The Church in Action

Lesson 1

Lesson Text—John 1:10-13

John 1:10-1410 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Lesson Text—John 1:10-13

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Lesson Text—John 1:14-16

John 1:15-1615 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

Lesson Text—John 1:17-18

John 1:17-1817 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Lesson Text—Acts 4:31-33

Acts 4:31-3331 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Lesson Text—Acts 4:31-33

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Focus Verse—Acts 4:33

Acts 4:33And with great power gave the

apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them

all.

Focus Thought

Grace is divine power that

causes the heart to rejoice and

reflects in the lives of those

who find favor with God.

I. The Lost State of ManIntroduction

The church in the Book of Acts has served as a pattern for every group of believers since that time. It gave us examples of the new-birth experience, demonstrated effective evangelism, displayed an attitude of generous giving, allowed the Holy Spirit to work through believers, and verified that they were true believers through signs and wonders. This first church earned the right to be considered a model for future congregations.

I. The Lost State of ManFrom the focus verse of this

lesson we see another admirable quality among the early believers—great grace was upon all of them. We generally think of grace as God’s redemptive act toward sinners—the gift of God extended to fallen mankind. In the New Testament, grace through faith is contrasted with the rigorous regulations demanded in the Old Testament. Certainly, the grace that brought us salvation is the highest expression of God’s love for us.

I. The Lost State of ManStill, the term grace has various

uses, the first of which was God’s unmerited favor. Accomplished through the redemptive act of Christ at Calvary, grace made it possible for fallen humanity to be reunited with the Creator. However, God’s grace does not end at redemption; it continues to work in the life of the believer. Even the focus verse of this lesson expands the meaning of grace beyond initial salvation.

I. The Lost State of ManStrong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary descriptively defines it as “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude, joy, liberality, and graciousness.”

Certainly, the early church had received God’s redemptive grace. However, Bible commentators indicate that the great grace described in this Scripture passage was God’s special favor toward these believers, which was something not necessarily experienced by all believers.

I. The Lost State of ManA mighty anointing of the Holy Spirit enabled them to minister to their community through many miracles, which advanced Christ’s kingdom beyond their human capabilities. Bible commentators suggest that the favor of God upon the church was so obvious that the unbelieving community not only recognized God’s preference upon this people, but they also respected the church because of such anointing from God.

I. The Lost State of ManMany sinners were amazed by what God was doing and were eager to become a part of the church. (See Acts 2:47.) Perhaps this is a challenge from the Scripture not only to be saved by the grace of God, but also to grow in grace after one has been saved.

I. The Lost State of ManThe Lost State of

Man

A. Man’s SinfulnessBy Adam’s disobedience to God

in the Garden of Eden, he lost his created state of innocence and passed his fallen state of mortality to all mankind. None of us can change the fact that we are the descendants of Adam and thus inherited his nature. The morally corrupt fallen nature motivates one to sin.

I. The Lost State of ManThis is not to suggest that we are guilty of sin solely because of Adam’s transgression. Rather, we are guilty because we have personally done wrong. Just as a dog barks because it is a dog, and a cat claws because it is a cat, we humans sin because we are of a fallen, sinful nature. (See Romans 3:23.) Paul described this as the works of the flesh and the bondage of sin. (See Galatians 5:18-21; Romans 7:15-20.)

B. God’s Righteousness B. God’s

Righteousness In contrast to mankind’s

sinfulness, God is righteous. He is without sin—whether by action, motive, or thought. All His ways are right and perfect. His character is flawless and His record is impeccable. God is incapable of sinning. He is the model of perfection and the example to whom we should look. (See Psalm 71:19; 119:137-138.)

C. God’s Judgment of Sin C. God’s Judgment

of Sin Because God is righteous, He

cannot condone sin. He can neither tolerate wickedness among His creation nor ignore its presence. He is obligated by His righteous nature either to destroy that which is wicked or to take action to make right His creation. (See Psalm 9:5-10.) God graciously determined not to destroy His creation but to make a plan of redemption available to all mankind.

I. The Lost State of ManHowever, many people reject God’s grace and challenge His authority to judge their sinfulness. Some even argue that for God to destroy wickedness would somehow detract from His loving character.

To the contrary, God’s perfect nature dispenses perfect and fair judgment, and His position as judge of the whole earth necessitates that He judge mankind according to His righteousness.

A. Man’s SinfulnessIn the Book of Genesis, God is not only the Creator and Sustainer of the earth but also the righteous Judge of the same. (See Genesis 1:1, 31; 3:9-19; 6:5-8; 18:16-33; 19:23-25.)

In the Scriptures God fulfilled His righteous role as the judge of sinners, but He also introduced another attribute of His nature—His grace. God’s grace has been working overtime since mankind first sinned. Even in God’s pronouncement of judgment upon mankind’s sin, He made room for grace. (See Genesis 3:15.)

I. The Lost State of ManThose who decry God’s position as the judge of sin should recognize that grace balances His judicial acts. His judgments are always righteous, and His grace and mercy always precede the judgment.

One might better understand God’s decision to follow through with His creative plan through the analogy of an architect who was designing a multifamily apartment complex. One night the architect was awakened by a horrifying nightmare in which a fire ravaged the building and many lives were lost.

I. The Lost State of ManHis thoughts troubled him to the point that he considered canceling the project. However, people needed a place in which to live. So he incorporated into the design the most remarkable fire escape he had ever considered. With this new plan, he was now conscientiously free to proceed with the creation of the complex.

II. The Grace of God’s PowerThe Grace

of God’s Power

A. FaithWe are saved by grace; however,

grace does not save us apart from faith in Jesus Christ. (See Ephesians 2:8.) Salvation is not something we can earn by our faith. This would make grace––God’s unmerited favor––dependent upon mankind’s ability or inability to believe, making salvation dependent on humanity and thus impossible.

I. The Lost State of ManConversely, the grace of God precedes human faith. Theologians call this prevenient grace—the grace that goes before. It works in our lives before we reach toward God, even before we are capable of responding to Him. This act of God makes it possible for all to have enough faith to respond to God in a positive way. (See Romans 5:8; John 12:32; Acts 18:27.)

I. The Lost State of ManSalvation is somewhat like a

boomerang. God initiated the plan through the Incarnation and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. When mankind could not get to God, He came to mankind with a divine plan sufficient to save everyone. This was the gift of His grace extended to us! Since faith is a prerequisite for salvation, this initial work of grace makes it possible for us to reach out to God in faith. The Scripture describes this as the measure of faith that God gives to everyone (Romans 12:3).

I. The Lost State of ManThe power of grace enables all

mankind to have adequate faith to accept God’s plan of redemption. The boomerang effect is our using the faith He has given us to respond to Him, activating His grace in our lives. Some people have referred to this faith as obedient faith, or saving faith. It is important for us to note that the devil also believes in God, but his belief alone does not save him. His faith condemns him, but our response to God in faith causes God’s grace to bring salvation to our lives.

B. SalvationB. Salvation

In the New Testament, those of the Jewish faith tried to prove salvation by association. They pointed to the Temple, the law of Moses, the rituals of the law (particularly circumcision), and the teachings of the prophets. To them, these were signs of their having the favor of God. Jesus challenged them with strong warnings, and Paul also confronted their hypocrisy.

I. The Lost State of ManIn his letter to the Romans, Paul explained that the Jewish nation was at a disadvantage to the Gentile nations by having the law of Moses, for the law condemned them as sinners. (See Romans 3:1-24.) Although the Gentiles were not as informed about God’s requirements of the human race, Paul concluded that all—both Jew and Gentile—have sinned and are thereby subject to condemnation and future judgment. However, the remedy for the elimination of sin was not the law of Moses, for the law only made a person aware of his sins.

A. FaithSalvation could not come through mere obedience to the law, because the law could not remove mankind’s sinful past. The elimination of the debt of sin could come only by the grace of God made possible through the death of the sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

I. The Lost State of ManPeter also contended that

salvation was through Jesus Christ, not through the works of the law. (See Acts 15:11.) Jesus, Paul, and Peter did not suggest that the righteous commands of the law should be forsaken. Rather, they asserted that mere obedience to the laws of God still could not bring salvation. Only an act of God’s grace accomplishes this. Paul declared, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31).

C. Justification C. Justification

How then can one who has sinned ever be justified before God? Are not sin stains irreversible like a permanent marker? We find the answer to these questions through a greater understanding of the grace of God. Paul explained, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).

I. The Lost State of ManIn the Old Testament there were

seven major Jewish feasts, three of which required that all Jewish males attend: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. All three of these feasts were precursors of the New Testament salvation plan.

Essential to the Passover Feast was the lamb that was slain and eaten. As the Jewish participants ate the meal, they reflected on the death angel sparing, or passing over, the Israelites when he slew the firstborn in the Egyptian households.

I. The Lost State of ManThe death of the lamb was in lieu

of the death of the Jewish people for their sins.

John the Baptist later prepared the way for this event to be associated with the plan for mankind’s redemption when he proclaimed of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It is not coincidental that Jesus was crucified at the time of the Passover. He was the spotless, sinless Lamb that God ordained to pay for mankind’s debt of sin. (See Acts 20:28.)

I. The Lost State of ManThe Feast of Tabernacles

reminded the Israelites that God did not forget them during their wandering in the wilderness for forty years. The attendees at the feast performed a ritual where they waved branches bound together and recited a prayer from the Psalms, Hoshana, translated, “Please save us!” (See Psalm 118:25-26.) It is significant that this is what the people cried out to Jesus when He rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey. (See Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5-11.)

I. The Lost State of ManDuring this feast, the priests

performed a unique ritual where they drew water from the Pool of Shiloah (or Siloah, or Siloam) and carried it ceremoniously to the Temple (Nehemiah 3:15; Isaiah 8:6; John 7:37-39; 9:7, 11). The observers at this joyous celebration quoted Isaiah. (See Isaiah 12:1-3.) The Feast of Tabernacles was considered by some to be the most joyous of all Jewish celebrations for it included various musical instruments and much dancing.

I. The Lost State of ManIt was at this feast that Jesus cried out, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).

The Feast of Pentecost was celebrated fifty days after the Passover Feast, coinciding with the time when Moses received the law at Sinai and the time of the grain harvest. This feast is spiritually significant because both the law of Moses and food are synonymous in the life-sustaining process.

I. The Lost State of ManFood sustains physical life; the Word of God sustains spiritual life. Jesus is the Word of God and the Bread of Life. (See John 1:1, 14; 6:30-51.) God chose the time of the Feast of Pentecost to fill mankind with His Holy Spirit. (See Acts 2:1-4; II Corinthians 3:3.)

The new-birth message is consistent with all three major Old Testament feasts.

I. The Lost State of ManThe death of the Lamb of God occurred at the time of the Passover Feast; the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came at the Feast of Pentecost; and the Holy Spirit baptism fulfilled prophecy regarding the Feast of Tabernacles. (See Ezekiel 36:25-27.) Therefore, the death of Christ was not a random act of God, but He perfectly planned it to coincide with the Old Testament Scriptures.

I. The Lost State of ManFurthermore, it was a simple, yet beautiful, plan whereby the sinless God incarnate would die, and His grace would recompense our debt of sin through His death. Though we all have sinned, we are now justified—declared righteous—in the eyes of God. He sees His suffering and death as sufficient to pay our debt of sin. (See Romans 3:24; Titus 3:4-7.)

D. Power to Reign D. Power to Reign

Paul proclaimed, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). There was no human way mankind could reverse this condemnation. Only an act of God could redeem us from the curse of sin, which was death and damnation.

I. The Lost State of ManJust as the written law was the

strength of sin, God’s Word is the strength of grace. As sin requires death, the gift of God through grace to mankind provides eternal life. (See Romans 5:7-21.) This is the doctrine of grace! Grace has the power to reign in our lives and to give us eternal life.

E. Grace to Receive and Administer God’s Gift

E. Grace to Receive and Administer

God’s Gift Paul referred to his personal

experience as an example of the sufficiency of God’s grace. Anyone can receive God’s gift of salvation and minister to others through the gifts of the Spirit. (See I Timothy 1:12-16; Romans 12:1-8; I Corinthians 15:8-10.)

I. The Lost State of ManBecause he zealously persecuted the church, Paul was the least likely candidate for salvation. He experienced the great grace of salvation, and grace continued to work in his life after his miraculous conversion. God used his life in mighty ways to minister to believers and to take the gospel to the Gentile world.

F. Grace to Live Holy Lives F. Grace to Live Holy

Lives How often have we heard

someone lament, “I would become a Christian if I knew I could live it”? This is like a parent saying, “I’ll send my six-year-old to school when he learns to read.” The purpose for school is to teach students the unknown, not to serve as an outlet for what they already know. Jesus expressed this principle with an analogy: it is the sick and not the healthy who need a physician (Matthew 9:12).

I. The Lost State of ManIt is God’s grace that saves us

and afterward teaches and enables us to live holy lives (Titus 2:11-14). Peter taught that the grace of God, which imparts salvation to us, is the means of maintaining a holy life. Ten times in his epistles he used the word grace and concluded his second epistle with these words: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (II Peter 3:18).

G. Strength G. Strength

Grace is perhaps the first energy that comes to us from God, and it brings to us a measure of faith whereby we can respond to God. Paul admonished Timothy that he should discover strength in the grace of Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:1).

I. The Lost State of ManAt our very best, our personal

strength is insufficient to please God; therefore, we must rely on the grace of Jesus Christ to enable us to overcome sin, discouragement, and the persecution that comes from the world and Satan. Peter encouraged the believer to walk according to the lifestyle that Jesus Christ exemplified (I Peter 4:1-3). However, he explained that a believer’s sufficient strength would come through the grace of God (I Peter 4:10).

H. Resurrection H. Resurrection

Not only is grace the first experience we have in God, it should continue until the end. Peter declared, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:13). Just as we rely on God’s grace to keep us while we are in the world, we also should rely on His grace to rapture us from this world. (See John 14:1-4.)

III. The Salutation of God’s FavorThe Salutation of God’s Favor

A. Grace Introduces Most New Testament Books

Our common greeting today varies with the time of day and from informal with friends to formal with strangers. Almost all New Testament writers of the epistles began their letters with a pronouncement of God’s grace.

I. The Lost State of ManSuch greetings as “Grace be with you,” “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you,” or “Grace and mercy unto you” were common. The early church was well aware that it was the grace of God that had saved them, and it was His grace that would keep them through temptation and tribulations. This greeting was a reminder of how they were saved. It was a common bond among them—all had sinned, but all had experienced God’s grace.

I. The Lost State of ManFurthermore, it was an affectionate greeting of goodwill among believers and also carried the authority of a blessing bestowed upon the receiver of the epistle.

B. The Christian’s Life Reflects Like Precious Faith

B. The Christian’s Life Reflects Like

Precious Faith In his first epistle, Peter referred

to his readers as being “strangers scattered” (I Peter 1:1-2). This may have been a reference to their dispersion because of their Jewish nationality. However, he was quick to point out they were not strangers from one another, for they had a common denominator as the elect, or chosen, of God.

I. The Lost State of ManIn the apostle’s second epistle, he referred to them as those of “like precious faith” (II Peter 1:1-2). They all had experienced a common salvation rather than a hodgepodge of religions.

The believers were not divided by national boundaries, nor were they divided into Jews and Gentiles; they were a family of believers worldwide.

I. The Lost State of ManBecause salvation was wrought by God’s grace and they were of one family by this grace, the apostle was at liberty to write these instructional letters to them regarding how they should live. The grace of God was the same for all and therefore should initiate similar lifestyles. Certainly, as God’s grace works in our hearts, the evidence of that work is reflected in the way we live (Titus 3:3-7).

C. The Promises of God Are Given by His Grace

C. The Promises of God Are Given by

His Grace Peter explained that the outcome

of God’s grace working in our lives is the giving of “great and precious promises” (II Peter 1:1-4). At a glance, we may credit these promises to God’s power, but a closer examination of Scripture reveals that all scriptural promises are ultimately the result of God’s grace. Apart from His grace, we receive no promises from God.

IV. Multiplied GraceMultiplied Grace

A. Multiplied through the Knowledge of God

It should not be a strange thing for one who has experienced the grace of God to ask for more. Although there are several means of obtaining more grace, one way is through seeking a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ from the study of His Word. (See II Peter 1:2.)

A. Multiplied through the Knowledge of God

Since we are not fully apprised of the storehouse of spiritual blessings that God desires to share with us, we should diligently seek understanding of Him through His Word and continual communion with Him.

B. Multiplied by the Power of Christ

B. Multiplied by the Power of Christ

Another means by which the work of grace is multiplied in our lives is through Christ’s divine power. We become increasingly more aware of God’s view of life. (See II Peter 1:3.) Were it not for grace multiplied, we would be blinded to godliness and thus rendered powerless to please Him. The power of God now works in us through His grace, showing us not only how to live but giving us the power to accomplish it.

C. Multiplied by the Blood of Christ

C. Multiplied by the Blood of Christ The sprinkling of the blood of

sacrificed animals under the Old Testament law postponed God’s judgment upon the Jewish nation. Their obedience to these rituals delayed God’s wrath for their sins, but the blood of animals was insufficient to remove their transgressions. This is not so with the blood of Christ. Jesus Christ submitted to the Cross, but He was without sin.

I. The Lost State of ManHe owed no debt of sin, yet He allowed His death to atone for our sin. If grace postponed the judgment of the Jewish nation because of the blood of sacrificed animals, certainly grace would be multiplied to all who experienced the redeeming quality of the precious blood of Christ applied to their lives through water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:2).

D. Multiplied in the Salvation of Our Children

D. Multiplied in the Salvation of Our

Children The grace of God does not

diminish with time or usage. It is ever fresh and equally distributed to the next generation. Peter made this observation in his message at the birth of the church: “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).

V. Receiving God’s GraceReceiving God’s

GraceA. Submission

Submission is an essential quality for the grace of God to work in our lives. One of the attributes of the word grace is “graciousness.” Alternate words for “graciousness” include kindness, tactfulness, cordiality, congeniality, and politeness.

I. The Lost State of ManIn dispensing His grace, God does not force Himself upon us, but He stands at the door and knocks. It is up to us to submit to His Word, open our hearts, and invite Him in.

B. Worship B. Worship

We acknowledge our gratitude for God’s grace by worshiping Him. We graciously extend to Him what He has bestowed upon us—not wrath, but favor. We recognize from whom our salvation comes and we worship Him. To withhold our worship from Him is to imply we saved ourselves. Such an attitude certainly will quench the work of grace in our lives.

C. Receiving the Will of God with Joy

C. Receiving the Will of God with Joy

The Greek words for grace and joy are similar. Perhaps we could say that God’s grace extended to us was not given grudgingly; rather, He lavished it upon us willingly. Likewise, we should serve God with joyful hearts—not grudgingly, but lavishing our praise upon Him. Our attitude toward Him should reflect His gracious attitude toward us.

I. The Lost State of ManAs we study God’s Word and see areas in our lives that need improvement and direction to better please Him, we should willingly and thankfully pursue Christ’s will for our lives.

C. Receiving the Will of God with Joy

ConclusionSin left Adam hopelessly

separated from God. Adam could not rid himself of that sin, and God could not fellowship with him because of it. Adam passed his sinful nature on to the entire human race. However, God had a plan where He would become incarnate in the man Christ Jesus. He lived a sinless life, but evil men still crucified Him on the basis of their trumped-up charges.

I. The Lost State of ManThrough an act of grace, He who knew no sin allowed His death to pay our sin debt. All who identify with Him through the new-birth message of repentance of sins, water baptism in His name for the remission of sins, and receiving His Spirit into their lives are saved from their sins and are allowed again to fellowship with Him.