• 1 - ...Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
• 15 - ... shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?

• Does grace exist so that we may continue "in sin?"
• Does grace exist so that we may keep on 'sinning?'

• No - Grace does not exist SO we can continue 'in sin' or to keep on sinning!
• We learned in the previous sermon that
• question 1) - God actually took care of sin for the believer so that we can actually no longer live 'in sin' period!
• It is not even possible to 'live in sin' - but it is not because of grace, it is because of what God did to take care of sin!
• question 2) - God said, God forbid that we should choose to serve sin when we are now dead to the law of sin and death!

• During the Old Testament times, sure there was Gods' grace, but notice in your personal bible study, that they had to 'find grace in the eyes God's sight.'
• That grace was based on their earlier actions themselves.
• They had to do good works to receive God's grace for a specific thing was about to take place.
• Do a word study on 'grace' in the OT and you will see what I mean!
• There were also times that God 'winked' at the people ignorance of their actions, but now since Paul, God commandeth all men everywhere to repent - God will no longer wink.  Acts 17:30 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
• Grace is not God 'ignoring' what we do that is wrong and of poor judgment (Philippians 1:9,10)
• He provided grace based on HIS actions, not ours!
• The penalty for sin all was paid by Jesus Christ - God Himself!
• II Corinthians 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.
• He walked the righteous walk and imputes that righteousness to us and takes our sins and washes them away never to impute them to us again - the law no longer exists for righteousness to a believer!
• No law - no transgression!
• Romans 4:15 -Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
• Note: also no wrath!

• Romans 6:18 - Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
• Romans 6:11 - Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Romans 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
• Romans 8:10 - And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
• Ephesians 2:5 - Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
• Philippians 1:10 - That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
• Romans 7:17 - Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

• II Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
• Romans 14:10 - ... for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
• I Corinthians 3:10-15

Now, noting that the law is gone for the believer today, we can see that God's grace has a 'more perfect purpose' than it did in OT and Gospels, etc.

• For a lost person, the goodness of God through grace, mercy, longsuffering, patience, etc. is enabling the lost person to 'store' up his sin ridden works for his day of wrath - unless he were to finally put his trust in the Lord and have it all taken away...  See Romans 2:4-6
• But to & for the believer, God's grace:

• Ephesians 1:6 - To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
• Beloved - Body of Christ
• By Jesus Christ by 'himself'
• through 'his' blood
• the riches of 'his' grace

• Ephesians 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

• Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
• Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

• Titus 2:11,12 - Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

• Romans 3:24 - Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

• II Corinthians 12:9,10 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
• II Timothy 2:1 - Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

• II Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

• I Timothy 1:14 - And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
• faith of
• love of...

• II Thessalonians 2:16 - 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,
• Consolation
• II Corinthians 1:5: For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
• II Corinthians 1:6,7 - And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
• II Corinthians 7:7: And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

• II Thessalonians 1:12 - That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Hymn - "O That Will Be Glory - Glory for Me"
• I never liked the part of "glory for me" ... but now I understand.
• Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him1
• Amazing, eh!
• I have nothing to be ashamed of!
• II Timothy 1:8 - Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
• II Corinthians 4:15 - For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

• II Corinthians 1:12 -  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
•  I Corinthians 5:9-11 - I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

• Ephesians 1:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
• Colossians 4:6 - salt - Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man
• II Timothy 2:24-26 - And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

• Romans 12:6 - Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;...
• prophecy- Preaching; public interpretation of Scripture; exhortation or instruction.
• ministering - some are better ministering to others
• teaching -  some are just better teachers than others
• exhorting - To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action.
• giving - more than money, as well!
• ruling - leaders; leadership, etc.
• showing mercy - some are just better at this - less pride, etc.

• Ephesians 3:2 - If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

• Ephesians 2:7 - That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
• Read Ephesians2:4-7 - But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

• Romans 12:3 - For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
• It is HIM - not us!
• Ever learning yet never able to learn ...  Our education, books, riches, goals of gain through increase designs, etc.

• Romans 5:17,20 - For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 20: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
• Can't stop all "sinning," but gives victory over it all through grace!

• Acts 20:32 - And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

• Acts 20:24 -  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
• Learn Romans 4-8 and tell others!