GOD’S GRACE IS FOR USGOD’S GRACE IS FOR USRom 8:31-35

31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, his own Son, but gave him upbut gave him up for us all-how will he not for us all-how will he not also, along with him, also, along with him, graciouslygraciously give us all things? give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or swordor famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

IS GOD’S GRACE ALIVE TODAY?IS GOD’S GRACE ALIVE TODAY?

Does God’s grace gift save us, then leave us?Does God’s grace gift save us, then leave us?After baptism are we to earn our reward, or else?After baptism are we to earn our reward, or else?Is it true God helps those who help themselves?Is it true God helps those who help themselves?We start with Jesus & God’s grace then go work?We start with Jesus & God’s grace then go work?Does God’s grace exist if we work for reward? Does God’s grace exist if we work for reward? Wont the same grace that saved us sustain us?Wont the same grace that saved us sustain us?Freed by grace, but live without it, how can we?Freed by grace, but live without it, how can we?Are we to live the Christian life? Are we to live the Christian life? Only Christ can live the Christian (Christ like) life!Only Christ can live the Christian (Christ like) life!The only intelligent thing we can say is:The only intelligent thing we can say is:THEN LET CHRIST LIVE IT! THEN LET CHRIST LIVE IT! And He will if you let him ---- Through You! And He will if you let him ---- Through You!

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WHAT IS OUR PROBLEM?WHAT IS OUR PROBLEM? We are taught we must perform to get things.We are taught we must perform to get things. “ “Clean your room and get an allowance.”Clean your room and get an allowance.” “ “Practice hard and you’ll make the team.”Practice hard and you’ll make the team.” “ “Lose weight and you’ll get more dates.” Lose weight and you’ll get more dates.” “ “Study in college and get a better job.”Study in college and get a better job.” “ “Make more money and you’ll be happier.”Make more money and you’ll be happier.” “ “Be nice to Sandy, and you will eat well.”Be nice to Sandy, and you will eat well.” This world’s philosophy carries over into our This world’s philosophy carries over into our Christian life and we can’t work hard enough.Christian life and we can’t work hard enough. We become discourage with our imperfection.We become discourage with our imperfection.

GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE IS GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE IS OURSOURS

No waiting in line or come back later for help !No waiting in line or come back later for help !

God is in heaven’s bleacher cheering us on !God is in heaven’s bleacher cheering us on !

If a tree is in heaven, your name is carved on it!If a tree is in heaven, your name is carved on it!

If God had a car, your name is a bumper sticker!If God had a car, your name is a bumper sticker!

If God had a tattoo, where would your name be? If God had a tattoo, where would your name be?

Isa 49:14-16Isa 49:14-16 Yet they say, "My Lord deserted us; Yet they say, "My Lord deserted us; he has forgotten us." 15 Never! Can a mother he has forgotten us." 15 Never! Can a mother forget her little child and not have love for her forget her little child and not have love for her own son? Yet even if that should be, I will not own son? Yet even if that should be, I will not forget you. 16 See, I have tattooed your name forget you. 16 See, I have tattooed your name upon my palm.upon my palm.

Does this sound like God’s grace is gone?Does this sound like God’s grace is gone?

Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.

Jhn 10:9 I am the gate whoever enters through me will be saved. Jhn 14:6 I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. Jhn 15:5 I am the vine, you the branches. If any man remains in me & I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing. Jesus did not come to show the way, He is the way. Jesus did not come to teach us the truth, He is the truth. Jesus did not leave us a manual to live by: He is our life.Jesus laid down His life for us, so He could give His Jesus laid down His life for us, so He could give His lifelife to us, so He could live his life through us. to us, so He could live his life through us.

GOD’S GRACE IS FOR THE HUMBLE.GOD’S GRACE IS FOR THE HUMBLE.

James 4:6 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. All of God’s truth is addressed to the humble. The humble recognize their need for God’s grace. They cannot understand the truth on their own. Nor live the Christian life on their own. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” Col. 1:27 “We have the mind of Christ” 1 Cor. 2:16

““I no longer live, but Christ lives in meI no longer live, but Christ lives in me” ” Gal 2:20Gal 2:20

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT IDENTITY?

I no longer live, but I no longer live, but Christ lives in meChrist lives in me Gal 2:20Gal 2:20For the wages of sin is deathwages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17Your eternal life, your forgiveness, your adoption, heir, your Your eternal life, your forgiveness, your adoption, heir, your righteousness, your total acceptance is righteousness, your total acceptance is in Christin Christ..But we still commit sin, how can God see us perfect?But we still commit sin, how can God see us perfect?It’s because our acceptance is not based on what we are It’s because our acceptance is not based on what we are doing but on the perfection of Christ that has been put to doing but on the perfection of Christ that has been put to our account, our account, by GOD’S GRACE!by GOD’S GRACE!For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: our spirit, that we are the children of God: Rom 8:15-16Rom 8:15-16

GOD’S GRACE THROUGH GOD’S GRACE THROUGH CHRISTCHRIST

Rom 8:31-9:136As it is written: "For your sake we face death 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death

all day long; we are considered as sheep to be all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is the love of God that is in Christ Jesusin Christ Jesus our our LordLord. .

GOD IS FOR USGOD IS FOR US

ROMANS 8:35-39ROMANS 8:35-3935Who shall separate us from the love of 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or swordor sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the will be able to separate us from the love of love of God that is in Christ JesusGod that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. our Lord.

GOD KNEW WE WOULD GOD KNEW WE WOULD WALK AWAY FROM HIM!WALK AWAY FROM HIM!

He planned a way back.He stepped down from his throne.Removed His robe.Wrapped in human flesh.Entered the dark chamber of a peasant’s womb.Birthed in a barn.Humbled by surroundings.

He came to save us.

He walked to school.Spilled His milk.He crawled then walkedHe healed the sick.Gave sight to the blind.He was beaten, spit on.He was stabbed.Felt the pain of our sin.Nailed & died on a cross.So He could live in us.

I have been crucified with Christ and I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, me. The life I live in the body, I live I live by faith in the son of Godby faith in the son of God, who loved , who loved me and gave himself for me. me and gave himself for me. Gal Gal 2:202:20

Living by faith in the son is total dependence.Seeking the person who is the living word of God.Abiding in the truth of the written word of God.

““In the beginning was the Word, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jn.1:1 the Word was God.” Jn.1:1