Standing in Grace: Embracing God's Unmerited Favor
Summary
Standing in the grace of God is not about perfection, but about recognizing our deep need for His unmerited favor every single day. Life brings trials, tribulations, and moments when we feel overwhelmed or unworthy, but it is precisely in those moments that God’s grace becomes our anchor. We are not sustained by our own goodness, achievements, or strength, but by the grace that God freely pours into our lives. Every blessing, every open door, every healing, and every deliverance is a testament to His grace, not our merit.
Romans 5 reminds us that we have been justified by faith and now have peace with God through Jesus Christ. This faith grants us access to grace—a place where we can stand firm, even when life is uncertain. It is not for the perfect or the pious, but for those who know they are flawed, broken, and in need of God’s help. When we stand in His grace, we are called to rejoice—not just in the good times, but even in our sufferings. Suffering, as Paul teaches, produces endurance, which in turn shapes our character and deepens our hope. This hope is not wishful thinking, but a confident expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness—if He did it before, He will do it again.
God is at work in our struggles, using them to build something lasting within us. Character is formed not when everyone is watching, but in the quiet moments of perseverance and trust. We are reminded that our identity is not in our failures or our pain, but in who we are in Christ—anointed, loved, and chosen for this season. Even when we feel like giving up, God’s grace holds us steady, reminding us that He has not brought us this far to leave us.
Ultimately, we stand in grace because Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Our reconciliation with God is not based on our worthiness, but on His love and sacrifice. As we come to the table of communion, we do so not as perfect people, but as those who are grateful for the blood that was shed and the body that was broken for us. In every season—whether rejoicing or suffering—we are invited to trust God, to stand in His grace, and to let that grace shape our lives, our hope, and our future.
Key Takeaways
- Grace is for the broken, not the perfect. God’s unmerited favor is not a reward for those who have it all together, but a gift for those who know they are flawed and in need. The first step to standing in grace is admitting our need and coming before God with humility, trusting that He welcomes us as we are. [01:02:57]
- Suffering is not wasted; it produces endurance and character. God allows us to go through difficult seasons not to break us, but to build us up for what lies ahead. Each trial is an opportunity for God to strengthen our resolve, deepen our faith, and shape our character so that we can stand firm in future storms. [01:10:12]
- Hope is anchored in God’s faithfulness, not our circumstances. Even when we cannot see the outcome, we rejoice in hope because we have a reasonable expectation that God will fulfill His promises. Our past experiences with God remind us that if He delivered us before, He will do it again, giving us confidence to trust Him for what’s to come. [01:08:48]
- Our identity is rooted in Christ, not in our failures or the opinions of others. God is producing a character in us that is resilient, authentic, and anchored in His love. Knowing who we are in God empowers us to stand in grace, regardless of what others say or what challenges we face, because we are anointed for this season. [01:16:16]
- Communion is a celebration of grace, not perfection. We come to the Lord’s table not because we are worthy, but because Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This act of remembrance is a powerful reminder that our reconciliation with God is secured by His love and sacrifice, inviting us to stand in grace with gratitude and humility. [01:28:26]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[51:11] - Pressing Through Trials to God’s Throne
[51:52] - Gratitude for God’s Grace and New Beginnings
[52:40] - Romans 5: Justified by Faith and Peace with God
[54:30] - What It Means to Stand in His Grace
[56:45] - Grace: God’s Unmerited Favor for the Undeserving
[01:02:57] - Accessing Grace Through Faith and Humility
[01:08:48] - Rejoicing in Hope and Suffering
[01:10:12] - Suffering Produces Endurance and Character
[01:16:16] - Knowing Who You Are in God
[01:20:51] - The Power of “Okay” and Letting Go
[01:23:17] - Hope and “It Came to Pass” Moments
[01:25:15] - Christ’s Sacrifice: Grace for the Flawed
[01:28:26] - Reconciliation and Communion
[01:37:10] - Prayer for Strength to Stand in Grace
[01:50:32] - Community Outreach and Announcements
[01:55:09] - Offering and Blessing
[01:59:59] - Holy Communion: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
[02:04:58] - Closing and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Standing in His Grace
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### Bible Reading
Romans 5:1-11 (ESV)
> Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 5, what is the way we gain access to God’s grace?
2. What does Paul say suffering produces in a believer’s life?
3. In the sermon, what are some specific examples given of times when we need to stand in God’s grace? [[54:30]]
4. How does the passage describe God’s love for us, especially in relation to our sinfulness?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says, “Grace is for the broken, not the perfect.” Why is it important to admit our need for grace before we can truly stand in it? [[01:02:57]]
2. Paul says suffering produces endurance, character, and hope. How might God use difficult seasons to shape who we are, even when we don’t understand why we’re going through them? [[01:10:12]]
3. The pastor mentions that our identity is not in our failures or pain, but in who we are in Christ. What does it mean to have your identity rooted in Christ rather than in your circumstances or what others say about you? [[01:16:16]]
4. The sermon describes hope as a “confident expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness.” How is this different from wishful thinking? [[01:08:48]]
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### Application Questions
1. The first step to standing in grace is admitting our need and coming before God with humility. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to admit your need for God’s help? What would it look like to bring that honestly to God this week? [[01:02:57]]
2. Think about a recent trial or season of suffering you’ve faced. Looking back, can you see any ways God used that time to build endurance or character in you? If so, how? If not, what would it look like to trust that He is working even when you can’t see it? [[01:10:12]]
3. The sermon says, “Hope is anchored in God’s faithfulness, not our circumstances.” When you’re in a tough spot, what helps you remember God’s past faithfulness? Is there a specific “it came to pass” moment in your life that you can share with the group? [[01:08:48]]
4. The pastor talked about knowing who you are in God and not letting others’ opinions define you. Is there a situation where you’ve let someone else’s words or actions shake your sense of who you are? How can you remind yourself of your identity in Christ this week? [[01:16:16]]
5. Communion is a celebration of grace, not perfection. How does this truth change the way you approach the Lord’s table? Is there anything you need to let go of—guilt, shame, pride—before coming to communion? [[01:28:26]]
6. The sermon encourages us to rejoice not just in good times, but even in suffering. What is one practical way you can choose to rejoice or give thanks in a hard situation you’re facing right now? [[01:10:12]]
7. The pastor said, “God didn’t bring you this far to leave you.” When you feel like giving up, what is one thing you can do to remind yourself of God’s presence and grace in your life? [[01:16:16]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for one another, especially for those who are struggling to stand in God’s grace right now. Ask God to help each person trust Him, rejoice in hope, and remember their identity in Christ.
Devotional
Day 1: Justified by Faith, Standing in Grace
To stand in God’s grace is to recognize that we are justified not by our own works or perfection, but by faith in Jesus Christ. This unmerited favor is available to all who believe, no matter how flawed or broken we may feel. Each day, we are invited to pause and give thanks for the grace that sustains us, remembering that every blessing, every open door, and every moment of strength is a gift from God, not a result of our own doing. When life’s storms rage and the weight of the world feels heavy, we are called to make up our minds to stand firm in His grace, trusting that His favor will never fail us. [51:52]
Romans 5:1-2 (ESV)
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to stop striving for perfection and instead stand in the unearned grace God has already given you?
Day 2: Rejoicing in Suffering Produces Endurance
God calls us not only to rejoice when life is easy, but to find joy even in our suffering. Our trials are not wasted; they are the very means by which God produces endurance within us. When we face hardships, it is an opportunity to remember past experiences of God’s faithfulness—if He did it before, He will do it again. Suffering is not a sign of God’s absence, but a season where He is strengthening us so we won’t quit later, building perseverance that will carry us through future storms. [01:10:12]
Romans 5:3-4 (ESV)
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
Reflection: Think of a current struggle—how might God be using this season to build endurance in you for what lies ahead?
Day 3: God’s Grace Produces Character and Hope
As we stand in God’s grace through every circumstance, He is shaping our character—who we are when no one is watching. This character is not about outward appearances or Sunday morning faith, but about trusting God in the unseen, difficult moments. Through this process, hope is born—a confident expectation that God will fulfill His promises. Every “and it came to pass” moment in our lives is a testimony that God is faithful, and that hope in Him will never put us to shame. [01:20:51]
Romans 5:4-5 (ESV)
…and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Reflection: Where have you seen God use past challenges to shape your character or renew your hope? How can you thank Him for that today?
Day 4: Christ Died for Us While We Were Still Sinners
God’s grace is most powerfully displayed in the truth that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. We do not come to God’s table because we are perfect, but because we are loved beyond measure. Even in our weakness, flaws, and failures, God poured His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This love is not earned; it is freely given, and it is the reason we can approach God with confidence, knowing we are justified by His blood and reconciled to Him. [01:28:26]
Romans 5:6-11 (ESV)
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Reflection: How does knowing Christ died for you at your worst change the way you approach God today?
Day 5: Trusting God and Rejoicing Through It All
Standing in God’s grace means trusting Him even when we don’t understand what He is doing. Life may bring seasons of suffering, uncertainty, or pain, but God calls us to rejoice and trust Him through it all. Our hope is not in our circumstances, but in the God who has delivered, healed, and provided before—and will do it again. As we go through this week, let us ask God for the strength to rejoice in the midst of our suffering, to remember His faithfulness, and to stand firm in His unmerited favor. [01:31:14]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Reflection: What is one area where you are struggling to trust God? What would it look like to rejoice and trust Him with it today?
Quotes
Grace very simply put is God's unmerited favor. Since all of us sin and fall short of God's glory, we are all in need of his grace. Because of our sinful actions, God's grace is given to the undeserved and every day we should be thankful for his grace. We could not make it through a day if we didn't have God's grace working and moving in our lives. [00:56:36] (32 seconds)
We made it through the month of May not because we did everything right, not because we crossed every t and dotted every i, but we made it to the first day of a new month because of God's grace. Not because of anything you did so wonderful, but we made it to this day because of the grace of God. [00:57:24] (20 seconds)
Every door that has been opened for us is not because of something we did or we didn't do, but it's because of God's goodness and his grace towards us that doors have been opened and ways have been made and God has healed and delivered, not because of something so great that we are, but because of God's grace. [00:57:59] (21 seconds)
We all have experienced our shares of ups and downs and we will all have our shares of storms that will rise in all of our lives and we will have some valley experiences as we go through life and it is in those challenging moments of life that we must stand in his grace. [00:58:26] (19 seconds)
So the way you gain access to this grace that you need to stand is you got to have faith in God. That if you don't have faith in God, there's no sense of you thinking you're gonna get grace from God. [01:01:26] (16 seconds)
You don't know what I went through to get the character that I have now and I can't let anything or anybody take the thing away from me that God has been trying to produce in me all this time so I have to learn how sometimes just to say okay and I really am okay with okay now. [01:20:28] (28 seconds)
Because of those I still have hope in God that he'll never leave me and he'll never forsake me but I also understand that everything that he's done everything that he produces everything that happens I'm able to stand in his grace because I'm messed up... oh wretched man that I am... I'm not talking about y 'all I'm talking about myself now and so I'm able to stand in his grace messed up, I'm able to stand in his grace jacked up and flawed and needing of his help each and every day of my life. [01:22:48] (51 seconds)
But God showed his love for us. And when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Oh, I'm about to flip the script now and just simply tell you the reason that I can come to this table is not because I'm perfect. The reason I can come and share in Holy Communion is because while I was still a sinner, that he loved me so much that he died for me, that he loved me so much. He thought I was to die for. And God loves you so much that he thought you were to die for. [01:25:50] (34 seconds)
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