The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-05-17

through the grace Of the Lord Jesus
Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Acts 1911.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI-Genesis s:
7: Cor. I1:9: John lis, Il; l Cor. l5:lO;
James 4:6; Peter 40; Peter BIS.
Grace means unmerited favor. Gods
grace means his kindness toward us
through Jesus Christ. (Eph. 2:70
Gods mercy does not go out 10 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
(Eph. 2:4-10.)
Grace brings salvation; it does not
send il. 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:
1. Mans natural state (Eph. 2:1-3).
In the natural man is found all that Is
opposed TO the will and purpose OF
God. ID Dead in trespasses and
sins ". y. 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" (4:19) 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 as
Lazarus was in the grave. (2) Under
the control Of fieshly and worldly lusts
". y. The carnal nature holds sway
over their lives. (3) Under the dOmi-
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. 4:4), the prince of this world
(JOhn Il BY, all who have not been
freed by Christ are under the rule Of
Satan. (4) Under the condemnation
these-death, worldliness, disobedi-
ence. lust of the fiesh-hangs the
wrath and condemnation of God.
2. Mans state by grace (2:410).
% He is alive in Christ ". 81. The
Holy Spirit lays hold upon men dead
In sin and quickens them into life.
(2) Raised up with Christ ". g..
Gods grace not only makes lost men
alive but raises them up with Christ.
(3) Association with Christ in glory
". 81. Christ's incarnation has so
identified himself with the race that
those who are saved are raised I'D TO
be with Christ and shall ultimately
share his glory. The actuating prin-
eiple of God which moved him TO thus
lay hold upon lost men is his love
". ~. Mans salvation is due entirely
to Gods grace. Not only the salvation
has been provided in grace but the
faith which appropriates it is Gods
gift ". 81. Works as grounds of sal.
walton are absolutely excluded
(4) The purpose of God in the saliva.
ton of men (vv. Z, 10Y. (a) 1t is tc
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 be
the transformation of dead and lost
men and their exaltation with Christ
(b) To glorify God through their goot
works ". 10: CT. Matt. 5:16). 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 2:11-14).
Grace is not only essential to sal
vatiOn but essential to right living. L
teaches saved men ~ TO deny ungOd
| illness ". H.. The saved man ha.
the divine nature. The grace which
has saved him teaches HIM the neces
sity of denial of everything that Il
opposed to God. (2) Worldly lust!
". 12). The redeemed man is sur
rounded with the things of the worIc
which have a downward pull upoI
him. The grace of God teaches hin
| 10 ren0unce them. t3) Sober Twin;
". 12). The grace of God teache
the saved man self-control; TO hav,
the reins of his nature well in com
mand and to rule with a strong hand
(4) Righteous living ". 12). Tn
grace Of God teaches the saved mai
to live uprightly with reference t
those about him. 90 Cody Twin,
". 12). 1t teaches him to so live Il
this present world as to enable hin
to meet God and abide in his fellow
ship. (6) 1t teaches the right mo
tive in living wv. 10. 14). The blesse,
hope Of the glorious return of tn
Lord Jesus Christ is the grand incen
tive to holy living In this presen
world. He that has it will keep him
self pure. Il John 3:3)