Bible Study - Never Doubt

Here are the notes for the Bible Study "Never Doubt"

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Be blessed!

Chris

Never Doubt

God is Love – He loves Us personally, individually.  God’s glory is His goodness, His grace.

God loves us and wants to shower us with His love for all eternity.  If you have been saved, you are now the object of His eternal favour. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)

It all comes by belief and belief alone.  The actions will follow the belief, to maximize the effect of our beliefs (taking advantage of the Zellers flyer!).

The action follows the belief, the belief based on the relationship (know the owner of Zellers). This is called walking by faith.

It is the GOODNESS of God that brings man to repentance. 

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (NKJV)

If I know God is good, then doing it God’s way will result in God’s results.

The lights have to come on about this!  We must and must know that God is 

1. Is Love

2. Loves Us

3. Showers us with infinite grace and mercy

Because of Jesus.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)

Jesus came to give us abundant life, not a mean, nasty one.  He did these that you can have abundance for EVERY good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)

Not that things are always going good for you, but that God is always good to you. We need to walk by faith, for by unbelief the relationship was lost.

If we can’t find where Zellers is or forget what the flyer said, we won’t benefit for it either, like the second kind of soil – persecution for the Word’s sake.

Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. (NKJV)

The Word must take root.  We must know this Word of God’s love.

Ephesians 3:19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (NKJV)

Bible Study Power Passages #1 - Ephesians 1:3-14

Here are the notes for the Bible Study Power Passages #1 - Ephesians 1:3-14

Click here to download the message onto your computer.


You can also access the whole load of Friday Night Bible Study audio files.

Be blessed!

Chris

Power Passages 1 – Ephesians 1:3-14

This passage was addressed to people far less educated than us today – think of how much more in tune with spiritual things were they then?

- Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 
"blessed with every spiritual blessing", past tense, EVERY spiritual blessing.
What ARE spiritual blessings in the heavenly places?
Can we access them? Will they make a difference to me?
Not for the sweet by and by. Our spirits/God's HS operate in the heavenly realms.
Spirit soul body teaching – our spirits are one with God’s Spirit who is the Holy Spirit forever.
[You can access the teaching(notes and audio) here: http://christanatwork.blogspot.ca/2012/05/bible-study-spirit-soul-body.html.]

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (NKJV)
We were made alive, His Spirit and our spirit are ONE for eternity.
Spiritual realm is more important. Paul called the believers in Corinth “Saints”, same word for “Holy” in Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)
No spirit, we walk in the futility of our minds, leading to death.

- Ephesians 4: 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (NKJV)
In the spirit, we are everything that He says we are, the things He has made us into

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (NKJV)
The Words, the promises of God, they are Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (NKJV)
Spirit and Flesh fight for control of your mind, your will

Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (NKJV)
We access into all this by FAITH, by believing the Word of God to be true.

- Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 
NONE of us can be holy without the Lord! This is the holiness that comes into our spirits when we were made alive. We are holy and without blame because of God’s love for us.
Holy and without blame – in the spirit, we are holy and without blame in HIS love, not ours.
It is God’s will to see all saved.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (NKJV)

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (NKJV)
Adopted as SONS according the good pleasure of His will. Not grudgingly. When God does something, He always looks at it and sees that it was good!

- Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 
It is by this that He HAS already made us accepted. We are not accepted because of anything we've done.
God's glory is something that emanates from His grace, His limitless mercy and goodness toward us because of the work of Jesus.

Exodus 33:17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” 18 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” 19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (NKJV)

- Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 
His grace abounds toward us, like we talked about over the last 3 weeks.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)

- Ephesians 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 
We have knowledge of His will, according to His good pleasure. God takes pleasure in letting us appreciate His will.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)

- Ephesians 1:10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 
There will come a time when all these things will come to a close and He (the Father) will take charge of all things in Christ.

- Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 
Past tense – obtained an inheritance.

Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJV)
Our faith in this can stand in the court of law as evidence!

- Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (NKJV)
We were saved because we believed in the Word, the Gospel of our salvation. Because of this, we were SEALED with the Holy Spirit. He can never be taken away from us, and will never leave us (see Heb 13:5 and Matt 28:20).
He is the guarantee of what we will inherit, until we actually receive it.
Put it this way - if we can ever be unsealed as it were, then we would have no guarantee of inheritance and no redemption.

Scripture is SO rich, God is SO good!

Reaping Everlasting Life

Every so often, we have one of those grand "ah ha" moments when the dots connect and the picture forms.  This is one of them, which I pray you will read and be blessed by also!

Starting with a time of meditating on this verse:

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (NKJV)

How does one reap everlasting life?  Let's take a closer look!

Eternal/Everlasting Life

Everlasting life is not a state or a place.  It is the progression of God’s will into every area of our lives, like when we pray:

Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (NKJV)

Paul told Timothy to “lay hold” on eternal life

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (NKJV)

It is not that Timothy was not saved!  Paul was telling Timothy to go after the Life and the blessings that Jesus had already purchased for us (John 3:16).  Eternal life is, after all, simply knowing God.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (NKJV)

And we need to get to know Him better all the time!  God IS love 

1 John 4:8(b) ...God is love. (NKJV)

And we need to know this love:

Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (NKJV)

Sowing to the Spirit

How then do we sow to the Spirit?  We read God’s Word!  See the Parable of the Soils (Matt 13:1-23).  We have to read it in faith:

Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (NKJV)

Why do we have to read it in faith?  Because it takes faith to believe the goodness of our God, the promises He has given us in His Word.  We need to read it with the thought that God LOVES US, that we are the objects of His immeasurable affection to us.  We need to trust this love the Word speaks of for it to take effect in our lives.  Faith is increased when we know His love:

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (NKJV)

In simple English, it is easy to believe someone whom we know has our bests interests at heart.  This will help us to believe the exceedingly great and precious promises given to us that Peter wrote about.

2 Peter 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (NKJV)

On the contrary, it is easy to read these promises, not trust the love of God for us and just ignore them.  Unbelief requires NO faith, no trust in the love of God whatsoever, and the Word will not profit.

Once we believe and perceive this goodness, our minds are changed.  We agree with what God’s Word says to us.  Truly then, we see that it is God’s goodness causes us to repent, change our minds:

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (NKJV)

Area by area, our minds get changed.  This is the renewal of the mind, where in which we are transformed.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV) 

The end result is that we start to know His will for our lives and we lead fruitful lives.

Conforming to this world, allowing the junk of it to filter in is, on the contrary, sowing to the flesh and it reaps corruption.  It works opposite and contrary to what we are trying to achieve.

Purpose in your heart to reap everlasting life today. 

1.              Believe His love for you.

2.              Read the Word and have faith in His promises, knowing they came from His love

3.              Meditate on His goodness in His promises and allow them to change your mind!

Pray this blesses you!

Bible Study: Grace: How to Receive It

Here are the notes for the Bible Study on "Grace - How to Receive It".

Click here to download the audio file onto your computer.

You can also access the whole load of Friday Night Bible Study audio files.

Be blessed!

Chris

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


We were saved by grace, but grace works only when we receive it in faith.  God is a gentleman and He will not force His will on anyone, even though He wants all to be saved.


Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (NKJV)


John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (NKJV)


Grace was given to all men.  Jesus died for all the world.  Now ours is to receive this grace.  We got to know ONE aspect, a very important one, of Jesus’ grace.  This is just the foundation.  Good news is Jesus did not just save us and leave us to suffer here till we die and go to Heaven!


2. Grace is received by Faith
Every promise given to us in scriptures is God’s grace to be received by faith.  Grace has been given to us – past tense.  It is now up to us to receive it by faith.  God willingly made all the provision needed, according to His promises.
Believe, receive. Doubt, do without.
God is both ABLE and WILLING.


Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (NKJV)


More verses:
Acts 18:27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; (NKJV)


3. Receiving Requires Humility
Faith requires humility. Childlike faith.
James 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (NKJV)
Humility is not beating yourself about your moral inadequacies.  We all know that without grace, we’re damned anyway.  Continuing to beat yourself over your weaknesses is pride, hoping that you can achieve on your own strength to please God.
Humility is simply acknowledging that what God has said is true, and takes precedence over what we perceive in our five senses.
If scripture says so, but it seems ridiculous, we may not receive it if we don't act by faith e.g. speaking to the mountain (your problems).


2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NKJV)
God's grace is always sufficient for what we need to do in the kingdom. The weaker we realize we are and the more we throw ourselves at Him, the more His ability to work through us!


James 1: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (NKJV)
This testing is not abouthow much you can withstand a trial – it is a testing of how much you can lean on His promises by faith (grace is sufficient) to go through the trial.


4. Received in Vain
Grace can be received in vain.
2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (NKJV)
This context was in not receiving the righteousness of God in Christ.  The same is true with every other promise.


More Verses


1 Peter 5: 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (NKJV)


2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, (NKJV)


5. Conditions to Receiving a Promise
Like receiving a flyer offering something, like free handbags, from Zellers!


1. The one giving the promise must be truthful
2. The one receiving the promise must know about the promise
3. The one receiving the promise must know the one giving it enough to trust it.
4. Easy to trust those we know have our interest at heart.  This is called love.


6.  Truthful Promises
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (NKJV)
His own Word says that His promises are true, that they glorify God when we see these promises manifest in our lives.


2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (NKJV)
This verse that we’ve quoted many times in this series talks about, in V4, the exceedingly great and precious promises given to us to escape the corruption in the world.  All these are in the past tense.


7.  Knowing the Promises
What you don’t know WILL hurt you!
- Read the Bible knowing that God loves you
- Listen to good teachings – iPod, mp3, CD, online etc.
- Come for FNBS!


8.  Growing to Trust
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (NKJV)
Ultimately, faith comes from the Word of God.  We have to keep hearing it.  One of the best ways for us to hear it is to speak it out.  Fact is, what we believe, we tend to say (Jesus said this in Matt 12:34).  What we say, we reinforce.  To build faith refrain from saying things that don’t build faith, but say the things that do.


2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (NKJV)
We need to know God more and more for grace and peace to be multiplied in our lives.


James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (NKJV)
We grow also when under trials, we choose to trust in the promises instead of what we see.  The trials are not from God – Jesus said in John 16:33 that the trials will come, but He has overcome the world, so we are to stand on His promises by faith, that His grace IS sufficient for us!


9.  Faith from Love
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (NKJV)
Paul was able to live by faith (walk by faith) in the flesh because he was very aware of Jesus’ love for him.


Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NKJV)


Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (NKJV)
Faith works in us when we know His love for us.  The more we know His love, the more we can have faith.


More verses:
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (NKJV)
We were saved by the kindness and love of God, not by anything we had done.


10. Grow, Abound in the Grace of God
2 Timothy 2: 1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
This seems to be of prime importance enough for Paul to emphasize to Timothy.


2 Co 8:6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. (NKJV)
Titus begun in grace, and was now sent to complete this grace for the Corinthians. Grace can be grown, completed, added to. They are instructed to ABOUND in grace also - see note there.


1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (NKJV)
We are to steward the grace of God to minister our gifts!


More Verses:


Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. (NKJV)


We must grow in this Grace!
2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (NKJV)


We must be established in Grace!
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. (NKJV)


We must not fall short of
Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; (NKJV)


11. Grace is MUCH MORE than We need
Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. (NKJV)
There is more grace for us to depend on then any of us ever realizes.  MUCH MORE the grace of God abounded to many, we see here.


Romans 5:17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) (NKJV)
MUCH MORE we who receive the ABUNDANCE of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Christ.


More verses:
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (NKJV)
Grace abounded more where sin abounded and reigns through righteousness.


1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (NKJV)
Paul became who he was by grace, but he laboured more abundantly, and yet this was by grace of God. He did not frustrate the grace of God, but acted by faith on the grace - this was his labour.


1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
Grace abounded, bringing faith and love in Christ!


12. Live Out the New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)


Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. (NKJV)


Remember that we are a New Creation – Spirit-Soul-Body
We are not an old creation trying to become new.  We are new creations in the spirit but we have a soul and we live in the body.
What we need is understanding the finished work of Christ in our New Creation – this is God’s grace to us.  We see it manifest in our soul, through the renewing of our minds.
This is done through the word of God – as we read the word, realise His goodness toward us, this will change our lives.
This is called realising the abundant grace that has been given to us.


When we read the Word, we must trust not only in God’s ability to keep His promises, but also His willingness, His eagerness, His love!  He loves us and wants to bless us.


Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (NKJV)


13. The Take Away
- By Grace through Faith – all grace already given!
- Be humble – accept what the Word says as truth
- Stand on the promises of God
- Know that the promises are backed by His love for you
- Abound in His grace, His goodness
- Live the New Creation Life

Bible Study: Grace - God Blessing Us

Here are the notes for the Bible Study on Grace - God Blessing Us.

Click here to download the audio file.

You can also access the whole load of Friday Night Bible Study audio files.

Be blessed!

Chris

Grace - God Blessing Us

1. Grace - The Key to Fruitfulness
Fruit is something that grows when you give the plant what it needs. You cannot force the plant to bear fruit!

Our fruitfulness increases as we increase in our understanding of God’s goodness, His abounding grace, towards us. Conversely, if we don’t know the real Him, the gracious God, we won’t be fruitful.

Colossians 1: 3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; (NKJV)

Bringing forth fruit results from us hearing and knowing the grace of God in truth.

2. The Problem of Motivation
We often don’t have a very strong motivation for the things of God.
DIET and EXERCISE example – like athletes have motivation to win.

If we don’t know or don’t believe that what we are doing is greatly beneficial for us, we won’t do it. THAT’S why we study scriptures!

3. Godliness is Profitable!
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. (NKJV)

Godliness is profitable. Ungodliness is not. Satan has lied that godliness as poor, miserable, restrictive, prudish, selling sin and ungodliness as being more beneficial. The Church has by and large also believed that for too long.
Godliness is fun, victorious, beneficial, cool. Ungodliness is not.
If we don’t realise this, we won’t have motivation.
If we realise that we have benefits for eternity for this short life, motivation goes up. If we realise it benefits us here today, man that’s motivation!
Remember that there is promise for now and that which is to come! If we think it only benefits after death, we are likely to put it off.
Your walk with God has to be a pull, not a push. You need to be drawn by the motivation of the love of God, the rewards He has for us, His grace, not pushed by guilt.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

God can fulfill the good pleasure of His goodness and work of faith, according to the grace of God. We can stymie the grace with unbelief!

4. Understand Grace = Great Blessings
Acts 20:32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (NKJV)
What builds us up? The Word of Grace. When we try to do anything for God without realising, without leaning on His goodness, we will fail - Rom 2:4

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (NKJV)
Jesus' grace to us will cause us to abound, Him becoming poor that we may be rich.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)
Grace gives us abundance for every good work, to have sufficiency in all things.

5. Grace Bearing Fruit
Grace Resulted in Generosity
2 Corinthians 8: 1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. (NKJV)

The Macedonian church obviously held on this promise:
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (NKJV)
Jesus' grace to us will cause us to abound, Him becoming poor that we may be rich.

Other verses
2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. (NKJV)
Everlasting consolation and good hope come by grace and they comfort our hearts and establish us in every good word and work.

6. Grace Came Because of Jesus
John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

John 1:16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. (NLT)

It was the finished work of Jesus that afforded us great grace.

1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJV)

Other verses
Philippians 1:7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. (NKJV)

1 Peter 1: 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (NKJV)

7. The Take Away

- Grace will cause us to be FRUITFUL
- We need to know WHY!
- A fruitful life of Godliness has great benefit for life here and for all of eternity!
- Jesus came to bring us all blessings through Grace
- We have, as a church, the Grace needed for all things

Bible Study - Abundant Grace

Here are the notes for the Bible Study on Abundant Grace.

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 Be blessed!

Chris

1. Definition of Grace
5485 χάρις [charis /khar∑ece/] n f. From 5463; TDNT 9:372; TDNTA 1298; GK 5921; 156 occurrences; AV translates as “grace” 130 times, “favour” six times, “thanks” four times, “thank” four times, “thank + 2192” three times, “pleasure” twice, and translated miscellaneously seven times. 
1 grace. 1a that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech. 
2 good will, loving-kindness, favour. 2a of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues. 
3 what is due to grace. 3a the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace. 3b the token or proof of grace, benefit. 3b1 a gift of grace. 3b2 benefit, bounty. 
4 thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward.

2. Simple Christian Definition
G od’s
R iches
A t
C hrist’s
E xpense

3. God is Only Good to Us
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (NKJV)
If it is good, it is from God. If it is bad, it is from the devil!

4. Be Strong in Grace
2 Timothy 2: 1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
Being strong in grace is the basis for everything.

Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (NKJV)

5. The Gospel Is All About God’s Grace
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (NKJV)
Paul is willing to lay down his life, considers this as running the race, this ministry - to testify, give witness to, the gospel of GRACE. It is worth dying for! As a witness, we must have experienced this GRACE ourselves. If we don’t, we can’t be witnesses.

Gospel of Grace is not a side issue. Unless we understand God’s grace, we cannot bask in His love. It is imperative that we know His grace to us.
We love because He first loved us. We understand grace, get to know love of Christ, become full of God. 
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE SPEND TIME SEEKING TO KNOW HOW GOOD GOD IS TO US BECAUSE OF THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS ON THE CROSS.

More Verses:
1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (NKJV)
He is the God of all grace

1 Peter 1:10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (NKJV)
This Gospel of Grace was prophesied years ago.

1 Peter 5: 12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. (NKJV)
What we stand on is this true grace, the Gospel.

6. No Grace = Not Gospel
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, (NKJV)
Turning away from the grace of Christ is to turn to a DIFFERENT GOSPEL. Not grace = Not Gospel!
Study everything you can about how good God is to you because of what Jesus did. Turn the focus away from you. Not about what you can do for Him, but what He has done for you.

Trying to love God, to do His will, without first understanding His grace to us, is *behaviour modification* and *is doomed*. Get to know grace first!

Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (NKJV)
Estranged from Christ, going to anything else (including law) = fallen from grace. Simply failing to rely on the grace of God.

7. Peace always comes with Grace
Romans 1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJV)

Ephesians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

1 Thessalonians 1: 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

2 Thessalonians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, (NKJV)

We have as much peace as we know the grace of Christ in our lives. Know Jesus, Know Peace. No Jesus, No Peace.

8. Early Church Enjoyed Great Grace
Acts 4: 32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (NKJV)

Acts 11:23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. (NKJV)
Grace Upon the Church Was Obvious. Barnabas visiting Antioch – he could see the grace that was on them!

9. Grow in Grace
2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (NKJV)
We can have knowledge of our Lord, but not know God. Knowing God comes when we know His grace. We grow in grace when we spend time learning, admiring and believing how good God is to us.

10. The Take Away
God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense – All only because of Jesus
We must be strong in Grace - be constantly aware of God’s goodness to us
The Gospel is all about God’s Grace to Us
Know the true Gospel, know Grace
Study the Word – Know His Goodness, know His Grace