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

2. Grace and Wrath Please open your Bible & follow along in Romans 5! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

3. Outline: Grace and Wrath – The problem of sin and God’s wrath – Propitiation by Jesus’ sacrifice – Justification and sanctification in Christ – Washing in the blood – Grace saves us from wrath God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

4. The problem of sin (Rom. 5) – We are helpless (vs. 6) – We are sinners (vs. 8), lawbreakers (1 John 3:4) – We are enemies of God (vs. 10) (Jms. 4:4) – We are spiritually dead (vs. 12) (Eph. 2:1) – We are condemned (vs. 18), guilty of the whole law (Jms. 2:10) – This is a problem we each create for ourselves (Rom. 3:23) God’s wrath: things that invoke it – Ungodliness & unrighteousness invoke God’s wrath (Rom. 1:18) – Disobedience invokes God’s wrath (John 3:36; 2 Thess. 1:6-9) – Stubbornness and unrepentance invoke God’s wrath (Rom. 2:5; Heb. 10:26-31 ) – We need help to be saved from God’s wrath against our sin! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

5. Propitiation by Jesus’ sacrifice – Propitiation: the means to turn away God’s wrath (NBD) – “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:2) – “sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10) – “to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17) – “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith” (Rom. 3:24-25) – Summary: Jesus turns away God’s wrath against us! – Next let’s see how Jesus does it… God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

6. Propitiation by Jesus’ sacrifice – Propitiation: the means to turn away God’s wrath – Jesus makes the sinner “not guilty” by taking away sin, by forgiving sin. If Jesus has taken your sins away, there is no cause for God to be angry at you…you are “not guilty” before God. God’s wrath is turned away because there is no reason for God to have wrath against you. – Let’s examine the scriptures that prove it… God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

7. Propitiation by Jesus’ sacrifice – Jesus takes our sin away (John 1:29) – Jesus’ blood forgives our sins (Matt. 26:28) – Jesus’ blood washes away sins (Rev. 7:14) – Our sins are covered (Rom. 4:7-8) – Our sins are remembered no more (Heb. 8:12) – We are released from our sins by His blood (Rev. 1:5) – If our sins have been taken away, forgiven, washed away, covered, forgotten, and released, they cannot be held against us…God’s wrath is turned away (propitiated)! – It was by grace that God gave us such a Savior! – Let’s take a closer look at how Jesus makes us righteous… God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

8. Justification and sanctification in Christ – The sinner is justified by Christ’s blood (Rom. 5:9) Justified – regarded as innocent, righteous, acquitted (Rom. 3:24) Justified by faith: we have peace with God (Rom. 5:1) Justified by grace: makes us heirs to eternal life (Tit. 3:7) Justification of life to all men (Rom. 5:18) – The sinner is sanctified by Christ’s blood (Heb. 13:12) Sanctified: set apart for a holy purpose, purified The sanctified receive forgiveness, inheritance (Acts 26:18) Freed from sin > sanctification > eternal life (Rom. 6:22) – Christ justifies and sanctifies us through His blood So…how do I get the blood? God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

9. Washing in the blood – How do I wash my robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14)? – Romans 6:4-7 - baptism brings us into contact with Jesus’ death, does away with our sin, and frees us from sin – Acts 22:16 - baptism is to “wash away your sins” – Acts 2:38 - baptism is for (unto) forgiveness of sins – 1 Pet. 3:21 - baptism saves you – Mark 16:16 - belief + baptism saves all (from God’s wrath) – The Corinthians were “washed…sanctified…justified” (1 Cor. 6:11) – Baptism marks the moment when the sinner is washed in the blood of Jesus, forgiving his sins and saving him! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

10. Grace saves us from wrath – Jesus rescues us from God’s wrath Rom. 5:9 1 Thess. 1:10 – God’s wrath is directed against sinners, not against those who are forgiven and justified and sanctified by grace! – God’s wrath is directed against His enemies, not against those who have been brought near, made heirs, reconciled, and are at peace with God by grace! – By God’s own grace, we have a Savior who rescues us from God’s wrath against sin. – 1 Thess. 5:9 - we are not destined for wrath, but salvation! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

11. Summary – Sin separates us from God and invokes God’s wrath – Jesus propitiates God’s wrath by taking away our sin He forgives, washes away, covers, forgets, and releases us from, our sins – In His blood, we are justified and sanctified God treats us as innocent, righteous God sets us apart unto holiness, as He is holy – We contact the blood when we are baptized – Grace saves us from God’s wrath! God’s Abundan t Grace Acts 4:33

12. 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

13. Be saved from God’s wrath today! 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

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