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Show THE PRAISE OF GOD'S GRACE Ephesians 1: 6· 7 The book of Psalms is the Biblical hymn book. It provides us with songs that track every emotion and feeling. We can fmd there songs to sing with sadness or happiness. In the early portions of Luke's Gospel, we have the beginnings of Christmas carols with the song of Mary, of Elizabeth, of Zacharias, of the angelic host, and of the shepherds. They are all beautiful and powerful songs that share with us the provisions of God but none of the songs of praise carry any more personal meaning for you and I than does this passage with the Praise of God's Grace. The Apostle Paul wants the saints at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus to lift their voices in praise to the glory of God. For God has been better to us than we done for have been to ourselves. Just look what He has us. Notice, that the praise of grace is because God "hath made us accepted in the beloved." It is what Dr. Martin King, Jr. talked about that he called the "Beloved Community." He was talking about what God required so that we could live together with one another without Luther respect of persons. It does come are not matter where from, what we have done, who fully accepted as we have born too, members of God's Divine 1 we are we When Christ is the center, we love others He loved them and do care whether they are Jacob or fellowship. Esau, Ahab or Elijah, Mary or Martha, Judas F or He is the beloved and He has so or as John. much love that He through our adoption. What a joy-God's only begotten, well beloved, unadopted Son is our great gift. As we become joint heirs with Him, we have a right to the tree of life. That ought to give us reason enough to sing the praise of His grace. Second, we can sing the praise of grace because "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin Oh, praise God, we are reclaimed, we are saved, we are restored, we are reconciled. The price of our freedom from sin has been settled once and for all by the shares it with you and me " ... power of Jesus' blood and we are delivered. There two verses to this praise. First, we praise Him for are liberating us from the guilt and doom of sin. The wages of sin are paid with His blood not ours. The claims of sin, satan, and death have been completely satisfied. What is more, we praise Him for giving us a new lease with newness of life. Not only are we forgiven but we are also liberated, justified. There is a change in our condition as well as our character. All of this is made possible by the one who came from the Godhead and offered Himself through crucifixion. For God the Father is active for our forgiveness and Jesus Christ is active for the surety of our 2 atonement. The strongest man of the house has disarm strong man and to spoil his house. In closing you ask me what is the real come source to of this forgiveness? Thank you for asking. The text It was says, it is "according to the riches of his grace secured for us at a high cost-it cost Jesus His life-yet it is free to you and me because of "the riches of his grace." In other words, Jesus is all sufficient. He is so rich in grace that He has enough grace for you, for me, for all of us. He is so rich in grace that He has enough grace for unlimited " ... every situation and every need. He is so rich in grace that He handled every one of our sins and washed us in His iniquities. You ought to join me and the hymn writer singing: "Wonderful grace of Jesus, Greater than all my sin; blood for all our How shall my tongue describe it, Where shall its praise begin? Taking away my burden, Setting my spirit free; For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. Wonderful grace of Jesus, Reaching to all the lost; By it I have been pardoned, Saved to the uttermost. Chains have been tom asunder, giving me liberty; For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. Wonderful grace of Jesus, 3 Reaching the most defiled, By its transforming power, Making him God's child, Purchasing peace and heaven, For all eternity; And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches dear me. Chorus: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus Deeper than the mighty rolling sea; Higher than the mountain, Sparkling like a fountain, All sufficient grace for even me. Broader than the scope of my transgressions, Greater far than all my sin and shame. o magnify the precious name Praise His name!" of Jesus, (By Haldor Lillenas Hymn 4 70-"Wonderful of Jesus" in Favorite Hymns of Praise) / 4 Grace |
