"The Gift of Grace" - Eph. 2:1-10 - March 26, 2006

One of the most famous phrases in the New Testament is "By grace you have been saved through faith." So, what is grace? Grace is like a surprise gift. You have no idea it is coming or when you will receive it. But, it comes, and when it comes your life changes as a consequence of having received it.

Bill Moyer’s documentary film on the hymn "Amazing Grace" includes a scene filmed in Wembley Stadium in London. Various musical groups, mostly rock bands, had gathered together in celebration of the changes in South Africa, and for some reason the promoters scheduled an opera singer, Jessye Norman, as the closing act. The film cut back and forth between scenes of the unruly crowd in the stadium and Jessye Norman being interviewed. For twelve hours groups like Gun’s and Roses blasted the crowd through banks of speakers with loud music. The crowd yelled for more curtain calls, and the rock groups obliged.

Meanwhile, Jessye Norman sat in her dressing room discussing "Amazing Grace" with Bill Moyers. Finally, the time came for her to sing. A single circle of light followed Norman, a majestic African-American woman, wearing a flowing African dashiki, as she strolled on stage. The crowd stirred and were restless. Few knew who the opera singer was. A voice yelled for the rock bands to return and others chimed in. Alone, a capella, Jessye Norman began to sing, but very slowly. A remarkable thing happened in Wembley Stadium that night. Seventy thousand rowdy fans fell silent to the song, "Amazing Grace." By the time Norman sang the second verse, she had the whole crowd in her hands. When she sang the third verse, the crowd sang along with her.

Jessye Norman later confessed she had no idea what power descended on Wembly Stadium that night. Apparently they thirsted for grace and grace they received. (from What’s So Amazing About Grace? Philip Yancey)

Grace is all around us when we are willing to accept it. It can happen in a variety of ways. It might be some new person who appears in your life for the first time. It might be some resource that helps you through a time of struggle. Or perhaps it’s just some free time.

Gifts of grace can lift our spirit and help us in times of need. I believe, however that we have a problem with grace just as we have a problem with gifts. We don’t know how to receive a gift. When we receive something free we are usually suspicious. We are certain there is a hidden agenda or that someone just wants to get on our good side. Grace given by God is absolutely free, with no strings attached or hidden agendas.

God gives us grace because God’s wants to do something good for us that we cannot do for ourselves. When someone gives you a gift it is their choice. You are given a gift because they want to give it to you. Unfortunately, we say things like, "You shouldn’t have," or "That really wasn’t necessary." When that happens we have discounted the value of the gift and also the generosity of the giver.

God’s gift of grace is freely given. Most folks believe that to receive God’s grace there is some pattern or set of rules you must follow for that to happen. Our work ethic has conditioned us to think that we can somehow earn God’s grace or do things that will make God pour grace upon us. But, there is nothing that you can do, no set of instructions, no step-by-step process, no certain words to say that will bring grace upon you. The grace of God is an absolute free gift. It is initiated by God, not us.

Grace is something that happens beyond our control. We don’t plan for it. We can’t purchase it. It is God’s way of intervening and loving us unconditionally. According to Paul, grace is both an outpouring of God’s unconditional love and free. Paul also said, (II Cor. 12:9) that grace is "sufficient for all our needs." There is nothing else we need. It is enough, it meets all our needs.

Grace is all God’s doing. Faith enters in when grace is received. In other words God wants us to be open to grace, even though we have no idea how things will turn out. We cannot initiate grace, but we can open the door for grace to come in. Faith is essential and faith is about saying "yes" to God, without knowing the destination. Faith is about opening the door without any knowledge of what or who is coming in. Faith is about accepting ourselves when others reject us or put us down. Grace is the spark, the beam of light, the extended hand, the gift, that can raise us from the depth of despair.

Physicist John Asmus developed a high powered laser, known as the flashblaster. It was first used in Sacramento, California to peel away multiple layers of paint that over the years had covered up precious murals and paintings. All other attempts to use chemicals failed. It has since been used in Italy to restore medieval paintings. God’s grace is like the flashblaster. Just as it removes layers of used paint, grace removes layers of sin and guilt. Other chemical methods to remove old layers of old paint have not worked, just like laws, prison sentences and punishment fail to solve the basic problem of eliminating sin. It is grace that can truly peel off the layers of shame and guilt and restore us to new life.

Paul said to the Ephesians, "You were dead, but now you are alive." Alive, because of the mercy and forgiveness of God. Through the grace of God we receive God’s forgiveness. By the grace \god we become free from guilt.

In the film, Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams, who plays Sean, is counseling a young man by the name of Will. He is filled with guilt, feeling responsible for his abuse. At one point in the session Sean says to Will, "It’s not your fault, it’s not your fault, it’s not your fault." For the first time in his life, Will is able to receive the gift of grace and is forgiven.

God is incredibly compassionate and generous. God forgives and sets us free so we can continue on without guilt and shame hanging over our heads. Grace abounds, it exceeds our expectations. Since we are unable to forgive, (in most situations) grace is beyond our comprehension. In other words, freedom of guilt cannot be fully understood unless we are able to free others from their guilt. Forgiving others is in response to the forgiveness God gives us.

Paul’s message of grace is addressed to the church, the community of faith. A life and ministry of grace (as evidenced through Christ) is the mission of the church. It is not just meeting needs, spreading the word and providing spiritual food. What is at the core of our faith is to be those who are able to give grace.

In the film, Forrest Gump, there is a scene early in the movie when no one on the school bus will give Forrest, played by Tom Hanks, a seat. His friend, Jenny, played by Robin Wright Penn, invited him to sit beside her. It was truly a moment where one person gave another person the gift of grace.

But, the question remains, how do I get this grace, or how do I know if grace has come over me? When I was a young boy people used to make fun of me because I wore glasses. It was upsetting and as a result I felt embarrassed. As time when on, through the nurture of parents and close friends, I learned to accept that this is who I was. Without glasses I couldn’t see. They enabled me to read and find my way. While some may see them as a handicap or a burden, I eventually saw them as grace. There are times when grace is upon us but we don’t always recognize it.

Grace is the gift of God that helps us to see our way more clearly. Rather than be stuck we are free to live. Sometimes grace is much easier to see when things are going bad for us, instead of when things are going good. It is during the good times that we have to look back, as did Paul, to those moments when things were dark and hopeless. It was grace and grace alone that carried him through those moments, just as grace has carried us through ours.

Grace is a gift which God wants us to receive with gratitude and thanksgiving. Grace can surprise us and come in ways we do not understand. Grace can liberate us from guilt, shame and despair. Grace enables us to see our way more clearly. Most importantly, as we receive grace, God also wants us to be givers of grace.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio