Are You a good Christian As good as

Are You a good Christian - As good as you Should be - As good as you Could be

When is the last time you sinned ? Was there ever a day when you did not sin ?

How many sins have you committed ? If you only committed one sin each day and did not commit your first one until age 10 : a. Age 30. . . 7, 300 sins b. Age 45. . . 12, 775 sins c. Age 65. . . 20, 075 sins

You’re not alone ; everyone sins. Sin is rebellion against God. . . it’s obeying one’s own desires. Isaiah 53: 6 a All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; . . .

Sin is a universal problem. Romans 3: 22 b– 23 . . . for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

The result of universal sin is universal condemnation. No one is able to rise above his sins so no one is right before God.

Romans 3: 9 b – 10 . . . We have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;

Isaiah 53: 1 -2 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

The N. T. refers to this separation as spiritual death. Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When Christ returns that separation Becomes eternal. II Thessalonians 1: 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

This is called : “The Law of Sin and Death. ” Romans 8: 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Obviously God provided a way for man to be reunited with Him. That way is our lesson today “Salvation By Grace Through Faith. ”

I. Before God created man He had a plan to save man. A. God waited to reveal His plan until He determined the time was right.

I Peter 1: 20 -21 For He was �� foreknown before the foundation of the world, but �� has appeared �� in these last times for the sake of you 21 who �� through Him are �� believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and �� gave Him glory, so that your faith and �� hope are in God.

Galatians 4: 4 -5 But when �� the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born �� under �� the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under �� the Law, that we might receive the adoption as �� sons.

The Law of Moses was a schoolmaster. Galatians 3: 24 -25 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

The law demonstrate to gravity of sin. Romans 7: 7 -8 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have

Romans 7: 7 -8. . . continued known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet. ” 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.

Romans 7: 13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. 13

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to

Romans 3: 19 -20 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

When Jesus was sacrifices on the cross, God’s covenant with Abraham and the nation of Israel was fulfilled. Israel’s Law was nailed to the cross. Then God brought final judge on the Israel of the Old Testament in 70 A. D.

In Christ God introduced His eternal plan to save man.

The death of Jesus on the cross was a blood sacrifice to atone for sins. I Corinthians 5: 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.

Hebrews 9: 13– 14 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works

What is cleansing of the flesh ? It is not cleansing sin. ( flesh refers to something earthly ) Hebrews 10: 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Jesus freely sacrificed Himself to provide a way of salvation. Ephesians 1: 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace;

II. Today, there are two systems by which man can approach. A. The first system is “The law of works. ” ( Includes all legal systems )

Definition : Any binding code of regulations dispensing only justice wherein one violation condemns. . . with no provision made for justification. For Example : The Law of Moses Law of Sin and Death

B. The second system is the “Law of Faith. ” Definition : Any binding code of regulation where provision is made for error ( sin ) by vicarious payment. . . the DEATH of CHRIST.

Those who approach God via faith in Jesus as the Christ are in this system. Acts 10: 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.

Romans 3: 21 -26 But now apart �� from the Law �� the righteousness of God has been manifested, being �� witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through �� �� faith in Jesus Christ for �� �� all those �� who believe; for �� there is no distinction; 23 for all ���� have sinned and fall

Romans 3: 21 -26 fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift �� by His grace through �� the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, ��

Romans 3: 21 -26 �� because in the �� forbearance of God He �� passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who �� has faith in Jesus.

Eph. 2: 8 -9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 4: 4 -5 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

There is no reason for failure. One doesn’t have to be good enough. But III. Salvation by Grace through faith demands a response.

God has a use for every Christian. He has a use for YOU ! Ephesians 2: 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

To accept the gift of salvation one must leave his former lifestyle. Titus 2: 11 -14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, men 12 �� instructing us to deny ungodliness and �� worldly desires and �� to live sensibly,

Titus 2: 11 -14 righteously and godly �� in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the �� appearing of the glory of ���� our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who �� gave Himself for us �� to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to �� purify for Himself a �� people for His own possession, �� zealous for good

All of us will die and then stand before God to be judged. II Corinthians 5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, . . . ( Cf. - Matt. 12: 36. . . ever careless word )

In Judgment, all those who have chosen the Law of Faith, will be FREED from the works standard. You can face God as pure as the blood of Christ.

Romans 8: 1 -2 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Christians will also be judged for each and every sin, but our penalty has been paid.

Romans 3: 21 -26 . . . being justified as a gift �� by His grace through �� the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation ���� �� in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, �� because in the forbearance of God�� He �� passed over the sins previously

Each person must choose which system he will be under when judged. Under which system are YOU ?

One cannot be under both systems. Galatians 5: 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

You cannot save yourself. Put your faith in Jesus. He can save you. Come to Him !