Living in the Grace of God: The Past, Present, & Future of God’s Grace

March 8, 2014

Living in the Grace of God

The Past, Present, & Future of God’s Grace

Galatians 1:11-24

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

(Advance Slide #2)

“Those who do not learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it.”

• This morning we are going to are going to travel through time...so to speak.

(Advance Slide #3)

I want to begin in the future, “And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.” 1 John 2:25

• We will look at Paul’s past, present and get back to the future.
• After examining his past, present, and future, I want us to consider ours too.

As we consider ‘living in the grace’ of God.

• Let’s look at these specific times!

(Advance Slide #4)

Text

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Gal. 1:11-12

(Advance Slide #5)

His Past

• Paul beings this section with a historical flashback. (vs. 13)
• He does so by examining his relationship with the church.
• “I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it…”
• “...so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.”

(Advance Slide #6)

What was Paul’s past mindset?

• He actually thought that Jesus was an impostor and that His message of salvation was a lie.
• He was confident that God spoke in the past through Moses, but not this Jesus.
• Everyone knew Paul as the star student of Gamaliel.
• He was steeped in the Jewish faith and tradition, and thus a champion of such!

But then something happened…

(Advance Slide #7)

• This persecutor of Christians became an apostle and preacher of the gospel of grace.
• And it happened suddenly and without warning!
• How could this ‘hardcore Christian hater’ change so quickly?
• It came from God!
• It would have been physically impossible Paul to become an apostle apart from a miracle of God’s grace.
• Paul ended up preaching the same message that he, himself believed.

Can the same gospel of grace that saved him save us too?

(Advance Slide #8)

His Present

Having spoken of his past Paul speaks of his present...his conversion.

• Within these verses Paul explains several characteristic of his conversion:

(Advance Slide #9)

God did it!

• “...and who called me by His grace was pleased to reveal His Son to me..”
• It pleased God that Paul heard and obeyed the gospel of grace
• It didn’t matter what or when Paul was speaking...he always placed an emphasis on the fact that God did all the work!

God did it by grace

• Salvation is by God’s grace…
• “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” Eph. 2:8
• We know that God does not want for anyone to perish but that everyone repent and receive His grace!

God did it through Jesus

• In Philippians made it clear that he had everything a man could want.
• He had religion, he had a reputation, people knew him.
• But he didn’t have Jesus!
• “ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” Phil. 3:7

God did it for others

• Why did God choose Paul?
• One reason was that He wanted to save him, but he also wanted to use him!
• Use him to win others .
• God specifically chose Paul to preach to the Gentiles the same grace that he has experienced.

(Advance Slide #10)

His Future

As a ‘changed man’ Paul had future as a servant in God’s kingdom!

(Advance Slide #11)

• Paul would go on the preach in Arabia, Damascus, Jerusalem, and Tarsus.
• His work was difficult because he crossed paths with those whom he had persecuted.
• Paul continued to live work and serve within the gospel of God’s grace.

The future looked bright for Paul.

(Advance Slide #12)

• “He who used to persecute us is now preaching faith he once tried to destroy.” - vs. 23
• God was glorified by by the work that Paul did among the Gentiles!
• Throughout all his work Paul preached the gospel that had presented and saved him!

Lesson

We are not apostles, but we are followers of Christ.

• In that reality we are also ambassadors of the gospel of grace...the same gospel that saved us.

(Advance Slide #13)

Our Past

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:9-10

• Let’s be honest...our past is not pretty.
• It’s been said that we should dwell on the past...I agree don’t dwell!
• Yet, with the dark past we truly see the beauty of our future!

(Advance Slide #14)

Our Present

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6:11

• We lived in the dark, but the light was turned on!
• WASHED, SANCTIFIED, JUSTIFIED!
• IN the name of Jesus and by the Spirit of God
• Because we have been pulled out of a past like Paul, we too can should share that message that saves us!
• ILLUS - diet, exercise, or superfood...we share these things
• Movies, books, etc...they change our lives!

(Advance Slide #15)

Our Future

“And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.” 1 John 2:25

• That is our future...plan and simple.
• When we...

Conclusion

(Advance Slide #16)

Every saint has a past, and because of the grace of God every sinner has a future!

Because of the grace of God we have been redeemed.

• We have been purchased by Christ and set free!
• We are no longer in bondage/slavery to sin or Satan.
• We have also been set free from the bondage of an old religious system.

(Advance Slide #17)

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36