Amazing Grace: Freely Given, Powerfully Received
Brothers and sisters, today we turn our hearts to a truth that resonates through the entire tapestry of Scripture: the boundless, freely given grace of God. It is a gift that transforms, empowers, and sustains us. Let us explore the depths of this amazing grace, drawing from the Word of God.
I. Grace: A Gift Beyond Measure
• Freely Distributed: Psalm 84:11 reminds us that God withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. Acts 11:23 and 13:43 speak of the grace of God being seen and exhorted, a gift spread freely among believers.
• Salvation: Acts 15:11 declares, "We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved." Grace is the very foundation of our salvation.
• Justification: Romans 3:24 affirms that we are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." We are declared righteous, not by our own merit, but by God's unmerited favor.
• Superabundant: 1 Timothy 1:14 exclaims, "And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant." God's grace overflows, exceeding our deepest needs.
II. Grace: Empowering for Service
• Gives Power for Service: Colossians 3:10 speaks of putting on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator, that is a work of grace. 1 Corinthians 15:10, Paul states, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me."
• Enables: 2 Corinthians 1:12 states that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.
• Sufficient: 2 Corinthians 12:9, God assures Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." God's grace empowers us even in our weakest moments.
• Gives Strength: 2 Timothy 2:1 instructs, "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus." Grace is the source of our strength in the face of trials.
III. Grace: Reaching the Unworthy
• For Sinners: 1 Timothy 1:12-13, Paul acknowledges his past as a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent aggressor, yet he testifies to the grace of Christ Jesus that was given to him. Grace is not reserved for the righteous; it extends to the most unworthy.
IV. Living in the Light of Grace
Brothers and sisters, what does this mean for us today?
• Humble Acceptance: We must humbly accept God's grace, acknowledging our unworthiness and surrendering to His saving power.
• Grateful Service: We must respond to God's grace with grateful hearts, serving Him with the strength He provides.
• Bold Proclamation: We must boldly proclaim the gospel of grace, sharing the good news with a world desperately in need of its transforming power.
• Constant Reliance: We must constantly rely on God's grace, knowing that it is sufficient for every challenge and every need.
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Let us walk in the light of God's amazing grace, allowing it to shape our lives and empower our service. Let us be living testimonies to the boundless love and mercy of our Lord. Amen.
