Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

When we think of grace, we usually think of God the Father, but the Bible speaks as much about the grace of Jesus Christ as it does about God. This thought lends itself to the teaching of the deity of Jesus Christ.

So now let us look at the grace of Jesus Christ in these thoughts.

1. THE CONTRAST OF LAW AND GRACE
   1. In our text we find that there is a clear contrast between law and grace. Law demands obedience in the flesh; grace demands obedience in love and depends upon God for the strength to do so.
   2. The law came by way of Moses. Moses is the recipient of the Old Testament or Jewish law, and Israel were expected to keep that law flawlessly.
   3. Grace came by way of Jesus Christ, and lost men are saved by that grace, and they are prompted to keep the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ.
      1. Joh 14:15 & If ye love me, keep my commandments.
      2. Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father= s commandments, and abide in his love.
   4. Grace is stronger than the law: Ro 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
   5. We are to delight in the law, because it is our schoolmaster that brought us to Christ B Ro 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

2. GRACE AS A SALUTATION
   1. Ro 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
   2. 1Co 1:3 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.
   3. 2Co 1:2 Grace [be] to you and peace from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.
   4. Ga 1:3 Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ,
   5. Eph 1:2 Grace [be] to you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.
   6. Php 1:2 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.
   7. This is also found in 1 Thess. 1:1, 2 Thess. 1:2, 1 Tim. 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3, and 2 John 1:3.
   8. What a grand way of beginning a letter: with a salutation from God and the Lord, Jesus Christ! Maybe we should begin all of our letters with this same salutation.

1. JESUS AS THE INSTRUMENT OF GRACE
   1. Just as our text says, grace came by Jesus Christ.
   2. In the last part of Romans 5:15 we read: A ... the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ ...@
   3. 1Co 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
   4. Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
   5. 2Ti 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,

    

1. JESUS CHRIST AND THE WORK OF GRACE
   1. We have heard so much about the A work of grace,@ but sometimes I think we have the idea wrong.
   2. The work of grace is not in our hearts so much as it is the work of Jesus Christ.
   3. 2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
   4. This is the work of grace. We are not saved by works, because Christ did all the work for us.
   5. But then that work of grace is given to us by Christ B Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

1. THE GRACE OF CHRIST SAVES
   1. Ac 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
   2. So, then, when we read Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God, we know that the grace is Jesus= grace, the grace of Christ.

1. GRACE NOW REIGNS IN THE BELIEVER
   1. Ro 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
   2. It is possible for the grace of Christ to reign in our lives because of the grace that was given to us as a gift.
   3. This grace should reign through righteousness as we submit ourselves unto the righteousness of Christ in our lives.

1. WE ARE CALLED INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST
   1. Ga 1:6 & I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
   2. We are not called into a set of laws that will keep us righteous if we obey them; we are called into the grace of Christ so we will not have to worry about our standing before God. This makes us free, gives us liberty, to serve Jesus Christ and to be at peace in our lives.

1. WE CAN BE STRONG IN THE GRACE OF CHRIST
   1. 2Ti 2:1 & Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
   2. 2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.

1. THE GRACE OF CHRIST IS ABUNDANT
   1. 1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
   2. We do not ever have to worry about running out of grace; it is abundant.
   3. Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)full of grace and truth.

1. THE FULNESS OF THIS GRACE WILL BE REVEALED AT THE COMING OF CHRIST HIMSELF
   1. 1Pe 1:13 & Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
   2. One day the complete fulness of Christ= s grace will be revealed. Remember this the next time you read the book of Revelation. It will thrill your heart to know that this is a revelation, not so much of prophetic teaching, but of the grace of God, which all who believe are anxious to see and who have a hope in it.

1. THE GRACE OF CHRIST AS A CLOSING
   1. Ro 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.
   2. 1Co 16:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you.
   3. 2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen.
   4. Ga 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen.
   5. This happens in Php. 4:23; 1 Thessa. 5:28; 2 Thess 3:18; Philemon 1:25.
   6. And then the whole book of the Bible ends with these words in Re 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.

Have you learned something about the grace of Jesus Christ today? That is good! But have you know the grace of Jesus Christ in an intimate and personal way? Have you repented of your sins and believed the work of grace that Jesus did when he came to the earth and humbled himself, suffered for sins, was buried in a tomb, and resurrected the third day?

If not, then today would be a great time to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.