The Perils of Preaching Grace
by Ron Forseth
SermonCentral.com General Manager

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
Romans 5:20b

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!
Romans 6:1-2a

Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved.
Romans 3:8

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7b

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14b

Have you ever preached a sermon in which you had the distinct sense your hearers were in deeper spiritual bondage after you preached than they were before?  If so, you are not alone—and chances are your sermon was lacking the grace God himself wanted to dispense through your message.

Grace is God freely providing what we have the inability to produce ourselves.  Grace elicits the confidence that he will accomplish that which he requires of us—as we cooperate with and obey him. 

When preached, grace motivates the hearer to trust God in confidence rather than shrink from him in fear.  "Ungrace," on the other hand, leaves people looking to themselves to produce the very thing they lack—and therefore leaves them burdened and discouraged.

Grace empowers righteous living.  Ungrace disables it.

Grace motivates obedience because God has generously given us what we need.  Ungrace demands obedience under threat of condemnation if we come up short.

Grace begins with the provision of God and ends with the completeness of the believer.  Ungrace begins with the incompleteness of the hearer and ends with the same.  Grace leads to freedom and victory.  Ungrace leads to bondage and

Grace looks to God as the source of that which is required—and much is required!  Ungrace looks to people to produce what they lack.  Click here to read more.