BELIEVERS ARE MINISTERS OF GOD’S GRACE (Outline)
March 1, 2020 - Lent 1 - 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-10
INTRO: We are saved by grace. God’s grace is simply defined as undeserved love for sinners. Of-ten love is undeserved. God’s perfect love is truly undeserved. That is why the grace of God is amazing grace. The Contemporary English Version of the Bible: "You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own” (EPHESIANS 2:8). Beautiful definition of grace: “God treats us much better than we deserve.” Today we learn that
BELIEVERS ARE MINISTERS OF GOD’S GRACE.
I. In troubles. II. In blessings. III. In every way.
I. MINISTERS OF GOD’S GRACE IN TROUBLES.
A. Verse 1. Paul addressed the believers as fellow workers. All believers included in God’s labors.
1. Reminded them of value of God’s grace. Do not receive in vain. Saved by grace.
2. Verse 2. The Lord listened to them. Saved them. This is the day the Lord has made…
B. Verse 3. Paul’s conduct in life reflected God’s glory. Did not bring shame upon God.
1. Verse 4. God’s ministers = servants. In troubles, hardships, difficulties. Not an easy life.
2. Verse 5. Paul had been beaten. Faced a riot in Ephesus. Put into prison.
C. Paul was not grumbling or complaining about the troubles in his life. Listed them for believers to know what they would also face. In all troubles believers are still ministers of God’s grace. God’s grace is to be seen in the lives of believers no matter the circumstances. The early Apostles understood the joy of being examples of God’s grace. “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus" (ACTS 5:41). There is joy in suffering for the sake of Jesus. People may take advantage of us because we are believers. We do not like this. But if it is because the world recognizes God’s love / grace in us. That will be our joy in troubles.
D. Suffering for the sake of Christ is not to be unexpected. Jesus reminded his disciples that they would not be treated any better than he was treated. Jesus endured. Trusted himself to the one who judges justly. By the strength from God’s grace we also endure. " Indeed, it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, because Christ also suffered once for sins in our place, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God" (1 PETER 3:17, 18a). Jesus, the righteous One, paid the price for our unrighteousness. We are brought near to the love of the Lord by the blood of Jesus. Grace.
WE ARE MINISTERS OF GOD’S GRACE. In troubles we have the grace of God for strength.
II. MINISTERS OF GOD’S GRACE IN BLESSINGS
A. The first list (verses 4b and 5) sounds like a bad list. The Lord plans all things for our good.
1. Verse 6. Ministers in purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, Holy Spirit, and in love.
2. The Apostle Paul displayed all of this in his sufferings. Others saw. It was God’s grace.
B. Verse 7. The Apostle Paul now defines how he was able to be loving toward his enemies.
1. How? Word of truth. Power of God. Weapons of righteousness on the right and left.
2. God’s Word was the power of God for Paul. God’s Word was his strong defense.
C. The Word of God that clearly show us the Lord’s perfect love is our strength. Power. Weapon against every enemy. Our Gospel today (MATTHEW 4:1-11) gives us the example of Jesus’ defense against the devil. Our Savior calmly answered Satan’s temptations: “It is written.” Satan was completely defeated. God’s Word always wins. We command Satan to leave us alone. Get behind me. The devil must listen to God’s powerful Word. “Your words came to me, and I devoured them. Your words became my joy, the delight of my heart, because I bear your name, O LORD God of Armies" (JEREMIAH 15:16). Hear God’s Word. Read. Learn. God’s Word is your heart’s delight. Your joy. Grace.
D. Throughout the pages of Scripture we see time and time again just how much our loving, heavenly Father “treats us much better than we deserve”. Our sins deserve eternal punishment. Our wickedness earns hell. Our rebellion opposes God every day. Day after day the Lord God of Armies continues to bless us. Not just from time to time. Not just a little bit. “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior…" (TITUS 3:5b, 6). We are given God’s grace abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior!
WE ARE MINISTERS OF GOD’S GRACE. Divine blessings remind us of God’s saving grace.
III. MINISTERS OF GOD’S GRACE IN EVERY WAY.
A. The last list really examines the difference between worldly opinion and Christian reality.
1. Verse 8. Dishonor, bad report, and deceiver was the worldly opinion. Not good.
2. Christian reality about Paul and apostles: glory, good report, and honest.
B. Verse 9. World: unknown, dying, punished. Christian reality: well-known, alive.
1. Verse 10. Opinion: grieving, poor, having nothing. Grace: rejoicing, possessing all things.
2. Worldly opinion does not recognize God’s grace. Undeserved love. Spiritually blessed.
C. The world does look at believers much differently that how the Lord views us. The world measures success in terms of wealth, honor, and glory. In God’s eyes (and ours) worldly opinion does not mean much. Really means nothing at all. Especially in relation to God’s grace. Our world thinks the poor Christian has little to offer. Yet we make many rich. Not in worldly wealth but rich in relation to the Lord God of Armies. “To me—even though I am the very least of all the saints—was given this grace: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (EPHESIANS 3:8). God showers his undeserved love upon us. We live rich, grace-filled lives. We share God’s grace of hope with others. Our wealth and joy are called “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Forgiveness. Grace.
D. The Christian reality is that we have everything we need. Our loving, heavenly Father continually blesses. “God treats us better than we deserve.” Daily. Always. On earth. In eternity. Knowing this powerful truth strengthens us to let God’s grace shine through our lips and lives. Once again, all this comes from our Savior, Jesus Christ. "And my God will fully supply your every need, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever! Amen” (PHILIPPIANS 4:19, 20). God’s “glorious riches in Christ Jesus” have been freely given to us. Undeserved love.
CONC.: How is your life going lately? Troubled and suffering? Yet filled with God’s grace. Blessed and happy? We are treated better than we deserve. Bad worldly opinion? Truth is we are saved by God’s grace. Freely forgiven. “Unsearchable riches of Christ.” “Glorious riches of Christ.” We have experienced God’s grace. Now we are called to show God’s undeserved love to others. In troubles. In blessings. In every way. Every day. “The grace of our Lord overflowed on me along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 TIMOTHY 1:14).
WE ARE MINISTERS OF GOD’S GRACE. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
LENT 1 rdgs.: GEN. 2:7-9, 15-17, 3:1-7; ROMANS 5:12-19; MATT. 4:1-11; (PSALM 130)
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