10-07-12 AM - Don't Waste God's Grace

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Grace is complex in definition, but complete in its expression.

Phillip Yancey says trying to define grace is like dissecting a frog in biology class.

2Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

2Cor. 5:21-6:2 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (Isa.49:8)

Four Ways We Can Waste God’s Grace:

1. By relying on our own righteousness.

1Cor. 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.                  

2 Cor. 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The definition of wretch is mean, base, and despicable.

2. By Behavior That Dishonors The Lord.                                  

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,                                

A. License- “Since I’m under God’s grace I can sin all I want.”                

Jude 4-5 …They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. 5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

B. Legalism- “I must obey the rules to earn God’s love.”

Gal. 4:9-11 How is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

C. Love- “Because I am loved, I love God, so I want to obey Him.”                

John 14:15 Jesus said; If you love me you will obey what I command.

3. By Failing to Grow as a Believer                                                                                                    

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.    

A baby that does not grow is tragic. (Ken can we crop adult heads of church people we know onto baby bodies? One or two)

4. By Assuming I Can Live Without God’s Grace

I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation 2Cor. 6:2.

“On your best day you are never good enough to be out of need of God’s grace, and on your worst day you are never bad enough to be out of the reach of God’s grace.”

“Trust me now”
“You have plenty of time”