God’s Restoring Grace

by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NKJV)

Go ahead and circle the words – “and such were some of you”. What was true then is still true today. God loved believers even before they were believers – even while they were still sinners.

Folks, here is a Fact: God takes sinners and turns them into saints.

God is in the life change business. He takes that which is dirty and cleans it up. He takes that which is broken and fixes it. I don’t know about you – but I am thankful that God is working in my life. He is Great Potter who takes a lump of clay and turns it into a beautiful vessel. That is what God does – He is in the life change business and His love for me is unconditional. He knows exactly what He got when He picked me up. He knows exactly what He got when He invited me to join His family. He knew what condition I was in when He chose me – and the same is true when He chose you.

Look at the passage from Lamentations with me:

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.” Lamentations 3:22 (NLT)

Go ahead and circle the words – “never”. God’s faithful love “never” ends. God’s mercy “never” ceases. God does not reject believers when they sin because God is faithful – even when we are not. God’s love is unconditional.

Let’s move on to the second point – God offers His Restoring Grace to you:

2. Because our Salvation isn’t based on my PERFORMANCE

Our salvation is based on God’s grace – not our goodness. I could never be good enough to earn God’s forgiveness. God offers forgiveness to me and to you freely. The Bible tells us:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

I never worked my way into Heaven so how do I think that I can work my way out? The only way you ever have any hope of getting into heaven is by the grace of God. You can’t earn your way to Heaven. You can’t work your way to Heaven. You can’t buy your way to Heaven. You can’t bluff your way to heaven. There is no other way to Heaven except for the Grace of God. The book of Titus tells us:

“He (God) saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5 (HCSB)

If you don’t get into heaven on the grace of Jesus Christ, you’re not going to get there. It’s the only way. God does not reject me as a believer when I have sinned – He wants to restore me.

I have four sons. They are grown up now – but I can remember when they were toddlers. When it rained – they loved to go outside after the rain and play in the mud-puddles. They would take sticks and pretend they were boats. They would move the dirt around and make rivers and streams. They loved playing in the mud. In the process they would get filthy. They would be covered with mud from head to toe. Do you think that I stopped loving them because they were dirty? Do you think that I stopped loving them because they were filthy? No! There was nothing wrong with them that a little cleaning would not fix. God says:

“You have been washed and made holy, and you have received God’s approval in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 (GW)

My salvation