"By Grace Alone"
January 9, 2011
Senior Pastor Dr.
David Craig
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Date: January 9, 2011 - WEFC
Sermon Title: "By Grace Alone" - Sermon 7 of Colossians Series
Text: Colossians 1 : 2b
Sermon Notes for "By
Grace Alone"
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
By Grace Alone
By Grace Alone
Living in Christ –
Part 7 - Colossians 1:2b – January 9, 2011
‘Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” – Colossians 1:2b
“I, Paul, write this with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be
with you.” – Colossians 4:18
In the beginning of all of Paul's letters he always says, "Grace
be to you," (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians
1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1
Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1; Titus 1:4;
Philemon 3.)
In Paul’s blessings at the end of all his letters he always says, "Grace
be with you." (Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2
Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 6:18; Ephesians 6:24; Philippians 4:23; Colossians
4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy
4:22; Titus 3:15; Philemon 25.)
7 Thoughts About Grace:
This reference to "grace" is more than a standard literary
device by which letters were begun. It is a sincere prayer for the release
of divine favor and power into the lives of those
to whom he writes.
1) Grace is the only word that is common to
all those blessings (26 phrases in 13 letters).
2) "Grace be to you" - means through the Word
of God.
3) "Grace be with you" - means by the Spirit
of God.
4) The grace of God is the power of God's Spirit converting
the soul. It is the activity or movement of God whereby he saves
and justifies the individual through faith in Jesus (see esp. Rom. 3:23-24;
5:15-17). Therefore, grace is not something in which we merely believe;
it is something we experience as well.
Romans 3:23-24; 5:15-17, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that
is in Christ Jesus, But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many
died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free
gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free
gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following
one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses
brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned
through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus
Christ.”
5) The energizing and sanctifying work of the
indwelling Spirit is the grace of God. It is the operative power
of the indwelling Spirit to which Paul refers. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “So to keep me from
becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a
thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me
from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that
it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my
power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of
Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions,
and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
6) The grace we are talking about is God's grace (1 Peter
5:6-10).
1 Peter 5:6-10, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of
God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on
him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the
devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him,
firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being
experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have
suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his
eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and
establish you.”
7) You could say the Christian life begins with grace and
it will end with grace & thus we are always standing
in, and being strengthened by God’s grace (1 Corinthians 15:10
& Philippians 2:12-13).
1 Corinthians 15:9-10, “For I am the least of
the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church
of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not
in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not
I, but the grace of God that is with me.”
Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,
so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to
will and to work for his good pleasure.”
“By Grace
Alone” - Guide for Discussion and Further Study
1) Paul
writes in Acts 20:24, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as
precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
This sure sounds like a “purpose” or “mission” statement in modern jargon. Do
you have a new appreciation for God’s grace as a result of Paul’s instruction
in his 13 letters? How have you been a witness of God’s grace in your own life?
2) Take
the time to read all of the 26 references to grace in Paul’s letters (listed at
the top of the sermon outline). What strikes you about the importance of the
Word and Holy Spirit functioning in your life according to Paul?
3) Read
Ephesians 2:1-10. Contrast salvation by grace alone in this passage with any
religion you want to pick. What’s so amazing about grace in comparison?
4) What
does Paul equate grace with in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9? What does this mean by way
of implication or application for you?
5) Read
1 Peter 5:5-10. Especially meditate on the phrase “God of all grace.” In the
context of this passage – what does this mean? Also, why do you think humility
is such an important aspect of being a recipient of God’s grace?
6) Read
Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; and 1 Corinthians 15:10. If you put these all
together – how does God work out our salvation and sanctification (mature us
into Christ-likeness)?
7) Where
do you see God’s grace at work in your life right now? What are some ways that
you can experience more of God’s grace in your life?
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
By Grace Alone
Living in Christ – Part 7 - Colossians 1:2b – January 9, 2011
‘Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” – Colossians 1:2b
“I, Paul, write this with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.” – Colossians 4:18
In the beginning of all of Paul's letters he always says, "Grace be to you," (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1; Titus 1:4; Philemon 3.)
In Paul’s blessings at the end of all his letters he always says, "Grace be with you." (Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 6:18; Ephesians 6:24; Philippians 4:23; Colossians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:22; Titus 3:15; Philemon 25.)
7 Thoughts About Grace:
This reference to "grace" is more than a standard literary device by which letters were begun. It is a sincere prayer for the release of divine favor and power into the lives of those to whom he writes.
1) Grace is the only word that is common to all those blessings (26 phrases in 13 letters).
2) "Grace be to you" - means through the Word of God.
3) "Grace be with you" - means by the Spirit of God.
4) The grace of God is the power of God's Spirit converting the soul. It is the activity or movement of God whereby he saves and justifies the individual through faith in Jesus (see esp. Rom. 3:23-24; 5:15-17). Therefore, grace is not something in which we merely believe; it is something we experience as well.
Romans 3:23-24; 5:15-17, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”
5) The energizing and sanctifying work of the indwelling Spirit is the grace of God. It is the operative power of the indwelling Spirit to which Paul refers. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
6) The grace we are talking about is God's grace (1 Peter 5:6-10).
1 Peter 5:6-10, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
7) You could say the Christian life begins with grace and it will end with grace & thus we are always standing in, and being strengthened by God’s grace (1 Corinthians 15:10 & Philippians 2:12-13).
1 Corinthians 15:9-10, “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”
Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
“By Grace Alone” - Guide for Discussion and Further Study
1) Paul writes in Acts 20:24, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” This sure sounds like a “purpose” or “mission” statement in modern jargon. Do you have a new appreciation for God’s grace as a result of Paul’s instruction in his 13 letters? How have you been a witness of God’s grace in your own life?
2) Take the time to read all of the 26 references to grace in Paul’s letters (listed at the top of the sermon outline). What strikes you about the importance of the Word and Holy Spirit functioning in your life according to Paul?
3) Read Ephesians 2:1-10. Contrast salvation by grace alone in this passage with any religion you want to pick. What’s so amazing about grace in comparison?
4) What does Paul equate grace with in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9? What does this mean by way of implication or application for you?
5) Read 1 Peter 5:5-10. Especially meditate on the phrase “God of all grace.” In the context of this passage – what does this mean? Also, why do you think humility is such an important aspect of being a recipient of God’s grace?
6) Read Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; and 1 Corinthians 15:10. If you put these all together – how does God work out our salvation and sanctification (mature us into Christ-likeness)?
7) Where do you see God’s grace at work in your life right now? What are some ways that you can experience more of God’s grace in your life?
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