Church of Christ Sermons and Lessons for 2012
Speaker	Sermon/Lesson Title   (Right Click to Download)	Audio   Video  Text    Ipod MS Word	Category	Date Added	Lesson
Bobby Stafford	Amazing Grace       (Download Audio)		Grace	June 3, 2012	Sunday AM Sermon

Amazing Grace 

Amazing Grace 

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now I’m found,

Was blind, but now I see. 

“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed. 

Thru many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

“Twas grace that bro’t me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home. 

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures. 

When we’ve been these ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun;

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we first begun. 

John Newton, 1779 – William Walker 

Introduction: 

John Newton’s song “Amazing Grace” has touched hearts of countless people through the ages.  He lost his mother at age seven and became a sailor at eleven.  He became a very ungodly young man.  On one treacherous trip, he began to think about his sinful life and started praying to God.  He also started reading his Bible and going to church.  He began preaching at age thirty-nine and preached for forty-three years.  During this period he wrote the words to “Amazing Grace.” 

Body: 

I.   Grace Defined 

• Favor – “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”   (Genesis 6:8)  Even though God was not obligated to Noah; yet He voluntarily granted favor upon him – an act of “goodwill.” 

• God’s grace is unearned and undeserved.  (I Timothy 1:12-14, I Corinthians 15:10)

• Salvation comes through God’s grace.  (Acts 15:11)

• Christians are privileged to stand in a state of grace. (Romans 5:1-2)

II.   Grace Abused  

• Read Jude :4   God’s grace can be perverted and turned into something it’s not.

  1. Saved by Grace Alone                                                               
     If salvation was by grace alone, then everyone would be saved.  (Hebrews 2:9)  Each person must appropriate the abundant grace God has made available.  God’s grace opened up the waters of the Red Sea, but the Israelites had to walk to the other side.  God’s grace provided an ark for the saving of Noah and his family, but Noah had to build the ark and then they had to enter it when the floods came.  Human response (obedience) is necessary to appropriate God’s grace.  (Hebrews 5:9)

  2. Saved by Works                                                                  
     Some believe that certain human deeds (works) merit salvation – earn it for the one who does them.  Often this is done with the viewpoint of a “works” accounting system.  This is the belief that good deeds can offset bad deeds.    This contradicts Scripture.  (Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8-9)

  3. Once Baptized, Always Saved                                           
     This is also called post-baptismal grace.  It is the belief that, after baptism, the Christian is free to do what he/she wants – not under any obligations or law.  Law is a dirty word to them.  But grace operates/works through law. (Titus 2:11-14)  Christians are under Christ’s law – our source of authority.  (Romans 8:2, I Corinthians 9:21)                                           
     Keeping the commandments of God are essential to one’s continual salvation.  (I John 2:4-5, 3:4)

  4. Confession of Sins Is Not Necessary                                
     Some believe that a Christian should not confess his sins because God’s grace automatically covers it.  Yet this contradicts I John 1:9.  Jesus declared in the Model Prayer – Luke 11:4   The Old Testament also affirms this.            (Proverbs 28:13)

 Conclusion:

 God’s grace is truly amazing!  A blessing we do not deserve.  But let’s be careful not to abuse or pervert it.

 His Grace Reaches Me

 Deeper than the ocean and wider than the sea,

Is the grace of the Savior for sinners like me;

Sent from the Father and it thrills my soul,

Just to feel and to know that His blood makes me whole.

 Higher than the mountains and brighter than the sun,

It was offered at Calv’ry for ev’ryone;

Greatest of treasures, and it’s mine today,

Tho’ my sins were as scarlet, He has washed them away.

 CHORUS

His grace reaches me, yes, His grace reaches me,

And ‘twill last thru eternity;

Now I’m under His control and I’m happy in my soul,

Just to know that His grace reaches me.

 Whitey Gleason

 Bobby Stafford

June 3, 2012

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