Fundamentals Of The Christian Faith

January 6th, 2013

Marshall Road First Church of God

“Fundamentals of the Christian Faith”

“Grace”

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

This one segment of scripture really encapsulates what it means for us to be Christian. I have always enjoyed how Paul takes the opportunity to explain the aspects of being Christian. He never confuses his audience, but is rather plain spoken. Paul couldn’t have said it any better for people to understand how salvation is obtained through Jesus Christ.

Over the next several weeks I want to discuss some of the basic fundamentals of Christian living. For some it’s just a refresher course, to others 7you may gain a different perspective, but for some it might lead to a reaffirmation or salvation experience. Whatever the case might be, I believe that it is God’s sincere desire for us to grow in our salvation@! So that you an I can be who God called us to be, His bride, His church, His people!

The word fundamental sometimes brings on mixed feelings espically when the secular media puts its spin on it identifying Christianity as being fundamentalist. But the word fundamental means to serve as a basis supporting existence or determining essential structure or function. But there are some fundamental things that Christians need to have a distinct grasp on to endure the Christian life and be prepared to given an account for the cause of our relationship with Christ.

What things are essential to the Christian faith?

Grace

Faith

Salvation

Sanctification

Now most of these are going to constantly intertwine in revealing each other but this morning I want to tackle the subject of: Grace!

Ephesians 2:8a

For by grace……

In reality we could stop right there if we are to summarize what it takes to become a Christian. But what do you think of when you hear the word grace?

Grace is unearned or unmerited love given freely by God to man in order to be free of sin.

In the Christian community we are surrounded by the word Grace. I mean it is used in a church name, it is a young ladies name, Bible colleges are named after it, and we all have sung songs such as Amazing Grace. We are constantly surrounded by this word, but do we truly understand the magnitude of grace?

This morning we are going to look at Grace. It is an incredibly critical and important doctrine to our Christian faith. We are going to look at his notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, absolutely unconditional.

How does God’s grace work in our life?

1.) Grace Exists Prior to Our Knowledge

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The words love and grace could literally be interchanged in this passage of scripture. So lets reprhrase this: But God demonstrates His own grace toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That takes on a different tone now doesn’t it?

God’s grace is Prevenia in Nature. The United Methodist Book of Discipline (2004) defines prevenient grace as "...the divine love that surrounds all humanity and precedes any and all of our conscious impulses. This grace prompts our first wish to please God, our first glimmer of understanding concerning God's will, and our 'first slight transient conviction' of having sinned against God.

I believe that when we are born, that once our spirit exits the habitation of heaven, that God withdraws himself from us that leaves behind a God shaped hole in our lives that we throughout life experiment in filling.

Folks will try anything and everything to fulfill the missing piece

They will try to build any relationship to gain acceptance

They will use any drug or alcohol in order to fill the void

BUT NOTHING WILL SATISFY YOU!

When a baby is born into the world medical studies say that the endorphin levels in a newborns body react the same way a person does when a loved one passes away. That baby leaves the confront and presence of God, and it distraughts them.

Church, there is only One who can fill that void in your life.

Only One who has the ability to accept you the way you are, only One who can fill the void in your Spirit and His Name is Jesus and He is the only ONE that can make you complete@!

The Grace of God exists prior to our Knowledge of it. God's grace also awakens in us an earnest longing for deliverance from sin and death and moves us toward repentance and faith."

John 6:44: