January 26, 2025 - From Grace to Glory
Notes
Transcript
Airplanes / Trains / Farm Equipment / Tractors / Lawnmowers / The cars we drive / EVEN our own bodies...
Require FUEL to make them…go
A CAR - driving along - that runs out of fuel - WILL…?
A human body - RUNNING along - that runs out of it’s own kind of fuel - WILL…?
Yes - have the same result.
These things - in our lives - NEED FUEL - in order to - GO.
If you’ve ever been on the RECEIVING END of the car you’re driving - RUNNING OUT of fuel - you know the importance of keeping your vehicle FUELED...
AND - if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of YOUR OWN BODY running out of fuel - you know the importance of keeping your body FUELED...
In College, I was playing in a baseball game in Milwaukee, and I think I hit a double, and standing on 2nd base (with 2 outs), the very next batter hit the first pitch into the outfield for an out - but I ran around 3rd and headed for home.
When I crossed home plate, I realized that I could not catch my breath. Very deep breathing.
I noticed it - thought something was wrong - but just grabbed my glove to run back out on defense -
My coached noticed I couldn’t catch my breath - and stopped me - i told him I was ok.
But after the game in the hotel he met with me and the other coaches to ask me what was up.
I told him what happened - and told him I thought it was just a fluke thing. (maybe I wasn’t FUELED that day).
But even our bodies can RUN OUT of fuel.
TODAY - we’re going to see Paul CLOSE OUT this greeting to the Roman Church...
And in DOING SO - he’s going to give us a glimpse into why he’s writing.
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ok, v5 is really where we’re gonna linger...
It tells us one of the reasons that Paul is writing...
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
Right away - what jumps out at us is a PROGRESSION of REASON...
For why Paul - exists.
And by extension - Why I - exist
Why you - exist
Paul says - WE (Christians - believers)
Have received GRACE and APOSTLESHIP
WHY?
To bring about the Obedience of Faith - among all the nations
WHY?
For the SAKE of God’s NAME (For His glory)!
So - the ULTIMATE AIM - for WHY we have received God’s GRACE...
Is to bring others into an obedient relationship with God - BASED on FAITH...
For God’s GLORY!
NOW - we could have made the sermon about THAT alone!
And walked through each point to FIND the TARGET - God’s Glory...
BUT - today - i wanna look at this connection between...
GRACE and Apostleship - which we RECEIVE
FOR...
the Obedience of Faith
I want to look at the connection between...
God’s Grace and Apostleship RECEIVED
And how that brings about Obedient Faith in others.
Remember - Paul says - WE have RECEIVED grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of Faith.
SO FIRST - let’s look at what COMES - with this RECEIVING of God’s GRACE.
First thing we need to know when it comes to God’s Grace and what it brings - is this...
SLIDE: God’s Grace: Brings Justification by Faith (Peace with God)
God’s Grace
God’s Grace
Where do we go to see this?
Many places - but the one that stands out is...
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
To be justified before God - is to be SAVED...
To stand in RIGHT judgment under God.
To BE in right standing before God.
And that RIGHT STANDING COMES - - by God’s grace...
By God’s UNDESERVED favor.
Which means - we don’t EARN this Salvation...
We don’t EARN - this STATUS under God...
The verse says - BY GRACE (undeserved favor) we are SAVED!
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
And the VERSE ITSELF - CONFIRMS the definition of GRACE BEING undeserved - by saying...
It is a GIFT of God!
Well WHAT does that mean?
We all KNOW what a GIFT is - but we often WAR AGAINST gifts..especially the FREE gift of eternal life.
How so?
We fall back into wanting to EARN God’s - UNDESERVED FAVOR - His grace!
Well think through that - it’s NOT POSSIBLE...
And the Bible speaks clearly to this!
5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Salvation comes - HOW?
BY- - GRACE
And BY this Grace of God - to BE justified is to now have PEACE with God!
The wrath of God once OVER us - now removed - BY this salvation!
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
NO Condemnation - BECAUSE Salvation had come...
BECAUSE - NOW justified!
AND NOW - When God looks at me - he sees the righteousness of Jesus.
GRACE - brings salvation (Justification) - and peace with God.
But what else?
SLIDE: God’s Grace: Brings New Life in Christ (Free From Sin’s Hold)
God’s Grace
God’s Grace
To understand this NEW LIFE that we attain by Grace - THRU faith...
We FIRST need to understand the LACK OF LIFE we hold - before God’s GRACE comes...
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
We talk about this ALL the time - BECAUSE - so many in Christianity don’t understand it / Don’t BELIEVE it.
Before God’s grace - we were - as Paul said - DEAD in our SINS!
We UNDERSTAND the concept of something being DEAD - in all other areas of LIFE..
But don’t try to tell another - WALKING, BREATHING Human Being - that they are Spiritually dead.
They simply won’t believe you.
*Walk up on a dead deer on the side of the road - and we KNOW - we could toss FOOD OUT RIGHT next to that thing - and it won’t make a WORLD of difference!
Why? - - It’s DEAD
Dead DEER - don’t eat!
DEAD DEER - don’t do - ANYTHING!
And yet - the Bible tells US - that as UNBELIEVERS - we are DEAD - spiritually.
And this IDEA is ALL over the Bible...
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
Spiritually DEAD!
This is what Paul is describing in verse 13...
He says - I was formerly spiritually dead...BUT (v12)
"Christ gave me strength"
"Christ judged me faithful"
"Christ appointed me to His service"
How did that happen?
Did Paul earn that status?
Let's read the rest of v13
13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Paul was spiritually DEAD! - But then received mercy!
Back to that DEAD DEER in the road...
How do you show MERCY to a dead deer?
You don't show mercy to a dead deer...
You CAN'T show mercy to a dead deer... It's dead!
UNLESS - you GIVE it life...!
UNLESS - you MAKE it ALIVE!
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
The Apostle Paul...being dead in his trespasses and sins...was MADE ALIVE by God...
From being Spiritually DEAD to being Spiritually ALIVE
NEW LIFE!!
And this NEW LIFE - comes - by God’s GRACE!
SLIDE:
A new imperfect life comes to us by God’s grace, through faith, and this new life entails our spiritual growth as believers in Christ. A new perfect life also comes to us by God’s grace, through faith, the life of Jesus - His perfect righteousness applied to our account before God.
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
the New Life in Christ - is all about us NOW - having been FREED from sin’s Condemnation...
...to now WALKING through life - with the ABILITY NOW - to pursue God.
That MIGHT sound odd - but that’s how this works!
SLIDE: R.C. Sproul Quote (Graphic)
So NEW LIFE comes - by way of God’s Grace -
but that’s not all!
So far - we’ve seen God’s GRACE BRING with it...
Justification by Faith
New Life in Jesus
But also...
SLIDE: God’s Grace: Brings the Gift of the Holy Spirit
God’s Grace
God’s Grace
Upon faith in Jesus - God’s Spirit comes to dwell within us...
AND - For a PURPOSE...
The Spirit of God - WORKS in the believers life...
And begins to CHANGE the believer!
This is what the SPIRIT DOES!!
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Spirit of God - in the life of a BELIEVER - WORKS!!
The Spirit:
- gives life (John 7:38)
- gives gifts (1 Corinthians 12)
- Encourages (Acts 9:31)
- Steps in on our behalf (Romans 8:27)
- Empowers us (Acts 1:8)
CLEARLY, the Holy Spirit doesn’t come to dwell within us to sit and do nothing!
NO - The Spirit comes - and EMPOWERS us…
How did Jesus WALK this earth - on MISSION?
1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness
2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.
Jesus here - FULL of the Holy Spirit… enters the wilderness of LIFE!
And then - Jesus RETURNS - and is about to TAKE HIS FIRST STEPS into His earthly ministry...
Guess how the Bible describes that...
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.
FROM here - Jesus BEGINS His ministry!
And LISTEN - By God’s GRACE - we are INDWELT with this SAME Spirit!
And so - By God’s GRACE - comes...
Justification by Faith in Christ
New Life in Christ (Free from Sin’s Hold)
The Gift of the Holy Spirit - Empowering US to - BE Jesus to the world!
But that’s not all!
SLIDE: God’s Grace: Brings Access to God’s Grace
God’s Grace
God’s Grace
Now - THIS may seem like a no brainer - BUT - i don’t think it is.
Some MIGHT believe that God’s GRACE comes to us - as a ONE TIME - SHOT in the ARM - Blessing...
TO THEN - Go away.
*How many of us have received an UNBELIEVABLE gesture of LOVE and MERCY from another PERSON?
And we think - WOW - and we’re overwhelmed
And we would NEVER EVEN THINK - that they would DO THAT AGAIN - let alone us going to them AGAIN and asking for the same help!
We’ve all been there I’m sure!
We’ve all experienced unbelievable GRACE and MERCY from others… no doubt assuming that its limited!
And YET...
The Bible tells us.. that God’s GRACE - brings with it - ACCESS to God’s grace - which is - UNLIMITED!
EVEN SO....
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
How often did the apostle Paul need God’s GRACE in his Christian life?
MANY times
By God’s grace - we receive access to God’s grace...
By Grace thru Faith - we get to STAND under the waterfall of God’s FAVOR!
AND FROM THERE...
We see the next - and final piece (for today) the COMES with God’s grace...
SLIDE: God’s Grace: Brings Eternal Perspective and Hope
God’s Grace
God’s Grace
This world calls to us to LIVE a CERTAIN WAY...
to THINK a certain way....
to MAKE certain choices...
And ALL of those things - under a BANNER of - Earthly Perspective
But there’s a BIGGER picture out there!
VIDEO: Francis Chan: Rope
By God’s Grace - an ETERNAL Perspective comes - and yet - EVEN then… we struggle to SEE this divine perspective - through all our sin.
It’s not easy...
It’s not easy to see -
Suffering as a “good” from God
Heartache as a “good” from God
Money as - a potential danger
This world as NOT our home
Our enemy as - a friend
And yet = this is the call.
NOW - back to our text today - v5
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
We’ve RECEIVED GRACE...
And what does that entail?
All that we’ve seen today...
We’ve received:
Justification by Faith
New Life in Christ
Holy Spirit - Which empowers us
Access to God’s Grace
Eternal Perspective and Hope
And this verse tells us - We’ve RECEIVED these things - IN ORDER to BRING ABOUT the obedience of faith AMONG the nations...
Why?
For the sake of His name!
In other words - for HIS GLORY!
From GRACE - to GLORY!
HOW?
It says -
We received GRACE and.… - Apostleship
What does that mean?
It means - - Divine Commission!
Remember - it means - TO BE SENT!
So think about it...
You take ALL of these things...
SLIDE:
Justification by Faith
New Life in Christ
Holy Spirit - Which empowers us
Access to God’s Grace
Eternal Perspective and Hope
And you WRAP them in APOSTLESHIP!
Wrap them in - a COMMISSION
A CALL TO GO!
You end up CHANGING the WORLD!
You end up seeing = IN A FALLEN WORLD...
The Obedience of FAITH come alive in people!
Why?
These things on the screen - they REPLICATE themselves in this world!
Again - WHY?
Because - By God’s Grace - through faith - We receive the Holy Spirit...
And what does the Spirit - EXIST to DO?
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
The SPIRIT - BEARS witness about Jesus -
That’s WHAT He does!
BEING God - He exists to BEAR witness about Jesus!
We NEED to KNOW - this!
SLIDE:
God is God-Centered!
God is ALL ABOUT God!
He does ALL things - WHY?
For His GLORY!
For the Glorification of His name!
God wrote the Bible - and the Bible tells us to - -
WORSHIP GOD!
PRAISE God!
Sing about God!
Love God!
Surrender to God!
Cherish God!
God is God-Centered!
And so - WHEN - by God’s grace - we RECEIVE the Holy Spirit - by faith in Jesus...
The God INSIDE of US...
Will PROCLAIM - - God!!
And HAVING NEW LIFE - when we proclaim GOD...
Life - begets - life!
Life - BRINGS FORTH - Life!
And THAT’s WHY - v5 says what it says...
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
FROM GRACE - to GLORY
SUMMARY
God’s Grace BRINGS:
Justification by Faith
New Life in Christ
Holy Spirit - Which empowers us
Access to God’s Grace
Eternal Perspective and Hope
Wrap these things - in the MISSION of God - and the obedience of faith will begin to arise in the people around us...near and far.
Let’s pray!
