James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Why he said, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. I. THE GRACE OF GOD. 1. Grace denotes favour; that kind of favour, more especially, which flows from the mind of God into the heart of guilty man — all that we understand by "the riches of goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering"; all that awakens, informs, humbles, consoles, animates, and makes meet for "the inheritance of the saints in light." 2. The importance of grace is unspeakable. Who but the partakers of grace can perform ode duty in a right manner? 3. Wide and glorious are the operations of Divine grace. It transforms rebels against God into loyal subjects, and the enemies of those around them into ardent friends. It shuts the gates of hell, it consecrates the whole course of life, and it insures, as well as promises, the bliss of immortality. II. THE MANNER OF BESTOWING GRACE. "He giveth grace." 1. Grace is indeed an absolute donation. Could we prefer a claim, we should receive, not a gift, but a debt. 2. In God is the fountain of grace, from which it emanates in every direction; and hence all that share the blessing ascribe it to Him alone, saying, "Of His grace have all we received." III. The grace of God in THE ABUNDANCE OF ITS COMMUNICATIONS; that is, an abundance which daily becomes larger and larger; "He giveth more grace." 1. More is necessary. As the Christian advances in life, he has new duties to perform, new trials to bear, new temptations to encounter. 2. More is desired. It is the tendency of grace, as of everything in nature, to seek after its own increase. 3. More grace is provided. All our wants as Christians have been foreseen equally with those by which we can be affected as creatures.Conclusion: 1. Why do so many remain destitute of grace? They are either careless and insensible of their need of it; or they are too proud to receive it. 2. Who, then, are made partakers of grace in its amplest communications (Isaiah 66:2; 1 Peter 5:5)? 3. Why should we rest satisfied with the highest measures of grace already bestowed? We are not straitened in God, but in ourselves; we "have not, because we ask not." 4. The time is at hand when grace will be dispensed no longer. (C. A. Jeary.) Parallel Verses KJV: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.WEB: But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." |
    |