Christ in Me

We return today to the series called “Good Faith,” a series we began back in September that will lead us up to vision Sunday on February 7th. This series began by talking about the biblical definition of faith - a definition found in Hebrews 11:1 - that reads, “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

If you read all of chapter 11 of Hebrews, you will read of many biblical accounts in which ordinary people did extraordinary things for God… because of their faith in Him. God did not grant them super powers similar to those we see portrayed in recent action films on the big screen. However… their faith in God allowed for the power of God to flow through them!

For instance, Abraham was willing to give his firstborn, but God provided a sacrifice because of his faith. Moses didn’t part the red sea, but his faith led him to the shore. Elijah could not conjure fire from nothing, but his faith led him to call down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. Peter wasn’t born with duck feet, but his faith allowed him to walk on water.

Faith does not create within us a super power… but faith DOES allow for the supernatural power of God to abide within us. Faith leads to a remarkable transformation within the hearts of believers - a transformation that cannot be found in anything or anyone else other than Jesus. It is a transformation that leads us from ordinary to extraordinary - not because of who we are… but because of who it is that now resides within us!

We do not deserve this level of transformation - yet it is something that is available to any and all who would believe. What opens the door is faith… and the avenue in which the transformation comes is… grace - GOD’S grace. Today we are going to talk about how (Main Point) Good Faith Christians live and operate in God’s good grace.

Our main text, found in Galatians 2, sums this up rather nicely. Paul is disclosing a conversation he had regarding justification that comes by faith… and not by the law.

First, what does this term justification mean? Justification is the process by which sinful human beings (that’s us!) are made acceptable or righteous to a holy God. Christianity is unique in that its teachings of justification by faith or grace. Justification is God’s declaration that the demands of His law have been fulfilled in the righteousness of His Son. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus’ righteousness becomes the righteousness of those who would call on His name to be saved.

Paul is making clear that justification does not come through works but through faith in Jesus. Our righteousness, our transformation from sinner to saved, comes only through the blood of Christ. Regarding any works or ability of self, Paul declares in Galatians 2:20-21, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

In other words, it’s not about who you are and what you can do, but rather about who you serve and who lives within you! Max Lucado says it this way… “The Christian is a person in whom Christ is happening.”

Good Faith leads us to God’s good grace… but so often I feel we do not fully understand or lean upon the grace of God as we should.

God’s grace is given that we might be fully dependent upon it. Not in an abusive way or in a way that we take it for granted, but through understanding that God’s grace is really something we cannot truly live without!

Can grace be abused? Sure it can! God’s extension of grace is not a given license to sin. Paul speaks of this danger in Romans 6:1-2 saying “ What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

He wraps up this teaching in verses 11-14 saying, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

As grace is extended so should it be deeply appreciated by the one who receives it. Through God’s grace, our righteousness comes through His Son, Jesus Christ, not the law… Jesus Christ… the one now living within the ones living under the grace of God!

In a moment, we are going to receive communion together… an ordinance we recognize and do in remembrance of what Christ did for us. It is a celebration of His mercy… a declaration of His grace.

I pray we never take his grace for granted! I pray we never underestimate how truly amazing God’s grace truly is! By Faith, Christ lives within us. By Grace, we have ben made righteous in the eyes of God! We need His grace and we are going to talk about what His grace is to us - how amazing it is that Christ now lives in the hearts of believers!

His Grace is Sufficient

Ever had situations where you were working on something or trying to complete a task only to find out your resources or supplies were not sufficient to get the job done? Not a fun place to be for sure! Insufficiency misses the mark - it doesn’t make the cut - it doesn’t hit the target. But church, we know today such is the case regarding God’s amazing grace. God’s grace is sufficient!

Sufficient, defined, is enough. I like that. Sufficient is enough. Not too much, not too little, but enough.

What does it mean that God’s grace is sufficient? Paul speaks of this truth in 2 Corinthians 12. Paul was given what he describes as “a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me.” Now we do not know what this “thorn” was exactly but per his description in Scripture, it was not easily overcome!

I don’t know that I have ever described any challenge or obstacle as “a messenger from Satan” but I can certainly relate to Paul’s inability to overcome a challenge like this on his own! This source of torment, this discomfort wasn’t going away… even though Paul “pleaded” with the Lord that it be taken away!

So… why was God not answering his prayer? Why was the thorn left in place? In Paul’s account… and in his own words, it was there to keep Paul dependent upon the grace of God! The Lord responded to Paul’s plea in 2 Corinthians 12:9 saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

My grace is sufficient! My grace is… enough! The power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is made perfect in our weakness. As Paul declared in verse 10, “When I am weak, then I am strong!” His Strength - the power to overcome did not come from anything outside of Paul, but it came from the one living inside of Paul! It came from the grace of God!

Good Faith believers trust in the sufficiency of God’s grace. Again… His grace IS enough! His grace is ALL that we need! And the ONLY way for us to truly understand AND experience this truth is to fully trust in His grace - to fully place our faith in Him!

Our strength, our ability does not come from our self or any source in this world. Paul was unable to overcome the “thorn” in his life and I would bet there are many listening that can relate to this truth. What is it in your life that might be a thorn or discomfort to you?

Maybe it’s a broken heart, full of pain, and maybe laced with bitterness. Maybe it’s a life of sin, habits that seem impossible to break or get away from. Maybe it’s feelings of hopeless or abandonment. Feelings or thoughts you cannot escape. Maybe it’s a broken or strained marriage, maybe it’s an addiction or other abuse. Maybe it’s a loss of purpose, a lack of confidence, or a feeling of giving it. HEAR MY WORDS TODAY: HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT! HIS GRACE… IS ENOUGH!

Maybe you’ve looked in every book, Googled for every answer. Maybe you’ve trudged through social media, and found yourself only deeper in your desperation. The answer you are looking for is not anything of this world but is the One who overcame this world! Your answer is God’s grace!

The issue is that old self works to get in the way of who you can become in Jesus Christ. That is why that self must be crucified with Christ… must be nailed to the cross… so that God’s grace can move in! I implore you today: Come alive in Jesus Christ! Christ stands at the door and is knocking… will you let Him in? I get it… the pressures of this world are real. That thorn you experience is real. But church, (1 John 4:4 KJV) “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world!”

Listen to me clearly today: there is no sin, there is no obstacle, there is no addiction, there is no feeling, there is no bitterness or un-forgiveness, there is no thorn that God’s grace cannot overcome! His grace brings healing to the broken hearted, hope to the hopeless, purpose to the lost, direction to the found, deliverance to the sinner, Joy to the joyless and freedom to the captive! His power - the power of Jesus Christ who lives in the heart of believers - is made perfect in our time of weakness! His Grace is sufficient! God’s Grace is enough!

His Grace is Complete

There is one more truth I want us to realize before we move to communion and it is this: not only is His grace enough, but it is complete. What do I mean by His grace is complete? What I mean is His work - the redeeming work of the cross - is complete.

Where God’s grace has been applied, sin’s power can never override. When Christ moves in, darkness has no choice but to move out. The work that Jesus did on the cross was not only in part but was done to the full. Just before Jesus died… just before Jesus gave up His last breath on the cross… he uttered three very important words. (John 19:30) “It is finished.” It is finished. These three words declare that the work Christ did on the cross that day was complete. The law was now fulfilled. The sin payment had been paid in full. The separation between the Father and His creation because of sin had been abolished by the blood of the Lamb. The veil… the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. And that last point… is especially important. Why?

I want to move back to the word justification for a moment. Our being made righteous in the eyes of God was something that was impossible for us to do on our own. Because of sin… this was a transformation that was out of our reach. No amount of good works was good enough. No sufficient sacrifice was available.

Until… Jesus. Jesus WAS good enough. Jesus WAS without sin, stain, or blemish. Jesus WAS the perfect sacrificial Lamb. When His blood was shed and His life was poured out, sin was defeated. The work was complete.

Here’s the deal: our unrighteousness gives way to the righteousness of Christ as we are crucified with Him through our acceptance and belief IN HIM. As we are now made righteous and sin is forgiven, the grace of God is poured out and the presence of God moves in. We are dead to self and come alive in Jesus… because Jesus IS ALIVE IN US!

There is no sin more powerful than His blood. There is no death greater than the new life He is offering you today. Through faith, God is offering you grace… grace that is enough… grace that is complete. In Christ, YOUR SINS ARE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN. Your life is COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED. Your justification, your righteousness, is obtained through the work and ministry of Christ.

And then… He moves in. The One who is greater than he that is in the world… the One who instruct us to take heart because He has overcome the word… becomes the life living… in me, and in you.

Because sin was defeated upon the cross, the separation created by sin between God and His creation is abolished for those who call on the name of Jesus! God’s grace didn’t just do some of what was necessary… He did ALL of what was necessary!

His Grace is for You

God… did all of this… for you. for your brokenness… for your heartache… for your loss of hope, peace, comfort, assurance, and direction. He did this for your deliverance… for your forgiveness… for your freedom.

His grace is sufficient. His grace is enough. His grace is complete. And His grace… is for you. All you must do… is place your faith in Him. All you must do… is lay down self, and come alive in Christ.

Christ is calling out to you today… and before we remember His death… I believe Jesus is calling for some… to come back to life… Will you come? PLAY VIDEO - COME JUST AS YOU ARE

Today is your day… to receive His grace that is enough… His grace that is complete. Today is your day to crucify your old self and come alive in Jesus. THIS IS WHY HE DIED ON THE CROSS. This is why He died for you. Are you ready to come alive in Him?

PRAYER - Salvation

Our new life is only available because of His death on the cross. Communion is remembering that His body was broken and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. As we worship and receive the elements, let’s give God praise for the sacrifice that He made.

1 Corinthians 11:23 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

PRAYER - Communion