Shaped By God's Grace
Notes
Transcript
What do you tell people when you are introducing yourself?
What do you tell people when you are introducing yourself?
We introduce ourselves based on what we do, who we are related to, and where we live.
All these things are determined by the influences we have had and goals we still have.
How do you introduce yourself?
When Paul introduced himself, he focused on how God shaped his life through grace.
When Paul introduced himself, he focused on how God shaped his life through grace.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we began introducing ourselves by sharing how God has blessed us, saved us, and shaped us by his grace?
Paul wanted people to know he was an apostle by God’s grace
Paul wanted people to know he was an apostle by God’s grace
Paul, an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),
This wasn’t man’s will.
People choose leaders and workers based on achievements and abilities.
God chose Paul despite what he wanted to do and where he was going.
This was God’s will
Paul said, “when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles” (Gal. 1:15).
Paul’s apostleship was continually rejected by those who looked on the Paul’s history.
Paul’s apostleship was guaranteed by God who knew what he could do through Paul.
God’s grace isn’t just about your mistakes. God’s grace is also about what God is going to do despite your mistakes.
Paul wanted people to know he received grace because of what God had done through Christ.
Paul wanted people to know he received grace because of what God had done through Christ.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Because of God’s work in Christ, grace and peace were available to sinners like Paul—and me.
Before God’s work in Christ, the world was filled with the knowledge of judgment and hostility. Bloodshed filled streets and anger filled hearts.
Adam brought death to us all.
Cain killed his brother.
Sin necessitated animal sacrifices.
Global depravity caused the global flood.
“Through one act of righteousness there resulted justification and life to all men” (Rom. 5:18).
Jesus’ life exemplified peace and clothed us with righteousness to stand before God.
Jesus’ death paid the price for sin and made peace for us to stand before God.
Jesus’ continued ministry in Heaven brings us continued peace in life.
Paul wants us to know God’s grace is extended for his own glory.
to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
This may seem self-seeking at first, but we want God to be self-seeking. If God did not put himself first, he would be an idolater.
When God seeks his own glory, he exalts us by using us for his glory.
Note the “to the praise of his glory” or “glorious grace” in Ephesians 1.
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
The fact that God places his grace on us for his on glory is one of the chief reasons we can trust in God’s grace in spite of our sinfulness.
God eternally purposed to bring his people to himself through grace.
God eternally purposed to bring his people to himself through grace.
“present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:27).
God “calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12).
“It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:14).
How are you going to introduce yourself?
How are you going to introduce yourself?
What will be the biggest influence on your life when we leave here?