Grace Notes: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:00 We are in chapter 15, and in chapter 15, verse 1, Paul says, “I declare to you the gospel which I preached.” Now, there are four responses here to when he preached the gospel, and this is what the gospel should do. “Which you have received.” You accept it. See, you got two choices: you can reject it or you can accept it. Receive means you accept it, you take it. All right. Number two, “in which you stand.” You see, you take your stand, you continue in it, you don’t waver.

▶ 0:46 Number three, “by which also you are saved.” You’re rescued, you’re set free from sin, from hell, from the lake of fire, and from the day of wrath.

▶ 1:01 For instance, if God judged America in His anger to correct them, you would be rescued from that wrath of God, and then there’s a day of wrath coming at the end.

▶ 1:18 Then He says, “if you hold fast.” See, we also hold fast, we hang on, we don’t give up, we don’t quit, to what was preached, this gospel that was preached, “unless you believed in vain,” or your belief was worthless. If you let it go, it doesn’t do you any good. And then he is going to tell us what the gospel is. He said, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: how that, number one, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” Now, that means the Old Testament is considered Scriptures, and the New Testament is considered Scriptures, because the Gospels and the epistles talk about the death and burial and resurrection of Christ. So here is evidence that the canon, New Testament, is recognized as Scripture. Got it? You need to know that, because some churches say the new, the Old Testament is not for today. Uh, it is, the Old Testament is still for today.

▶ 2:24 Now, number two, “he was buried.” He was put in the grave. “And that he rose again the third day according to the” what? Scriptures. Old Testament tells, Scriptures tell us that, and New Testament Scriptures tell us that. Now, he rose what day? Third day. Luke 24, on the road to Damascus, there they were, two, two disciples that were talking with Jesus, didn’t know it was Jesus, and they were telling Jesus that this is the third day since all these things happened, that he was died, he was killed, he was in the grave, and then he rose the third day before sunup. Okay, if Sunday was the third day, then what would Saturday be? Second day. And what would Friday be? Third day, the first day, I’m sorry, first, second, third. These people are trying to keep Jesus in the grave for three 24-hour periods. It is ridiculous.

▶ 3:30 This Scripture plainly tells us that he died on what day? Friday. He was in the grave on what day? Saturday. He arose on what day? Yeah. When he went into the grave, he went down into, uh, where the dead souls were and preached to them before the flood and, uh, gave them the gospel. And so that is the gospel. It’s all about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, and that’s the power of the gospel. That’s the, that’s the power that sets us free. Never diminish the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s still the foundation of everything the Bible’s built on. Okay.

▶ 4:15 Now he gives us some proof that Jesus rose, some evidence, some proof. In verse 5, “he was seen by [unclear], or Peter, then by the 12.” Now, you know there’s not 12 now, don’t you? How many are there? 11. So how did Judas see Jesus when Jesus went down to preach to those that were in the holding pen of the earth? That, yeah, yeah, he saw him a little too late, huh? Anyway.

▶ 4:58 “And then by 500 brethren at one time, and then by James, and then by all the apostles. Then the last of all he was seen by me as one born out of due time.” And so he’s saying these people saw Jesus after the resurrection. There’s over 500 people that witnessed Jesus alive and well on planet Earth after he died. Now, how many you know that’s a good evidence? Hallelujah. These people that want to challenge the Bible and all this, they have to ignore these facts. You see?

▶ 5:37 Now he’s going to say something that’s going to be very powerful here. “I’m the least of all the apostles, who I’m not worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God.” Now I’m going to jump down to verse 11. “Whether it were I or they,” these 500 and some people, “so we preached, and so you” what? Believed. You trusted in that gospel, you accepted it, you received it. Now he says, “I’m not worthy to be called an apostle, but by the grace,” say the word, grace, “by the grace of God I am what I am.” So he was an apostle by what? The grace of God. “And his grace toward me was not profitless,” in vain, “but I labored.” Say the word, labored. What’s another word for labor? Work. Yeah, you got intelligent people out there. I tell you, “I labored.” Watch this, watch this closely, because Paul knows what he’s talking about. “I labored more abundantly than all the rest, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” So this grace is what moving him to work.

▶ 7:14 And you, you need to hear that, because this Scripture that everybody quotes, “We’re saved by grace through faith, and that not of itself, it is the gift of God, not by works, lest any man should boast.” But grace here moves us to what? Work. Are you there? Was, did Paul have to work to preach the gospel to the Corinthians? Yeah, he had to put forth some effort. And see, grace gave him a desire, I, I, to, to help people, to change people, to get the message out to people. See, grace isn’t just something, you know, bestowed upon us, it also is a power that moves us. Do you see that? See, so Paul had the grace of God that moved him to work for Christ, to preach the gospel, and to live for Christ. You never hear of the apostles running off with a church secretary, taking the church’s money, having a nervous breakdown, you never hear that stuff, getting drunk. Why? Because this grace was a power that worked in their life to be an example and a light for Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. Ain’t that powerful?

▶ 8:48 Now let’s take a look at grace. The definition of grace in the lexicons is “graciousness of manner, behavior, or act, whether literal, figuratively, or spiritual.” Okay, then the definition says “especially the divine influence or power upon the heart,” the divine enablement upon the heart. Now, what is the heart? The mind, the emotions, and the will. Yeah, so grace has a what? An influence, an impact on our mind, on our emotions, and our will, our desire to do things, and its reflection in life. Now, we all want know, know what a reflection is. You’re looking in the mirror, you’re seeing a what? Reflection of yourself. And what does grace do? Grace shows by how you live. See, grace shows itself by how you live. Ain’t that powerful?

▶ 10:04 Now it’s used in King James as “acceptable,” a benefit, “the benefit of God was upon him,” “the acceptable of God was on him,” “the favor of God was on him,” “the gift of God was on him,” “the graciousness of God was on him,” the joy of God, the liberality, the pleasure, and the thank. It’s all translated in these different words, but it’s the same word for what? Grace. That divine influence in our life, and it shows by how we behave, how we live. Now, folks, that’s a powerful God. Hallelujah. Grace is a powerful thing. If grace is that powerful, then it would behoove us to get it. All right.

▶ 10:58 Now, you know more about the Bible definition when you see its use in the Scripture. All right, now watch this. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” which is Jesus. We all know that, right? Jesus was the Word, Jesus was God, He became flesh, dwelt among us, and He was full of what? Grace and truth. So when I receive Christ in my life, I’m receiving what? Grace and truth. Hallelujah. And we can, we can back that up. When Jesus told them, “I got to go away, I will come again,” so he died and he what? Rose and came back to them. See, that’s truth. He told him the truth. Right?

▶ 11:55 But you know, Peter denied Him, Peter cursed first. Uh, Peter challenged Him, and then Peter got all the disciples to go back to work. They went back to fishing after He rose from the grave. And what did grace do? Grace came after them. See, Jesus came after them. See, Jesus is filled with grace. See, He’s going to do everything He can to get you to reach the maturity and the completeness of His goals and His promises. Ain’t that beautiful? See, He kept His word, He spoke the truth, and then what He didn’t, He put aside the fact that Peter denied Him, and the Bible says, “If you deny me, I will deny you before my Father,” yet grace moved God to reach out to Peter and bring him back.

▶ 12:58 And, folks, if, if Peter can do something that cannot be forgiven, how much more will God reach out to us in our failures and in our, uh, amen. So grace is important. Truth’s also important. Hallelujah. Now, “the law was given through Moses,” in John 1:17, “but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” All right, that divine influence came through Jesus Christ.

▶ 13:30 Now Luke 2:40, speaking of Jesus when he’s like 12 years old, the grace of God was what? Upon Him. Now, He was what? Filled with grace, but in His human form He was. See, the grace of God was upon Him, and look at verse 52. “Jesus increased in wisdom,” He increased in favor. What’s that word, favor? Grace. He increased in grace, look at this, “with God and men.” You see, grace moved Him to please the Father.

▶ 14:15 Jesus said, “I do nothing except what I see and hear of the Father,” but grace also moved Him to what? Touch people. See, it’s grace that should drive us to church so we can grow and so we can what? Help others grow. Grace will give you a concern for other people. Amen. See, we don’t come to church just for ourself, we come for others too.

▶ 14:54 And so grace is that power that moves us. Now, we’re not talking about the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we’re talking about grace. Grace isn’t some, you know, “the favor of God was upon him.” You know, I can do Mr. [unclear] here a favor. He lives close to me. I lend him a lawn mower. Not a lawnmower, he’s got a better one than I do. I lend him my weed eater, and I lend him this, and I lend him that. That doesn’t change him, that doesn’t make his character any better than it was before I’m doing. I could give him $1,000 dollars, and it’s not going to change his character. I did him a favor. Are you there? But if I influence him to change to a better man, that is what grace is about. Hallelujah.

▶ 15:49 See, God’s just not out to do us favors, folks. He’s out to make us in His likeness and His image, make, make us a light to the world where people can see God in us. How many could use a little increase in grace? Yeah. You know, if Jesus increased in grace, who was full of grace, how many know we should strive to increase in grace, this grace that moves us to please God and to help people? Now let’s continue the use of the word. Luke 6:32, “If you love those that love you, what thank have you?” And the word thank is the what word? Grace. “What grace have you if you just love people that love you?” See, “if you lend to people that lend to you, what grace have you?” See, “if you do good to people that do good to you, what grace have you?” See, grace is a, a power by God to treat people better than they’re treating you, to give someone that needs something, not even expecting it back. See, that’s grace in action, the reflection in life. “You’re opposing me, I’m going to love you.” And He says, “but love your enemies and do good.”

▶ 17:26 I submit to you this morning, grace is a very powerful thing, and we shouldn’t just take it lightly, and we shouldn’t just take it as this favor word. “No matter what, or do God favors me.” No, He more than favors you, He is empowering you to please Him and to help others in this life. Now, Acts 11:23, Barnabas went down to Antioch. They had preached Christ to the [unclear], the Greeks, the Greek cultured people, and many of these Greeks believed it. It said before that they had only been preaching to Jews only, but here it says at Antioch they preached to the Greeks, see, the non-Jews, the Greek-speaking people, culture. And so when Barnabas came and had seen, see that word, he had seen the grace of God. Remember, the definition was reflection in life. See, he saw the grace of God. Why? Because he saw these Greeks now serving God and repenting from their sins and turning to what’s right. He saw the grace of God in evidence in the Greeks. Isn’t that powerful?

▶ 18:57 The grace is a very powerful thing, and too many people just got this favor thing, and they don’t understand the power that’s in the grace of God, and it’s a free gift that He gives us. Grace, the Bible says, is a free gift, but you got to accept it and use it. See, Mr. Barnes could lend me his lawnmower, but if I never used it to mow my lawn, it what? Doesn’t do any good. Hallelujah. Now, “and he was glad, and encouraged them all with purpose of heart to continue with the Lord.” See, they had turned to the Lord. Isn’t that powerful? Should grace be seen in our life? Yes, church.

▶ 19:45 Not only will Jesus go to the extreme to influence you to live for Him, I don’t care if you’re committing adultery, drunkenness, He’s going to keep after you. Why? ‘Cause He’s full of grace, and He wants to win you back, He wants to improve your life. But grace also is a power that works in me, that works in you, to help people and live a life that’s pleasing to God. Now, that changes everything.

▶ 20:21 Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Singing with favor, singing with benefits, or singing with the divine influence of God upon you. Amen. See, and it agrees with the Holy Spirit. See, the Holy Spirit came upon them, the Holy Spirit was with them, and they did things by the Spirit. Here, grace comes upon, grace is with us, grace is working in us, and it’s the same result. We want to worship God. People that don’t want to worship God, they need an increase of grace. Yeah. Grace wants you to worship God. Why? Because it’s a principle of God that brings His presence. When His presence comes, you start taking on His nature. Hallelujah. Powerful, very powerful.

▶ 21:23 Now, Acts 20:32, “I commend you to God, and I commend you to the word of grace.” Oh, see, the Scriptures are what? Grace, that divine influence upon your mind, your emotions, and your will to make you into someone who can act different than the people of the world. Isn’t that beautiful? And again, we’re not talking about the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we’re talking about grace. So even if you reject the infilling of the Holy Ghost, there’s still power in what? Grace. Power. Now, what does this grace do? Grace is able to what? Build you up. Build you up to what? His likeness and His image. He’s out to make you a light to the world, that people can see your good works and bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ. Isn’t that beautiful? Hallelujah. See, grace not only worked in Paul, drove him to work, but grace built Paul up to be the apostle that God had intended him to be.

▶ 22:56 Now, you may not be an apostle, but you can still be a light to the world. You can be a disciple of Christ. Can’t we all be disciples? Can we all come to maturity? Yes. We may not be a prophet, we may not be an apostle, we may not be a pastor, but we can be a light to the world. We can be a disciple of Christ that people can see the results of grace in. See, if I’m a drunkard and I get saved and I stay a drunkard, when Barnabas come, he would not have what? Seen the grace of God. Why? ‘Cause there’s no reflection. See, but there was a reflection when he went down there to Antioch. He saw the change in their life. And, folks, that’s what grace will do to all of us.

▶ 23:58 And this grace will give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

▶ 24:03 Now, we have an inheritance: Jesus Christ, the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, the wisdom and knowledge, understanding and counsel and strength, and all these things are part of our inheritance. And he says grace is able to give you, to obtain this inheritance that God has promised, because Jesus, Jesus died on the cross. There cannot be an inheritance without the death of the one who wrote the will, and he’s dead, folks. And he come back to alive, and so we, he has activated the will, and we can have our inheritance if we will embrace grace and let grace work in our life.

▶ 24:52 See, why is it that some Christians are concerned about others, are concerned about, about going to church, and are concerned about growing? They’ve entered into a dimension of grace. See, that’s influencing them. Others, they just take favor, go to heaven, wait for the rapture, that’s it. They do what they want, they stay home, they don’t pray, they don’t, you know, they can’t win souls to Christ because they don’t know the word or anything else. But others, they respond to that grace, and they grow in grace, and the more they grow, the more influence they have in helping people and changing people’s lives and bringing them to Christ. My question, or the, I should say the Holy Spirit’s question to us this morning is: are you increasing in grace, or is your grace limited? If you don’t like things or you, you don’t want to do things, you just don’t do them. You got no influence of God to overcome your personal desires and wishes and laziness and attitude and beliefs. Everything’s got to be for you and focused on you. Grace will change that and put a focus on Jesus and his focus on others to come to him and grow in him.