CHRIST'S SANCTUARY OF SALVATION MINISTRIES  

SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDIES                    

INTRODUCTION - Mercy and grace are closely related with similar meanings but not exactly the same. Grace is a free gift of undeserved and unmerited divine favor and love given to all humans for their regeneration - Eph.2vs7-9. In Scripture, mercy is often equated with a deliverance from judgment - 1Tim.1v13; and grace is always the extension of blessings to the unworthy. According to the bible, we all deserve eternal punishment in hell fire because of our sins - Eccl.7v20; Rom.6v23; Rev.20v11-15; but our everyday living is an act of divine grace and mercy because we deserve nothing good from God. Common grace refers to the blessings that God sovereignly bestows on all of mankind regardless of their spiritual standing before Him. Eternal salvation, forgiveness of sins, abundant blessings, fullness and gifts of the Spirit are all gifts of grace. Divine grace and truth arethe foundation of Christian faithwhich Jesus Christ our Savior brought for the whole world - John1vs14-17. Our salvation, successful Christian lives and victorious living hang on divine grace - Eph.2v8-9. Grace teaches us the ways to please God and offer help to do so only if allowed-Titus2vs11-12. These are some dimensions or categories of divine grace:                                                                                                                    

1. EXEMPTION GRACE – This is to be exempted from evil occurrences. Examples include: a. NOAH AND HIS HOUSEHOLD - Gen.6v8; vs13-18.  

b. LOT AND HIS FAMILY - Gen.19vs1-17; even though they escaped destruction, but his wife forfeited the grace vs 25-26.    

c. RAHAB WITH HER HOUSEHOLDS - Joshua2vs1-21; 6vs17-24. She was counted among the genealogy of Christ - Matt.1v5.    

d. ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST receives grace of forgiveness and adoption that exempts us from the coming destruction of the whole world and eternal doom of all unbelievers and sinners - John3v16; Eph.1v7.  

2. SELECTION GRACE – This is to be divinely selected to perform certain roles extraordinarily. Examples include:

a. JACOB was chosen above his twin brother to carry Abrahamic covenant which all believers inherited through Jesus Christ - Rom.9vs10-16. 

b. KING SAUL was selected to be the first king in Israel - 1Sam.9vs15-17; 10v1; but he lost the grace through disobedience, arrogance and stubbornness - 1Sam.13vs8-15; 15vs1-30; 28vs5-6.  

c. KING DAVID was selected above his seven elder brethren to be anointed to take the position of king Saul - 1Sam.16vs1-13.

d. MARY THE MOTHER OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST was not the only virgin and devout of her time, but she was divinely selected - Lk.1vs26-38.  Divine selection is not by merit - 1Cor.1vs26-29. 

3.  ENABLING GRACE – This is to receive strength and ability to perform and function well in some things that are naturally impossible and difficult for others, to possess holy zeal and passion to do extra-ordinarily than others in God's work and career. We shall learn about this in our study. 

SOME OTHER TREASURES WE CAN BENEFIT FROM DIVINE GRACE

The most common understanding of the word grace is God's unmerited favor and undeserved mercy that is always available and freely given to every believing sinner for salvation with all other spiritual and physical blessings.                                                                   

1. We are saved by grace which Christ brought for us through His sacrifice and agonizing death on the cross - Eph.2vs5, 8, 11.  

2. We receive justification by grace - Rom.3v24; Titus3v7; and the forgiveness of sins - Eph.1v7.                                                                                                                                                           

3. Grace is the basis for the Christian faith, and we enjoy what grace made available for us by faith, it is a free gift, not by our works, or reputation, it costs us nothing, except our faith - Eph.2vs8-9. Titus 3v5.                                                                                                                          

4.Grace alone makes the difference; nobody deserves it except those that are divinely given - Rom.9vs14-16. To experience genuine salvation is by grace because it was rejected by others. It was grace that found virgin Mary among other virgins in her time - Lk.1v26-28.                                                                                                                                                               

5. Grace is divinity expressed in humanity. That is, Christ working through humanity, doing extra-ordinarily beyond human ability - 1Cor.15v10.                                                                                       

6. Ministerial calling is by the grace of God - Gal.1v15; Eph.3v8.                                                                    

7. Grace is a goodwill of God towards humanity and His good works in us - Lk.2vs14                                    

8. Who we are and all what we are enjoying in Christ today are made available by divine grace - Eph.2v7; grace makes salvation and all spiritual blessings available, and faith make it your possession because somebody paid the price for it.                                                                    

9. Divine grace makes a difference between Christianity and other religions. Divine grace abolished some aspects of ceremonial bondages of the law - Hebrew10vs4-6, 12-18. Eph.2vs13-19; Col.2vs13-14; Heb.7v19; but the greatest aspect of the law is to be kept - Matt.5vs17-19.   

10. From the foundation of the Old Testament, we know that grace is part of God's character - Psalm103v8; 2Chronicles30v9; Joel 2v13; Neh.9v31; Jonah4v2.  He is also the giver of grace to whoever trusts in Him - Psalm84v11; Zech.12v10; James4v6.  

THE WONDERFUL IMPACTS OF DIVINE GRACE ON BELIEVERS' LIVES 

John 15vs1-8; Tit.2v11-13   

The wonderful impacts of divine grace are numerous and incomparable with other Christian experiences and spiritual gifts. Grace is the ongoing benevolent act of God working in us without which we can do nothing - John 15v5. There are many things we cannot do by carnal efforts except through the enablement of divine grace and Spirit of God - Zech.4v6. We are going to learn about divine grace given to some heroes of faith and its great impact on them, both in the Old and New Testament.

a.  MOSES - Exo.3vs1-13; 32vs9-14; vs30-32; Numbers 12vs1-13; 14vs11-20;  Deut.9vs23-29.  Moses was able to tolerate many rebellious acts of the Israelites, which didn't stop him from interceding for them, this is enduring grace upon his life. Every church worker, leaders with all believers should emulate these wonderful virtues in Moses' life. God is able to give us the grace to tolerate and endure with one another as Christian family, and with our neighbors.  Moses also received grace to deny himself from the legitimate rights and benefits of Egypt to be counted with people of God - Heb.11vs24-26.  

b. JOSEPH - Gen.37vs13-28; 50vs15-21.  It was a gracious heart that made Joseph forgive and do good to his brethren that committed hurtful and bitter offence against him. True forgiveness is not easy for the flesh, but divine grace will make us able, divine grace is sufficient to enable us to satisfy all the demands of God in His words - 2Cor.12v9; Matt.5vs43-48; Prov.24v29; 1Thess.5v15; 1Pet.3v9.  Many people are so cruel and hurtful to us, but it is only divine grace that will help us to forgive and show unconditional love to them, e.g. Our Savior Jesus Christ - Luke.23v34; Paul and Stephen - 2Tim.4v16; Acts 7vs59-60.                                                                                                                              

c. ABIGAIL - 1Sam.25vs1-38. By the help of divine grace of tolerance and endurance, she was able to live with her husband who was so cruel and evil even in God's sight to the extent that God killed him - 1Cor.13v7.                                                                                                                              

d. APOSTLE PAUL - 1Cor.15v10; 2Cor.12vs7-11; He did greater works of the gospel and passed through many persecutions, afflictions and trials by the help of divine grace. 2Cor.11vs22-33.                                                                                                                                                                      Grace is a vaccine that energizes us to function productively in the vineyard of God. Grace is not the basis for kingdom irresponsibility but boosts our willingness to be useful - Heb.12vs28-29. Grace is not a license for sin and corrupt acts, but a solution to the life of iniquity - Rom.6vs1-6; vs15; grace made us to be allergic to sin and addicted to righteousness Rom.6v18. Moses' law came with some unaffordable protocols and bondages, but grace came with freedom - Matt.23vs1-4; Rom.8v2.                                                                                                            

Divine grace makes it easy for us to be pressing forward on the heavenly way in times of trials, weariness, disappointments and hopelessness - Judges8vs4-6; Rom.8vs35-39; Gal.6v9. It takes divine grace to remain steadfast in faith when others are going astray - Eze.44vs15-16; vs 23; Isaiah 60vs1-3; 1Cor.15v58.   

OUR RESPONSE TO DIVINE GRACE- 2Pet.3v18; 2Tim.2v1.

Accept the offer of divine grace for salvation - Matt.11vs28-30, before it is too late - Isaiah55vs6-7; 2Cor.6v2.  The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears which should not be neglected.  We need to fall on our knees in worship and thanksgiving and approach the throne of grace with confidence - Heb.4v16; let us be surrounded by the grace of God for successful Christian living - Titus 2vs1-3; 1Tim.1vs12-14. Always depend on the grace of God for sustenance and enablement to follow divine instructions on every personal, family and social issues.   Having grace-filled hearts and lives will prompt us to share God's love with all people in words, in giving and in our faces - Colo.4v6; Eccl.10v12; Psalm 45v2; Isaiah50v4; Zech.1v13.  Grace is a blessing that can be used to be a blessing to others.  What grace teaches, He will help us to do, and always available now before it's door finally closes - James4v6; Gal.2v21; 2Cor.6v1.