Level 1 Lesson 2 SALVATION BY GRACE

Level: 1, Lesson: 2

SALVATION BY GRACE
OUTLINE

Luke 18:9-14 "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican, 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

GRACE is the Greek word "Charis" and means "the free unmerited, undeserved favor of God" given to those who actually deserve the opposite.

"Charisma" is translated by the word "gift" or "free gift" especially emphasizing that it is of grace. "Charisma" is "a specific form or manifestation of God’s grace."

The tax collector found righteousness (right standing with God) offered to him as a manifestation of God’s grace.

Grace is offered only through the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

Grace is received only by the humble. James 4:6 and I Peter 5:5 both quote Proverbs 3:34 saying, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. "

Charles Swindoll states in his book The Grace Awakening, "Justification is the sovereign act of God whereby He declares righteous the believing sinner – while he is still in a sinning ."

Donald Barnhouse once stated, "God credits (Abraham) a man to be perfect even at a moment when he is ungodly in himself. This is justification."

The word "gospel" means "good news." When you get your newspaper in the morning you are not getting the early morning prophecy. It is reporting the news—something that has already happened.

The gospel is the good news that Christ has already taken care of the sin problem. We will find the same mercy and grace as the tax collector did in Jesus’ day if we will humble ourselves and trust Jesus Christ for our forgiveness (the price for our forgiveness has already been paid).

LESSON TEXT

1 "For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17). Although this is a long and somewhat elaborate verse, we will only trying to deal with one aspect of this verse, that is, righteousness, a right relationship, a right-standing with God that is offered to us as a gift. The dictionary defines a "gift" as "something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation" (AH Dict.).
If you bought your wife some flowers and then asked her to pay you $19.95, would that be a gift?
If you bought your children bicycles for Christmas and then asked them to begin making payments in January, would that be a gift? Of course not!

A gift is free to those receiving it, although it does cost the person who purchased it. The gift of righteousness is free to those who will receive it, but it did cost God the death of His Son to offer it.

2 In Luke, Chapter 18, Jesus spoke a parable to a group of self-righteous people. This is what He said, "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:" (Luke 18:9).

3 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican" (Luke 18:10).

In Jesus’ day the publican (tax collector) was considered a very ungodly and evil person. The tax collectors worked for the Roman government and were usually considered traitors by their own countrymen. The taxes that they collected were by means of pressure, scheming, and cheating. They were considered by others as wicked, evil people.

4 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican" (Luke 18:11).

5 "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess" (Luke 18:12).

6 Notice the body language of this publican. "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner!" (Luke 18:13).

7 "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified (declared right before God, just as if he had never sinned, acquitted of his sins, declared innocent before God) rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:14).

(a)According to Romans 5:17, what kind of righteousness does God offer us?
(b)What does the word "gift" mean?
(a) What is a parable?
(b) Who did Jesus direct this parable to? (Luke 18:9).
(c) People who are self-righteous always reveal an attitude towards others. According to Luke 18:9, what is that attitude?
(a) According to Luke 18:10 two people went to pray, in modern language where did they go to pray?
(b) Who were these people? (v.10).
(c) What is a Pharisee?
(d) What is a publican?
(a) According to the King James version, who did the Pharisee pray with?
(b) What was the Pharisee’s prayer?
(a) Do you know what fasting means?
(b) Do you know what it means to give tithes?
(c) Who was he giving his tithes to?
(a) Where was the publican standing? Why?
(b) What was his facial expression?
(c) Why was he hitting himself?
(d) What was this tax collector’s prayer?
(a) According to verse 14, which one of these men was declared righteous before God when he went to his home?
(b) Why? Because he humbled himself.
(c) Did God forgive this tax collector?
(d) If you got down on your knees right now and cried out to God from your heart, "God be merciful to me a sinner," would God treat you the same way He treated the tax collector?