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

Blessed Assurance of Grace Please open your Bible & follow along in 1 John 5:13! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Questions asked by the concerned Christian: – Can I know for sure that I am in a saved condition? – How does grace save me and keep me saved? – What must I do to stay saved? God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Outline: The Blessed Assurance of Grace – God’s promise to save – How grace saves the sinner – How grace keeps one saved – What must I do to stay saved? – The blessed assurance of grace God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

God’s promise to save – 1 John 2:25 “This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.” – Titus 1:2 “the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago” – Heb. 6:13-19 – Heb. 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” – Rom. 4:21 “being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform” – God promised to save people…that promise gives us confidence! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

How grace saves (Acts 15:11; Eph. 2:5,8) – Sin separates us from God…grace is God’s desire + effort to reconcile (restore, reunite) us to Himself. – By grace we are called to God (Gal. 1:6; 2 Tim. 1:9) God doesn’t have to call anyone, but He does! – By grace we are forgiven of sins (Eph. 1:7) God doesn’t have to forgive sins, but He does! – By grace we are redeemed (Eph. 1:7; Rom. 3:24) God doesn’t have to rescue anyone from sin, but He does! – By grace we are justified (Rom. 3:24; Titus 3:7) God doesn’t have to regard anyone as innocent, but He does! – By grace we are made heirs (Acts 20:32; Titus 3:7) God doesn’t owe us an inheritance in heaven, but He gives it! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

How grace keeps me saved – Grace is God doing for man what man cannot do for himself – Grace prevents Satan from snatching you away (John 10:27-29) “He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:3) You can choose to leave God, but Satan cannot kidnap you. – Grace prevents Satan from forcing you to sin (1 John 5:18) No more demon possessions…free will is protected. A way of escape from every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13) – Grace provides law to guide us on the path (Titus 2:11-12) We are not saved by law, but obedience keeps us from falling. – Grace provides forgiveness if we stray (1 John 1:9) Not automatic or continual…we must seek His forgiveness! Draw near to His throne of grace in time of need (Heb. 4:16) God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Is a Christian once saved, always saved? – Some receive grace in vain (2 Cor. 6:1) – Some nullify grace (Gal. 2:21) – Some fall from grace (Gal. 5:4) – “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame” (Heb. 6:4-6). – “How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:29) – The “once saved, always saved” doctrine is false hope! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

What must I do to stay saved? – To be “in grace” is to be in a favorable relationship with God – Rom. 5:2 “stand in grace” – Acts 13:43 “continue in grace” – John 3:36; Heb. 5:9 “obey the Son” – I Cor. 15:1-2 “hold fast the word” – Jms. 1:12 “persevere under trial” – Rom. 2:7 “perseverance in doing good” – Rev. 2:10 “be faithful until death” – 1 Tim. 4:16 persevere in doctrine, “for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” – I know I am saved when I meet the divine conditions for receiving and remaining in God’s grace. God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

The blessed assurance of grace Titus 3:7 “by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” Rom. 5: 17 “those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” 2 Thess. 2:16 “eternal comfort and good hope by grace” 1 Pet. 5:10 “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” Acts 20:32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” We can depend on God’s grace to fulfill God’s promise. God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

Summary – Our confidence in salvation is not based on wishful thinking, but on evidence – Evidence that God has promised salvation – Evidence that grace saves us – Evidence that grace works to keep us saved – Evidence that I stay saved while I walk in grace – Evidence that grace gives to assure the saved “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13) God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

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

You can know with confidence that you are saved. If you do not have confidence in your condition, act now! Believe 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 Christ to save you. Be baptized into Jesus for forgiveness of your sins…this marks the moment when grace saves the sinner. Continue in the blessed relationship of His favor by remaining faithful in godliness. God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

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