First Thessalonians Pt:24

Grace Proclaimed

Context and Setting

• Passage of Study: 1 Thessalonians 5:28 — “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

• Background:

  • The Thessalonian church was facing persecution, grief, and uncertainty regarding the Rapture and Second Coming without a completed New Testament.

  • Paul concludes his epistle emphasizing that grace is the believer’s foundation and final word.

Opening Theme: Accepted by Grace

• Core Truth: Grace is the bookend of the Christian life—where we start and where we finish.

• Scripture:

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:1 — Paul opens with grace.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:28 — Paul closes with grace.

  • Ephesians 1:6 — “Accepted in the Beloved” to the praise of the glory of His grace.

• Who God Is:

  • God is gracious, truthful, holy, and just. His grace is embodied in Jesus Christ.

• Who You Are:

  • Accepted in the Beloved; part of God’s family by grace, not performance.

• How to Live:

  • Live from acceptance, not for acceptance.

  • Receive grace rather than attempting to earn God’s favor.

Paul’s Continual Focus on Grace

• Observation:

  • Paul opens and closes nearly all his epistles with grace (Romans; 1–2 Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1–2 Thessalonians; 1–2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon; Hebrews).

• Application:

  • Make grace the daily frame of life—begin and end every day relying on the grace of Jesus Christ.

The Nature of God: Holiness, Wrath, and Undeserved Mercy

• Humanity’s Dilemma:

  • All are born into sin and separated from God; human effort cannot bridge the gap.

• God’s Justice and Wrath:

  • Isaiah 59:2 — Iniquities separate us from God.

  • Romans 1:18 — God’s wrath revealed against ungodliness.

  • Nahum 1:2 — The Lord takes vengeance and reserves wrath.

  • Deuteronomy 6:15 — The Lord’s anger kindled against idolatry.

• Illustrations:

  • Tug-of-war with a hippo: human effort is futile to reach God.

  • Worldly “grace” (dance/martial arts) versus divine grace: God’s grace enters a broken world, withholds deserved judgment, and gives mercy.

Key Points of the Sermon

1. God’s Grace Is a Person: Jesus Christ

   • Grace is not abstract; it’s embodied in Christ taking our place under God’s wrath.

   • John 1:14, 17 — The Word became flesh, full of grace and truth; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

   • John 3:16 — God loved the world and gave His Son so believers would not perish.

   • 2 Corinthians 8:9 — Jesus became poor so through His poverty we might become rich.

2. Salvation Comes Exclusively Through God’s Grace

   • No path to salvation outside grace through Christ.

   • Romans 4:4–5 — Justification not earned as wages; reckoned by faith.

   • Romans 5:1–2 — We have peace and access by faith into grace.

   • Galatians 2:21 — Do not frustrate God’s grace.

   • Galatians 5:4 — Seeking justification by law causes one to fall from grace’s platform.

   • Illustrations:

     • The Refused Gift: Insisting on paying for a free car gift insults the giver; grace must be received.

     • The Signed Pardon: A condemned man refused a pardon because he didn’t “deserve” it and chose execution; grace is for the undeserving.

Grace Beyond Salvation: Grace as Proclamation

• Point:

  • Most New Testament references to grace extend beyond salvation—grace empowers proclamation.

• Scripture:

  • Acts 4 — The apostles witnessed with great power; great grace was upon them.

  • John 1:17 — Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

• Analogy:

  • If you discovered a cure for a universal disease and hid or monetized it, it would be wrong; likewise, withholding God’s grace from others contradicts the Gospel.

• Critique:

  • “Shame on churches” that receive grace but bind people with performance.

• Application:

  • Works corroborate faith, but when we fail, we return to grace with gratitude.

  • Witnessing flows from a heart transformed by grace—no class needed when Christ’s grace fills you.

The Human Condition and the Grace Solution

• Diagnosis:

  • Humanity’s deepest issue is a dead spirit needing to be made alive to connect with God.

• Gospel Response:

  • God graciously sent Jesus; meeting Christ reorients burdens and addresses core struggles, including depression.

• Personal Testimony:

  • The pastor and family have wrestled with depression; staying close to grace reorients life and lessens struggles.

• Application:

  • In hardship, return to God’s grace—it is sufficient today.

Law, Truth, and Grace

• Scripture:

  • John 1:17 — Grace and truth through Jesus Christ.

  • Romans 3:23 — All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.

• Illustration:

  • Sobriety “walk the line” test: all fail—it proves our inability.

  • “Wipeout” analogy: “Almost” doesn’t count; performance cannot achieve righteousness.

• Theology:

  • The law reveals righteousness but cannot make us righteous; Jesus fulfilled the law and extends righteousness by grace through faith.

• Application:

  • Serve God by grace; ministry must be marked by compassion, not performance pressure.

Key Texts on Humility and “More Grace”

• Scripture:

  • James 4:6 — God resists the proud, gives grace to the humble; He gives “more grace.”

  • 1 Peter 5 — Parallel: humility attracts God’s grace.

• Application:

  • Salvation begins with humility—admitting sin and need.

  • Ongoing ministry requires humility to receive more grace.

Illustrations on Humility

• Jail Ministry Anecdote:

  • “Only one person God can’t save: a proud man.” Humble yourself and Christ will save you, even if earthly consequences remain.

• Missions to Pakistan:

  • A grieving father struggled to reach those connected to his son’s death. Counsel: “Drink a large pitcher of humility.” Recognize we did not deserve grace; we were born in sin and received undeserved mercy.

  • Application: Humility heals prejudice and hardness; grace compels love for enemies.

• Family Admonition:

  • Pastor’s mother asked from Job: “Where were you when God created the world?”—a call to humility when tempted to arrogance.

The Sufficiency and Abundance of God’s Grace

• Limitless Grace:

  • Unlike human wealth, God’s grace and mercy have no budget; we cannot outspend His grace.

  • Parental Heart:

    • Like a loving parent, God’s grace toward His children is vast and unbroken despite failure.

• Scripture:

  • 2 Corinthians 12:7–9 — Paul’s thorn; God’s answer: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Grace sustains in trials.

  • Hebrews 4:16 — Come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

• Application:

  • God’s grace is bigger than any trouble and is an overflowing, unending resource (widow’s cruse of oil imagery).

Grace in the Life and Conduct of the Believer

• Scripture:

  • Colossians 3:16 — Sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

  • Colossians 4:6 — Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.

• Application:

  • Worship rooted in grace; daily conversations marked by grace, not anger or bitterness.

  • Humble yourself, remembering your massive debt of grace; extend grace to others.

“With You”: The Central Theme of Scripture

• Scripture:

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:28 — Paul’s benediction: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

  • Matthew 1:23 — Emmanuel: “God with us.”

  • Matthew 28:18–20 — Great Commission with the promise: “I am with you alway.”

  • Romans 5:8 — “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

  • Revelation 22:21 — Final verse of Scripture: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

• Narrative:

  • From Creation to Consummation, grace is God’s way of being “with” His people; salvation is unmerited pardon when we were powerless.

Extending Grace to Others

• Scripture:

  • Matthew 18:21–35 — Parable of the unforgiving servant; forgiven people must forgive.

• Church Culture:

  • “This roof is held up by grace”—the church must welcome sinners to meet Jesus.

• Warning:

  • God’s wrath is for those who reject grace; the door remains open through humility and faith.

• Application:

  • Practice forgiveness, resist pride, cultivate a grace-filled community.

Grace and Human Stories

• Cultural Example:

  • “American Idol” stories of humble, broken people move us; grace celebrates unlikely comebacks.

• Vocabulary of Grace:

  • “Abundant,” “exceeding,” “riches of His grace” (Ephesians). God’s grace is inexhaustible—“you can’t outspend” it.

What Defines the Church and Christian Ministry

• True Ministry Power:

  • A church is defined by the ongoing grace of Jesus working through humble people, not by facilities or budgets.

• Ministering with Humility:

  • Meet needs and share the Gospel recognizing unworthiness and directing glory to God’s mercy.

Practical Application: More Grace Through Humility

• If you struggle to love someone, examine pride rather than only their behavior.

• God gives more grace to the humble—essential for both salvation and effective ministry.

• Cultivate humility to receive ongoing grace for difficult relationships and faithful witness.

Application: Receiving God’s Gift

• Scripture:

  • Romans 5:15 — The free gift of grace abounds through Jesus Christ.

  • Ephesians 1:6 — Accepted in the Beloved to the praise of His grace.

• How We Must Live:

  • Stop trying to earn right standing before God.

  • Humbly accept the free pardon in Jesus Christ.

  • Rest daily in God’s grace, fully accepted in Christ.

Key Points (as emphasized by the pastor)

1. Grace is God’s means of acceptance—receive Christ, and you are accepted “in the Beloved.”

2. Grace is not only for salvation; it is for proclamation—witnessing and ministry flow from grace.

3. God gives more grace to the humble—both salvation and effective ministry require humility.

Closing Application for American Culture Today

• In a performance-driven, consumerist culture, resist turning grace into a system of works or control.

• Proclaim grace freely: Jesus took the judgment we deserve; He offers life to dead spirits.

• Build churches as grace-filled refuges, not performance arenas.

• Practice daily humility to receive “more grace,” empowering love for difficult people, courageous witness, and hope in suffering.

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED IN THIS MESSAGE:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:28

• 1 Thessalonians 1:1

• Isaiah 59:2,

• Romans 1:18,

• Nahum 1:2,

• Deuteronomy 6:15,

• Ecclesiastes

• John 3:16,

• John 1:14, 17,

• 2 Corinthians 8:9

• Romans 4:4,

• Galatians 5,

• Romans 5:15

• Ephesians 1:6,

• Acts 4,

• James 4:6,

• 1 Peter 5,

• Romans 3:23

• 2 Corinthians 12,

• Hebrews 4,

• Colossians 3

• Colossians 4,

• Matthew 1:23,

• Matthew 28:20

• Revelation 22:21