CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
September 15, 2024
We Have the Promise of God’s Grace
Titus 3:4-7
Today we are looking at grace. What is grace? The biblical definition of
grace is God’s unmerited favor, or underserved gift, that cannot be
earned. God has promised to pour out His grace on those who
recognize and receive the gift Jesus gave to all who believe. These
verses we read from Titus 3 have a whole lot in them. They point out
that what we have received is not because we have earned it. God’s
grace is not given because of how good we are. God’s grace is given
because of how good He is, how much He loves those He created.
Earlier in Titus in chapter 2:11, Paul makes it clear who can receive
God’s grace. “For the grace of God that brings us salvation has
appeared to all men.” So, God has made His salvation and His grace
available to everyone. In some ways I think the promise of God’s grace
can be difficult to understand and one also difficult for people to grab
hold of and receive. My reason for saying that is the concept in our
modern world that you do not get anything for nothing. People want to
earn what they have or at least feel you have to do something. There is
always a catch. So, because of our own skepticism and Satan’s
accusations, we might have trouble fully receiving this promise
The next set of scriptures tells us a whole lot about God’s nature. Why
God does what He does, why grace is available to all of God’s children
and what the benefits of this promise are.
Let us look at what is said in Ephesians 2 beginning with verse 4.
“But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us
alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by
grace you have been saved and God raised us up with Christ and seated
us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. In order that in the
coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
We could and may in the future cover all of the things we are told
about God, His grace, His mercy, His love in these verses but let us
focus on the promise of God’s grace this morning. God’s grace is
something we cannot earn. God has made grace available because he
loves you and me and is committed to you and me. So, what do we
need to do to receive God’s promised grace? One thing. Pray this
3-word prayer, “God thank you!” God knows your limitations, he
created us. God built within a need for two things; a need for one
another and a need for God. God does not require perfection. God does
require a thankful heart. God has made a way for everyone to be saved.
All God asks of us to receive the grace promised to us is a thankful and
faithful heart. It is explained very well in these final two verses I am
going to share with you found also in Ephesians 2. We are reminded of
this in verse 8 and 9. “For it is by grace you have been saved through
faith and this not from yourselves it is the gift of God. Not of works so
that no one can boast.” What a tremendous promise God’s grace for us
is. God’s grace can be felt and experienced a number of ways. We are
all different. God’s promise of grace is there for all to receive. Each of
us here this morning may experience the grace of God in different
ways. The reality is that unmerited favor is yours and mine to claim. The
promise of God’s grace is real and changes lives. What a great and
glorious God we have!
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Sunday School 9:00
Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study
Today: Special Church of the Brethren Mission Offering
Envelopes are available in the back if you would like to
participate.
We need volunteers for the children’s message during worship
and for story lessons in the nursery. Please sign up.
Pastor Larry Traxler (217) 454-2362
Donation Box for September: utilities
First Sundays: Food Bank donations
Keep in Your Prayers
Elliott (Evelyn Eads’ great-grandson); Alan Baker; Ruth Siburt;
Sharon Traughber; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry;
Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Fansler; Stacie Warren;
Nancy Gorrell; Nora Hanaver; Ron and Kathleen Petersen;
Doug Larrick; Shirley Clarkson; David and Jan Bower; Debbie
Garvey Leibrock; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young;
Mayo and Darlene Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims
of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian
church; the Haitian church; those in the middle of war and
violence; military and other services and their families; Brethren
Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the West Branch congregation
and for the Anabaptist Disabilities Network, their staff and work.
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