By God's Amazing Grace

BY GOD’S AMAZING GRACE

Text: 1Corinthians 15:9-10

Good News Christian Fellowship

BUCAS, Daraga Albay

March 4, 2007

Introduction

I know that some of us here experiencing some hardships and difficulties. However, we pray that Grace of God be sufficient for them at this time. Problems remind us how short, frail life is. That gives us a forward look, anticipation when day we will be going with Him.

One of our sisters here got some problems. We pray that God’s grace will sustain her and give her strength at this time. I know that all of us here is prayer for her.

In Corinthians 15 masterfully detail what so called the cardinal doctrine of the Christian faith, that of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul says that he declares the gospel to the church at Corinth, the very same gospel which he had already preached to them.

This is the gospel according to Paul. However, there are many people talk about a gospel. But it is not the true gospel. What they have called today as full-gospel but in reality a perverted gospel because it’s adding to the gospel of Jesus Christ., adding an element not actually in the Gospel, as a result adding disillusionment to the number of people of the world concerning the Gospel.

But this is the Gospel Paul declares:

“For I declared unto you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the twelve.” (verses 3-5)

But then Paul in verses 12-19 declares the glorious resurrection as he masterfully logically develops a tremendous doctrine.

However brethren I want you to focus our attention to the passages between the Gospel and the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s look at verses 9-10. Three times Paul make reference to the grace of God. In his other epistles Paul always makes reference to the grace of God. For without the grace of God there will be no gospel. Without the grace of God there has been no need of the glorious resurrection.

I AM WHAT I AM BY THE GRACE OF GOD

Paul had been a persecutor, and went armed with letters to Damascus, to hail men and women and drag them to prison. However, grace transformed Paul from archenemy of the Christian faith to its staunchest defender; from rigid, legalistic Pharisee to a compassionate, Christlike person.

Here in this passage he declares, “I am what I am by the grace of God.”

What Paul is talking about?

He was a child of God by the grace of God. He didn’t say because of my magnificent heritage, or because of the fact that I am a Jew, “I am what I am.” Paul didn’t say, “because of my tremendous education, “I am what I am.” Paul didn’t say, because I am a tremendous leader, “I am what I am.”

No! He says, “I am what I am by the grace of God.”

By the grace of God

• He was humbled.

• He was repentant.

• He was bold

• He was zealous

He was not a child by who he is or what he is or what he done rather of what God has done by the finish work of Christ.

Is there not a word of comfort and hope for us here? Can we join Paul in saying, “I am what I am by the amazing grace of God.”?

• I am chosen of God – Eph. 1:4

• I am God’s workmanship – Eph. 2:10

• I am the aroma of Christ – 2 Cor. 2:14

• I am a living vessel of Christ – 2 Cor. 4:7

• I am Christ’s ambassador – 2 Cor. 5:20

• I am God’s temple – 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16

These are only some of them declaring who we are, what we are by the amazing grace of God.

The grace of God was sufficient as the basis for our salvation (Ephesians 1:3-14)

• God has chosen us in Christ

• God has predestined us

• God has secured our redemption

• God forgives our sins

• God has revealed to us the mystery of His will

• God has provided us with an eternal inheritance

• God has sealed us in Christ

• God guaranteed our inheritance

Illustration: My own story

So I grew up without involving in gangster or involving. I grew up without involving in drugs. I grew up in a descent family. But I’m lost.

Here’s a man who are involve in drugs; in gangster; in other vices. But he is lost.

One immersed in religion, one immersed in gangster and drugs, yet both become children of God, the same way by the amazing grace of God, not through anything that that they have done or by what they are or by what they have hope to be.