Philippians: Grace to You, Amen!
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
Philippians 4:23“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
I. GOD’S GRACE SAVES (PAST)
A. DEFINITION OF GOD’S GRACE
1. UNMERITED FAVOR
Eph 2:8“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”
Rom 3:11-12 “No one understands; no one seeks for God. There are none righteous; no, not even one.
Rom 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
I Jn 3:4“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also breaks the Law, for sin is lawlessness.
Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2. WORK OF CHRIST
II Cor 8:9“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
Eph 2:1“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins”
Eph 2:5 “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved”
Rom 5:8 “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
B. DIRECTION OF GOD’S GRACE
1. FROM GOD
I Cor 1:4“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;”
Eph 2:7“That in the ages to come God might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
2. THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
Phil 4:23“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
Jn 1:17“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
3. TO ME
James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Is 59:2“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
Is 64:6“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are like filthy rags”
II. GOD’S GRACE SANCTIFIES (PRESENT)
A. DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
1. PLAN OF GOD
Acts 15:11“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”
Rom3:24“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.”
2. NOT OF MAN
Acts 20:24 “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God”
I Pet 5:12“testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand”
Rom 4:4-5“Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that works not, but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Jn 1:12 “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Titus 3:3-7“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Rom 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
B. DETERMINATION OF GOD’S GRACE
1. GRACE ENCOMPASSES GOD’S HOLINESS
Lev 11:44“For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy”
I Pet 1:16because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
2. GRACE ENCOMPASSES GOD’S TRUTH
Ps 19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether
Deut. 32:4He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
3. GRACE ENCOMPASSES GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
Ps 96:13He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in faithfulness.
4. GRACE ENCOMPASSES GOD’S JUSTICE
Zeph 3:5The LORD is righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, But the unjust knows no shame
Ps 89:14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face
5. GRACE ENCOMPASSES GOD’S GOODNESS
Ps 33:5He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD
Ps 107:1Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His loving kindness is everlasting
6. GRACE ENCOMPASSES GOD’S LOVE
I Jn 4:9-10In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins
7. GRACE ENCOMPASSES GOD’S MERCY
III. GOD’S GRACE SUSTAINS (FUTURE)
A. DESTINATION OF GOD’S GRACE
1. FOR TODAY
Acts 20:24Paul speaks of the ministry he had received from the Lord Jesus “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
2. FOR ETERNITY
Jn 3:16 For God loved the world, so that He gave His one and only Son, that those who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
Jn 3:3-5Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born both physically and spiritually, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
B. DECLARATION OF GOD’S GRACE – “AMEN”
1. AMEN SAYS “GOD, WE AGREE”
Ezek 36:26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I Chron 16:34-36Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Say also: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.
2. AMEN SAYS “GOD WE ACCEPT” YOUR WILL
Deut 27:9-14The Children of Israel were about to come into the Promised Land. And we see the warning “Take heed and listen, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the Lord your God. Therefore you shall obey the voice of the Lord your God, and observe His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.’”
3. AMEN SAYS, “GOD, WE SEE YOUR ANSWER”
Matt 6:9-13. “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”