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     This sermon is based on Ephesians 5:8-11 and 13-14 and especially verse 10, in quotes above. The message explores sanctifying and perfecting grace as a central and defining feature of United Methodist theology and worship, grounded in Scripture and found represented in the structure of the United Methodist Hymnal as the “Sanctifying and Perfecting Grace” section of the hymnal. It is the largest section, with over 150 hymns and prayers. This prominence is presented as evidence of how deeply Methodist tradition values holiness and ongoing spiritual growth.

     The sermon emphasizes that justification through Christ is only the beginning of the Christian life, not its completion. After salvation, believers are called to continue growing through personal holiness and social holiness, relying not on their own strength but on God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.

     Drawing on the teachings of John Wesley, the message clarifies that Christians are never fully perfected in this earthly life, yet they are continually “going on to perfection.” Sanctification is described as a lifelong process in which believers seek to be conformed not to the old, sinful nature, but to the image and mindset of Christ. 

     A key theological idea in the sermon is the notion of “having the mind of Christ.” Rather than claiming this as a completed state, the message highlights the ongoing nature of transformation—believers are gaining Christ’s mind over time through faithful practice. Multiple Scripture passages (including Philippians 2, Colossians 3, Romans 12, and Ephesians 5) reinforce the call to humility, obedience, renewed thinking, and lives marked by goodness, justice, and truth.

     The sermon concludes by framing the Christian life as a single, focused mission: to discern what pleases Christ and then live it out. This life of faithful obedience is made possible only through God’s sanctifying, perfecting, and sustaining grace, expressed through prayer, trust, and active discipleship.

Theme & Scripture

· This Lent 3 sermon titled “…sin verses grace, grace wins” & Justifying Grace is part of a United Methodist Hymnal (UMH) Lenten series.

· Primary scripture: Romans 5:12–21, focusing on sin, grace, and justification.

Human Nature and Sin

· The message begins by using Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydeto illustrate the inner moral conflict present in every person.

· Sin is portrayed as an inherited condition rooted in Adam’s disobedience, affecting all humanity.

· Sin is not trivial or humorous; it has real, often lifelong consequences and destroys from within.

St. Paul’s Teaching on Sin

· St. Paul teaches that sin is the primary human problem, causing separation from God.

· Humanity “misses the mark” of God’s intentions, echoing Paul’s claim that all fall short of God’s glory.

Grace as the Answer

· Despite sin’s power, grace is greater than sin—“grace wins.”

· Hope is found in Jesus Christ, whom Paul describes as the “Second Adam.”

First Adam vs. Second Adam

· The First Adam brought sin, death, and condemnation through disobedience.

· The Second Adam (Jesus Christ) brings forgiveness, life, and restoration through obedience and the cross.

· All share in Adam’s fall, but all may also share in Christ’s redeeming work.

Justifying Grace (as advanced by John Wesley)

· Defined as God’s forgiving, restoring, and redeeming grace made possible through Christ’s sacrifice.

· One of three aspects of grace in Wesleyan theology: 

o Prevenient grace (goes before us),

o Justifying grace (restores relationship with God),

o Sanctifying grace (transforms and sustains us).

Meaning of “Justify”

· Compared to text alignment or copying—justifying grace “lines us up” with God’s purposes.

· Through justification, believers are realigned with God, becoming new creations in Christ.

Faith and Acceptance

· Justification occurs as we trust in Christ’s sacrifice, not through personal discipline or good intentions alone.

· Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace, with humans responding in faith.

Not the End of the Journey

· Justifying grace is not the final stage of Christian life.

· Wesleyan theology emphasizes continued growth through sanctifying (perfecting) grace, which will be explored next week.

Conclusion & Hope

· Humanity cannot save itself, but Christ makes freedom from sin possible.

· Through justifying grace, those who have faith in Christ’s work of salvation on the cross experience forgiveness, restoration, and new life—forever.

· The sermon closes with imagery linking Adam’s tree and Christ’s cross, emphasizing redemption.