A Gospel-Centered Life

Big Idea: Focusing on grace and how the gospel transforms our daily lives.

Text: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:1-2, 2 Peter 1:3, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Galatians 3:1-5

Introduction:

Have you ever received a gift and you are so excited about it and yet you don’t know what to do with it so you just keep it.

Talk about gifts you give to mama

What I’ll be sharing today is more like a teaching

Many Christians think the gospel is just the message that saves us, but the truth is the gospel is for daily living. We don’t just end the gospel after salvation we move and grow deeper into it.

Paul’s letters to churches has a sizeable portions rehearsing gospel truths: Ephesians 1-3, Colossians 1-2, Romans 1-11.

When Paul wrote to correct the Corinthians he also went back to remind them about the gospel he preached.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”

2 Corinthians 4:4 “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

When we talk about salvation we often relate it to repenting and asking God to forgive us of our sin or being saved or delivered from sin. Although this is correct, there is actually more to Salvation.

3 Main Phases of Salvation

Justification (Past - Saved from the Penalty of Sin)

Sanctification (Present - Being Saved from the Power of Sin)

Glorification (Future - Saved from the Presence of Sin)

Justification: The Gift We Could Never Earn

An instantaneous legal act of God in which He...

decides to think of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and

declares us to be righteous in His sight

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Grace means we didn't deserve salvation, but God gave it freely.

Even after salvation, we still depend on grace our good works doesn't make God love us more.

Preaching the gospel to ourselves keeps us from falling into pride or despair.

Application:

Do you wake up each day believing you are already loved by God because of Jesus? Or do you try to “earn” His love through performance?

2. Grace Transforms Our Identity

Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.”

• We don’t just receive grace once—we stand in grace every day.

• This means our failures don’t remove God’s love, and our successes don’t increase it.

• Vincent reminds us that when we grasp grace, we live with joy and confidence instead of guilt and fear.

Application:

Are you living as someone who is secure in God’s grace, or do you struggle with guilt and self-condemnation?

3. Grace Empowers Us to Love and Obey

Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.”

• Grace doesn’t just save us; it changes us.

• The more we understand God’s grace, the more we desire to love and obey Him—not out of fear, but out of gratitude.

• Vincent reminds us that the gospel destroys legalism and self-righteousness, replacing them with humble obedience.

Application:

Do you obey God out of love and gratitude, or do you feel pressured to perform for Him?

Conclusion: Preach the Gospel to Yourself Every Day

Milton Vincent emphasizes that we must remind ourselves of the gospel daily. When we do:

• We rest in God’s love instead of striving for approval.

• We walk in confidence, knowing we are forgiven.

• We joyfully obey, not to earn grace, but because we already have it.

Challenge:

Tomorrow morning, start your day by thanking God for His grace. Remind yourself: “I am fully loved and accepted by God because of Jesus.”

Let’s live each day standing in His grace!

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