HCC Sunday Service - August 7, 2022
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
Today we’re gonna
continue our series in
Paul’s letter
to the saints
in Colossae.
A letter
that’s really
a letter to all of God’s
faithful ppl
of all time.
& that includes us.
Let’s turn together
in our Bibles to
Colossians 1.
& we’re gonna read
verses 4-9.
Colossians 1:4-9.
& when you find
that in your Bible
pls stand for the reading
of God’s Word.
The title of today’s teaching is
Truly Understanding
God’s Grace.
In Colossians 1:4-9
the Scriptures say:
Colossians 1:4–6 (NIV)
...we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—
the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel
that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
You may be seated.
Do we truly understand
God’s grace?
We hear so much talk
abt grace
in the church.
We hear that
We’re saved
by grace.
We hear that
God’s grace
is enough.
& we’ve all heard
What is likely
the most famous
Christian song of all time
“Amazing Grace”.
But do we
truly understand
God’s grace?
Talking & singing
abt God’s grace
is one thing.
Understanding
& living
by God’s grace
is another.
So, today:
As we continue
our series
in Colossians
I want to talk abt
Truly Understanding
God’sGrace
PRAYER
Father
We thank You
for Your grace.
As we study
what grace is
help us to truly
understand grace
so we can live
& be saved
by your grace.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
Paul’s wrote
Colossians to ppl
Who had heard
the true message
of the gospel
& who had
truly understood
God’s grace.
They blv Jesus
is the Messiah—
the Son of
the living God.
The King
of God’s kingdom.
They’ve received
Christ Jesus as Lord.
& they were living
disciplined
obedient
godly lives
thru the power of God.
The gospel
was bearing fruit
among them
& growing.
But they were
in danger
of abandoning
the true gospel
& the true grace of God
for something new.
So, in Colossians 1:5
Paul draws their attention
to the universal nature
of the gospel.
Paul reminds the saints
the true gospel...
Colossians 1:6 (NIV)
...is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
& in Colossians 1:23
Paul says…
Colossians 1:21–23 (NIV)
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
if you continue in [the] faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Paul wrote this letter
around 62 A.D.
So, abt 30 years after
the death & resurrection
of Jesus
the true gospel
was well established.
& the gospel
had already spread
throughout
the whole world.
What is the gospel?
The gospel is
the good news
that the kingdom
of God has broken
into the world
& Jesus Christ
is the King
of that Kingdom.
& in both
Colossians 1:23
& 2:7
Paul calls
this gospel
of the kingdom
the faith.
In Jude 3
Jude calls the gospel
Jude 3 (ESV)
...the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
The gospel is
a set of teachings
& practices
that give us access
to God’s grace
& salvation
thru Gods’ Son
in God’s Church.
By obeying the gospel—
By turning away frm
evil behavior
turning twd God
& being baptized
into Christ’s body—
Ppl are brought
out of the kingdom
of darkness
& into the kingdom of light
in the Church.
In the Church
we’re united w/ Christ
& we share in His
divine nature
thru our union
w/ Him.
& if we faithfully follow
the gospel
until the end
Then one day
we’ll share in
Christ’s glory.
The gospel is
the Apostolic Faith
that was handed dwn
By Christ Jesus
to His Apostles.
& Christ’s Apostles
then handed dwn
The Faith
to faithful ppl
in the Church
who cld teach
the faith to others.
In Colossians 1:7
Paul reminds the Colossians
that one of
these faithful ppl
taught them
the gospel.
Paul says:
Colossians 1:7 (NIV)
You learned [the gospel] from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf...
Paul assures the saints
in Colossae
the gospel they heard
frm Epaphras
is the true gospel.
It’s the universal gospel
that’s been
preached everywhere.
It’s the faith
that’s been believe
always
everywhere
& by all.
The faith
that was handed dwn
frm the beginning.
Paul emphasizes this bcs
False teachers
were introducing
new teachings
& new practices
into the church.
Their teachings
were not in line
w/ the Apostolic Faith.
So
thru this letter
Paul’s purpose is to
encourage God’s ppl
To continue in
the true faith
just as it had been
handed dwn to them.
& we need to hear
Paul’s message
loud & clear.
Bcs false teachers
& false teaching
are now running rampant
in the church.
We now live in the time
Paul wrote abt
in 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
After telling Timothy
to be sure he preached
the Word—
The true message
of the true Gospel—
Paul says
2 Timothy 4:3–4 (NIV)
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
The Scriptures
have been
mis-used & abused
by false teachers
Who interpret
the Scriptures
to fit the fad’s
& fancies
of a godless culture.
The gospel
& the grace of God
have been
changed into
a license
for immorality.
Ppl don’t wanna
hear the truth.
Instead
they pile up
many teachers
for themselves
to say what they
want to hear.
& those who teach
a false gospel
& false grace message
are often
hailed as heroes
by ppl who claim
to be
followers of Jesus.
So, we need
to remember
this truth.
Just bcs someone
quotes the Scriptures;
Just bcs someone says
they’re teaching
the true gospel;
Just bcs someone
talks abt grace
That does not mean
they’re teaching
The faith that was
once for all
handed dwn
to the Saints.
You know
Satan can
quote Scripture?
That’s what he did
when he
tempted Jesus.
As Matthew tells us in
Matthew 4:5–6 (NIV)
...the devil took [Jesus] to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Satan quotes
the Scriptures
But misapplies them
to fit
his own agenda.
& Satan’s ministers
do the same.
So Paul warns us
in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.
There are ppl
in the Church who...
2 Corinthians 11:12–15 (NIV)
...want an opportunity to be considered equal with [Christ’s Apostles] in the things they boast about.
For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Frm the very beginning
of the Church
false teachers
have been claiming
to speak on behalf
of Christ.
They’ve been
misapplying
& twisting the Scriptures
to their own destruction—
& the destruction
of those
who hear them.
They distort
the gospel
& the grace of God.
& these ppl
claim to be
ministers of righteousness.
They tell ppl
they can
be both righteous
& unrighteous
at the same time.
They tell ppl
God sees us
as righteous
even while
we live in sin.
They tell ppl
obedience
to Christ’s commands
is not necessary
for salvation.
So, to avoid being
deceived by
these false teachers
we need to be sure
we truly understand
God’s grace.
& to help us w/ that
I want us
to spend the rest
of our time
together today
focusing on
two very important truths
We need to understand
abt God’s grace
If the gospel
is gonna continue
To bear fruit
& grow among us
As it did in
the early church.
[Transition: The 1st truth
we need to understand
abt God’s grace is...]
God’s grace is God’s POWER at work in God’s people.
I talked a little be abt
This a couple
of weeks ago.
I said we need to
Start to see
God’s grace
as God’s power.
Grace is
God’s incomparably great
divine energy
at work in
in God’s ppl.
Changing us.
Conforming us
to the image
of Christ.
Filling us w/ divine power
to live a godly life
as we share in
the divine nature
in Christ.
It’s God’s grace
Paul has in mind
In Colossians 1:29.
When he says:
Colossians 1:29 (NIV)
...I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Paul strenuously fought
for the saints.
But he did not fight
in his own strength.
He fought w/
the divine energy
of Christ
Powerfully working
in him.
That’s grace!
Paul says
the same thing
in Ephesians 3:7
Ephesians 3:7 (NIV)
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.
It was the gift
of God’s grace—
The working
of God’s power—
That enabled Paul
to be a minister
of the gospel.
In 1 Corinthians 15:10
Paul says
1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
...by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
Paul was able
to work hard
for the kingdom of God
bcs God’s energizing
powerful grace
was at work in him.
& notice
what Peter
says abt grace in
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
God’s gifts
are one way
God’s grace
is distributed
to God’s ppl
in various forms.
God gives us
His grace
so we’ll have
divine power
to serve one another.
& the same grace
That energizes
& empowers
God’s ppl
to minister
& serve others
for Christ;
The same grace
Energizes & empowers
God’s ppl
to live lives
worthy of the Lord
& pls Him
in every way.
In Colossians 1:9
Paul says
Colossians 1:9 (NIV)
We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives...
& in Colossians 1:10-11
Paul tells them why:
he prays this.
He says:
Colossians 1:10–11 (NIV)
...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience...
As God’s ppl
come to understand
the grace of God
& God’s will for us
We’re strengthened
w/ all power
By God’s glorious might—
By the divine energy
God gives us
Thru His glorious grace.
& We’re able
to live a life
that’s worthy
of the Lord
& pls Him in every way.
So
God’s grace
is God’s PWR
@ work
in God’s ppl.
Empowering us
to serve others
& live lives that are
worthy of the Lord
& pls Him
in every way.
That’s the 1st truth
We need to understand
abt God’s grace.
But unless
we understand
a 2nd truth
abt God’s grace
The power of God’s grace
Will never be effective
in our lives.
[Transition: So,
we’ve also gotta
understand...]
God’s grace requires COOPERATION from God’s people.
The Christian life
is synergistic.
& that means:
We must cooperate
w/ God
to live a life
that pleases God.
God’s grace
is all we need
God’s grace
will save us.
But we need
to learn
to live
in God’s grace.
We must work out
what God works
within us.
As Paul says in
Philippians 2:12–13 (NIV)
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
The saints
in Philippi
had always
obeyed God.
& they needed
to continue
to obey God.
Not in their
own strength.
But thru
God’s energy
that was powerfully
at work
within them.
It was God
who gave them both
The will
& the ability
to do His will.
But God does not
force them
to do His will.
They needed
to cooperate w/ God
By working out
what God’s grace
Was working
within them.
& it’s the same
w/ us.
Thru His grace
God gives us
everything we need
To live a godly life
in Christ.
It’s God’s power
that strengthens us
to fulfill God’s good
purpose for us.
& do the good works
He created us to do
in Christ.
God’s power
is available
to all of us.
But we’ve
gotta learn
to live
in that power.
Paul dives deeper:
into this aspect
of God’s grace
in Titus 2:11.
Paul says:
Titus 2:11 (NIV)
...the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Thru God’s grace—
gvn to us in Christ—
God offers salvation
to all ppl.
Salvation frm sin.
Salvation frm Satan.
Salvation frm death.
Whosoever will
Can respond
to the gospel
Learn to live
by God’s grace
thru faith
& be saved.
& Paul goes on
to explain
What this saving grace
looks like.
In Titus 2:12.
Paul says
Titus 2:12 (NIV)
[Grace] teaches us...
Salvation is not
us being passively
pulled along
as God’s grace
forces us
to live to pls Him.
No
God commands us
to make every effort
to learn to live out
the lessons God’s grace
teaches us.
[Transition: & as we
continue on in Titus 2
We see at least
two things
God’s grace teaches us
to do.
First...]
Grace teaches us to LEAVE our lives of sin.
In Titus 2:12
Paul says:
Titus 2:12 (NIV)
[Grace] teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions...
When we truly understand
The power of God in us
Thru His grace
We know we have
all the power we need
To say "No”
to any &
all sin.
We have the power
to break free
frm every addiction.
To overcome
every temptation.
For a long time
Satan
& his ministers
have been convincing ppl
that Christians
are still slaves
to our sins.
That we cannot
get victory
over our vices.
That we’re powerless
to overcome
our passions.
& that ungodliness
& being trampled
by temptation
are a normal part
of the Christian life.
Now
It’s true
that temptation
is a normal part of
the Christian life.
But giving in
to temptation
is not.
Bcs God’s grace
is available to
strengthen us
to be victorious
over every temptation.
As Paul says in
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Notice Paul says:
Your temptations
are not unique.
My temptations
are not unique.
How often have we
excused our sins
bcs we claim nobody
understands what
we’re going thru;
Nobody has ever
been tempted
like us?
We shld stop
telling ourselves
those lies.
Bcs God assures us
thru His Word
He will never
allow us to face
any temptation
That other human beings
have not faced.
& even better
than that
when we’re
God’s children
& we’re working out
our salvation
w/ fear & trembling
God assures us
We will never
face any temptation
we cannot bear.
Bcs God Himself
will always provide us
a way out
of every temptation.
Temptation can
be strong.
But God’s grace
makes us stronger.
The way out
of every temptation
is the same
for every child of God.
The way to
live free
frm the control
of sin;
The way
to live free frm
all addiction
& overcome
every temptation
is to
Just say “No”.
That’s
what grace
teaches us to do
& empowers us to do.
The power
of a faithful God
is always available to us
To keep us
frm giving in
to any temptation.
Thru God’s grace
We have the power
To say “No”
to all ungodliness;
We have the power
To say “No”
to every
worldly passion.
God’s grace teaches
God’s ppl
To LEAVE
our lives of sin
behind
& go in the power
of God
& sin no more
But the Christian life
is not just abt
leaving
one life behind.
It’s also abt
the new life
we live
in Christ.
[Transition: & that brings us
to a 2nd
& final thing God’s grace
teaches God’s ppl
to do.]
b.God’s grace teaches us to LIVE our lives as saints.
In the 2nd part of
Titus 2:12
Paul says
Titus 2:12 (NIV)
[Grace] teaches us...to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...
As we learn to live
in the power
of God’s grace
we will live
a holy life.
We will learn to be
self-controlled.
Thru God’s divine power
at work in us
We can learn to:
Control of our temper.
Control of our tongue.
Control of our passions.
Control of our pleasures.
We can learn
to be self- controlled
in all areas of life.
As we learn
to live by God’s grace
we’ll also learn
to live upright lives.
This means
we’ll strive
w/ all the energy of God
to do what we know
is right.
We’ll love God.
We’ll love our neighbor
as ourselves.
We’ll be careful
to maintain
good works.
We’ll strive
to treat others
How we want them
to treat us.
All that is possible
when we learn
to live
by God’s grace.
& finally
when we learn
to live by God’s grace
we’ll live
godly lives.
The Greek word
for godly here is
ενσεβως.
It simply means
grace teaches us
to practice
our faith.
It’s learning
& living out
beliefs
& practices
of the Christian faith—
That we learn abt
& worship
the One True God
thru the Lord Jesus.
As we learn
the faith
of Christianity
We learn abt
& gain access
to the grace
that enables us
to live like God.
We learn
to say what God
wld say.
We learn
to do what God
wld do.
God’s glorious grace
working in us
Will make us
like Jesus
in our thoughts
words
& deeds.
That’s
true grace teaching.
That’s the only
kind of grace
that brings salvation.
That’s the kind of grace
We learn abt
in the true gospel.
The true gospel tells us:
God offers us salvation
thru our Lord
Jesus Christ.
& it’s not just salvation
frm eternal torment
in the age to come.
It’s not just salvation
frm death
In the age to come.
It’s salvation
frm Satan’s power
In this present age.
It’s salvation
frm the power of Sin
in this present age.
God’s grace teaches
us to leave our
lives of sin
So we can learn
to live like saints
thru the power of God.
So, that we can learn
To do God’s will
on earth
as it is done in heaven.
As Paul says in
Titus 2:14 (NLT)
[Jesus] gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
APPLICATION
I want you
to think
abt those words.
Jesus gave His life
To free us
frm every
kind of sin.
What ever sin
you can name
Jesus gave His life
to free you frm it.
Jesus gave His life
To give us
the power
To leave our
lives of sin.
& Jesus gave His life
To make us
His very own ppl.
We belong
to Him.
& those who belong
to Jesus
are a ppl who are
“Totally committed
to doing good deeds”!
The true gospel
Teaches us
to leave a bad life
& live a good life
The grace of God
leads ppl
Out of a life of selfishness
& sinfulness
& into a life
of self-less-ness
& sacrificial service.
A life where we’re
constantly looking
for more opportunities
To do good deeds
for others.
Thru the power
of God’s grace
We learn to avoid
ungodliness
& worldly passions.
& we learn to
zealously pursue upright
& godly lives
Where doing good
becomes our passion.
Just like
worldly passions
Once consumed our lives
Outside of
Christ’s kingdom;
w/ God’s grace
filling our lives
We will have
a passion for what is:
Upright…
Good…
& Godly.
That’s the kind of life
we’ll live
when we truly
understand
God’s grace.
CONCLUSION
So, let me ask you again:
Do we truly
understand
Gods’ grace?
We’ll know we do
When God’s grace
bears fruit
in your lives.
When thru
God’s power
We’re avoiding sin.
We’re saying
“No” to ungodliness
& worldly passions.
When
thru God’s power
We’re learning
self-control.
Living
an upright life.
Living
a godly life;
& we’re totally
committed to
to doing good deeds.
That’s the fruit
the true gospel
& the true grace
of God will produce
in the lives
of all who
truly understand them.
So, like Paul
let’s keep asking God
To give us wisdom
& understanding
So that we can
truly understand
& truly live in
God’s grace.
PRAYER
Lord
Thank You for
Your grace—
Your incomparably
great power—
for us who believe.
Keep filling us
w/ wisdom
& understanding
frm the HS
So that we
may know you
& may live
lives worthy of You
& pls you in every way
As we’re strengthened
by the power of you
glorious might.
Now & always.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
THE LORD’S BLESSING
May the Lord
bless you
& protect you
May the Lord
make His face
shine on you
& be gracious
to you.
May the Lord
turn His face twd you
& give you
His peace.
In Jesus name.
Amen.