INTRODUCTION

1. Christians have been blessed to move from a state of alienation and animosity with God to a state of peace and fellowship through Christ Jesus.  This new condition is described by Paul as standing in grace in Romans 5:1-2:

   ¹Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

2. The concept of grace is very broad and encompasses many ideas.

   1. Translated from the Greek word charis (χάρις), grace has several meanings in different contexts.

   2. One meaning of grace is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, or loveliness (1Cor. 1:3; Eph. 4:29).

   3. Another meaning of grace is good will, loving-kindness, and favor (Eph. 2:8).

   4. A third meaning of grace is that which is due to God's grace (Rom. 5:2; Gal. 5:4).

   5. The word charis is also translated as "thanks" in passages like Romans 6:17 and 1Corinthians 15:57.  It is from this meaning that we refer to "saying grace" before a meal.

3. Although God's grace and His blessings are not won by merit, they can be lost by unfaithfulness. The Bible warns us of coming short of the grace of God, so let us heed its warnings.

    

ESAU: AN EXAMPLE OF COMING SHORT OF GOD'S GRACE

1. Every Christian is warned of the danger of coming short of God's grace in Hebrews 12:15-17.

   1. Consider this passage:

      ¹⁵See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; ¹⁶that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.  ¹⁷For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

   2. Perhaps the first point to notice is the real possibility that a Christian can come short of God's grace.

      1. There is no question that this passage is addressed to Christians.  The whole context of the epistle dictates this.

      2. The Scriptures would not warn of a danger that was nonexistent.  Therefore, the danger of a Christian coming short of God's grace is real.

      3. The only doubt about this danger comes through the teachings of men such as John Calvin and his followers, who say that apostasy is impossible. Their ideas are unscriptural, for clearly the Bible teaches that Christians can fall from grace (Gal. 5:4).

   3. This passage states the warning about coming short of God's grace and then restates it in two ways to explain how the danger may occur.

      1. A Christian can come short of God's grace if a "root of bitterness" springs up, causes trouble, and leads to his defilement.  This is an obvious allusion to sin, which has its root in man's heart and causes his defilement (Matt. 15:18-20).

      2. A Christian can come short of God's grace if he becomes an "immoral or godless man like Esau."

         1. An immoral man (Gr. pornos, πόρνος) is a fornicator or a man who prostitutes his body to another's lust for hire.  Certainly, fornicators fall from grace, but this term may also be figurative as we will see later concerning Esau.

         2. A godless or "profane" (KJV, ASV) man is unholy rather than sanctified as Christians should be.

2. The story of Esau provides an example for how a person can come short of God's grace.

   1. Esau was a recipient of grace in that he received a birthright.

      1. Jacob and Esau were twins, but Esau was awarded the birthright because he was born first (Gen. 25:25).  This birthright meant that Esau would be the head of the family after his father and the chief heir with a double portion of the inheritance (later codified in Deut. 21:17).

      2. Esau received his birthright by grace, for he did not win it by merit or virtue.

   2. Esau came short of this grace when he sold his birthright and forfeited his father's blessing.

      1. At a time when Esau was famished, he sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for bread and lentil stew (Gen. 25:29-34).

         1. He said, "Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?"

         2. The Scripture says that "Esau despised his birthright." This means that he undervalued it and treated it as a common thing.

         3. In a figurative way, it might be said that Esau was like a fornicator or a prostitute, for he sold his precious and holy birthright for a common meal.

      2. When his father was dying, Esau also lost his blessing to Jacob (Gen. 27:1-40).

         1. Jacob deceived their father and received the blessing instead of Esau.

         2. When Esau learned of what had happened, he mourned for his birthright and blessing.  Notice Esau's words in Genesis 27:36 and 38:

            ³⁶Then he said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times?  He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"... ³⁸Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father?  Bless me, even me also, O my father."  So Esau lifted his voice and wept.

      3. Esau blamed Jacob for his losses, but they were his own fault. It was too late to restore his standing in grace, "for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears" (Heb. 12:17).

          

SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE COMES SHORT OF GOD'S GRACE

1. The story of Esau stands as a warning to all Christians: Do not regard lightly the grace of God.

   1. Esau was careless with his birthright and sold it for a meal because he did not regard his birthright as valuable.  Perhaps he thought his agreement with Jacob would not have to be honored and that he would not actually lose his birthright.

   2. If we are careless with the grace of God and undervalue (despise) it, then we will trade it for the satisfaction of our own lusts. Perhaps we may think that we cannot forfeit God's grace, but by the word of God we would be sadly mistaken.

2. Consider how we can avoid coming short of God's grace.

   1. The warning we have considered in Hebrews 12:15-17 teaches us to avoid roots of bitterness that cause trouble and defilement and not to be immoral or godless like Esau.

   2. In 2Corinthians 6:1, we are urged "not to receive the grace of God in vain."  In other words, do not receive God's grace for nothing, but instead make good use of it. Be faithful and fruitful in His grace.

   3. The Galatian Christians were told, "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4).  Therefore, we must not seek to justify ourselves by anything other than faith in Christ.

   4. Do not "turn the grace of our God into licentiousness" (Jude 4). If anyone attempts to use God's grace as a license to sin, then he will forfeit that grace (Rom. 6:1-2).

   5. In 2Timothy 2:1, Paul wrote, "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."  He followed this exhortation with many instructions that we should follow in order to be strong in grace.  Therefore, let us adhere to God's word in order to stand in His grace.

   6. Peter gave this instruction concerning our focus in 1Peter 1:13:

      Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

   7. Increasing our standing in the grace of God should be an ambition for us as we are to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Pet. 3:18).  If we grow toward this ambition, then we will not come short of His grace.

       

CONCLUSION

1. Coming short of God's grace would mean falling out of His favor and forfeiting all that He provides through grace -- forgiveness, redemption, salvation, eternal life, and more.

2. Therefore, let us "see to it that no one comes short of the grace of God."  Let us make it our ambition for every Christian to fully realize the grace of God through Christ.