1. Acts 15:7-11 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

2. Acts 15:7-11 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

3. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” Acts 15:7-11

4. Celebrating the Grace of God Part I

5. Acts 15 - Church Squabble What are we going to tell people about God, sin, and salvation?

6. Acts 15:11 “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

7. “My hope is built on nothing less than...” “Nothing in my hands I bring simply to the...”

9. Four reasons people have a hard time celebrating God’s grace

10. 1. A Wrong View of God

11. Luke 15 is perhaps the most radical chapter in the Bible because the stories don’t end like the people expect them to end.

12. Have you ever let it sink in that there is a verse in the Bible that says God does not want one person to perish? (II Peter 3:9)

13. We will struggle with grace until we have the same view of God that Jesus had.

14. 2. A Wrong View of Freedom

15. Why are there pharisees in every generation? Simple answer

16. Why are there pharisees in every generation? Simple answer – People want them

17. Freedom brings responsibility

18. Freedom brings responsibility – that can be scary

19. Grace threatens some people because it makes them so responsible for their decisions. There will always be people who are quite secure being in slavery.

20. 3. A Wrong View of Salvation.

21. Many people still think they should find salvation the Old Fashioned Way - by earning it.

23. Dear God,

24. Dear God, I’ll do 90-95%...

25. Dear God, I’ll do 90-95%... please take up the slack!

26. Dear God, I’ll do 90-95%... please take up the slack! That’s heresy.

27. Salvation is, always has been, and always will be a matter of atonement and not attainment.

28. 4. A Wrong View of Self.

29. A lot of people have trouble with grace because they don’t want to admit they need it. That’s the reason the cross was a stumbling block.

30. A lot of people have trouble with grace because they don’t want to admit they need it. That’s the reason the cross was a stumbling block. The cross preaches helplessness.

31. To understand the cross is to realize we are totally helpless and dependent upon God.

32. Isaiah 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

33. “Forgive me of my sins” – beginning to see we should also pray – “Lord forgive me of my righteousness”

34. Reacting to God’s grace is not optional! WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE!