Saved by Grace

God’s Favor

Psalm 73:18–19 NKJV

Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.

Introduction

The Psalmist was writing to Israel as God’s people were living in constant danger. Faith in God and Obedience to Him was His only requirement. If they failed to remain loyal, then they were cast down into destruction. My message today is not about judgement nor condemnation or the punishment of the soul being cast into hell. I want us to see the Grace of God that is offered to us freely through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Believers are subjects of God’s redeeming grace that we’ve received from Him by His love for us.

We are standing on the earth created by a Holy, powerful God that wants His people to love Him and worship Him with all our breath and being. We exist to please and serve him with our lives hanging in the balance.

My Funeral Book shows that I’ve conducted 4 funeral services since Oct. 22.

That’s 4 services in the past 15 days. I almost bled to death on the night of Oct. 13. I spent 4 days in the hospital during those days.

Today, I’m standing here by God’s Grace.

Ukrainian Invasion by Russia, death & destruction, Why?

Hitler kills 6m Jews, undeserving, Why?

As a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I’m very concerned about the souls of people more than ever. God’s Grace is All we need to be secure in this life and the future

life to come.

I want us to see just how fragile life really is for all of us, and that death may befall us at anytime. We are kept alive by the Grace of God, that’s all.

It rains on the just and the unjust.

In Luke 13:1-9

Luke 13:1–9 NKJV

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

Jesus is saying in plain words - that unless people repent, they will be destroyed. That means good people and bad people are all sinners, and will gie a physical death. These words need to be heard by the whole world today.

The vineyard owner is God.

Creation is accountable to God

I. God’s expectation for people.

The Fig tree at a limited amount of time to be saved.

Don’t waste the soil. Man is created from the soil of the earth. The big bang theory is a lie invented by satan to deny that God exists. Friends, everyone dies, but by the grace of God, we stand and live under His saving grace.

John Newton: English drunken sailor called it Amazing Grace.

A. Fruit from the fig tree was expected to be produced.

Psalm 90:1–12 CSB

Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God. You return mankind to the dust, saying, “Return, descendants of Adam.” For in your sight a thousand years are like yesterday that passes by, like a few hours of the night. You end their lives; they sleep. They are like grass that grows in the morning— in the morning it sprouts and grows; by evening it withers and dries up. For we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days ebb away under your wrath; we end our years like a sigh. Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away. Who understands the power of your anger? Your wrath matches the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.

The vineyard worker interceded for 1 year of grace.

The meaning of the parable.

The Fig Tree was subject to abuse in physical suffering. Storms, winds, drought, rains, heat, cold. ect.

People experience physical, mental - emotional or spiritual suffering. It can be self-inflicted- toxic poison on the inside- we refer to as sin.

Outside forces can cause pain, suffering, and death at any moment of time.

You can find yourself in bad, dangerous situations and not know it.

Illus. Life Application:

testimony of Bill Lacrones’ grandson yesterday. brain aneurysm

John 1:16–17 NKJV

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

II. The Vineyard Worker was willing to save the tree.

Hope for the tree to bear fruit.

Grace - without punishment- even though we deserve it.

Jesus improves our ground where we are planted. We belong to the ground.

Taking a Stand for Jesus

Romans 5:15–21 NKJV

But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.