ALWAYS THANK GOD BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE (Outline)
January 14, 2007 - EPIPHANY 2 - 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
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INTRO: A quick reminder that Epiphany means appearance (or manifestation). During Epiphany we come to see Jesus’ appearance as the very Son of God. Last month during Advent and Christmas we saw Jesus as the Son of Mary and Joseph. In this Epiphany season the Light of the world is fully revealed. Christ has come as the very Word of God, which shines in a dark place. Here is the miracle worker at the wedding of Cana. We are thankful to be able to see God’s grace fulfilled in Christ the Lord, Jesus our Savior. Scripture also declares that fact: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men"(TITUS 2:11). This is God’s grace: God’s Son and the Son of the carpenter revealed to us. We agree with Paul in the words of today’s text: I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus (verse 4). Thus we discover the sermon theme for today. ALWAYS THANK GOD BE-CAUSE OF HIS GRACE. We are thankful always because I. Our God calls believers into his church, and; II. Our God richly provides for his church.
I. OUR GOD CALLS BELIEVERS INTO HIS CHURCH
A. In verse 1 Paul puts to rest his detractors. It was God who called him to serve Christ Jesus.
1. Paul was not self-appointed, far from it. It was God’s free grace that saved / called him.
2. Verse 2 reminds the believers of God’s grace, which also called them to be saved.
B. An entire series of sermons could be written just on verse 3. Here is Paul’s ultimate godly greeting.
1. Grace is God’s undeserved love. One translation: God treats us much better than we deserve.
2. God’s peace is that peace that the world cannot provide. God’s peace is from forgiveness.
3. God’s grace and peace was Paul’s wish and blessing for these believers always.
C. Paul knew now what it was to experience God’s grace and peace. His early life was misspent.
1. It is no wonder we find Paul thankful, almost beyond words. Verse 4. Thankful – always.
2. In verse 9 Paul writes of the faithfulness of God. This faithful God has called believers, grace..
D. God is faithful! We are faithless but our God remains faithful. We are imperfect and our God remains perfect. We are hurtful and full of sin but our God is loving and full of forgiveness. Though we truly de-served eternal punishment God does not treat us as our sins deserve. This is God’s grace. Adam and Eve destroyed God’s perfect creation with disobedience and sin. God did not destroy them. In his grace God promised a Savior. As God promises so he does. "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands"(DEUTERONOMY 7:9). Always thank God because of his grace.
E. Notice the emphasis of God’s grace in the words of our text. Paul never takes credit for his salvation. He cannot – by God’s grace he was saved. Neither could the believers claim that they had decided to ac-cept Christ. Just like Paul they had been saved by God’s grace. We cannot earn God’s grace. We cannot buy God’s grace. Most of all, we do not deserve God’s grace. That is what is so amazing. In spite of us God by his grace calls believers into his church. God’s grace turned Paul’s life around completely. God’s grace is God’s divine, eternal gift of salvation for every believer called into his church. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast"(EPHESIANS 2:8,9). Always thank God because of his grace.
F. It is certainly true that we cannot by our own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ or come to him. On our own we are truly lost and condemned creatures born into this world as enemies of God. Al-ways thank God because of his amazing grace. God’s grace has saved us. Our life on earth is called our time of grace. Our loving, heavenly Father has called us into his church. During this time of grace we are encouraged and invited to learn more about it truly means to be a member of the church / body of Christ. "Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David"(ISAIAH 55:3). As we hear God’s word, read God’s word, and study God’s his grace becomes ever more near and dear to us. Always thank God because of his grace.
II. OUR GOD RICHLY PROVIDES FOR HIS CHURCH.
A. Again, in verse 4 we only, barely begin to see a reflection of Paul’s life of thankfulness.
1. Paul understood that his previous life of persecuting Christians was dreadfully wrong.
2. Paul realized the power of God’s grace that had miraculously changed his life—forever!
B. The life and purpose of Paul was entirely, gratefully spent on serving Christ. Verse 6.
C. The testimony of Paul concerning God had now blessed these believers. They lacked nothing.
1. Verse 5 clearly reminds these believers of God’s rich blessings – in every way.
2. Again in verse 7 they were not lacking anything. God’s grace provided every spiritual gift!
3. This was not only for the present. Verse 8 tells how the Lord would be their future strength.
D. Look around, count your blessings. This is a good thing. We soon realize that our blessings our truly beyond our comprehension. Who can really, truly number them all or even keep track of what the Lord has done for each and every one of us? But, then, we also consider the spiritual blessings God gives. Our loving is able to do even more than we can ask or imagine. Eternity is God’s gift to us. "He provided re-demption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever--holy and awesome is his name "(PSALM 111:9). Always thank God because of his grace.
E. Another miraculous fact of God’s grace is that he desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowl-edge of the truth. This message of God’s free gift of grace and forgiveness is not just limited to our small group of believers. God’s gospel is not chained. The walls of any church do not hem in God’s gospel. Rather, those who call on the name of the Lord are those who belong to the Holy Christian Church. Whether here or in Nebraska, or Africa, or Japan the Lord blesses those who are called into his church. "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him"(ROMANS 10:12). Always thank God because of his grace.
F. In America our tendency is to grumble, complain and murmur. We often do this over the most trivial, little things in life. That happens we are overly blessed. Daily we need to remind ourselves of God’s grace. This gift is our most important possession. It makes no different what we might face in life – God’ grace is something to be always thankful for. We are told why. "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will re-ceive what he has promised"(HEBREWS 10:35, 36). Always thank God because of his grace.
CONC.: All too many today have missed the point of God’s grace. Too many feel that God’s grace is something one has to earn. Some feel that obedience will bring God’s grace. What about Paul? In one of the greatest moments of disobeying God, God’s grace found him when he sought him not. Grace is God’s totally FREE GIFT of his undeserved love. Truly, God does treat us better than we deserve – amazing grace! This is our encouragement during this life. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work"(2 CORIN-THIANS 9:8). Without God’s grace we would be lost forever. God’s grace calls us into his church and richly provides for us there. ALWAYS thank God because of his grace! Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
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EPIPHANY 2 readings: ISAIAH 62:1-5; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-11; JOHN 2:1-11
