To the Praise of the Glory of His Grace November 8, 2015
Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
By His grace, He has made us graceful, lovely, and highly favored. He takes pleasure in us and prizes us above anything else. We are transformed into His glory for Him. The cross is the focal point of it all. That the ‘I AM’ came down and became the lowest of the low, and took upon Him all sin for us. Faith without works is dead, but this verse needs to be rightly divided. The Apostle Paul’s life testified of good works of faith. All good works and faith flowed out of his life by grace.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Just walk and quit thinking. God set forth our good works before a star was set in heaven.
Peter humbled himself under the hand of God and wrote:
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Paul said it was by God’s grace he became an apostle. He was made a minister by the gift of grace (Ephesians 3:7).
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am:
We are going to need a body like unto His glorious body to see the exceeding riches of His grace. Do we want these good works of faith to be evident in our life? Yes, but know they don’t come by you; only by the grace of God that performs it in you. Let’s see what Paul said about grace:
Acts 18:27. . . he helped them much which had believed through grace:
You can hear it and read about it, but you must embrace the grace of God and put away self effort.
Acts 20:24. . . to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:32. . . the word of his grace, which is able to build you up,
Romans 5:2. . . we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
David’s testimony is so mighty – he was an adulterer, murderer, and probably just wanted to die knowing he was a miserable wretch – but what grace!
2 Corinthians 8:7. . .see that ye abound in this grace also.
Not only begin by grace, but finish, be perfected by grace.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you;
Only grace can give us the ability to super abound in every good work.
2 Timothy 2:1. . . be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Don’t be strong in guilt. Go boldly to the throne of grace, it is our only strength.
Hebrews 12:28. . . let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably
Hebrews 13:9 For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace. . . make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Perfect = complete – all by grace. Settled, not striving. Live a life camped out at the throne of grace. In all things be content in grace.
Revelation 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Don’t make void the grace of God. Those that are going to be like Him are going to be like Him. Jesus Christ full of grace and truth. When you are full of grace you can’t be anything else. Then off to the exceeding riches of His grace! Thank you God for the privilege to be to the praise of the glory of His grace!
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Sermon Topics: Grace