33 Riches of Divine Grace

33 Riches of Divine Grace Within the Much More Care of God • What is an object? • According to Merriam-Webster’s 1st definition • something material that may be perceived by the senses • something that when viewed stirs a particular emotion • The focus today is ‘us’ (the body of Christ collectively and individually) as objects of God’s ‘Much More Care’ • Rom 5:8-10 “But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” 1 June 29, 2008 Bob Eckel

33 Riches of Divine Grace Within the Much More Care of God • Objects of His Love • John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, …” • Rom 5:8 “But God commended His love towards us ..” • Eph 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, …” • What is the basis of God’s love? • Is it because of our intrinsic value? • Is it because we’ve tried hard and He therefore was willing to be merciful? Doesn’t that make it even much more? • Objects of His Grace • Salvation- remember the 3 tenses of being saved • was saved • am being saved • will be saved 2 June 29, 2008 Bob Eckel

33 Riches of Divine Grace Within the Much More Care of God • Eph 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:” • Security – ‘no worries’ • Rom 5:2 “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” • Rom 5:17 “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” • Service – definition? • John 17:18 “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” 3 June 29, 2008 Bob Eckel

33 Riches of Divine Grace Within the Much More Care of God • Eph 4:7 “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Why are these verses placed here under service? • Instruction – under ‘Us as Objects of His Grace’? • Titus 2:12,13 “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;” • I Cor 6:3 “Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? • Objects of His Power • Eph 1:19 “And what [is] the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, …” • Phil 2:13 “For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of [His] good pleasure.” 4 June 29, 2008 Bob Eckel

33 Riches of Divine Grace Within the Much More Care of God What is the basis of this power? Read on to Eph 1:20 – the resurrection! Do you sense this power, and how? • Objects of His Faithfulness • Heb 13:5 NIV “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said “never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” • In the Greek this is doubly emphatic, it’s • ‘not in the slightest chance’ • ‘not even remotely possible’ • Phil 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:” 5 June 29, 2008 Bob Eckel

33 Riches of Divine Grace Within the Much More Care of God How’s your resting going lately? • Objects of His Peace • Phil 4:6,7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” • Col 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Peace  Anxiety How are you doing here? • Objects of His Comfort Comfort is paraklesis = alongside + call Consider paraklete as the termused to describe the Holy Spirit 6 June 29, 2008 Bob Eckel

33 Riches of Divine Grace Within the Much More Care of God • II Thess 2:16,17 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work. • II Cor 1:3,4 “Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” Have you experienced this object of His great care? • Objects of His Intercession • Heb 7:25 “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them. 7 June 29, 2008 Bob Eckel

33 Riches of Divine Grace Within the Much More Care of God • Rom 8:34 “Who [is] he that condemns? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” • Heb 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” If we are In Christ, why would we need intercession? 8 June 29, 2008 Bob Eckel

33 Riches of Divine Grace