CHAPTER TWO

THE GRACE OF GOD IN HIS ECONOMY

Scripture Reading: Rom. 6:14; Heb. 8:13, 7, 6b; John 1:1, 14, 17b; 2 Cor. 8:9a; 13:14a; 1 Pet. 1:2b; 2 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1:7b-8; Rom. 5:15b, 20b; Eph. 1:6-7; Rom. 3:24; 5:2a; John 1:16; 1 Tim. 1:14; Eph. 2:5-8; 2 Thes. 2:16; Heb. 4:16; 2 Cor. 9:8; Rev. 22:21; James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5; 2 Tim. 4:22; Luke 1:28, 30; Gal. 2:20-21; 2 Cor. 12:9; 8:1-2; 1 Pet. 5:10; Eph. 3:2, 8; 4:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:10; Rom. 5:17b, 21b; Acts 4:33; 11:23

OUTLINE

1. The New Testament believers being not under the law in God’s economy but under the grace in God’s economy—Rom. 6:14:
   1. The law being for the old covenant in God’s economy, which is also called the first covenant, a covenant which is becoming old and growing decrepit and which is near to disappearing—Heb. 8:13b, 7a.
   2. Grace being for the new covenant in God’s economy, which is also called the second covenant, the better covenant—Heb. 8:13a, 7c, 6b.
2. The grace of God in His economy being His embodiment:
   1. God becoming flesh to be grace for man’s enjoyment—John 1:1, 14.
   2. Grace coming through Jesus Christ—the grace of Christ—John 1:17b; 2 Cor. 8:9a; 13:14a.
3. The grace of God in His economy being rich, multiplying, and abounding—Eph. 2:7; 1 Pet. 1:2b; 2 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1:7b-8:
   1. The grace of God and the gift in grace of Jesus Christ having abounded to the many—Rom. 5:15b, 20b.
   2. Graced in Christ—Eph. 1:6.
   3. Through the redemption of Christ—Eph. 1:7; Rom. 3:24.
   4. By the believers’ faith—Rom. 5:2a.
   5. Of His fullness the believers having all received, and grace upon grace—John 1:16.
4. The believers’ experience of the grace in God’s economy:
   1. Having faith and love through the Lord’s super-abounding grace—1 Tim. 1:14.
   2. Receiving the salvation in life in Christ’s resurrection and ascension—Eph. 2:5-8.
   3. Having obtained access into and standing in God’s abounding grace—Rom. 5:2a.
   4. Enjoying eternal comfort and good hope in grace—2 Thes. 2:16.
   5. Coming forward with boldness to the throne of grace to find grace for timely help—Heb. 4:16.
   6. Receiving God’s abounding supply of all grace—2 Cor. 9:8.
   7. Constantly enjoying God’s multiplying grace—1 Pet. 1:2b; 2 Pet. 1:2; Rev. 22:21.
   8. Enjoying God’s greater grace by being humble—James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5.
   9. Enjoying the Lord’s presence in our spirit—2 Tim. 4:22; cf. Luke 1:28, 30.
   10. Living out God’s righteousness by Christ—Gal. 2:20-21.
   11. Experiencing the perfecting of the Lord’s sufficient grace, Christ’s overshadowing power, in our weakness—2 Cor. 12:9.
   12. Displaying the riches of liberality in the depth of poverty—2 Cor. 8:1-2.
   13. Being perfected, established, strengthened, and grounded by God’s all grace after having suffered—1 Pet. 5:10.
   14. Carrying out the stewardship of the grace of God entrusted by Him—dispensing to people the riches of Christ as the grace of God—Eph. 3:2, 8.
   15. In our living, speaking words for building up and thus giving grace to people—Eph. 4:28-29.
   16. Being a surpassing one and laboring abundantly for the Lord—1 Cor. 15:10.
   17. Reigning in life by receiving the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness—grace reigning unto eternal life—Rom. 5:17b, 21b.
5. All believers having grace upon them and the church being built up:
   1. All believers having great grace upon them— Acts 4:33.
   2. The grace received by the believers being visible— Acts 11:23.