Holiness, Godliness, Usefulness
09/28/2014, by John Kincaid
Lesson 373: When I Was Dead
As we rejoice in God’s grace, remain watchful and vigilant against Satan’s schemes.
Sometimes grace is preached as a reaction to legalism, with no warnings against wild living.
Grace protects us from both errors. Grace frees us from thinking we have to earn God’s love. Grace reminds us of the guidance God has provided: how to love both Him and our neighbors.
If we follow the commands of Christ, we will be free from fear. Some may hear a legalistic message in this, “Obey so that God will protect you.” But in reality it is a message full of grace.
Eph.2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved.
Rom.5:8-10 God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
When I was dead in my sin, Jesus saved me. I know how much He cares for me, because I know what He did for me as an unbeliever, when I had done nothing to deserve His love.
About This Series
The goal of this series is to become more useful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, as an instrument in the Redeemer's hand. The theme verses for the series are Ephesians 4:22-24, Philemon 11, 2 Timothy 2:21
- to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
- and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.
- Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
