1 Corinthians 15
God’s grace permeated Paul’s thinking. One scholar writes, “Paul could not think of Christian truth and conduct apart from God’s grace” (D. Edmond Hiebert, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ed. by Frank Gaebelein [Zondervan], 11:439).
vs. 1 – notice the progression of the gospel
- Preached, Received, Stand, Being Saved
vs. 3 – Delivered – literally - Hand off…
This gospel came to them…but it also came to me…
Verse 9
1. GRACE CHANGES THE WORST PASTS
Moses—murdered a man…David—committed adultery… Zach—I stole from people…Peter—I denied Christ
For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace…Galatians 1:13-15
…Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:13-14
Line you past up to Paul’s…
Said something you shouldn’t have said...Regret it.
Bad decisions—catching up with you.
Sexual past, Recurring sin—promised won’t—I do.
Committed adultery—can’t get over it.
Fear someone finding out.
Bankruptcy—or you are flirting with it... if I do, I’ll fail.
Divorced—if I had only tried a little harder.
Kids didn’t turn out like you’d hoped—second-guessing yourself.
Didn’t measure up... Failure.
My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. Ps 38:4
This means God’s grace is not above any sinner in your life
YOUR BIGGEST SINS ARE NOT TOO BIG FOR GOD’S GRACE.
Every saint has a past—ever sinner has a future.
Now here is where the problem lies…If we stop the story here…we have what I would call stifled grace…grace ends at my transformation…at my conversion…
BIG IDEA: GRACE BECOMES AN IDOL WHEN WE EXPERIENCE THE GRACE OF GOD BUT DON'T EXTEND THE GRACE OF GOD
- I DON'T EXTEND GRACE TO MYSELF
Now one would think…what I have done would hinder me…
Want to mentor someone—feel so unworthy.
Want a good marriage but you feel as if don’t deserve it.
Love to make a difference…but I can’t after what I’ve done!
- I DON'T EXTEND GRACE TO OTHERS
Or I don’t extend the grace of God to others…I keep it as my gift while treating others differently…While God’s grace is unconditional to me…I make grace conditional for everyone else
My default mode is to think of grace as circular…I show you grace and you show grace to me and so forth… I will give you more grace if only you would…
But that is NOT consistent with how Scripture uses the term. The very definition of grace assumes that the other person is not being gracious.
It stops begin grace altogether if it’s conditional on some reciprocal gesture by the receiver.
2. GRACE DOESN'T REPLACE THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Only as we grasp the significance of God’s grace can we eagerly do what is pleasing to Him.
Biblical grace starts with God…and now it starts with you… Grace begets Grace…Generosity begets generosity…grace overflows to others…
Grace to you…grace with you
- Grace not only takes the place of works (justification) but also produces work (sanctification)
- It extends it through work…Grace does not replace work in the Christian life
- Why was God’s grace toward Paul not in vain? Because he became a worker for the sake of the gospel
Paul wrote in Acts 20 that Jesus said it is more blessed to give than receive…
Grace works within me…
- The grace of God is so powerful in the good work I am doing that it is fitting to say it’s not me…
Galatians says, It is not I but Christ who lives within me…Philippians says for me to live is Christ and to die is gain…
The implication is that if I take back control of my Christian work…it won’t be effective…and that’s the problem…You take it back over and try to show grace on your own...you can’t …you didn’t earn grace and you can’t show grace on your own accord.
So Paul is saying…If you aren’t using grace to extend the gospel…1 of 2 things is the problem…you don’t get grace personally or you are stifling grace.
3. GRACE REVEALS GOD'S POWER IN OUR WEAKNESS
- GRACE EXTENDS TO MY PASSIONS Grace extends to my passions
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…Titus 2:11-12
Crete had one of the worst reputations in the empire, known as a haven for pirates and scoundrels. There was a well-known proverb in that day: “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
Paul believed the gospel would actually bring about transformation in people’s lives—something that would close the credibility gap between the church’s beliefs and its practices.
Training means – child rearing…stick you would use to keep an animal trained…Grace of God not only saves us but also teaches us how to live the Christian life, how to living differently in the grip of grace.
- GRACE EXTENDS THORUGH MY SPEECH
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
The Greek word translated “unwholesome” means rotten, useless, or unprofitable…rotten fruit…rotten fish…it contaminates
There are things that we have said we know we shouldn’t have said…where you just wish you could pull back
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
***Scientists say that the sound waves set in motion by every voice go on an endless journey through space and that if we had the right instruments, delicate and sophisticated enough and the power to recapture those waves, we could recreate every word every person has ever spoken. Frightening. God has that machine. And so there's a real sense in which men's words will be the basis of their judgment because they are the absolutely accurate judge of their soul. A man's heart is the storehouse and his words indicate what is stored there.
I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36
Words can create and destroy. Heal or crush. Build up or tear down. Give life or take life. In the tongue is this power
Words become a weapon…to slice into ribbons other people. Devastating our marriages and parents and children…damaging families and churches, friendships. Enormous power in the tongue. It matters to God.
***Sticks and Stone will…Not true!!! Stupid…Can bruise our souls for years
To change the direction of your life change the declaration of your lips…how do you do that? Grace
Rather than using your words to tear down others, use them to build up others. Let our words be measured in heaven before they are spoken in earth…
Are my words helpful?
Are my words constructive?
Are my words necessary?
But the Christian question: Am I building the faith of others by what I say? Is my mouth a means of grace?
- GRACE EXTENDS THROUGH MY RESPONSES
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11
Vs. 8,9,10, 11 – are together. Social admonition
Fervent in love – extenos – stretched out…ektenés – stretched out, more intensely
Love uncomfortably…we have to love people like ourselves Love sinners…love people in spite of who they are.
Consumerism runs through the church…Competition - the gospel runs through that thinking
Grace is an idol…Love people selfishly instead of fervently
Better love one another…no one else are going to love you. You are not going to find it anywhere else
kalupto – to cover, to hide - To “cover sins” is not to “cover up” sin. Instead of talking about everybody’s sin…we are busy loving.
Hospitality – in wallet and helping people…love them…but also hospitality…
onomatopoeia word – grumbling…it means nothing but it sounds like it
***moving through the grocery store away from people…
goggusmos – muttering, mutter
Grace is an idol - We grumble with hospitality
Employ stewardship
poikilos - of divers colors, variegated
Grace is an idol…Count our gifts as natural ability not divine enablement
THE CHURCH IS MOST APPEALING WHEN THE MESSAGE OF GRACE IS MOST APPARENT…The church has been assigned the task for exposing our neighborhoods, communities, cities, states and world to the grace of God. It is our mission, our responsibility…no other plan. How is grace seen through you?
