Grace In Christ
In Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
What Is Grace?
What Is Grace?
Grace Defined.
Grace Defined.
What does the word grace mean?
Simply put, it means “favorable gift” in one form or another.
The word “grace” is found 154 times in the New Testament and translated as grace 123 times in the ESV.
Though the word in the N.T., more often than not, is dealing with God’s gift of salvation that doesn’t mean that is how the word is always used.
Grace can mean “gift.”
3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
Grace can mean “credit or benefit.”
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.
Grace can mean “favor.”
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?”
This knowledge is vital because it shows us the intended use of the word in the Bible.
This understanding also makes passages like John 1:16-17 more clear.
16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
This passage has been used by many to say that there is no such thing as “grace in the Old Testament.” That couldn’t be further from the truth when you understand the word grace simply means “favorable gift.”
The Greek translation of the O.T. i.e. the LXX uses the Greek word “charis” seventy-five times for example…
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.
So what does John 1:16-17 mean then considering what we know now?
It means that the law of Moses had a job, to guard God’s people until the Father could deliver His favorable gift i.e. salvation to mankind during the “fulness of time.”
24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
Summary
Summary
Knowing what grace really means opens up a whole world of beauty found in the Bible.
This information allows us to see God’s loving kindness throughout time not just during the time of Christ and afterwards.
This also allows us to dive into our specific topic for today and what it means to have “Grace In Christ.”
In other words…
Grace For The Saved
Grace For The Saved
Grace’s Initial Part In Salvation.
Grace’s Initial Part In Salvation.
As you all know God’s grace is required for us to have our “sins removed” and be placed into Christ.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This grace that saves is Jesus the Christ.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
How does knowing this help those of us that are already in Christ.
That brings us to…
Grace’s Continued Part In Salvation.
Grace’s Continued Part In Salvation.
Once we have been washed clean from our sins we must continue to “work out our own salvation.”
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
This is because we continue to sin even while striving to walk with God.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Thankfully, God allows those that have already been washed free from their sins through obedience to the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8) to continue to be washed by the blood of the Lamb.
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Summary
Summary
Every time we sin, repent, and confess that sin to the Father, grace is bestowed upon us again.
In other words Jesus’ blood (grace) washes away our sins again and again.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In Christ we have the spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3) of having our sins washed byway of repentance and confession.
Why, because once you come in contact the first time with the blood of Christ (Romans 6:3-5) are continually cleansed by that blood (1 John 1:7).
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.