (Rom. 12:6-8)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Examples of grace in the N.T. Epistles
– Stephen “full of grace” (Acts 6:8)
– “By the grace of God, I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10)
– “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9)
– Grace given to Paul (Gal. 2:9)
– Some believers had fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4)
– Grace brings salvation to all of us (Tit. 3:11)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
The meaning of grace:
God’s unmerited favor
1. Unmerited: we don’t deserve it, can’t earn it…He chooses to give it
by His Own kind motive and intention.
2. Favor: God’s regard for us, demonstrated in His kind actions toward
us, particularly for our salvation
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all
men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires
and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age
(Titus 2:11-12)
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Summary
– Grace in the Old Testament
• Definition: God’s kindness expressed in kind actions to men
• Uses: God’s many gracious dealings with mankind
• Examples: Noah, Abraham, Moses, many more
– Grace in the New Testament Epistles
• Definition: God’s favor, which we do not deserve, manifested
primarily in the sacrifice of Jesus, and in other gifts
• Uses: salvation, spiritual blessings, roles, gospel, et al.
• Examples: Stephen, Paul, churches…even us today!
God’s Abundant Grace
Acts 4:33
• Would you like to receive God’s grace today?
• Believe His Word…that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who
died for our sins and was raised up.
• Repent of your sins…commit yourself to holiness.
• Confess Jesus as your Savior.
• Be baptized into Jesus for forgiveness of your sins.
• Continue in the blessed relationship of His favor by
remaining faithful in holy conduct.
• God’s abundant grace can be upon you today!
God’s
Abundant
Grace
“abundant grace was upon them all” Acts 4:33