G.R.A.C.E. - GOD REACHES DOWN TO US

 

 

-Introduction

-Deut 31:6, Ps 38:21, Heb 10:23, Jas 4:8

      -Isn’t it great to realize that God does not leave His people alone.  He has not hidden Himself

        from us but, instead, has revealed Himself to us.  He reaches down to us.

-1 Cor 2:9-11

-Eph 1:9

-1 Tim 2:3-4

-We need God’s help.  Remember, He is completely, entirely holy and righteous and just.

-Therefore, sin is a violation against Him and we have all sinned (Rom 3:23). 

-Because God is a just God, we all deserve punishment.

-However, the scriptures also reveal the fact that God is loving and merciful and hence, He   

  reaches down to us - offering us forgiveness and hope through His mercy.

 

-Gift

-God reaches down to us and offers us a gift.

-Rom 6:23

-John 3:16

-Eph 2: 8-10

-2 Cor 9:15 - unspeakable - (Vines) - anekdiegetos - denotes “inexpressible”

                      (ekdiegeomai = to declare, relate, a = negative, n - added for pronunciation)

      -Eph 3: 8,19

-Example of a young child’s birthday party

-Can’t wait to open gifts, never refuses the gifts - Do we refuse God’s gift?

 

-Redemption

-God reaches down to us by offering redemption.

-I Pet 1:18-19

-Titus 2:11-14

-Redeem - to release on receipt of ransom

-Matt 20:28

-1 Tim 2:3-6

-Jesus paid the price for our sins - to redeem us from them.

 

-Acceptance

-God reaches down to us and tells us He is willing to view us as acceptable in His sight.

-We must remember that sin is disgusting in the sight of God.

-Therefore, when we are living in sin, we are not acceptable to Him.

-We are contrary to Him.  We are enemies to Him.

-Rom 5:6-10

-Yet, thanks to the cleansing blood of Christ, we can be acceptable to God.