Scripture
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
~Ephesians 2:8, NRSV
Quote
Everything is a gift.
~Ya’akov
I didn’t get to finish my sermon last Sunday; it was too long so I left the third point out. A milk stool has to have at least three legs and some preachers feel the same way about sermons. My problem in getting a three point sermon into my time frame. I am absolutely positive, no doubt, not even one tiny doubt that SALVATION is by GRACE from start to finish and I have three reasons for believing in grace. [1] Grace is the only way we can be eternally secure. If any part of our salvation is dependent on us, we are in jeopardy. The good news is–it is not and our salvation is secure in Christ. [2] Grace is the only way that Jesus gets all the glory. Paul said in Romans 11, For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. The Him is Jesus. John said, He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. The writer of Hebrews said, But in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. Everything is about Jesus. Jesus is going to get all the glory and for that to happen, He alone had to do all the atoning work. If we had any part in our salvation, we would claim bragging rights but it was all Jesus. [3] Grace is the only way God can conform us to the image of Christ. Paul said in Romans 8:29, For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.
The verse that I did not get to last Sunday was verse 10…
For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. Did you catch those four highlighted words… we are what He has made us. You will never become a disciple unless HE MAKES YOU A DISCIPLE. You will never become a fisherman of men unless HE MAKES YOU A FISHER OF MEN. You will never become a gracious and Christ like person unless He makes you such. Everything is grace: regeneration [new birth], sanctification and ultimately glorification. Everything is a gift. Paul asked the proud Corinthians, “What do you have that you did not receive?” Study the question and you will discover the truth–EVERY THING IS A GIFT.
Folks, I have had one of those weeks. Haste is a great enemy to our devotion and quiet time and I have been in a rush all week. I seem to wake up everyday with more on my plate than I can handle, so again I must be brief. Day 43 of the Coronavirus shut-down. It appears that we are going to have good weather for Sunday; it will be the first since we started drive-in church.
Good news: Josh has created us a new web page [gracepointbaptistchurch.com]. Eventually, the new home page will have all our sermons and the blog. It will also have a place for online giving which will make Big Mama happy.
I hope you have a great day and a good weekend.