Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-05-15

GOLDEN TExT-we believe that
through the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ we shall be saved. even as they.
Acts 1911.
ADDITIONAL observation-disclosures 6:
I; Cor. R:9: John 1:i6, IL; Cor 15:1e;
james 4:6: Peter 40; Peter 3:1s.
Grace means unmerited favor. Gods
grace means his kindness toward us
through Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:7)
Gods 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.
!. The Grace of God in Salvation
. tBph. 2:4-10.)
j Grace brings salvation; 1t does not
send It. Jesus Christ, who is the en-
bediment of Gods love and grace,
came bringing salvation with him. In
order to apprehend what the grace of
God has done, observe:
]. Minis natural state (Eph. 2:1-3).
In the natural man is found all that is
opposed to the will and purpose Of
God. % Dead in trespasses and
sins ". u. The supreme need of the
dead man is life, therefore he must
have life from without himself. The
characteristic of one who is dead is
that he is (a) without sensation
past feeling" t4:19) The natural
man, therefore, can neither love God
nor hate sin. until he is 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 az
aIaazarjls was in the grave. (2) Under
the control of fieshly and worldly lusts
". -. The carnal ne ture holds sway
over their lives. (3) Under the dom-
nation of Satan ". y. All unregen-
crate men and women are ruled by Sa-
tan. Since he is the god Of this age
e Cor AZ the prince of this world
John 70 By, all who have not been
freed by Christ are under the rule of
Satan. "a Under the condemnation
and wrath of God " 81. over all
these-death. wondliness, disobedi-
ence, lust Of the fesh--hangs the
wrath and condemnation Of God.
2. Mans state by grace e ;4-10)
az He is alive in Christ w. 81. The
Holy Spirit lays hold upon men dead
I'M sin and quickens them into life,
US) Raised up with Christ " 60.
pd's grace not o"t@ makes lost men
live but raises 4 "A up with Christ.
49, Association h Christ in glory
ytv. 81. Chrst's 3carnation has so
2 identified himself wlth the race that
those who are savt1 are raised up to
be with Christ apl shall ultimately
share his glory. 3 he actuating prin-
siple of God which moved him to thus
". ~. Mans saNation is due entirely
to Gods grace. Nor only the salvation
has been provided in grace but the
faith which appropriates it is Gods
gift ". 81. Works as grounds of sal
vati0n are absolutely excluded
az The purpose e God in the saliva
ton of men (vv. {. 10). (a) II is to
display his grace IN the coming ages.
The demonstration to the inhabitants
of the spheres in which sin has not
,sentered, in the AGES to come, will be
&ihe transformation of dead and lost
men and their exaltation with Christ.
CD To glorify Goo through their good
works ". 10: CT. Matt $50 While
good works have absolutely no part in
the salvation of men Gods purpose in
saving them was that they might do
good works.
II. The Grace OF God in Right Liv-
ing (Titus 2:11-1G.
Grace is not only essential to sal
walton but essential to right living. 1t
teaches saved men Q) to deny ungod-
illness (v, 12). The saved man has
the divine nature. The grace which
has saved him teaches him the neces-
!. sity of a denial of everything that is
sosed to God. 90 Worldly lusts
12). The redeemed man is sur
hded with the things of the world
Itch have a downward pull upon
I'M. The grace of God teaches him
ITO renounce them. (3) Sober living
(v. 12). The grace of God teaches
the saved man self-control to have
the reins of his Dature we'll in com
mand and to rule with a strong hand
a. Righteous living ". 12). The
grace of God teaches the saved man
to live uprightly with reference to
those about him. 90 Cody living
(v. 12l. 1t teaches him to so live in
this present world as to enable him
to meet God and abide in his fellow
ship. fe) It teaches the right mo
tive in living (vv 13, 10 The blessed
I, hope of tile glorious return of the
Lord NJesus christ is the grand incen
ave to holy living in Ibis presenf
world. He that has it will keep him-
self pure. q John 3:3)