Lesson 60
Review:
 

 

c.  The Blessings associated with a New Position

Ephesians 2:1-5;  Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 2:10

 

Though in Adam and dead in sin before salvation, grace means the believer in Christ has a new position in Christ which brings every spiritual blessing into the believer’s life.

This means the provision of such things as: 

1. Every believer is a priest—members of a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5,9).

 

2. Citizens of heaven and thereby left here on earth as ambassadors for Christ (Phil. 3:20;  2 Cor. 5:20).

 

3. Children of God, members of God’s family (Eph. 5:1).

 

4. Adopted as adult sons with all the rights, privileges, and responsi­bilities  (Gal. 4:5).

 

5. Gifted for ministry (1 Pet. 4:10; 1 Cor. 12:4-7).

 

6. The provision is there for life Eph 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3.

 

d.  The Blessings of an Eternal Inheritance

1 Peter 1:4

Finally, though previously cut off from God and bound for hell, grace means the blessings of an eternal inheritance, one which is untouched by death, “imperishable,” unstained by evil, “undefiled,” and unimpaired by time, “will not fade away.”

 

5.  The Needs in Relation to Grace—Grace Orientation and Multipli­cation

1 Peter 1:2-9 Read

 

 

This is illustrated in John 6 by the response of the Jews to Jesus’ words in John 6:27.

 

 

Grace orientation and its multiplication comes through knowl­edge of the Word coupled with faith.

 

 

Not only do we need to be oriented to grace, but we need to grow in our understanding of the multiple facets of grace in all of life.

 

6. The Hazards in Relation to Grace—Grace Disorientation

Again, because of our works mentality, we tend to fail of the grace of God .

Hebrews 12:15;   Galatians 5:1-5, 13 

 

a. There are several biblical pictures that warn of the danger of failure to exploit the awesome resources we have in Christ:

 

1. Leaning on the arm of the flesh which leaves one in desert like conditions     (Jer. 17:5-6)

 

2. Hewing out cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water (Jer. 2:13)