Grace Abounds - Part 2

In a world full of chaos, Grace abounds!

Romans 5:20 NKJV

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

Grace = the unearned, undeserved favor of God.

Mercy is not getting what you deserve.

Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

Last week: Grace Exponentially Outpaces Sin

Question: How do we live in an awareness of Grace in 2024?

Ignore the bad news. Believe what God said.

Today:

Change your perspective.

There’s a filming trick called: Forced perspective. One of the most famous examples.

Fishermen use the same trick:

1) Center on the Gospel of Christ

2 Corinthians 4:1–6 NKJV

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

a) There is no grace without the Gospel!

b) Shift the focus off of us and onto Christ Jesus!

2) God places His Precious Treasure in Fragile Human Containers

2 Corinthians 4:7–11 NKJV

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

The light of God shines out through your brokenness.

3) Grace Brings Constant Renewal

2 Corinthians 4:12–16 NKJV

12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

4) The Eternal > The Temporary

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NKJV

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

We focus on what we treasure most.

Matthew 6:19–21 NKJV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Ask you neigbor this question:

What on earth are you doing for heaven’s sake?

Colossians 3:2–3 NKJV

2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

2 Peter 3:10–12 NKJV

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

1 Peter 1:13–15 ESV

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

1 Peter 1:16 NKJV

16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

HOLY:

hagios: sacred, holy Original Word: ἅγιος, ία, ον Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hagios Phonetic Spelling: (hag'-ee-os) Definition: sacred, holy Usage: set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred.

HELPS Word-studies 40 hágios – properly, different (unlike), other ("otherness"), holy; for the believer, 40 (hágios) means "likeness of nature with the Lord" because "different from the world." The fundamental (core) meaning of 40 (hágios) is "different" – thus a temple in the 1st century was hagios ("holy") because different from other buildings (Wm. Barclay). In the NT, 40 /hágios ("holy") has the "technical" meaning "different from the world" because "like the Lord." [40 (hágios) implies something "set apart" and therefore "different (distinguished/distinct)" – i.e. "other," because special to the Lord.]