The Arvada enterprise., 1919-05-15
LESSON FOR MAY 1s.
THE GRACE OF GOD.

THE GRACE OF GOD.
LESSON TEXTS - Epheslans 3:%-lo:
Titus 2:ll-lA.
GOLDEN TEXT-we believe that
through the grace OF the Lord Jesus
Christ we shall be saved. even az they
Acts 1911.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI~Genesis s.:
I: 2 Cor. lI:9; John l:l6. II; Cor, l5:1o
lanes 43; I Peter 4:l0: . Peter 3:ls.
Grace mems unmerited favor. Gods
grace means his kindness toward us
through Jesus Christ. (Eph. 2:I0
Iod's mercy does not go out to men be-
cause they are good but because he
Is good and desires to bestow that
goodness upon lost and ruined men In
order to make them good.
I. The Grace Of God In Salvation
tEph. 2:4-10.)
Grace brings salvation; 1t does not
send It. Jesus Christ, who is the EN-
bodiment Of Gods love and grace.
came bringing salvation with him. In
order to apprehend what the grace of
God has done, observe:
I. Mans natural state (Eph. 2:1-3.
In the natural man Is found all that Is
opposed to the will and purpose of
God. QD Dead In trespasses and
sins ". ~. The supreme need Of the
head man Is life. therefore he must
have life from without himself. The
characteristic OF one who IL dead Is
that he is (a) without sensation
"pnst feeling" (4:10.) The natural
man. therefore. can neither love God
nor hate sin until he IL made alive.
(b) Without motion. Activity Is the
demonstration Of life. So far as God
and holiness are concerned they are
motionless. They are as helpless as
Lazarus was In the grave. (2) Under
the control Of fieshly and worldly lusts
". p. The cnrnal nature holds sway
over their lives. (3) Under the domi-
natiOn Of Satan ". p. All unregen-
crate men and women are ruled by Sa-
tim. Since he Is the god Of this age
e Cor. 40. the prince Of this world
(John 12:SD. all who have not been
freed by Christ are under the rule Of
Satan. W Under the condemnation
and wrath Of God ". 81. Over all
these-death, worldliness. disobedi-
ence. lust Of the nesh-hangs the
wrath and condemnation Of God.
:. Mans state by grace (2:4.1O).
~ He r. alive in Christ ". ~. The
Holy Spirit lays hold upon men dead
n tnH..
t2) Raised up with Christ ". 81.
Gods grace not only makes lost men
alive but raises them up with Christ
t3) Association with Christ in glory
". o.. Christ's Incarnation has s1
identified himself with the race that
those who are saved are raised up IA
be with Christ and shall ultimately
share his glory. The actuating prin.
ciple Of God which moved him to thus
lay hold upon lost men Is his love
". ~. Mans salvation In due entirely
to Gods grace. Not only the salvation
has been provided In grace but the
faith which appropriates II In Gods
gift ". 81. Works ~ grounds Of sal.
walton are absolutely excluded
~ The purpose Of God In the saliva.
tiOn Of men (vv. Z. 10Y. (a) II is ia
display his grace In the coming ages
The demonstration TO the Inhabitants
Of the spheres In which sin has not
entered. In the ages to come, will he
the transformation Of dead and lost
men and their exaitRtiOn with Christ
(h) To glorify God through their good
works ". 10: #. Matt. $40. While
good works have absolutely no part In
the salvation Of men Gods purpose IN
SnvinG them was that they might da
good works.
u. The Grace Of God In Right LIv.
Ing tritus 2:Il-l4.
0rnce is not only essential 10 snl.
walton but essential to right living. II
teaches saved men az 10 deny ungod.
iiness ". 12). The saved man Inns
the divine nature. The grace which
has snvcd him teaches him the ncces.
sity Of II denial Of everything thnt is
opposed to God. (2) Worldly iusis
w. 12). The redeemed innn is sur,
rounded with The things Of the world
which hnve downward pull upon
him. The vrncr Of God icnchcs him
10 rcnounce them. t3) Sober living
". i2). Tn. grace Of God ,cnchc.
the saved mnn sclf.cOntrOl; to hive
the r.ins Of his nature well In com
mnnd and 10 rule 9th q strong hnnd
~ Righteous living ". l2). The
grace Of God '"nchcs N. saved man
10 live nprIghiiy with reference IA
those nboui him. 20 Cody living
". 12. II t.nches him 10 Va live In
this present world M to enable him
Ia meet God md nhidc IN his fellow
ship. U) II 'cnches the right mo
tive In living tyv. IL. ~. The blessed
hope ~ III. glorious return ~ IN.
Lord Jesus Chris, " IN. grand inc.n
'lv" To holy living In his present
world. ~. Tint bns II will keep him
self nSjrc, Il John 3.3)