Grace – Grace & Love

GRACE

2 Tim 2:1 – the grace of God is strong

-Be strong means to be strengthened

-it speaks of the grace of God being strong

Definition of Grace – means unmerited favor;beauty;something free;an undeserved gift;a free benefit;to extend kindness to those who do no deserve it.

*It also speaks of bending or stooping over

(1) GRACE ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALITY – Eph 2:10

workmanship – means a masterpiece; a unique work of art; a one of a kind creation

*we all have different personalities, temperaments, gifting, tastes and appearances…

Individuality has to do with acceptance……….

     a. Grace is accepting who the Lord created you to be – Col 1:15-18

-do not be dissatisfied with you – Mark 12:30-31

QUIT SAYING:

*I wish I was like????

*you are worthless and nothing significant

*I need to fashion myself after the world

     b. Grace is accepting people just the way they are

-it is called love – 1 John 4:7-8

***DO NOT MAKE YOUR LOVE CONDITIONAL***

*people need to change.

#1 – the Bible says to examine your self

#2 – allow the Lord to change people

     c. Grace frees us from the tyranny of pleasing people – Galatians 1:10

-we cannot do whatever we want to do such as sin and rebel and go against the Word of God

-we must all please the Lord

-But I do not have to please people any longer — I am free……..

(2) GRACE OFFERS PEOPLE FREEDOM AND CHOICE – Joshua 24:15-16

choose – means to select

-we do not want people to rely on churches and other people, but Jesus and the Word of God

     a. the Lord created us with a free will – make right choices

     b. choices are presented to us every day – make right choices

How do we make right choices?

          1. follow the Word of God

          2. follow the voice of God

          3. Receive wisdom from godly people

(3) GRACE GLORIFIES THE LORD – ROMANS 4:1-3

-Grace is what the Lord has done for us and not what we have done for hIm…

-Grace is exalting the Lord and Him only

-Example in Daniel 4:29-31 and Nebuchadnezzar……….