The True Grace of God Part 5 - December 16, 2023

2 To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus,

5 that you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge.

6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you,

7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

You may be seated.

Today

I want to return

to a subject

we were focused on

back in July

of this year.

That subject is

God’s Grace.

The true grace of God

is so misunderstood

in our times

we need a steady diet

of what the Scriptures teach

abt God’s grace.

It’s very easy to teach error.

It’s much harder

to detect it

& correct it.

with that in mind

we’ll talk today

abt the Grace of God

Given to Us in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER

Let’s pray.

Lord,

as we continue

to study your grace

help us to lay aside

all wrong ideas

and demonic doctrines

about Your grace.

Help us to be both hearers,

& doers of your Word,

As you give us grace,

& wisdom,

to put it into practice.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

Notice in 1 Corinthians 1:1

we see who wrote

this letter.

It’s frm...

1 Corinthians 1:1 (CSB)

1 Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will…

Paul introduces himself,

as an Apostle,

of Christ Jesus.

& Paul makes sure

we all know,

he’s not

a self-appointed apostle.

He’s not an apostle,

by his own will;

But by God’s will.

What is an Apostle:

An apostle is someone,

sent by someone else,

to represent that person,

on official business.

An apostle has the authority,

to speak & act,

on behalf of the person,

who sent them.

Paul is an Apostle

of Christ Jesus.

He’s been gvn authority

by Christ Jesus

to speak & act

on Christ’s behalf.

In Act 20:24…

Paul calls his apostleship

Acts 20:24 (CSB)

24 “…the ministry…received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”

Paul was gvn authority,

frm Jesus,

to preach the gospel,

of God’s grace.

The good news

of the Kingdom of God.

[Transition: & as Paul

goes on to tells us

who the recipients

of this letter are

we find out

what the gospel

of God’s grace is.]

First the gospel of God’s grace…

1. The gospel of God’s grace is a call to be SAINTS.

In 1 Corinthians 1:2,

Paul says he writes

1 Corinthians 1:2 (CSB)

2 To the church of God at Corinth…

Paul then goes on

in 1 Corinthians 1:2…

to define what he means by

the Church of God.

He says…

1 Corinthians 1:2 (CSB)

2 …those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

Ηere Paul succinctly states,

what God calls us into

thru the gospel

of grace.

The gospel of grace

is not a call

to be a sinner

saved by grace.

That’s what the devil,

wld like us,

to blv.

You know.

You blv in Jesus;

& not much changes

in you.

You’re still,

the same old sinner.

But now you’re,

a forgiven sinner.

That’s a very common,

but very false view,

of the gospel

of grace.

The true gospel,

of grace

Is much more radical;

much more life-changing,

than that.

The true gospel of grace,

is a call to a life

of repentance.

It’s a call to come out of,

our sinful lifestyle.

To leave that life behind.

To stop being sinners.

& to be set apart in Christ,

to be sanctified

as saints

by God’s grace.

The gospel of grace,

calls us to share in,

the divine nature,

of the Lord Jesus Christ

& become by grace

what the Lord Jesus is

by nature

as the Spirit of God,

conforms us to Christ’s image.

Paul makes this

undeniably clear

later on in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

where He says this:

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (CSB)

9 Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males,

10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.

Here we have a list

of some of

the most popular sins,

in every culture—

including our own.

Sexual immorality of all kinds.

Including:

Adultery;

Homosexual acts;

Idolatry;

Greed;

Theft;

Swindling;

Idolatry;

Drunkenness;

& verbal abuse.

Paul says,

those are the acts,

of the unrighteous.

That’s how

sinners live.

& anybody

who lives

in those sins

will not inherit

the kingdom of God.

But the false gospel of grace

that’s passionately proclaimed by some of

the most popular preachers

in the world

that false gospel assures us:

We’re all just sinners,

saved by grace.

& we will

inherit God’s kingdom,

even if we practice,

the sins,

Paul says will keep us,

out of God’s kingdom.

False teachers assure us,

living in sin

is the normal life,

for a Christian.

But let’s listen

to what Paul,

goes on to say,

in 1 Corinthians 6:11.

He says:

1 Corinthians 6:11 (CSB)

11 And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Notice Paul says

Some of you

used to be

like this.

Like what?

Like Paul just described.

Some of you

used to be unrighteous;

Some of you

used to be sinners.

But something happened

to change you.

& what happened

was God’s grace.

Thru the gospel of grace

Paul preached

they were called

to be saints.

They were called

to leave behind

the unrighteous,

sinful lifestyle

they used to live.

They were called,

to separate themselves,

FROM who they used to be,

outside of Christ—

to separate themselves,

FROM their sinful past—

& be separated TO,

a new life in Christ.

A life where

they’ve changed

their allegiance.

Frm allegiance to the world,

the flesh,

& the devil;

to allegiance to God.

They’ve changed kingdoms

frm being a part of,

the kingdom of darkness.

To now belonging to

the kingdom of light.

& that new life began,

when they were washed,

sanctified,

& justified,

when they were baptized,

in water

& gvn the gift,

of the HS.

That’s the gospel

of grace the Corinthians

heard & responded to.

APPLICATION

& that’s the same gospel

we need to hear

& respond to.

When we’re baptized

into Christ in the Church

we’re born again.

The sinner we were

outside of Christ

is dead,

& buried w/ Christ.

& we rise

to live a new life,

as saints of God

in Christ

in the Church.

The gospel of God’s grace

Is a call to be

God’s Saints

by God’s grace.

& Paul goes on

to remind us

where God gives

us the grace

to be saints.

In 1 Corinthians 1:4

Paul says:

1 Corinthians 1:4 (CSB)

4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus…

The importance

Paul placed on being

“In Christ Jesus”

cannot be overstated.

Paul uses that phrase

or it’s equivalent

at least 80 times

in his 14 letters.

& when Paul talks abt

being in Christ Jesus

He’s talking abt

being united to Christ

in Christ’s body

which is the Church.

So to be in Christ Jesus

is to be connected

to Christ’s body

in the Church.

It’s in the Church

that the grace of God

is gvn to us

in Christ Jesus.

As Paul says

1 Corinthians 1:9…

It’s in the Church

God the Father calls us

1 Corinthians 1:9 (CSB)

9 …into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The gospel of grace

calls us to live as saints

thru our union

w/ God’s Son

in the Church.

Thru our constant contact

w/ the Lord Jesus,

as a part of His body

in the Church

we become more & more holy—

more & more saintly—

as God’s grace changes us,

frm one degree of glory,

to another.

We’re constantly putting off

the old humanity

& it’s ways.

& constantly putting

on the new humanity

that’s been created

in Christ Jesus

to be like God

in righteousness

& holiness.

So to fulfill

God’s calling to be saints

we’ve gotta stay

connected to God’s Son

in the Church.

Bcs it’s only

in the Church

that we gain access to

the grace God gives us

in Christ Jesus.

& in 1 Corinthians 1:5:

Paul goes on to explain

what he means by

the grace given us

in Christ Jesus.

He says:

1 Corinthians 1:5–7 (CSB)

5 …you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge.

6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you,

7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here Paul’s talking abt,

the grace God gives us

in the church,

thru spiritual gifts.

The speech & knowledge,

Paul mentions here

are spiritual speech,

& spiritual knowledge.

Supernatural speech,

& supernatural knowledge.

God gives

supernatural spiritual gifts

to His church,

to enrich His church,

& to confirm the testimony,

abt the Lord Jesus Christ,

among us.

Thru the grace of God,

flowing thru spiritual gifts,

God confirms the truth

of the gospel of God’s grace.

Now

I think it’s very sad,

that this wonderful letter—

thru which God

reminds Christ’s Church

of our calling

to be saints thru

our union w/ Christ

within the church—

It’s very sad that this

letter tends to cause

so much division,

among God’s ppl.

& one of the subjects

ppl have divided over

are the very things

God wants to use

to bring us together—

spiritual gifts.

I blv

Satan does all he can

to get us

to misunderstand;

& misuse spiritual gifts.

Or get us so confused,

that we say

“Those gifts are not for us.”

Bcs Satan knows,

what God’s Word says.

Satan knows,

that thru these gifts,

God’s grace is distributed,

to God’s ppl

in the Church

& we’re enriched,

in every way.

Satan knows

It’s thru spiritual gifts

that we all grow

in the grace & knowledge,

of God.

& we grow in the true faith;

& become mature.

Satan also knows,

that when God’s ppl are united;

& God’s grace,

is freely flowing,

thru all of us,

thru God’s gifts,

God’s grace will then,

flow out frm us,

to the world,

just like it did,

in the early church.

& Satan hates that.

So, Satan has done,

a superb job,

of causing division

over spiritual gifts.

It’s common,

in the modern church,

to hear ppl say,

spiritual gifts,

or at least some spiritual gifts,

ceased or passed away,

when the last,

of the Apostles died.

Or, when the NT,

was completed;

Or for,

some other reason.

I’ve thoroughly studied,

all those arguments

over the past 20 years.

& I’ve not found,

any biblical arguments,

to convince me,

that any of the spiritual gifts,

have ceased,

or will cease,

bfr the coming of Christ.

In fact,

I wanna show you somethin’

Paul says,

in 1 Corinthians 1:7

That makes me 100% certain

none of the spiritual gifts,

have ceased,

or will cease,

until Christ comes again.

In 1 Corinthians 1:7,

Paul says to the saints:

1 Corinthians 1:7 (CSB)

7 …you do not lack any spiritual gift……

Paul says the Corinthians,

have all the spiritual gifts

Every gift—

Including the gifts

Paul talks abt

later on in this letter—

The Church at Corinth

has all

the spiritual gifts.

& remember,

Paul’s not,

just writing,

to the Church at Corinth.

He’s writing to

all the saints,

the whole church,

to all who call on

the name of the Lord

in every place.

So,

The Universal Church

does not lack,

any spiritual gift.

& notice the nxt phrase:

In 1 Corinthians 1:7.

Paul says the church,

does not lack,

any spiritual gift,

1 Corinthians 1:7 (CSB)

7 …as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The revelation,

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

is Christ’s 2nd coming.

The glorious appearing,

of our great God & Savior,

Jesus Christ.

The end of this age.

What Paul calls,

“the end”

& “the Day of the Lord,”

in 1 Corinthians 1:8.

Paul says,

while the saints wait,

while the church waits,

for Christ to be revealed,

at His 2nd coming

at the end of the age,

The church does not,

will not lack

any spiritual gift.

In other words:

Every spiritual gift,

will be available

to the church

until the revelation

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church will have,

all the spiritual gifts,

throughout this age.

Frm the day when Christ,

received the HS,

frm the Father,

& poured out the gift,

of the HS,

on the Church

on the Day of Pentecost,

Frm that day,

until the day of the Lord,

when Christ comes again in glory,

all the spiritual gifts,

every spiritual gift,

will be available to God’s ppl,

within the church.

The church does not,

& never will lack,

any spiritual gift.

Now,

Hopefully……

Right abt now

you’re thinking

“He’s really

“laboring this point.”

Bcs I am

really laboring this point

bcs we really need

to hear this.

God’s ppl cannot

fulfill our calling

to become saints

w/o all the spiritual gifts

in the Church.

Bcs God’s grace,

flows to God’s ppl,

and thru God’s ppl,

thru the spiritual gifts,

Christ gives His ppl,

in His church.

Paul puts it this way

in Ephesians 4:7-16.

He says.

Ephesians 4:7–16 (CSB)

7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

8 For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people.

Jumping dwn to verse 11

Paul says:

11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.

16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Christ designed the Church,

in such a way,

that we all,

need each other.

Christ does not

give one person,

all the gifts.

& we don’t all have,

the same,

spiritual gifting.

You need the gifts,

God gives me.

I need the gifts,

God gives you.

We need each other.

All the spiritual gifts,

God gives to His church,

are necessary—

so God’s church,

can be enriched—

built up—

& reach unity in the faith,

& in the knowledge of God’s Son.

& become mature

as each of us

does our part.

We need all

the spiritual gifts,

to be active within the church,

so we can become saints

in God’s Church

thru God’s grace.

& I blv this is

the #1 reason

we see so much division,

in the church today.

Bcs we’ve neglected,

or rejected,

some of the spiritual gifts,

Christ gives,

His church.

We’ve downplayed

other gifts.

We’ve forbidden the exercise,

of other gifts.

But as long as the Church,

is on earth,

we need all the Spiritual gifts,

exercised in a fitting,

& orderly way,

for the Church to grow,

for the Church to stay united,

& to flourish.

That’s what they had,

in the early church.

& we need the same today.

We need a church,

where each individual,

does their part,

by exercising,

the spiritual gifts God gives

each of us.

We need a church,

where all the spiritual gifts,

are exercised in love,

for the good of others.

That church will be a force,

that the gates of hell,

will never stand against.

& this is why:

Paul thanks God,

that the grace of God,

was gvn to the Church at Corinth,

thru all the spiritual gifts.

Even when

some were misusing

the speaking gifts.

Paul was still thankful

for all the spiritual gifts.

Bcs thru the spiritual gifts

God’s grace

enriched them

in every way.

Thru spiritual gifts

the Corinthians had heard,

The gospel of God’s grace

That called them

to be saints,

thru union

w/ God’s Son

in the Church.

They accepted that message,

& God poured out

the HS on them.

& along w/ the HS

God also poured out

all the spiritual gifts

on them

in abundance.

& this outpouring

of God’s grace,

Thru God’s gifts,

was confirmation to the Corinthians,

that the gospel

of God’s grace,

is true.

The miraculous manifestations,

of the HS,

thru spiritual gifting,

was proof to the Corinthians,

That what Paul said,

abt Christ among them,

is true.

APPLICATION

& I blv we shld expect the same.

If we preach

the same gospel of grace

Paul preached.

& if the same Spirit of grace

is still poured out

on all who accept the gospel,

& are united to Christ,

in baptism…………

Then we shld still expect,

the same manifestations,

of God’s grace,

to be gvn to all God’s saints,

thru the supernatural gifts,

of the HS.

We shld expect God,

to confirm

the testimony abt Christ,

among us,

just as He did among them.

When we gather

as the Church

We shld expect

as Paul says in

1 Corinthians 12:7-11……

We shld expect that

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 (CSB)

7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:

8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues.

11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

Like the Corinthians,

we shld expect,

that we will not lack,

any spiritual gift,

as we eagerly wait,

for the revelation,

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We shld expect this,

bcs the saint-making

Grace of God,

is gvn to each us,

thru spiritual gifts.

& I cld talk abt this

for hours.

But let me

reign myself in

& talk abt

God’s goal

in giving us His grace

in Christ

thru spiritual gifts.

In 1 Corinthians 1:8,

Paul says of God,

1 Corinthians 1:8–9 (CSB)

8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul assures us,

the God who called us

to be saints

thru our union

with God’s Son

in the Church

that same God

will faithfully strengthen

His saints

thru His grace

to be faithful

until the end.

It’s God’s grace

that enables us,

to become saints.

It’s God’s grace

that strengthens us,

to live as saints.

God’s grace

Strengthens our resolve,

to follow Jesus.

Strengthens us,

to serve one another,

w/ the gifts

God gives us.

God strengthens us

thru His grace,

to empower us,

to faithfully live,

the Christian life,

so that we will be blameless,

on the Day

our Lord comes again

in glory.

God is faithful.

work out our own salvation

on our own.

God is faithful.

God gives us the grace

we need.

God is at work in us,

to give us both the will,

& the ability,

to live in a way,

that pleases Him.

He gives us everything we need,

for life & godliness,

thru His grace.

That grace is found

primarily in relationship

w/ God’s ppl

in the Church.

CONCLUSION

Now, as we close:

We’ve seen today,

The gospel

of God’s grace

is a call

to be God’s saints

thru our union

w/ God’s Son

in God’s Church.

We’ve also seen that:

God gives us

His grace

thru the spiritual gifts

He gives to

each member

of the Church.

God’s grace,

is gvn to us,

to strengthen us.

In response to this teaching,

I want us all,

to do two things.

First,

Let’s do as Paul says,

in 1 Corinthians 14:1.

Let’s begin

to obey God’s command to...

1 Corinthians 14:1 (CSB)

1 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts…

Let’s desire the spiritual gifts,

that empower us,

to serve one another,

in the Church.

& 2nd,

Lets keep asking,

keep seeking,

keep knocking,

in prayer

until God gives us,

the good gifts,

we desire frm Him.

If we’ll do those two things,

I blv we will see

the testimony,

abt Christ,

confirmed among us.

& we’ll

PRAYER

Let’s all stand for prayer.

Lord Jesus

Thank You

for Your Word.

Thank You

for the gospel of grace

that calls us

to become saints.

Thank You for

the spiritual gifts,

you give us in the Church

that enable Your body,

to build itself up in love,

as we all do what we’re,

called to do.

Lord give us a greater desire,

for Your gifts for us.

So that thru Your

gifts we may all

grow in the grace

& knowledge of You.

Amen.

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