Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Life Shape Prayer & Discipleship Module One Block Seven – Grace

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John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Love could have made God feel sorry for mankind
Love could have caused God to feel sad concerning man’s plight
Love could have left God angry at man for his sin and separation
Love could have simply hurt God’s feelings

But, God’s love motivated Him to give … this is “Grace”

God was not obligated to give … He gave because He is full of grace

Important Points:

1.  Grace is the unearned, unmerited, and undeserved goodness of God towards all men.
2.  Grace provides.

2 Corinthians 8:9  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

2 Corinthians 8:7  But as you abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us — see that you abound in this grace also.

3.  God’s grace is sufficient.

2 Corinthians 12:9  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

4.  Grace is God giving more than He has to because He wants to.

Ephesians 2:7  That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

5.  God’s grace surpasses man’s sin.

Romans 5:20  Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

6.  There is an inexhaustible supply of God’s grace.
a.   God gives it to whom He will, when He wills
b.   God offers man direct access by inheritance
c.   There is an entry point which requires an access code
d.   Next week in Block Eight, I’ll teach you the code

Romans 5:2  Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Commentary:
When God created Adam and Eve, He was pleased with them and the relationship they all enjoyed together. They were a happy family living in the blessings of the goodness God intended. However, man rebelled against God, sin was born. Sin separated God’s family and relationships were lost. Instead of God continuing as a loving father, He was forced to become law giver and judge. The peaceful, caring, and nurturing Creator now appeared angry, critical, and condemning. Laws were made and the words seemed harsh and unforgiving. Man could never do enough to please God, restore relationship, and appease sin. Laws were cold letters graved in stone and every infraction punished. Many paid for their sin with their very lives for failing to obey every word of God. The law was a harsh, uncaring, unrelenting pathway leading man to death. No one could satisfy God’s law, for the law required perfection or death and mankind was unable to achieve perfection on his own. Somehow, sin’s requirement had to be satisfied and mankind reconciled to God. Knowing there was nothing man could do, God gave His only begotten Son, who was perfect in every way, holy, and without blemish, a spotless lamb, and the Lord of all glory, to take upon Himself the sins of the world, bear man’s punishment, and make relationship possible once again. The holy nature of God disallows Him to peacefully coexist with sin. Therefore, God even in His attempts to teach mankind the perfect law was yet unable to tolerate failure. God hates sin and was therefore continually angry with man. When Jesus paid the debt of sin, he satisfied God and made grace available. Our relationship with God is dependent on grace paid for by what Jesus did. Grace is the unmerited, unearned, and often undeserved goodness and favor of God. God took sin and nailed it to a tree, not because He had to, but because He wanted to. Now He is free to fellowship mankind, bless us through Christ and offer us salvation, forgiveness of sin and eternal life. This is God’s grace. Everything God has is available to us and all made possible through grace. We access this storehouse of grace by faith.

Supporting Scriptures:
·        Romans 5
·        Romans 6:1; 14 & 15
·        Ephesians 2:8-9
·        Acts 4:33
·        Titus 2:11
·        Revelation 22:21

God’s grace does not provide justification to sin but a justification from sin.