The G.R.A.C.E. Approach: Combining Grace & Truth
(Dec. 4, 2022)
Part of The G.R.A.C.E. Approach

GRACE Approach.jpg

Combining Grace and Truth

In the previous lesson, we looked at Grace and Truth separately. Both are necessary to the plan of salvation. As someone has said, “Grace, without
Truth, is weakness; and Truth, without Grace, is judgment.”

I. Combining the two ingredients (Grace and Truth) in a

presentation is a mixture that will bring others to Christ.
A. We must a hearing to be effective.
i. With a revealing

  • “Have you ever trusted in Christ for the gift of eternal life?”
  • “If you were to die today, do you know for sure that you would go to Heaven?”
  • “Suppose that when you stand before God and He were to say to you, ‘Why should I let you into heaven?’ What would you say?”
  • “Have you reached the place in your life where you know that you are going to be with God forever in eternity?”
  • “Did you know that God loves you and that He has made a way for you to spend eternity with Him in heaven?”

ii. With a radiant

  • Telling others how you found peace with God.
  • Explaining what Christ means to you.

iii. With a relevant


iv. With a responsive
B. We must reveal the to be effective.
i. You can take them to the (Truth), if they don’t see their sinfulness.

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. —1 John 3:4

ii. Make sure they understand the

for violating God’s Law. (Truth)

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God. —John 3:18
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on
him. —John 3:36

iii. Then, lead them to the

/resurrection and ask them to “believe” in Christ. (Truth and Grace)
C. We must request a to be effective.
i. When a person understands his he will appreciate God’s grace.
ii. Salvation is a life enhancement or a mere addition to our lives.
iii. Salvation is in Christ alone for the gift of eternal life that brings the forgiveness of our sins.

  • If understood properly, “repentance” and

    go together.

    Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent… —Acts 17:30

  • Repentance is a

    of mind about Christ that we want to lead to a change of behavior.

  • But, “repentance” in salvation is not an response over personal sins, or a change of behavior alone.
  • Repentance is a change of mind about specifically so that you trust in Him alone for eternal life.
  • “Godly sorrow” may work this kind of repentance (a change of mind about Christ), but so may “the

    of God.”

    For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. —2 Corinthians 7:10
    Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? —Romans 2:4

  • Our goal is to help people see their

    condition so we can point them to Christ.

  • The wrong approach to repentance says, “You need to a deep sorrow over your sins to be saved.”
  • Or, you must be willing to “ ” your sins before you can trust in Christ.
  • The right approach to repentance says, “You are a sinner under God’s condemnation (John 3:18) because you have broken His law. You have no hope apart from Christ. Turn from anything else. You are trusting and trust in Christ alone for His gift of eternal salvation.”
  • There may be some change of life in new converts that is dramatic and instantaneous. But it is also and as a person is taught how to be a devoted disciple of Christ.

iv. Just remember, no decision is a “

” decision.
D. We must to the unresponsive to be effective.
i. the seed
ii. the seed
iii. the seed
E. We must the new saint to be effective.
i. Once a person has trusted in Christ for salvation, we must take them the rest of the way into discipleship.
ii. Discipleship is the process of teaching new believers to faithfully Christ.
iii. Trusting in Christ for eternal life only takes a moment in time, but growing in discipleship requires a of commitment.

Helping people to trust in Christ for eternal salvation is not the end of the process, but the beginning of making disciples.