IT TAKES GRACE TO DIE

Sunday Morning:  July 25, 2004

Text:  Colossians 3:1-4  "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

BE CONTENT

1 Timothy 6:6-9  "But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9. But they that will be rich (the rich are not content) fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts (discontent), which drown men in destruction and perdition."

BE CONTENT

Hebrews 13:5  "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

CONTENTMENT IS LEARNED

Philippians 4:11  "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

POSSIBLE BY GRACE

2 Corinthians 9:8  "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"

THE GRACE OF GOD

Galatians 2:19-21  "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

JUST

Galatians 2:19  "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God."

LIVE BY FAITH

Galatians 2:20  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

GRACE TO ENDURE

Ephesians 2:8  "For by grace are ye [ye endure] [having been] saved [perfect tense] through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

GRACE BY FAITH

Romans 5:2  "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

BY GRACE

Galatians 2:21  "I do not frustrate [reject, do away with] the grace of God: for if righteousness (approval, justification) come by the law, then Christ (our high priest) is dead (not the cross) in vain [for nothing]."

CHRIST AT HIS RIGHT HAND

Colossians 3:1  "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ (our high priest) sitteth on the right hand of God."

KNOW THE POWER

Philippians 3:10  "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"

 

 

 

A NEW LIFE MADE POSSIBLE

Romans 6:4  "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into [the] death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father (to his right hand as our high priest), even so we also should walk in newness of life."

HIS RESURRECTION

Acts 13:33  "God hath fulfilled the same (promise) unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."

TO BECOME OUR HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 5:5  "So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee."

FOR MERCY AND GRACE

Hebrews 4:15-16  "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

GRACE, THE POWER OF CHRIST

2 Corinthians 12:9  "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

GRACE BUILDS

Acts 20:32  "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

WE GROW IN GRACE

2 Peter 3:18  "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.. . ."

 

THROUGH KNOWLEDGE

2 Peter 1:2  "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge [deeper knowledge] of God, and of Jesus our Lord,"

BE STRONG IN GRACE

2 Timothy 2:1  "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

DON’T BE IN WANT OF GRACE

Hebrews 12:15  "Looking diligently [present active] lest any man fail [be in want] of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"

GRACE GIVEN TO THE HUMBLE

James 4:6  "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud (those who have not died), but giveth grace unto the humble." (the dead have been humbled)

FIXED HEART

Hebrews 13:9  ". . . For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;  . . ."

STRONG HEART

Psalms 27:14  "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

IT TAKES TIME TO FIND GRACE

Hebrews 4:16  "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

THE BLESSED WAIT

Isaiah 30:18  "And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him."

 

THE DEAD WILL NOT FAINT

Isaiah 40:31  "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

THE DEAD QUIETLY WAIT

Lamentations 3:25-26  "The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD."