Sermon Outline

November 11 & 18, 2001

"The Amazing Grace Of God"

"Connecting With God In Times Of Crisis" - Part 7a & b
Ephesians 1:7-8, 2:8-9; Philippians 2:13
2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Philippians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9

 

Grace:  God's Riches At Christ's Expense

The more you understand grace, the more joy you will experience.  The more gracious we are with others, the more joy we will experience in our relationships.

Our joy in life is directly proportional to our acceptance of God's grace.

  1. We are sin-positive people; all are infected. (Romans 5:12)

  1. People are born sinful.

  2. We've gone our own way. (Romans 3:10-12)

  • The reason we feel guilt is that -- we're guilty!

  • God is angry at sinful people. (Psalm 7:11)

  • God hates sinful people; all who do evil. (Hate is emotion)
    (Psalm 5:5)
    BUT:  "God so loved the world . . ." (Love is action) (John 3:16)

  • God hates sin, but loves sinners.  God will punish sinners.
    (Galatians 6:7)

  1. God has a plan for sin-positive people.

  • It's priceless. (Colossians 1:13) God purchased our freedom with Christ's blood.

  • God's plan is peerless.

Point:  Salvation is based on God's GRACE not my DEEDS.

  1. God's Saving Grace REMOVES MY GUILT. (Ephesians 1:7-8, 2:8-9;
    2 Peter 3:18)

  • You will never appreciate grace until you realize how guilty you are.

  • You will never appreciate grace until you realize how holy God is

  1. Grace isn't FAIR. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 6:1-4, 30:18)

  1. God's HOLINESS is totally incompatible with our sin.

  2. God's JUSTICE will not allow Him to overlook our sin.

  3. God's HOLINESS and JUSTICE can't be satisfied by our efforts. (God's keeping grace)

"A sinless Jesus became sin filled, so that sinful people could become sin free."

  1. Grace isn't FREE. (Ephesians 1:4-8)

  • Grace costs nothing to the recipient, but everything to the giver.

  • Grace cost Jesus his innocence and his life. (2 Corinthians 5:21, Mark 10:45)

  1. God's Enabling Grace RESHAPES MY LIFE (Philippians 2:13; Colossians 2:6; Galatians 5:1-7; 1 Peter 5:10)

  • God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to let you stay that way. (Hebrews 13:9; Galatians 5:1,2)

Sanctification:  Separate - The process of God conforming us to His Son.

  • There's nothing you can do to make God love you more, AND
    there's nothing you can do to make God love you less.

Point:  The way you BECAME a Christian is the way you CONTINUE as a Christian. 

  1. God's Sustaining (Sufficient) Grace RELIEVES MY HURTS AND STRUGGLES. (2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 2:15; Hebrews 4:16;
    2 Corinthians 9:8)

  • The Key to receiving God's Grace:  ADMIT I need God's grace.
    (James 4:7)
What Are We To Do With God's Grace?

  1. PRAISE God for His grace. (Ephesians 1:3-8)

  2. Be GRACIOUS to other people.

  1. God wants us to be A DISPENSER of His grace.
    In our speech     (Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29)
    In our conduct     (1 Peter 4:10)

  2. Develop forbearance. (Colossians 3:13)

  3. Grant forgiveness freely. (Colossians 3:13; Matthew 18)

  1. SHARE His grace with other people.

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