Introduction

From the CENTENNIAL ADDRESSES DELIVERED IN 1909 By W. L. HAYDEN, we have this statement concerning Barton W. Stone:

The honest seeker after God returned to the academy after this short visit to his mother and heard a young preacher, William Hodge, preach from the text, "God is love." This doctrine appeared new to him and his mind was absorbed in it. He soon saw that a poor sinner was as much authorized to believe in Jesus at first as at last--that now is the accepted time and day of salvation. From that time he devoted himself to the service of God. He was filled with joy by his new view of the gospel. He saw that the gospel is "good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." An epitome is found in these words: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." . . .

. This was the impulsive power of a new affection that made Stone a great evangelist. It brought him to Caneridge and Concord in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1798. It emancipated him from the bondage of Calvinistic creed and other human speculations and impelled him to say to the Presbytery that ordained him: "I do receive the Confession of Faith as far as I see it consistent with the word of God." Henceforth he was a free lance, wielding the sword of the Spirit unhampered by decrees of councils or doctors of divinity, and accepting no authoritative rule of faith in religion, but the inspired word of God and no name unknown to the Bible.

This was the turning point in the life of Barton W. Stone. If you are not familiar with Barton W. Stone, he is one of the men which had a great deal to do with the restoration movement. Some have called our movement the Stone-Campbell movement. This morning we want to focus on the fact that for this great leader in our movement, it was not the fear of an angry God that moved him, but rather the love of a loving God.

Body

I. To be sure, there are two aspects of God’s nature.

A. Paul put it this way:

(Rom 11:22 NKJV) Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

B. We must remember these two aspects of God’s nature, but sometimes we ignore the grace of God.

1. In the verse we just read, Paul addresses both extremes of God’s nature.

2. We must also remember both aspects of God’s nature, but this morning, we want to notice the graciousness of God.

II. Some are angry with the graciousness of God.

A. Jonah was angry with God because He was too kind.

(Jonah 3:10 NKJV) Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. (4:1) But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. {2} So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.

B. Today, we often hear the cry that what we need are more “hell fire and brimstone sermons.”

C. Sometimes we forget that the word gospel means “good news.”

(Luke 2:14 NKJV) "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

III. There is a “softer” side of God.

A. The people marveled at Jesus gracious words.

(Luke 4:22 NKJV) So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"

(Luke 4:22 NIV) All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

B. He will have mercy.

(Rom 9:18 KJV) Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

C. He is a gracious God because we need His mercy.

1. He is gracious in His judgment.

(James 2:11-13 NKJV) For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. {12} So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. {13} For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

2. He is gracious in His response to us.

(James 1:5 NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

(James 1:5 Phillips) And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God – who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty – and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.

D. We are saved by the grace of God.

1. We have received the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

(John 1:16-17 NKJV) And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. {17} For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

2. Our works do not earn us our salvation.

(Eph 2:8-10 NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, {9} not of works, lest anyone should boast. {10} For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

IV. We are to be gracious in our judgment of others.

A. James reminds us that we are not the ones to pass judgment.

(James 4:11-12 NKJV) Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. {12} There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

B. Paul reminds us that God is the One Who passes judgment, and that with His willingness to forgive.

(Rom 14:3-4 NKJV) Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. {4} Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

C. Being gracious is not being spineless.

1. We need to learn to truly speak the truth in love.

(Eph 4:15-16 NKJV) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; {16} from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

2. He rebuked the church at Laodicea for their lukewarmness.

(Rev 3:19 NKJV) "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.