All Sufficient Grace For Even Me
040509 PM
Text: 1 Timothy 1:12 - 14
Introduction
“Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus, deeper than the mighty rolling sea; higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain, all sufficient grace for even me” (Haldor Lillenas).
When we consider the Grace of God it is most often in light of His unlimited capacity to forgive our sins, and that is a most wonderful aspect of God’s grace! But consider the words of Paul:
1 Timothy 1:12 - 14 (NASB) I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
In these verses Paul addresses God’s grace in forgiving of his sins but also gives thanks also for the strength and trust the Grace of God provided him in putting him into service – showing God’s all sufficient grace for even me!
In this lesson we will examine ways in which God’s grace is sufficient for us.
I. Sufficient To Save Us From Sin
A.None of us deserve God’s grace, if we deserved it, it would not be grace.
1.Christ died for us even though we did not deserve it
Romans 5:6 - 8 (NASB) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2.Salvation is a gift of grace
Ephesians 2:8 (NASB) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God
3.It is grace that teaches us to turn away from sin
Titus 2:11 - 12 (NASB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
B.God’s grace is conditioned upon our repentance but when we repent, God is gracious to forgive.
1.God is faithful and just to forgive us
1 John 1:8 - 9 (NASB) If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2.Wherever sin abounds, grace abounds much more, there is no sin so great that God’s grace cannot cover it
Romans 5:20b (NASB) …but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more
II. Sufficient To Help Us Deal With Life
A.In times of temptation, God is faithful to protect us from anything that would be too much for us -
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB) No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it..
B.In times of difficulties sometimes God’s will is for us to continue to endure a hardship. At such times, His “grace is sufficient” to help us deal with it:
Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
1.When we are weak His Grace will give us strength.
C.In times of need, because the Grace of God has given us our Lord Jesus, our High Priest, we can find help.
Hebrews 4:16 (NASB) Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
D.In all times His Grace works to our benefit!
Romans 8:28 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
III. Sufficient To Help Us Do His Work
A.It was for His work that we were redeemed:
Titus 2:11 - 14 (NASB) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
B.Our adequacy and sufficiency to do His work is from God
2 Corinthians 3:4 - 5 (NASB) Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NASB) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
1.Not the bare necessities but an abundance of what we need to do His work.
C.The person who “labors more abundantly” is the person who realizes that “by the grace of God” he is what he is:
1 Corinthians 15:10 (NASB) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
Conclusion
In light of all that we obtain by God’s Grace, salvation, strength, and sufficiency, we truly realize the “good news” of the gospel. And may we who walk in His Grace strive not to “receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1) but to be “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).
Invitation
