Calvary Road Baptist Church

“THE PLACE OF GRACE”

James 4.6 & First Peter 5.5

Turn in your Bible to James 4.6, standing when you find that verse for the reading of God’s Word. I would like you to concentrate your attention on the final phrase of the second sentence in that verse: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” Now, please, turn to First Peter 5.5, again focusing your attention on the second half of the second sentence in that verse: “for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” There is much dispute among commentators concerning the Old Testament passage James and the Apostle Peter lifted this truth from. Some claim they are paraphrasing Genesis 6.3-7, or express the sentiment of Exodus 20.5, or perhaps Deuteronomy 32.11-19. Others think the statements are quite similar to Proverbs 3.34, where Solomon declares that the LORD scorns the scorners, but gives grace to the lowly. No one disputes that throughout God’s Word is saturated with the principle that God resists those who are proud and that He gives grace only to those who are humble.

If my goal this morning was to deliver an exposition of these two verses, I would first try to thoroughly explain what is meant by God resisting the proud and what it is to be proud, and then turn to explaining what is meant by God giving grace to the humble and what it is to be humble. However, even so simple a sermon as that would take more than we have time for in one service. Therefore, I will bring three lines of thought for your consideration:

First, THE NECESSITY OF GRACE

The Greek word translated grace is cariV. Unbelievers of James and Peter’s day used the word when referring to that which delighted them, and is a term found on inscriptions and monuments as a reference to a ruler’s favor.^[1] Centuries earlier, during the golden age of Athens, the word was used to refer to the “favor” of the gods.^[2] In the Old Testament, the LXX uses the word cariV in Genesis 33.5 to describe God’s gift of children to Jacob as gracious, and according to Psalm 119.29, the LORD is gracious with the Law.^[3] Throughout the New Testament, of course, grace is intimately connected to God’s favor and the understanding that what God graciously does He does not have to do, but does sovereignly.

This understood about God’s grace, three very simple things related to grace that are very important to know:

First, what is called the law of the excluded middle. As you are turning to Romans 11.6, let me assert that there is nothing in the Bible that is illogical. There is much that is supra logical, beyond our grasp of the logical, but nothing found in God’s Word flies in the face of logic or goes against logic. That said, and understanding that logic is rational and therefore governed by immutable laws, we find in Romans 11.6 an example of Paul making use of what is called the law of the excluded middle. The formula for this law is “Everything is either A or not A.”^[4] How important is this law of logic? It is part of the basis that governs the calculating and decision making capability for every computer known to man. Violate this law of logic and you are irrational, illogical, and wrong. If you are a computer, you simply do not function without compliance with this law. Romans 11.6: “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.” Referring to salvation from sins and the establishing of a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, this verse tells us that if salvation is based upon grace (God’s undeserved favor) then it is not based upon works (good deeds), but that if salvation is of works (good deeds) it is not grace. Thus, it is one or the other, not both, A or not A, not a blend of the two.

Now that you see this law of the excluded middle, and recognize that salvation is either by grace and not works or by works and not grace, turn with me to Ephesians 2.5, looking at the phrase enclosed in parentheses: “(by grace ye are saved)”^[5] It is more than interesting to note that there is only one belief system in existence anywhere in the world that embraces the notion that salvation is not the result of works, doing good deeds. Of course, that is the Christian faith as it is revealed in the Word of God, the Bible. Only Bible Christianity posits that salvation is by grace and not works. Not Hinduism, not Buddhism, not Islam, certainly not socialism, and not even such denominations within Christendom as Roman Catholicism, the Greek, Russian and Armenian Orthodox churches, and the Mormons, the Jehovah Witnesses, Church of Christ, and 7th Day Adventists. No non-Christian religious faiths, and not all so-called Christian groups, but only Christianity that recognizes and embraces the Bible doctrine of salvation by grace, differs from all other worldview positions in asserting that the salvation of any person is graciously given by God.

Thus, grace is needed by every sinner who seeks to escape certain damnation. To state the matter another way, grace is something you must have and cannot face death without, unless you are resigned to spending all eternity in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. Deny the existence of God, or refuse to deal with Him in the manner He proscribes in His Bible, and you will face death and eternity without the grace you so desperately need.

Next, THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMILITY

Consider, first, the preeminent display of humility in God’s Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn with me to Philippians 2.1-8:

¹      If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

²      Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³      Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴      Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

⁵      Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶      Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

⁷      But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸      And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The word humbled in Philippians 2.8 is the same Greek word as is found in James 4.6, and pertains to being lowly, undistinguished, and of no account.^[6]

Seeing humility displayed by the Lord Jesus Christ, we now recognize that God has always desired humility.

Second Chronicles 7.14:     “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Second Chronicles 34.27:   “Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.”

Second Chronicles 7.14 shows God’s demand that the nation of Israel humble themselves as a first step in seeking God’s blessing for their nation. Second Chronicles 34.27 records the LORD’s response to young King Josiah’s humble pleas. Humility cannot be a bad thing, since the Savior humbled Himself. Therefore, what complaint could any sinful man have about the urgency of humbling himself? Humility is very much a necessary thing, since the absence of humility requires the presence of pride, which God hates to the point of resisting anyone with pride

Third, humility is not only displayed by the Savior and desired by God, it is also directed.

Matthew 18.4:  “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 23.12:   “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

James 4.10:   “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Why do you suppose the Savior and scripture is so adamant about the importance and necessity of humility? Read through God’s Word and you will see that God shares glory with no creature, and therefore has no interest in providing grace to anyone who is proud and who will claim credit for his own success.

Finally, we see humility defended.

Job 22.29:   “When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.”

Psalm 9.12:    “When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.”

Psalm 10.17:  “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear.”

Psalm 69.32-33:    ³²     The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

³³     For the LORD heareth the poor

When men are cast down, when it is time for God to judge men righteously, He prepares the heart of the humble person, He hears the desire of the humble person, and He saves the humble person. James and Peter sum all of this up when they declare that God gives grace to the humble.

Finally, THE MEANS OF GRACE

“Means of grace” is a phrase frequently used by the Puritans to describe the various mechanisms by which God showed favor to sinners, the practices sinners were to engage in by which God would show His favor and deal with them about spiritual matters. In other words, God ordinarily does not come to a man sitting on a rock doing nothing and suddenly impart grace to him so that he turns from his sins and comes to Jesus Christ by faith. God usually works through various means to impart grace to salvation, but employing the means of grace must be with humility. Let me mention four prominent means of God’s grace:

First, preaching and teaching is a means of grace. Without a doubt, the preaching of God’s Word is the single most important means of grace God ordinarily uses to bring about the salvation of a sinner. Consider First Corinthians 1.18 and 21:

¹⁸     For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

²¹     For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Romans 10.17 also sheds light on this means of grace: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” However, when God’s Word is preached and taught, it is highly unlikely that faith will come by the hearing of the Word of God unless the right attitude is present, James 1.21: “receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Meekness, in this verse, being synonymous with humility. With the right attitude, then, sitting under the gospel and hearing God’s Word preached, God imparts faith to respond to the truth. However, everything that occurs, the opportunity to hear the truth, the preacher, the teacher, the attitude of the listener, the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, and even the final response to the gospel, is a result of God’s grace given by means of preaching.

Second, meditating on God’s Word is a means of grace. After His servant Moses died, the LORD said these words to Joshua, in Joshua 1.8: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” If you want to do well, spiritually, you must meditate on God’s Word. That means, of course, that you must first read it. No one does well spiritually who lightly regards God’s Word. However, more than that is needed. You must ponder, reflect, consider, turn it over in your mind, chew on it like a cow chews its cud. No one does this is who is proud, for only the humble see their need of God’s blessing, value the importance of God’s Word, and recognize how utterly each of us depends upon God. Memorize? That is good, but it is not meditating on the Word. Meditating is more important than memorizing. Memorizing hides God’s Word in your mind, while meditating fixes God’s Word in your heart, Psalm 119.11.

Third, prayer is a means of imparting God’s grace. Prayer is pleading with God, asking of God, begging from God. If you are an unbeliever, there is no guarantee that God will hear you, unless you humble yourself, as we saw earlier. What is prayer? Prayer is an appeal to God to provide or to supply something to you or for you that you cannot supply on your own. It is not asking God to help you, really, so much as it is asking God to do something that you cannot possibly do yourself. Additionally, prayer, real prayer, heartfelt prayer, is itself a humbling of oneself before God. Therefore, whether you have a guarantee of being answered or not, by what right does any creature presume to stand proudly before God? So much the better, then, for every person who humbles himself before God by means of prayer. As Isaiah 55.6 declares, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” This verse implies what is found elsewhere in God’s Word, that God is not always accessible by means of prayer. Therefore, you need to get to it while you can. The Lord Jesus Christ prayed often. The Apostles were all men of prayer. Paul directed the new believers in Thessalonica to “Pray without ceasing,” First Thessalonians 5.17. In Hebrews 4.16, believers are encouraged to pray: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Therefore, what pride is exhibited by any of God’s creatures who thinks he has no need to obtain from God through prayer.

Finally, and perhaps surprisingly, conversation and discussion can be a means of grace. Despite what some people fancy to be true to avoid making courageous decisions, you are affected by who you talk to, who you hang around, the kind of conversation you expose yourself to. In First Corinthians 15.33, Paul pointedly told the Corinthians, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” Who you hang around influences you. With that in mind, consider Ephesians 4.29: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Paul encourages church members in Ephesus to minister grace to those who hear them. Just as important, however, is that person on the receiving end to make sure you hear the right person talking, who seeks to bless you with what he or she says. Why so? Because a person can either minister grace to you and thereby bless you, or minister error and rebellion and disharmony and wickedness to you. Consider those who encourage pride and self-sufficiency. Reflect on those who are rebellious and opposed to the gospel. Do you not think they will influence your thought life and affect your willingness to humble yourself in the sight of God?

We human beings like to think we are logical and rational in our decision making, but the truth is that we are the most irrational of creatures. We fly in the face of reality for reasons that are utterly laughable, and we do so because of pride.

Cain had no illusions about the power and majesty of Almighty God, yet he refused to offer up an acceptable sacrifice to God, complained when his sacrifice was rejected, slew his younger brother Abel, and then bellyached that God’s punishment of him was more than he could bear. Does any of this sound logical, or is it example after example of pride in action?

Pharaoh was confronted by Moses with demands to allow the Jewish population they had enslaved but were fearful of to leave. Miracle after miracle occurred in an astonishing display of God’s power over ten of Egypt’s false gods. There was no denying the might of the one true and living God that Moses served, yet Pharaoh still hardened his heart, broke his word about allowing the Jewish people to leave, and doomed his army in a failed attempt to follow them through the parted waters of the Red Sea. Does any of that sound logical, or is it example after example of pride in action?

The Amalekites, the Moabites, the Canaanites, the Philistines, the Assyrians, all fell to the God of the Israelites after knowing what He had done to preserve His people from annihilation by the Egyptians. Why did they take the foolish courses of action they followed to their destruction? Were their decisions rational, logical, or in any way reasonable? No, they were in each instance motivated by pride and not humility.

On an individual level, consider such men as Nebuchadnezzar in the Old Testament and Saul of Tarsus I the New Testament. Both men of great pride and arrogance, in each case God mercifully chose to humiliate them, Nebuchadnezzar by temporary madness and Saul of Tarsus by the personal appearance of the glorified Savior. Each man, once humbled, was graciously dealt with by God, ending with their conversions.^[7]

However, it is far more the case with most individuals that God providentially works in their lives to bring about humility of mind and heart so they will be kindly disposed to listen to the truth that Christ promised would set men free. There are as many different ways this is brought about as there are individuals whose lives are transformed by the gospel. The two necessary factors always present, however, are humility and grace.

Do you see the necessity of grace, God’s grace? Apart from God’s grace, no sinner’s sins can be forgiven, no eternal life can be given, and no blessings for the living of life are granted. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, yet God has no obligation to so bless us. That He does bless us is a token of His grace. However, there is grace associated with sunshine and rain, good health and sufficient employment, lovable kids and freedom to live your life without much interference. That is one kind of grace that is extended to pretty much everyone. Another kind of grace is actually way more important, because it is associated with salvation from your sins, new life in Christ, and an eternity in heaven instead of the lake of fire.

That grace, that specific grace that has to do with salvation and cleansing, is withheld from the proud while made available to the humble. What kind of person are you? Do you recognize no need of God, no requirement for your sins to be forgiven, and no cause for regret after neglecting God and not fearing Him? Is your life one of self-centered satisfaction from doing your own thing? That, my friend, is pride and not humility. Humility recognizes that God made you with an end in mind, while also recognizing your inability to achieve that end on your own. Humility recognizes that you are helpless, hopeless, and that you stand in harm’s way without the protection and provision of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Will you humble yourself to accept that God’s Word is true, that sin damns the soul, and that Jesus is the only Savior of sinful men’s souls? Only Jesus ever claimed to be the Savior. Only Christianity ever claimed that salvation was by grace, meaning anyone could be saved so long as he was humble enough to receive God’s grace. Therefore, only Jesus saves, yet He only saves by God’s grace you who are humble.

Would you like to contact Dr. Waldrip about this sermon? Please contact him by clicking on the link below. Please do not change the subject within your email message. Thank you.

Pastor@CalvaryRoadBaptist.Church

 

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