Explore and understand the themes of salvation by grace through faith, the necessity of being born again, and God's love as a relationship with us, as depicted in John 3:1-14.
Good morning, Church! Today, we're diving deep into John 3:1-14
As C.S Lewis once said, "The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."
Let's read together from John 3:1-14:
[Read passage]
Let's pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we are gathered here today to explore the depth of Your word. Open our hearts and minds to better understand Your message of salvation, the necessity of being born again, and Your love that is a relationship with us. May we grasp the truth You have laid out for us in Your word. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Salvation by grace through faith is the beautiful and profound truth that we are saved not by our works or our merit, but by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ. This is a revolutionary concept that sets Christianity apart from many other religious systems that are based on works or self-effort.
The Apostle Paul puts it succinctly in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." This passage clearly states that our salvation is a gift from God, not something we can earn or deserve. It is by grace, God's unmerited favor, that we are saved. This grace is not something we can work for; it is freely given by God out of His love for us.
Faith: Faith is our response to God's grace. It is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation. It is believing that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again, conquering death and sin once and for all. This faith is not just intellectual assent or agreement with a set of doctrines, but a personal trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. It involves a personal relationship with Him, a surrender of our lives to His lordship, and a commitment to follow Him.
Underscores the humility of the Christian faith: It acknowledges that we are sinners in need of a Savior. It recognizes that we cannot save ourselves, that we are helpless and hopeless apart from God's grace. It humbles us and makes us dependent on God, not on our own efforts or achievements.
The love and generosity of God: It shows us that God is not a distant, demanding deity who requires us to earn His favor. Instead, He is a loving Father who freely gives us His grace, who sent His Son to die for us so that we could be saved. It reveals a God who loves us so much that He would do everything necessary to save us, even if it meant the death of His own Son.
This truth should fill us with gratitude and awe: It should motivate us to live for God, to serve Him, and to share His love with others. It should inspire us to trust Him more, to rely on His grace, and to grow in our faith. It should shape our identity, our values, and our actions.
Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about the transformative power of salvation by grace through faith in your own life.
The concept of being "born again" is a term that's used frequently within the faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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