GROWING IN
GRACE:
The Wisdom
and Beauty of Salvation by Grace
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. 2 Peter 3:18
1.
THE
TREE WAS THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL – BRINGS DEATH.
Gen. 2:17
17 But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
2.
MAN’S
EFFORT TO DEAL WITH SUCH DEATH IS SOME ACTIVITY TO COVER SHAME.
Gen. 3:7
7 And the eyes of them both
were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves
together, and made themselves aprons.
3.
THE
_______________ AND ___________ CAUSES US TO RUN FROM GOD.
Gen. 3:8
8 And they heard the voice of
the Lord God walking in the garden
in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence
of the Lord God amongst the trees
of the garden.
4.
GOD
COVERED THEIR SHAME WITH SOMETHING THAT COST THEM NOTHING.
Gen. 3:21
21 Unto Adam also and to his
wife did the Lord God make coats
of skins, and clothed them.
II. THE LAW
1.
LET
THEM HAVE MORE OF WHAT THEY THINK THEY WANT UNTIL THEY REALIZE WHAT _______________ _______________.
Rom. 3:20
20 Therefore by the deeds of
the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom. 7:12
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment
holy, and just, and good 13 Was then that which is good made
death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in
me by that which is good; that sin by
the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
2.
ALL
O.T. SACRIFICES FELL SHORT.
Heb. 10:9
11 And every priest standeth
daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never
take away sins.
Heb. 10:1-3
For
the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the
things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would
they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged
should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those
sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
3.
WE
NEEDED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
Gal. 3:24-25
24 Wherefore the law was our
schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But
after that faith is come, we are no
longer under a schoolmaster.
III. ENTER JESUS
1.
JESUS
IS FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made
flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father,) full of
grace and truth.
cháris; gen. cháritos, fem. noun from
chaírō (5463), to rejoice. Grace, particularly
that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a
kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude. A favor done without
expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of
God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver;
unearned and unmerited favor.
Cháris
stands in direct antithesis to érga (2041), works, the two being mutually
exclusive. God’s grace affects man’s sinfulness and not only forgives the
repentant sinner, but brings joy and thankfulness to him. It changes the
individual to a new creature without destroying his individuality
2.
GRACE
IS GIVEN FREELY (GRATIS) AS A GIFT
Rom. 3:24
24 Being justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
3.
WORKS
DESIGNED TO EARN GRACE ACTUALLY CANCEL OUT GRACE.
Rom. 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but
of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. We must
accept grace by faith not work for it
Rom. 11:5-6
5 Even so then at this
present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And
if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But
if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work
4.
______________________
INTO GRACE IS ALWAYS BY FAITH
Rom. 5:2
By whom also
we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope
of the glory of God.
5.
OUR
HEARTS MUST BE SETTLED (SATISFIED, ESTABLISHED, AT PEACE) WITH GRACE. NOT
NEEDING EXTRA STUFF LIKE RULES, MEATS ETC.
Heb. 13:9
9 Be not carried about with
divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be
established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have
been occupied therein.
IV. THE WISDOM AND BEAUTY OF GRACE
1.
IT
CANCELS OUT ____________________________.
Heb. 10:19-23
19 Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest
by the blood of Jesus, 20 By
a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that
is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the
house of God; 22 Let
us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the
profession of our
faith without wavering; (for he is
faithful that promised;)
2.
IT
REMOVES _______________________________
Eph. 2 :8-10
8 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.
3.
IT’S
THE BEST WAY FOR GOD TO FIX THE MESS ADAM MADE WHILE REMOVING THE POSSIBILITY
OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN - ALL THE WHILE
RESPECTING FREE WILL
i.
Justice Satisfied. Heb.
10:14
ii.
Guilty Go Free. Rom. 3:24
iii.
Available To All. Rom.
3:22
iv.
Still Have To Choose. Rom.
10:9-10
v.
But Don’t Have To Work. Eph.
2:8-9
vi.
We Establish The Law Through
Faith. Rom. 3:21
vii.
Glorified Bodies (Imperishable, Not
Capable Of Sin). Phil. 1:21
viii. Will
Not Have Same Song, Second Verse. Heb. 9:12
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