The Grace of God

MAIN IDEA

The Grace of God provides salvation from sin, empowers us to live sanctified lives, and prepares us for the return of Jesus Christ and eternal life in heaven.

SCRIPTURE

Titus 2:11–14 NKJV

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

INTRODUCTION

Heaven's Entrance Exam: A man died and went to heaven. Of course, St. Peter met him at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in." "Okay," the man said. "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart." "That's wonderful," said St. Peter. "That's worth three points!" "Three points?" said the man. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithes and service." "Terrific!" said St. Peter. "That's certainly worth a point." "One point?!! Well, I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans." "Fantastic, that's good for two more points," said Peter. "Two points!" the man cried. "At this rate the only way I'll get into heaven is by the grace of God." "Bingo, 100 points! Come on in."

MESSAGE

The Grace of God Brings Salvation

Titus 2:11 NKJV

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

Sin

We believe that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that sin results in spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Romans 3:23; 5:12-19; 6:23)

The Definition of Sin = any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature (missing the mark).

Sinful Actions

Sinful Attitudes

Sinful Nature

The Origin of Sin (Fall in the Garden)

What is true? (temptation to doubt God’s Word)

What is right? (temptation to trust our own self-righteousness)

Who am I? (temptation to be like God)

The Doctrine of Inherited Sin

We are all guilty because of Adam’s sin.

We all have a sinful nature because of Adam’s sin.

In our natures, we totally lack spiritual good before God.

In our actions, we are totally unable to do spiritual good before God.

The Results of Sin

Temporal consequences.

Eternal consequences.

Salvation

We believe that salvation from sin is received exclusively by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice at the Cross of Calvary by all who call upon the name of Jesus with a true heart of repentance. (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7)

Grace Saves Us

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The Role of Works in Salvation

Titus 3:5–7 NKJV

5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Grace of God Teaches Sanctification

Titus 2:12 NKJV

12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

We believe that sanctification, which is separation from sin and dedication to God, is the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live a life of holiness which is made possible by keeping one's faith exclusively in Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:1-11,13; 8:1,2,13; 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 12:14; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:15-16)

Three Stages of Sanctification

Sanctification Begins at Regeneration

1 Corinthians 6:11 NKJV

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Sanctification Increases Throughout Life

Romans 6:19 NKJV

19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

Sanctification is Completed at Death or the Rapture

Revelation 21:27 NKJV

27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

God’s Role in Sanctification

God the Father causes us to want His will and gives us the power to do it.

Philippians 2:13 NKJV

13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

God the Son, Jesus Christ, earned our salvation for us and is our example

1 Corinthians 1:30 NKJV

30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God the Holy Spirit specifically works in us to change us and sanctify us, giving us greater holiness of life.

Peter speaks of “sanctification of the Spirit.” (1 Peter 1:2)

Paul speaks of “sanctification by the Spirit.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

The Holy Spirit produces the “fruit of the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

When we grow in sanctification, we “walk by the Spirit” and are “led by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 8:14)

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Holiness.

Grace Reveals our Savior

Titus 2:13–14 NKJV

13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ as the eternal and only begotten Son of God, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His teachings and miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death at the Cross of Calvary, in His bodily resurrection from the dead, in His ascension and exaltation to the right hand of God the Father, and in His Second Coming. (John 1:1-4; Ephesians 2:13-18; Revelation 19-20)

Jesus Gave Himself For Us as a Gift of Grace

To Redeem Us

To Purify Us

To Make Us Zealous for Good Works

Jesus is Everything We Need

Jesus is God.

Jesus is Eternal.

Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God

Jesus was born of a virgin.

Jesus lived a sinless life.

Jesus died a vicarious (substitutionary) and atoning (sacrificial) death on the Cross.

Jesus rose bodily from the dead.

Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father.

Jesus is coming back again!

CLOSING