"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16,17
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I. God’s Amazing Grace:
II. Man Must Respond To Grace In Faith!
III. Some Examples Of God’s Grace And Man’s Required Response:
Conclusion: We Are Saved By Grace But Not Without Faith.
Introduction
A. The subject of Grace should be everyone’s Favorite topic in the Bible:
1. The Greek word for Grace: “Charis” is translated “grace” 130 of the 156 times it is used in the N.T.
2. Also: “favour”, “thanks”, “pleasure”, etc.
3. Most frequently used definitions: “unmerited favor”, yet the word in itself means kindness, favor or liberality.
4. When used to refer to any favor God show’s to man, the word “unmerited” or “undeserving” comes quickly to mind.
B. There are some false teachings concerning the subject of Grace which we must all beware of.
1. How can one overemphasis the favor and mercy of God?? By teaching a grace which does not require a free will response on man’s part. (Crusade’s of the Holy Spirit??).
a. False: Grace is universal and unconditional salvation.
b. False: Grace is an “irresistible” power that saves those who are “chosen or predestined.”
2. “Grace is a completely unconditional gift of God and man has no part whatsoever in his salvation.”
3. “If man has to do anything to receive salvation, then it is not a gift.”
4. “If you think you must do anything to be saved, you are fallen from grace.” (especially baptism??).
5. “If you are saved by grace apart from any act of your own will, then no action on your part could
possibly cause you to be separated from God’s grace.”
6. Even in our brotherhood, there are many seeking to be like the denominations saying that “we (the urch) have not been preaching the Grace of God for years.”
C. It is interesting, I grew up in the church hearing God’s Word and the Necessity of believing, repenting and being baptized and never once did I:
1. Think that baptism merited my salvation.
2. Think that I deserved to be saved because I had obeyed the Gospel.
3. Think that my “works” made me good enough to be saved or that what I did was a substitute or in any way comparable to what Jesus did for me on the Cross.
D. Let us look at the Bible and examine the Grace of God and our salvation.I. God’s Amazing Grace:
A. Man has a problem which he cannot solve on his own.
1. All have transgressed the law of God and sinned:
1 John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
Rom 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
2. All deserve the penalty of their sins: Death, separation from God.
Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Rev 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
3. No one can do enough good works to merit their own salvation:
Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Isa 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
B. Our Merciful God has choosen to provide the cure for man’s problems with sin and death.
1. The Cure was provided through Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:4-6 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Rom 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2. Jesus took our place, our penalty for us.
2 Cor 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Mat 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
C. This Is The Grace Of God! Have you never heard this preached??
1. Why did he love us so?? Good question.
2. There is nothing we may do to “deserve” or “merit” our salvation.
3. The “PROVISION” for our salvation is “ALL OF GRACE”!!!!!
D. Next we must ask about conditions for each individual in order that they might receive this freely offered salvation.II. Man Must Respond To Grace In Faith!
A. God has made salvation a two part system:
1. Grace: Jesus (The Man and the Plan) = God’s Part
a. This is God kindly doing for man what man could not do for himself.
b. But this Grace does not forcefully compell, it lovingly calls.
2. Faith: Obedient trust and confidence in God’s Man and Plan. = Man’s Part
a. This is doing what God will not do for him (man has a free will).
B. Man must have faith in order to be saved:
Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Heb 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
C. The “Faith Only” doctrine is not “wholesome” or “full of comfort” (except for false comfort.)
James 2:20 "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
James 2:26 "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
D. Man Must Obey the Gospel Or face the wrath of God:
2 Th 1:7-8 "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
Mat 7:21-22 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"
E. Faith Is Not A Direct Miraclous Gift Of God: It is a product of the Gospel Message:
Mark 16:15-16 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
Rom 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Rom 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Rom 1:5 "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:"
Heb 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
1 Th 2:13 "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."III. Some Examples Of God’s Grace And Man’s Required Response:
A. God, by His Grace provides man with many gifts, but in most cases (especially salvation) God put on His gift of Grace the condition of “FAITH.”
B. Noah’s salvation was by Grace through Faith:
Gen 6:8 "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."
Gen 6:22 "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he."
Heb 11:7 "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."
1. Would Noah have “received” salvation without a living faith??
2. It was faith (not merit) which joined Noah to God’s provision for salvation.
3. Was Noah saved by grace or by the ARK??? Both, no controversy!!
C. The Walls Of Jericho Fell By The Grace Of God:
Josh 6:2 "And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour."
1. Instruction on how to receive the victory: A march once a day for six days and seven times on the
seventh, a shout and the trumpet.
2. The victory was a gift, but it would not have happened without faith.
Heb 11:30 "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
3. Did the walls fall by merit or by the power of God???
D. A Blind Man Sees:
John 9:1-7 "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing."
1. Was the blind man healed before faith? By Merit? Without Washing?
Conclusion: We Are Saved By Grace But Not Without Faith
A. God’s Grace is available for all manking who will respond in Faith:
Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;"Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."
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