Week 3
By Grace through Faith –
How this work together?
Eph 2:8 (NKJV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—
7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Illustration: I heard an interesting story once about a British conference on comparative religions; experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis, the author of Chronicles of Narnia, wandered into the room. “What’s all the commotion about?” he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions. They were discussing everything from incarnation to the resurrection comparing Christianity to other world religions. Lewis broke into the conversation with the response, “Oh, that’s easy. What makes Christianity different from all other world religions is grace.”
The notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of Karma, and the Muslim code of law—each of these offer a way to earn God’s approval. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional, because of grace.
By Grace through Faith –
1st week If you live in grace then
No Condemnation.
His Righteousness
Spirit Living and Thinking.
To understand if you are living in grace is to check what is grace is not:
No condemnation
Being self-righteousness
Carnally minded.
Second week: The power of this Gospel of Grace – it was and is paid for…
Bitter or Better? Longsuffering
Today how does this tie in with each other?
1) Measure of FAITH
Just as the world was filled with a lie that God is in a bad mood and that He is going to get us… The lie was that we MUST DO something to get His Grace in our lives – and if we dare to step out and be disobedient – He will be ready to judge us and hit us with the curse. God goodness leads us to repentance. God grace is measured to us, each one of us.
Each one of us has received a measure of faith.
For I say,of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt Rom 12:3
Illustration: Use a sand box, and show different measurements. God has given us everything that we need for living this life. It is however our choice by what measurement we will use to tap into it.
FAITH is to ACT on what God has done.
2) The Measure of motivation
•Titus 2:11-15 (NIV)
•11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
The Law as motivator – i.e. Giving, at home dishes…
Emotions as motivator
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
•For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
3) THE WORD as motivator
Phil 1
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.
28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
•2 Cor 9:8
•8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
•2 Cor 9:7
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Cor. 1:9 (Phillips)
• “(This happened)…so we might learn to trust, not in ourselves, but in God.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 4:13 (NKJV) 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
4) OUTLAST, OUTWIT, OUTSMART the enemy
•1 Pet 5:8-9 NIV
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken! Is 54:17
Is 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Rev 12:11
11 They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
Closing statements
The purpose of this message is to show that God has already done and paid for what we will need for in this life. Faith is our response to this grace. The best way to respond is by aligning our words and action with His Word.
