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Now let’s go to Acts 20.  Now I want to ask you one thing.  What is the gospel?  What is the gospel?  And everyone would unanimously answer, the gospel of the Kingdom of God, correct?  Well, we’re going to see that there are two parts to that.  The gospel of the Kingdom of God and the gospel of the grace of God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Now which one is more important?  Since they’re stated together they are both important.  You’re going to be amazed.  We’re going to learn some new things.  Acts 20 is where Paul came to Ephesus, or Miletus rather and he called for the elders at Ephesus and had them come down and Paul was preaching to them.  Let’s pick it up in verse 18 after Paul got the elders of the church of Ephesus down there.

“And when they were come to him he said to them, Ye know, from the first day on which I arrived in Asia, how with you all the time I was, serving the Lord with all humility and many tears and temptations, which happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how nothing I kept back of what is profitable so as not to announce [it] to you [in other words, he did announce to you], and to teach you publicly and from house to house…”  Now this is not going from house to house banging on the doors like the Jehovah Witnesses do.  I know a couple Sabbaths ago…they always descend on our place on the Sabbath.  And there was a whole gang of about 20 out there on the street corner, and I think it was about the last Sabbath that I came up here.  I know I drove out there and I said, “Please don’t go to this house over here.”  Cause they come around and bang on the door every Sabbath.  It doesn’t mean that.  He taught them publicly, he taught them in the church, and in different houses, from house to house wherever the people were.  “…Earnestly testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  And now, lo, I, bound in the Spirit, go to Jerusalem, the things which in it shall happen to me [I don’t know, or not knowing what’s going to happen]; except that the [Holy Spirit] in every city fully testifies, saying that bonds and tribulations await me.”  That is when he got to Jerusalem.  “But I make account of nothing nor hold I my life dear to myself, so as to finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify fully the [gospel] glad tidings of the grace of God” (Acts 20:18-23).  The glad tidings.

Now, why is it called the glad tidings of the grace of God, or the gospel of the grace of God?  Because one of the most profound things that can happen to an individual in the grace of God is to not have sin imputed to him.  And even though the law of sin and death is still in us, God does not look to that law of sin and death that causes us, when we sin, to serve the flesh.  Now that’s fantastic when we really understand that.  In other words, if we sin a sin that is a sin not unto death, as John said there in 1 John 5 about verse 14, God is going to forgive that.  A sin unto death is the unpardonable sin.  We can have the confidence in coming to God and claiming that grace because we stand in that grace.  Now that’s why there needs to be the joy of the salvation of God.  And the happiness and the faith in the assurance that that is so.  Because if God, Who put the law of sin and death in us, condemns us because it is there, then we have no hope.  And every time we do some little thing that we don’t want to do, or maybe even some major thing that we don’t really want to do or we’re sorry we’ve done it, if God condemns us for that and beats us over the head all the time there’s no hope for anybody.  There is no hope of salvation for anyone.  That’s why we need the grace of God.  That’s why he said…notice this, “And the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify fully the gospel of the grace of God.”  Now that’s really tremendous.

Now notice, “And now, lo, I know that no more ye all will see my face, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom of God” (vs. 25).  So there it is together.  He preached the Kingdom of God, but the Kingdom of God much preach the grace of God.  And how we missed that for years.  Isn’t that amazing.  I mean we’re going to see so many things that have been missed for so long it’s going to be incredible.  That’s why there are so many misunderstandings that come along.  And I will tell you another thing.  That’s why people, when things don’t go right, become so disillusioned because they blame themselves for everything that happens.  And when you blame yourself for something that happens and you don’t think that God is going to help you out and you carry that guilt around with you it’s a terrible burden to carry.  And there have been too many people put into that position.  I have been there.  You have been there.  Others are there now.  We need to understand about the grace of God and what He’s doing more than anything else.

Now I’m going to read some other definitions.

#9.  Jesus Christ is the only means by which the grace of God is mediated to men. 

Now can you think of a scripture which says that?  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  He is the only.  And it’s through His birth, death, and resurrection.  What God has done and still does for man in Jesus Christ His Son is God’s outstanding act of grace.  That’s why, and this sermon is based upon remember, John 3:16, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever should believe on Him, or into Him, shall not see death, shall have everlasting life.  And how that Jesus Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world.  Of course that’s in God’s time.

#10.  God the Father is the source from which grace comes to man.

What’s a scripture that verifies that?  “None can come to the Me [Christ said of Himself], except the Father draw him.”  And that’s the first act of grace.  Do you believe that God has called you?  If you believe and know that God has called you then be confident and happy in that grace that God has given, that God the Father the Supreme Being of the whole universe reached down and called you.  Now He didn’t call you because you were righteous.  He didn’t call anybody because they were righteous because the Bible says, “There is none righteous, there is none that does good, no not one.”  So God calls us because He calls us.  And we virtually have no say-so about it.  Look at Paul.  He was trooping off on the horses or donkeys,  whatever they were on, going over to Damascus and he was trudging along and probably figuring what he was going to do to string up those Christians and bam he got knocked off the horse.  Now did Paul have anything to say about his calling?  Not a thing.  Now it doesn’t happen that dramatically to everybody, believe me, but it happens to us never the less.   So that is tremendous.  God is the source from which grace comes to mankind.

#11.  Jesus Christ is the God ordained, means by which the grace most effectively reaches man in his need.

We are going to see that we have need.  Grace is quite the reverse of a reward for good conduct.  Now Bill Cosby one, I think it’s the Noah one…I forget the whole sequence but I remember this where Bill Cosby says, “I been good.  I been good.”  And that’s the way most people view things.  You do something good and God is supposed to what?  Recognize the good that you do.  So salvation by works is doing good things to make God recognize what you’ve done that is good.  But you see that’s impossible because in the law of sin and death you cannot truly aside from God do a Godly act.  We can do good things in the community.  We can be upstanding in the community.  That’s in the community level.  That’s on an individual level.  But as far as God is concerned it’s the same difference as between not stealing to pick up the goods, and lusting.  Now there are a lot of people who have never stolen.  But I’m sure would love to have had the opportunity, and to have gotten away with it.   Because it’s there.  The lust is there.  Or it could be of adultery.  Or it could be of other things.

Grace is quite the reverse of a reward for good conduct.  It is rather a means of rescuing man from his own deep failure.  And that’s why we need the grace of God.  We can be successful in the world, can’t we?  Even Jesus said a man can gain the whole world, but what is the profit if he what?  Looses his soul.  So we’re talking about spiritual failure that human beings cannot measure up to the righteousness of God on their own.  Rescuing him from his own deep failure and harm and helplessness to overcome it alone.  And I tell you try to overcome something alone and by your own works, it is futile.  Now how many have ever done that?  You’ve had something…and I’ve heard it preached too.  “You work on that sin and you overcome that sin.”  That’s the wrong advice.  You go pray for God’s grace and mercy and pray for God’s gift with Christ in you that you can overcome.  It’ a totally different situation because you beat the flesh to overcome if you do it yourself, and you get absolutely frustrated.  A good example of that is you can do it to a certain extent but for example someone who’s an absolute confirmed alcoholic cannot stop and cannot help themselves, and though they resolve, though they hate it, though they detest it, they are completely helpless.  So it’s the same way spiritually.  We cannot save ourselves.  If we can save ourselves by our good works we wouldn’t need Jesus Christ.  That’s why Galatians 3 says, “If there were a law which would give life then truly salvation would come through a law.”  But it has to come from God through His grace.

Obedience to the law to gain acceptance with God equals under law for justification.  One’s acceptance with God is not something we can achieve by his own merits or works, but is chosen and called and made accepted, forgiven, blessed with the Holy Spirit of God, made heir of eternal life, made sons of God as a gracious undeserved gift from God the Father through Jesus Christ.  Now that’s what the grace of God has in the way of meaning.

Now I’m going to read to you the first part of the book, The Grace Of God In The New Testament that I wrote about five years ago now.

“To understand the GRACE of God is to comprehend one of the most wonderful attributes of God; and is the KEY to a deep, personal relationship between God the Father and every Christian, through Jesus Christ.

The GRACE of God expresses the GREATNESS OF HIS LOVE and the richness of His mercy!  To live within and under the GRACE of God is to experience and appreciate the fantastic LOVE of God and His merciful kindness.

Contrary to religious speculations, grace is not just a theological tenant or topic of argument; drawing denominational battle lines; in fact, the GRACE OF GOD means LIFE ITSELF!  Without grace there would be no salvation, NO CHRISTIANITY…NO ETERNAL LIFE!

Indeed, GRACE IS THE FOUNDATION of true Christianity.  The New Testament reveals that God the Father’s GRACE is an ALL ENCOMPASSING quality.”

We know that God is love.  The first extension of that love is God’s grace and everything else that God does comes under this umbrella of God’s love and grace as we will see.

“The GRACE of God has tremendous meaning to those who really understand it. through, Jesus Christ, God’s gift of GRACE  is granted so we may spiritually GROW UP unto Him, Jesus Christ  [who is] the SON OF GOD---who is the HEAD of God’s Church, in ALL THINGS.

The [Biblical] TRUTH is that God the Father, through His GRACE and salvation, will share His eternal life, existence and glory with all human beings who truly love Him with all their hearts, and minds and beings.

The potential of our destiny to become the literal sons of God through the GRACE of God is the most INCREDIBLE and least understood TRUTHS of the Bible.”

“Love is the basis for the relationship and fellowship between God the Father, Jesus Christ and the person who God has called.”

And we know the Bible says God is love.

“Our relationship with God MUST be based on LOVE!”

Of course we know it says we are to love God with all our heart, and mind, and soul, and being.

“GRACE is the primary quality or attribute; the first extension or expression of GOD’S LOVE.  Therefore, GRACE, is the primary quality and function of the spiritual relationship and the fellowship between God the Father and the person He calls through Jesus Christ.” (The Grace of God In The New Testament, p. 17-18)

Now let’s see a couple examples of God’s grace in intervening in our lives.  Luke 1:28.  And the salvation that was given, so we need to state it this way:  the first one to receive the grace of God in the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ was Zacharias and Elisabeth his wife, with the birth of John the Baptist.  The very next one to receive direct grace and favor was Mary.

“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, favoured one!”  Now if you look at that long Greek word “favoured one” you will see charitee [charitoo]. It is kacharitee o mene  is the way you pronounce that long word.  Do you see charitee right in there - favored one.  “…The Lord is with thee, blessed [art] thou amongst women.  But she seeing [him] was troubled at his word, and was reasoning of what kind might be this salutation.  And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour  [but that should be “you have found grace”] with God…”  It’s the exact same thing.  Noah found grace.  Exact same thing.  Mary found grace with God.  And it says, “…thou shalt conceive in [thy] womb and bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:28-31, Berry’s Interlinear).  Direct message from God.  Mary found grace.

Why did she need to find grace?  Contrary to the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, there had to be two immaculate conceptions for the Catholic doctrine.  One for Mary, as the Catholics believe so she would not receive the stain of Adams sin on her soul, and two, the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ.  Well the fact is, and I’ll give you one hint, Jesus did have the law of sin and death in Him.  And He did receive that from His mother Mary, as part of His physical inheritance.  Otherwise He could not have died.  And one other thing.  Why the death of Jesus was so profound was because He didn’t have the law of sin and death in Him, just as a person, He bore in His body our sins.  So I’ve given you a couple things to think about to understand more about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Now let’s go to Ephesians 1, and here is a tremendous verse which ought to just really bring you a lot of peace of mind and happiness and joy.  Now that’s aside from the daily frustrations we have to go through in this life.

Ephesians 1:5, “Having predestinated us for [the] adoption…”  Now that means sonship, and this word is pronounced huiothesia, which means sonship.  “…Through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to [the] praise of  [the] glory of His grace…”  Notice there it is cheritoos, God grace.  “…Wherein He made us objects [or recipients] of [His] grace in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:5-6).  You think about that.  We have been made the objects of God’s grace.  So once we are called through God’s grace we are the objects of God’s grace.

Now we have a little thing in language called what?  The object of the preposition, correct?  And that is the one that receives the action.  So we are receiving the action of God’s grace.  We are the objects of that grace in Jesus Christ.  Now that is mind-boggling when you really think of it and really put that together.  We are recipients.  We are made recipients or objects of His grace in the Beloved.  “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of [sins] offences, according to the riches of His grace” (vs. 7).  You just think upon that for a minute.  How rich is God’s grace?  Why did the apostle Paul say, “What, shall we sin that grace may abound?”  He said, “God forbid”, because God’s grace abounds more than we have ever comprehended or understood, and we stand in that grace and were recipients of that grace.  We are objects of that grace.  And that is a tremendous thing.  You talk about mentally and spiritually helping you approach God, that should help an awful lot.

And it will help us in our relationship with each other.  And it will help us overcome the greatest sins that Christians do unto another.  That is judging one another and judging one another’s hearts.  That’s why Jesus said, “Judge not lest you be judged”  when you judge to condemnation.  And isn’t that what has happened to everyone of us.  We’ve been judged to condemnation by others in the name of Christ when we ought to have it understood we are the recipients of the grace of God so therefore who are we to judge the servant of God?  If you are all under God’s grace and His servants then to judge you to condemnation is to judge a servant of God.  I’m not referring to just ministers.  Do you serve God?  If you serve God you are a servant of God.  You may not be a minister but you are a servant of Him.  Now you see how that just clears the air?  It just clears the air. Therefore we don’t have to snoop in people’s lives.  Now when you understand that isn’t it ridiculous how many grilling sessions that people had to go through, ministers coming over to their house and wanting to know what was going on.  “What were you doing?  I heard this.”  Then we’d get tongues plowing into everybody’s lives.  Can you see what happens when a whole church bases their doctrine of salvation on ten scriptures, when there are literally 151 to tell us about the grace of God.  And that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the gospel of Grace which Paul put ahead of the gospel of the Kingdom of God.  So let’s keep all of these things in perspective.

Now let’s go to Ephesians 2 and we will end there.  We’ve gone well over two hours now, but since we haven’t been here for three weeks I guess we won’t worry about a few minutes overtime.

Ephesians 2:4, “But God being rich in mercy, because of His great love wherewith He loved us, we also being dead in offence [trespasses], [He] quickened us with the Christ (by grace ye are saved)” (Eph. 2:4-5, Interlinear).  And the Greek is…remember the sermon that I gave at the Feast of Tabernacles about salvation.  I won’t go into great detail on it except refer you back to that tape if you want to refresh your memory.  This Greek word here is sodezo menoi, which means “having been saved”.  Right now we are in a state of having been saved from the prince of the power of the air, and saved from the penalty of death from our sins.  So in that sense we have been saved, but we are in the process of being saved, 1 Corinthians 15:3, if we stand in the grace, and we shall be saved at the resurrection.  By grace you have been saved.

“And raised [us] up together, and seated [us] together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, that He might shew in the ages that [are] coming…” And that’s when we are going to sit down on those thrones, Revelation 21:4.  “And I saw thrones and they that sat on them…”, that’s when we will be there in the heavenlies.

“…The surpassing riches of His grace…” and there it is again “surpassing riches of His grace.”  Now that’s a phrase I really want to understand.  I can tell you this right now, I have a sense and a feeling for it but I don’t fully comprehend “the riches of His grace”.  How rich is God?  How great is His grace?  How fantastic is His mercy?  Well we can only understand that as we grow in grace and knowledge.  I think we understand it to a certain degree but that’s what I want to work on and understand more.

“…In kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace ye are saved through faith; and this not of yourselves; [it is] God’s gift…”  The saving the faith and the calling, every bit of it’s from God.  “…Not of works, that not anyone might boast.”  If there were a law that we could keep perfectly, which would be the key that would compel God to give us His grace, just think of the boasting that there would be when a person finally did it.  God doesn’t want anyone boasting.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God before prepared that in them we should walk” (vs. 6-10).

This is a good logical place to go ahead and break it off and we’ll pick it up next time getting into the rest of the grace of God.  I’m sure it will take us two more sermons to do it, but I think if we are going to do it we should do it right rather than just kind of  skim over it, get a little here and get a little there, because it’s very important.  This is such a fundamental thing that I think is going to help us all grow closer to God and each other and have more love for God and each other when we understand how God has treated us.  He hasn’t dealt with us after our sin.  You know the wages of sin is death.  He hasn’t dealt with us after our sins and we can be thankful for that.

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