The God of Grace and Power
A Sermon on Acts 4:31-33
Originally preached Dec. 26, 1965
Scripture
31¶ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: …
Sermon Description
The world can only be saved by the grace and power of God almighty. As Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones proclaims in this sermon on Acts 4:31-33 titled “The God of Grace and Power,” there is no other way. The whole world lies under the condemnation of God’s wrath that justly befalls all the unrighteous and ungodly who reject God’s rule over the world and their lives. The only way to escape this judgment has been provided by God in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. This is the gospel: God showing grace to those who hate Him and reject Him by sending His only begotten Son to die in their place. In this grace, God’s wrath can be escaped and fallen sinners can receive new life and become the children of the God they once hated and despised. They can have complete assurance that they will be saved on the last day because of the grace of God made manifest in Christ. This is the hope of the gospel: salvation to all who trust in Christ. All who rest in His grace will conquer with Christ when He returns to bring the new heavens and the new earth. God’s grace in Christ is the only hope for the world. All must not fail to repent and believe in the only savior that the world has ever known.
Sermon Breakdown
-
The sermon begins by introducing the two phrases from Acts 4:31 and 4:33 that will be the focus of the message. The first phrase is “when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together.” The second phrase is “and great grace was upon them all.”
-
The sermon provides context for these verses by summarizing the events leading up to the disciples praying together. Peter and John had been arrested for preaching the gospel. After being released, they reported to the other disciples what had happened. In response, they all prayed together.
-
The sermon states that these two phrases summarize the core message of Christianity and the gospel. The first point is the power of God, as evidenced by God shaking the building in response to their prayer. The second point is the grace of God, as evidenced by “great grace” being upon them.
-
The sermon explores the power of God in depth. God’s power is seen in creation, providence, history, Jesus’ miracles, and Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This power will also be seen in the final judgment. Examples of God demonstrating His power are provided from Scripture.
-
The sermon then explores the grace of God in depth. Grace is defined as favor shown to those who don’t deserve it. Examples of God’s grace are seen throughout the Old Testament as He forgives and restores His rebellious people. The ultimate example of grace is Jesus coming to die on the cross to save sinners.
-
The sermon argues that the gospel proclaims both the power of God and the grace of God. It also proclaims the powerful grace of God - the paradoxical combination of God’s power and grace. God’s power is necessary to overcome human sin and weakness, but His grace is what saves.
-
The sermon applies these truths by asking listeners to examine which group they are in: those who will only know God’s power and judgment or those upon whom “great grace” is. Signs of having grace are knowing your sins are forgiven, having peace and joy in spite of circumstances, and having assurance of eternal life.
-
The sermon concludes by pleading with listeners to believe in Jesus Christ to receive God’s grace. Today is still the day of grace, but the door will someday be shut. Believing in Christ is the only way to experience God’s powerful grace.
Sermon Q&A
What Did Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Mean by "The Place Was Shaken, Great Grace Was Upon Them All"?
From this powerful sermon on Acts 4:31 and 4:33, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches about the two focal points of Christianity: the power of God and the grace of God. Here's an exploration of his key teachings:
What does "the place was shaken" represent in Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, "the place was shaken" represents the manifestation of God's power. This was a literal, physical event where God demonstrated His might in response to the believers' prayers. Lloyd-Jones explains that this shaking demonstrates how "God is all powerful" and shows "the power of God" that is foundational to the Christian message. He reminds us that this same God created the universe, parted the Red Sea, humbled Nebuchadnezzar, and raised Christ from the dead.
What does "great grace was upon them all" mean in Lloyd-Jones' teaching?
Lloyd-Jones explains that "great grace was upon them all" means "the favor of God was upon them in a mighty and in an unusual manner." This grace represents God's undeserved favor toward sinful humanity. It's the assurance that despite threats from authorities, God was with them, protecting and empowering them. As Lloyd-Jones puts it: "Don't be frightened of them, says God. I'm with you."
How does Lloyd-Jones connect the power and grace of God?
The doctor beautifully connects these two concepts with the phrase "powerful grace." He states: "The most wonderful thing of all that it proclaims is this: The gospel proclaims the powerful grace of God." He explains that for our salvation, we need both God's power and His grace working together. As he says, "Before you and I or anybody else can be saved, we need power and grace, and the two must operate together."
What are the effects of experiencing God's powerful grace according to Lloyd-Jones?
According to the sermon, those who experience God's powerful grace will: 1. Know their sins are forgiven - "The man who's got grace upon him knows this. He knows that his sins have been laid upon Christ." 2. Have present peace - "Have you found peace? Have you found satisfaction?" 3. Possess assurance about the future - "When great grace is upon you, you're not only not afraid of life. You're not afraid of death." 4. Have joy even in tribulation - "They've never been so happy in the whole of their lives."
How can one receive this "great grace" according to Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes with a clear invitation: "The answer is here. All them that believed were of one heart. That is all you have to do to believe this message about God." He urges his listeners to "believe the message concerning the grace of God in Jesus Christ his son" and reminds them that "the day of grace is not yet ended. Today is the day of salvation."
The Book of Acts
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.