11-09-97………To be or not to be? …….ICor. 15

Be all that you can be. A response to God’s Grace.

By Ronald E. George Jr. preached at SFBC

this is the final Question of this sermon series… originally asked by Hamlet, but answered by the apostle Paul in I Cor. 15:10

Scripture text: I Cor. 15:1-11

1Cor 15:1 (KJS) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. {keep...: or, hold fast} {what: Gr. by what speech} 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. {one...: or, an abortive} 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether [it were] I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

Key Verse: 1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Purpose of this sermon is to show the Grace of God and ask for a response that is pleasing to Him. Let’s First look at God’s Grace.

1. God’s Grace…

A. Grace is God’s good will, loving-kindness, favor, of the merciful kindness by which He exerts his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, and strengthens. We should think of God’s Grace towards Paul and then to us. Grace increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

B. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.Mercy is not getting what you deserveWhom have you shown mercy to lately? One night in 1935, Fiorello H. La Guardia, mayor of New York, showed up at a night court in the poorest ward of the city. He dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench. One case involved an elderly woman who was caught stealing bread to feed her grandchildren. La Guardia said, "I've got to punish you. Ten dollars or ten days in jail." As he spoke, he threw $10 into his hat. He then fined everyone in the courtroom 50 cents for living in a city "where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat." The hat was passed around, and the woman left the courtroom with her fine paid and an additional $47.50.

C. Grace rests on the three facts of the gospel: 1. Jesus died 2. Was buried, and 3. Was resurrected on the third day, so that we may be saved into a relationship with the Father. God's grace means that our standing with Him does not depend on who we are and what we've done. It depends on who He is and what He's done.

Someone has offered this penetrating comparison of the difference between revenge, justice, and grace. If someone brutally murders your son and you take things into your own hands, that's revenge. If you're content to allow the law and the courts to arrest and punish the offender, that's justice. But if you pardon the murderer, adopt him, and take him home to live with you as your son, that's grace!

Think of what we have been given in Christ: forgiveness, eternal life, and all the riches of heaven, all at a cost we could have never paid! But that's not all, we have the privilege of sharing this treasure with others. Now, let’s look at our Response to God.

2. Our Response…All that we are and all that we do is dependent on the Grace of the Living God. Who is maker of heaven and earth?

A. Have we Received or Rejected God’s Free Gift of Grace. During the early days of the Civil War a Union soldier was arrested on charges of desertion. Unable to prove his innocence, he was condemned and sentenced to die a deserter's death. His appeal found its way to the desk of Abraham Lincoln. The president felt mercy for the soldier and signed a pardon. The soldier returned to service, fought the entirety of the war, and was killed in the last battle. Found within his breast pocket was the signed letter of the president. Close to the heart of the soldier were his leader's words of pardon. He found courage in grace. I wonder how many thousands more have found courage in the emblazoned cross of their King.

B. Are we Standing in it. Are we Being Saved by it. Are we continuing to Believe in it with your life? Faith without works is like screen doors on a submarine. Does Grace have an effect on our earthly lives now or is it only for death that we await it’s power? Some have believed it in vain. God’s Grace has had no effect in their lives.

C. Are we allowing God to make you who he wants you to be. Be all you can be. A Correct response to God’s Grace… You are what you are by the Grace of God. Not on our own merit but according to the Lords free gift.

D. Are we delivering it to others. Declare it and preach it so that others may be saved. Give the good news to everyone.Paul was not a persecutor any more but now a builder of the Lord’s church. Are we building up others in the Lord?

E. Are we being all that we can Be in light of the power of the Grace of God.Be all that you can be. Paul said "I am what I am because of God’s Grace."

Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

What was I supposed to be? By Ray BoltzWas His Grace bestowed upon you in vain or can you say not I but it was the grace of God? So We preached and so you have believed.