Letters from Paul Series Pt. 7: The Riches of Grace

Ephesians 2:1-5 ESV - 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved.

• Understanding your identity in God starts with understanding who He is, what He says about Himself, and what He says about you.

1. What is Grace?

Grace – (Charis) - The spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace. Benefit, token, a gift. Form of recompense or reward.

1 Peter 1:18-20 NLT - 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

Revelation 5:9 NKJV - 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

• The gift of Grace is our token, our payment, our reward for salvation.

2. Our Responsibility

Ephesians 1:6-10 NLT - 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

• What we see in the church today is people not truly grasping or comprehending his grace, mercy and unmerited favor.

1 Peter 1:20 NLT - 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began,

Jeremiah 1:5 NLT - 5 "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations."

Psalm 139:16-17 NLT - 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!

• Don’t take His grace for granted.

Luke 12:48 NLT - 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.