33 Riches of Divine Grace

1. 33 Riches of Divine Grace Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ • Being made acceptable to God – χαριτόω, charitoō • to make charming, lovely, agreeable • to peruse with grace, compass with favor • to honor with blessings • Presumably we are not acceptable as we are? • Why not? • But then there’s the world view! • Eph 1:5,6 – “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.” • Amazing isn’t it! 1 Mar 16, 2008 Bob Eckel

2. 33 Riches of Divine Grace Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ • What are components of this acceptance? • Being Made Righteous • Imputed – II Cor 5:21 “For He hath made Him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” • In my opinion, this is one of the most important verses in the Word of God • What does the verse really say? • Let’s pick it apart – word by word • Impute - to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over • Reflects fact more than opinion or supposition • Sanctified Positionally 2 Mar 16, 2008 Bob Eckel

3. 33 Riches of Divine Grace Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ • Explain ‘sanctified positionally’ in simple terms • Sanctified – hagiazō, set apart, consecrate, make holy • Positionally vs. conditionally • In Christ – John 17:19“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” • Notice the sequence of sanctification • Reflect again on imputation • Is there any change in the intrinsic value of the sanctified? • See Matt 23:17-23 • No, the work is all His • I Cor 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” • We in ourselves have no intrinsic value other than His creation • Perfected Forever 3 Mar 16, 2008 Bob Eckel

4. 33 Riches of Divine Grace Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ • Perfected – teleioō, to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end • Heb 10:14 “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” • Notice the continuing theme here of those that have been sanctified • And for how long? • And remember the topic before us – ‘33 Riches of Divine Grace’ • Made Accepted in the Beloved • Let’s look back again at Eph 1:5,6 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.” 4 Mar 16, 2008 Bob Eckel

5. 33 Riches of Divine Grace Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ • Not of us, but of Him • But, God’s acceptance is conditional • John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” • Made Meet • Col 1:12 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” • hikanōsanti – to qualify or to make sufficient, render fit • to equip one with adequate power to perform duties of one • What are these duties? • II Cor 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” 5 Mar 16, 2008 Bob Eckel

6. 33 Riches of Divine Grace Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ • What does this ministry look like? • But remember always, there is no distinction between any of us who believe • Rom 3:22 “Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” • All you need to do to live the life is believe: • How are you doing with this aspect of your salvation? 6 Mar 16, 2008 Bob Eckel