01 23 30 18 - God's Amazing Gift
God’s Amazing Gift
Isaiah 30:18
Intro:
· @ On Thursday you were involved in the annual tradition of gift-giving
o Ever received a gift you were a bit disappointed with?
o We’re mature now so we won’t show it, but it happens
§ @ White Elephant – you can always see when someone gets something that’s not real exciting
· A man gets a candle
· Doesn’t it hurt when you see disappointment?
o @ Child looks up and says, “Uh, thanks, Dad” and then moves on.
o There’s a certain vulnerability when you give a gift
· This morning— briefly look at a gift you’ll never be disappointed in.
o life changing. Free gift from God
· This gift is called grace.
· broad definition
o unconditional love
o unlimited forgiveness
o unending passion
§ do you know anybody who wouldn’t like that?
· classic theological definition of grace is undeserved favor.
o We don’t deserve God’s grace but He gives it to us.
o That’s why it’s a gift.
· people have a hard time really embracing what grace is all about.
o That they would get something for nothing.
o It flies in the face of everything that we’ve grown up with.
§ good grades in school — study hard.
§ successful in business —got to work at it.
§ there’s no such thing as something for nothing,
§ God helps those who help themselves
§ The early bird catches the worm
o deeply ingrained in our thinking —work for performance mentality
· But that’s not how Christianity works at all.
o Christianity is based on grace.
o Grace is not just part of the Christian message.
o Grace is the Christian message.
o what separates Christianity from all the religions of the world.
· Isaiah 30:18 - the Lord longs to be gracious to you (NASB95)
o If you are not yet in God’s family – this verse is true
o If you are in God’s family – this verse is still true
· Why is understanding grace so important?
o Three things that God’s grace does for you.
I. God’s gift of grace saves you.
A. What does it save you from?
1. It saves us from eternal separation from God.
a. Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)
(1) Sin separates us from God
(2) Grace brings us to God
2. It saves us from useless activity
a. Ephesians 2:8-9 - 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)
b. Good works will do nothing to save you from separation from God.
(1) It is God’s gift of grace that can do that
B. What is This Saving Grace?
1. 1 Peter 3:18 - Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. (NLT)
2. We did the crime, He did the time.
a. Is that fair?
(1) No – fair is what we use to describe justice
3. @ Tragedies this past year – drunk drivers killing children
a. If your child was killed & you killed the driver – that’s vengeance
(1) People think God is out to get them – Isaiah 30:18
b. If you sit back and wait for the legal system to deal with the driver and he gets some prison time – that’s justice
(1) If we get what we deserve for our sin against God then we’re all on our way to hell
c. BUT If you went out and pleaded on behalf of that young driver,
(1) came to his side and defend him,
(2) fully forgave him,
(3) invited him into your family and adopted him as your son,
(a) that would be grace.
4. It sounds wild that the guilty would get something that he didn’t deserve.
a. But that’s exactly what God did for us.
b. “Jesus was killed for the sins of the world – for my sins and for your sins –. God took us lost and unworthy, undeserving of forgiveness, guilty as charged and he said, If you own up to your sins, if you acknowledge it as wrong and you receive my forgiveness that I’ve offered you through my Son Jesus Christ, I’ll bring you into My family. I’ll adopt you as one of My own.”
c. That’s saving grace.
5. This Christmas season as you’re shopping for deals here’s the deal:
a. Grace says God gets you, you get God. God pays everything, you pay nothing.
C. How do I Receive this Saving Grace?
1. “Jesus, I know I am a sinner and deserve to be punished for my sin. I know you died to pay for my sin and are alive today inviting me to receive this gift of grace. I now turn over my life to you. Please forgive my sin and save me.”
2. Romans 10:13 - everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (ESV)
3. celebrate Christmas b/c Christ’s birth set this saving grace in motion.
a. Will you receive this gift today?
II. God’s gift of grace frees YOU
A. Saving grace doesn’t make you perfect.
1. Soon after receiving saving grace you realize that you’re still going to fall short. You’re still going to sin.
2. in spite of our best efforts we’re still going to blow it.
3. we feel shame—remorse —regret —guilt.
B. So Then…
1. We move into this image of God sitting in heaven with His arms crossed. He’s shaking His head. He’s wearing a T shirt that says “You’re a loser.” He’s unpleasable and unforgiving.
2. We live in the shame and guilt – trying to get God to like us again
C. But…
1. What you’re doing if I just described you is you’re crucifying yourself.
2. 1 Peter 3:18 - Christ suffered for our sins once for all time.
a. Jesus was crucified once so you don’t have to crucify yourself.
D. grab on to His freeing grace
1. That grace forgave you for the first sin and it still covers today.
2. Ephesians 1:7-8 - 7In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God’s grace, 8which he has given to us so fully and freely. (NCV)
a. We are BEING set free – we ARE HAVING forgiveness of sin
b. That one-time action has eternal effects
3. @ Giving your child a toy for Christmas.
a. They play with it once and then set it back under the tree
b. You notice after a couple of days they haven’t touched it since
c. “Why not?”
(1) “I’ve already used it once.”
d. “But I gave it to you for good. It’s yours to keep enjoying.”
4. God gave you the gift of grace at salvation – He intends for you to keep enjoying that freedom from guilt and shame
a. You don’t have to earn His approval
b. He loves you AND He likes you.
(1) Enjoy that – live in that truth --
III. God’s gift of grace strengthens YOU
A. enables us to make it through the difficult times.
1. I hope you haven’t believed the lie that says when you become a Christian it’s the easy life.
2. That’s not one of God’s promises.
a. God does promise He’ll help you through difficult times.
3. When trouble penetrates your life and you kind of step back and say, “God where are You?”
a. That’s when grace, His strengthening grace, kicks in.
B. Example—apostle Paul
1. we know as kind of this super Christian
2. He was at the end of his rope. He was frustrated. He was feeling helpless. He was afflicted with some kind of ailment that he describes as a thorn in his flesh.
3. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 - 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (ESV)
a. “This hurts”
(1) Complain
(2) I’m uncomfortable – make it go away”
b. “This hinders”
(1) Self-righteous and bargaining
(2) “I could do SO MUCH more if you would make it go away.”
c. “This hardens.”
(1) Threatening
(2) “If you don’t make it go away, I might go away.”
d. God’s response – GRACE
(1) 2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness (NIV)
4. 2 Corinthians 12:9b - Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (ESV)
a. “This honours”
(1) I will use what God has given me so that He is honoured through my life
(a) ...So that people will know that it is not me but God who works
C. Application
1. “No matter how closely you walk with God trouble is going to penetrate your life. You’re going to feel pain. At times it’ll be a crushing kind of pain. As you walk with God you’ll come to understand that God didn’t leave you. He was carrying you. He was holding you. He was strengthening you.”
2. That’s strengthening grace
Conc:
· This past Thursday, our family woke up, got ready for church, came and enjoyed the morning service, and then went home to open presents.
o We drew it out – opening one gift at a time
o Eventually, the presents were opened, the hugs given out, the rubbish gathered, and we all went off to enjoy the rest of the day.
o there were no unopened presents under the tree!
o Try that some time – yeah right!
§ Everything must be opened and enjoyed.
· Under God’s Christmas tree...there are many unopened presents that stay there year after year.
o There, under the tree, is “Saving grace” with your name on it.
§ Will you leave it unopened?
§ Will you reject God’s gift of salvation?
§ Or will you open it and become His child forever?
o There, under the tree, is “Freeing Grace” with your name on it
§ Will you leave it unopened?
§ Will you live with guilt and shame, trying to earn God’s approval?
§ Or will you accept God’s forgiveness every day for all sins and enjoy His presence in your life?
o There, under the tree, is “Strengthening Grace” with your name on it
§ Will you leave it unopened?
§ Will you try to deal with the hurts in your life using your own resources?
§ Will you complain, bargain with, or threaten God?
§ Or will you open that present and honour God with the grace He has given you?
· God’s grace is an amazing gift...
o Let’s not leave any of His gifts under the tree this year.