What’s So Amazing About Grace

Pastor Jacob Aranza

June 1, 2025

Main Idea

The main idea of the sermon was that grace is not just a doctrine but the very essence of the Gospel and our relationship with God. We were taught that grace is what allows us to be saved, to be restored, and to live free from condemnation. Pastor Jacob highlighted that while grace is free, it is not cheap—it cost Jesus everything. He emphasized that we often either judge others or ourselves, but true grace both confronts sin and offers freedom. The story of the woman caught in adultery served as a vivid picture of how Jesus doesn’t ignore sin but responds with love, truth, and a call to a transformed life. Grace lifts us, loves us, and never leaves us where it found us. Ultimately, we left with the realization that grace is what gives us access to all that Jesus is instead of what we deserve, and it empowers us to live as God’s children in freedom and purpose.

Scripture References

John 1:17, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 8:1-11, Deuteronomy 9:10, John 3:17, Matthew 7:1-2, 2 Corinthians 5:21

How does the definition 'God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense' change your understanding of grace?

Why do you think Jesus responded with grace instead of judgment to the woman caught in adultery?

Discussion Questions:

What is the difference between condemnation and conviction, according to the message?

In what ways can we extend communication without condemnation to others this week?

How does understanding grace challenge the way we view our own sin and the sins of others?

Summary

In Pastor Jacob Aranza’s message 'What’s So Amazing About Grace' at Our Savior’s Church, we were reminded of the powerful and unearned nature of God’s grace. Pastor Jacob began by illustrating how grace sets Christianity apart from all other beliefs. He unpacked how grace means God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense and emphasized that without grace, we remain separated from God, burdened by guilt, fear, and shame. Through the story of the adulterous woman in John 8, Pastor Jacob illustrated how Jesus responds with communication without condemnation, challenges without condoning, and compassion without compromising. Grace, he explained, rescues and restores us—not leaving us where we were but transforming us into what God intended us to be. The sermon contrasted legalism’s judgment with Christ’s redemptive love and reminded us that the gift of salvation cannot be earned but is freely given through faith.