1 Peter 1:13 (ESV)
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
We are called to put our focus on setting our hope fully on the grace revealed through Jesus Christ, as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:13. Today we want to explore the transformative power of God's grace in our lives and how it enables us to combat old ways of thinking with hope and confidence.
YOUR FOCUS DETERMINES YOU FUTURE! WHAT YOU GIVE YOUR SIGHT TO IS WHAT HAS THE POWER TO WRITE YOUR FUTURE. WE BECOME WHAT WE SEE!
2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)
Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
OUR GOOD IS NO GOOD TO GOD
Romans 5:1–2 (ESV)
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
We’ve learned to earn the favor of people - but we can never earn favor with God. We can receive it by grace and through faith.
As we see in...
Acts 8:9–25 (ESV)
But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Simon thought he could buy favor but he didn't know...
Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
As people who are born again by a loving God full of grace we can’t not continue a new by returning to old ways
GOOD WORKS ARE OFTEN HOW WE EXCUSE OUR UNHOLY BEHAVIOR. WE THINK THE GOOD OUT WEIGHS THE BAD.
DWELLING IS IMPORTANT
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Where do we dwell often and what do we allow to dwell in us?
Dwell katoikeō (Kat•toy•keo):
to settle down in a fixed dwelling, to dwell permanently; to inhabit
Psalm 26:8 (NLT)
I love your sanctuary, Lord, the place where your glorious presence dwells.
Psalm 27:4 (NLT)
The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.