Amazing Grace - Part 1

Ephesians 2:1-9 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised

us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

This week, our Wednesday evening Small Group continued in it's video study of classic biblical concepts. Pastor Kennedy pointed out that Bible Studies and Sunday Sermons often talk about “grace”, but what exactly is God’s grace? This glorious concept is the central truth of the Christian faith. The pinnacle of biblical revelation is that “by grace you have been saved”. Therefore, if we do not know what grace is, then we cannot be saved. So, what is grace? Let’s climb that mountain of truth and examine it’s glory, as we look up into the heights of the grace of God.

One facet of this precious grace is that it involves a great sacrifice; even the sacrifice of one’s own life. Yet, this doesn’t come close to the shinning pinnacle of God’s grace. Flame of God by Amy Carmichael “

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary
O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod;
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God 

Let"s continue Pastor Kennedy's lesson on God's grace in our next post.
In Christ, Brian