gtoctr/ws022013
Commentary:
Each Life Shape lesson is strategically
designed to add and secure one more critical component of truth to the
Believer’s life. This step by step approach to discipleship will expose and
explain the essential doctrines of the Bible in a logical format. Thus far we
have learned:
·
There
is only One God - Jehovah
·
He
created the heavens and the earth
·
This
One God made man like Him, 3 parts – one person
·
Every
man, woman, boy and girl is a living soul born to exist forever
·
God
prepared a wonderful place for man to enjoy
·
Sin
separated man from everything God intended
·
The
blood of bulls and goats could only afford temporary forgiveness
·
Eternal
forgiveness required a perfect sacrifice – God’s only Son
·
Jesus
willingly gave His life as a ransom for sin – He died on Calvary
·
God
gave more than He had to because He wanted to – that’s grace
·
In
death Jesus destroyed him who had the power over death – satan
·
After
3 days Jesus rose victorious over death, hell and the grave
·
Now
the all sufficient grace of God is available to every man
Tonight we take the next step in this discipleship
process and discover how to access the storehouse of God’s grace.
Have you ever considered the storehouses of
God? The place where He keeps His gold, jewels, blessings, miracles, kindness,
forgiveness, peace, patience, love, joy, righteousness and all manner of
goodness and provision? Imagine the storehouses of the Sovereign Creator of the
Universe … the place which also holds the inheritance of His only begotten Son
in whom He is well pleased. Think about the abundant and perpetual supply.
Now imagine how that God, because He is good
and so loves the world, reaches into these storehouses and daily blesses the
earth and many individuals who never realize where their blessings are coming
from. It is even from these storehouses that God gives food to the birds, from
where He clothes the lilies and supplies bread to the eater and seed to the
sower.
What if God was willing to give you access
to His storehouses! This is the place where forgiveness of sins, salvation and
eternal life are kept.
Good news … in fact that is exactly what the
Gospel of Jesus Christ is – Good News! Why is it called “Good News” – because
God is willing to grant you access to His storehouses, not because you deserve
it, not because you earned it, not because you purchased it – in fact it cannot
be purchased with money or works of any kind. God is willing to give you access
because He is good and He loves you that much … again it’s called GRACE!!!
How do you access this grace? There is only
one door and it requires an access code.
Key Scripture:
Romans 5
1 Therefore, having been
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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.
Jesus,
the Messiah, is the door. Faith is the access code. We gain access to God’s
grace through Jesus by faith.
Important Points:
1.
Faith is the level of our trust in the truth.
a. Minus either
element, trust or truth, we cannot have faith
b. Faith is a
productive partnership between us and God
c. The Bible speaks of
levels: great, little, and no faith
d. Our trust in the
truth says God’s Word is good enough
2.
Without faith we cannot please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
3.
Faith grows when we listen to God’s Word. (Romans 10:17)
4.
Faith is also grown as a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)
5.
Faith is our substance and evidence until we see our hope.
a. Hebrews 11:1
6.
Faith accesses what grace provides.
Supporting Scriptures:
·
Hebrews
11:1 & 6 • Luke 7:9
·
Romans
10:17 • Mark 4:40
·
Galatians
5:22 • 2 Thessalonians 1:3
·
Matthew
6:30
