Desert Church of Christ Pahrump, NV We welcome you to our assembly! Our assemblies: Sunday morning Bible study: 10:00 AM Sunday morning worship: 11:00 AM Sunday evening Bible study: 5:00 PM Wednesday Bible Study: 6:00 PM Evangelist: David F. Sims

God’s Abundant Grace “abundant grace was upon them all” Acts 4:33

Jesus and Grace Please open your Bible & follow along! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Might surprise you that the Gospels nowhere record Jesus using the word “grace” Did Jesus teach about grace? Did Jesus extend grace? Did Jesus demonstrate God’s grace? 17 times in the Old Testament, God’s compassion is directly connected with His grace. Jesus was also full of compassion for people, and His compassion moved Him to extend grace in His miracles, parables, and interactions with people. God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Outline: Jesus and Grace – The perfect manifestation of God’s grace – Grace in Jesus’ miracles – Grace in Jesus’ parables – Grace in Jesus’ interactions with people God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

The perfect manifestation of God’s grace – Jesus was full of grace Lk. 2:40 “The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” Jn. 1:14 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – Remember: God desires for us to seek & know Him, to love & obey Him, and to be holy like Him. – Jesus is the perfect embodiment of God’s effort to enable us to know Him, love Him, and be like Him. Jesus is the full manifestation of God’s grace. – “ For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Grace in Jesus’ miracles (Matt. 15:29-31) – Did Jesus owe miraculous favors to people? Did He owe a meal to the 5,000 or the 4,000? Why heal the sick? Cure the lepers? Restore the lame? Give sight to the blind? Raise the dead? Cast out demons? – Jesus could have lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and never worked a single miracle, and He still would have been able to save us from our sins. Miracles were a bonus! – Miracles are supernatural…things that man cannot do. Grace is when God does for man what man cannot do for himself. – If Jesus did not owe them these miracles, He must have done them by His Own compassionate free will: grace! – Every miracle is a demonstration of Jesus’ willingness to show favor to sinful people. God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Grace in Jesus’ parables – Jesus used parables to teach about grace The father of the prodigal son – He received one who forsook him (Luke 15:11-24) The king who forgave debt (Matt. 18:21-27) – He forgave more than could be repaid The generous employer (Matt. 20:1-16) – He gave more than was earned The king who gave a wedding feast (Matt. 22:8-10) – He welcomed the outcasts God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Grace in Jesus’ interactions with people – Woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11) – Canaanite woman (Matt. 15:21-28) – Thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43) – Peter, who had denied Him 3 times (John 21:15-17) – Even us today John 1:16 “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” Acts 15:11 “we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus” 2 Cor. 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Eph. 4:7 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Summary – Jesus fully expresses God’s gracious intent to do good for man. – Jesus felt compassion for the weak, and graciously worked miracles to aid them. – Jesus taught about God’s abundant grace in several parables. – Jesus dealt graciously with people then and still today. Therefore: 2 Tim. 2:1 God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

And let us remember: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age… (Titus 2:11-12) God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Would you like to receive God’s grace today? Obey the Gospel! Believe His Word…that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for our sins and was raised up. Repent of your sins…commit yourself to holiness. Confess your faith in God to save you. Be baptized into Jesus for forgiveness of your sins. Continue in the blessed relationship of His favor by remaining faithful in holy conduct. God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

God’s Abundant Grace “abundant grace was upon them all” Acts 4:33