Amazing Grace

JANUARY 8, 2023 STUDY NOTES ROMANS 1:5 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES AMAZING GRACE We often hear the song, we often sing the song, “Amazing Grace” But how often do we give thought to the truth of “Amazing Grace?” “Grace” was not a by-word for Paul, it was an experience of life and an eternal truth COMMISSIONED BY GRACE--Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: “By whom” refers to Jesus Christ the “Son of God” who was presented in verses 3 and 4 Through Jesus “we have received grace,” Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Joh 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Paul told Timothy, 2Ti 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Paul knew that he was saved by grace, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Paul knew that at-the moment he was saved, he was gifted to serve God by grace, 1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (Grace, grace, grace) All Christians have been gifted by grace to serve God, Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Through grace we are given the ability and responsibility to serve God, 1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (“Manifold Grace” is God’s Grace given to meet every need of our life and grace to serve God) Every Christian is gifted to serve God, there is not one exception, there is not one exemption No Christian should be living a “useless” Christian life because every Christian has “received the gift” The gift that we have received is “of the manifold grace of God” Every time the word “gift” is found in the NT it refers to gifts and graces given only by God God is the giver of every “Spiritual Gift,” every Christian has received a Spiritual Gift from God Every Christian is qualified to serve God--Is on a God-given assignment--On special duty for God A spiritual gift is the operation of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (Our Wednesday study) Gifts are a special spiritual ability given to us through the grace of God to do what Peter tells us to do “Minister the same one to another,” to minister is to serve and to help others (We all need God’s help) Christians are to be servants or helpers one to another “as good stewards” (We all need each other) A steward is an administrator, one who manages the affairs of a person, a family, a business Christians are God’s stewards upon this earth given the responsibility of handling God’s business God has trusted the believer with that responsibility, we need to take care of our business (Get with it) We can through “the manifold grace of God,” manifold means a variety or multi-colored God has gifted believers with every color of His Grace to face every color of trial and trouble Every individual Spiritual Gift demonstrates a facet of God’s Grace Peter uses the word manifold twice in 1 Peter, putting the two together gives us a great truth, 1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: Any and every color of trial and trouble can happen to us during our life upon this earth But God has grace for every kind and time of trouble, but remember what Peter is telling us Page 1 of 3 God has gifted His people with every kind of grace to minister in every kind of trouble God has gifted someone with a Spiritual Gift to minister to you in your time of trial and trouble Notice that Paul spoke of receiving grace before he identified himself as an apostle (Romans 1:5) “And apostleship, for obedience to the faith” Paul had been gifted by grace to serve God and commissioned to be an Apostle Paul knew that it was grace first from God the Father through the Son, 1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Paul’s calling was revealed through his ministry, 2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. Paul had been sent forth with the gospel to the Gentiles, Gal 2:8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) There was no question about Paul’s “obedience to the faith” (The same should be true of us) Paul’s obedience was the result of faith, faith energized his obedience to the Word of God Because of his faith his desire was to learn and live according to the Word of God Which is a good goal for each of us in the year 2023, start now in the beginning of the year Another goal for this year should be to lead others to experience the grace of God Faith and obedience are inseparable, if there is no obedience, you are lacking in faith Biblical faith will always result in the desire to be an obedient child of God Obedience to God’s Word is the verification of true faith, 2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (Is your personal testimony that of a Christian or a reprobate?) A spiritual examination is much more important than a physical examination James describes the physical life, Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Human life is like “a mist,” like a puff of smoke, like steam rising from hot water Like the breath coming from the nose or mouth on a cold morning It is like that which appears for a brief period and then disappears, earthly life is brief In-order to receive the spiritual life, you must be born of the Spirit, Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; (Physical) and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (Spiritual) Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (The Spiritual life is just as real as the Physical life) The spiritual life is an eternal life in the Kingdom of God, Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The importance of the spiritual life is why Paul was sent to the Gentiles “for obedience to the faith” “Obedience to the faith” means accepting the gospel that Paul preached and receiving spiritual life Biblical faith is not defined as an emotional feeling or an intellectual acceptance of man’s thinking Biblical faith is an act of obedience which changes a person’s life, Gal 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. (Salvation is a new life experience) Unless there is a changed life there is no real faith, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: (new creation) old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (New life) The gospel of salvation must be preached “Among all nations,” Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (America needs the Gospel now, “Go you therefore”) The word “nations” often refers to the Gentiles, all who are not Israelites, non-Jewish people Paul was sent to speak to Gentiles, Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: (Paul lived his life to honor God’s Grace and to Glorify God) Page 2 of 3 By the grace of God, Paul was God’s minister to the Gentiles, Rom 15:15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, Paul was sent by God to minister unto the Gentiles the gospel of God, Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. (His heart open to the leadership of the Spirit) The salvation of lost souls is to bring honor and glory unto Jesus, “for his name” We sing the song that says, “His Name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord” Which is exactly what the Bible proclaims, Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: “Wherefore” turns our attention to the previous verse, Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. The man who humbled himself and died on the cross is “JESUS” Which is why we are told, “God also hath highly exalted Him” Throughout the Bible we are told why Jesus was exalted and given the name above every name But Paul made it clear, He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross Jesus is the one who died on the cross for our sins, His name is the name above every name, Php 2:10 That at “the” name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; There is an emphasis proclaimed, it is not “a” name, but “the” name of Jesus The time is yet to come when “every knee” will bow before the name of Jesus, but it will come “This same Jesus” is coming again, Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Every eye shall see Him when He returns—Revelation 1:7) And when Jesus returns, “EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW” “Every” means that there will be no exception, no place of existence is exempt from bowing Bowing the knee in the name of Jesus will be an act of recognition, reverence, and respect All of creation will recognize and proclaim, “that Jesus Christ is Lord,” Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Today throughout society we hear the Name and Person of Jesus blasphemed in profanity But society will see the day when the prophecy of Revelation 5 is fulfilled (Read it today) Jesus, the Lamb that was slain, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God, will stand up, Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. The book is the title deed to the earth, the book of redemption, redeeming all that belongs to God We are told why Jesus will be the one to fulfill every detail of the “Seven Sealed Scroll,” Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. We are told of the ultimate fulfillment of the “Amazing Grace” of God, Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. CONCLUSION Today there is a deceptive teaching concerning salvation, conservative scholars call it “cheap grace” It is the liberal teaching that God is graceful and will overlook your sinful way of life The teaching of cheap grace is like a vaccination for sin, get vaccinated and then live like you want too The vaccination can be a memorized prayer, a baptism, join the church and attend when you feel like it God’s Grace unto salvation is not cheap, it cost Jesus His shed blood on the “Cross of Calvary” That’s why God’s Grace is Amazing, listen to it, pay attention to it, submit to it, share it with others Page 3 of 3