God’s Power to Overcome Sin Being God’s Grace in the World – Week 39Ephesians 2 is where we are going to be in just a moment. One more time, just a very brief recap of where we have been throughout this quarter. We began week 1 with our bad news and we countered that, followed the scriptural flow to appreciate God’s good news. And we grew in our appreciation of how the grace of God is sufficient for the difficulties that we experience in life. But that came at a great cost, he cost of God’s only begotten son. We grew to listen to the call to rely on the grace of God today, we emphasized in more than one way throughout this quarter that grace is not something simply that we’re waiting for in the future, as if we do our best, we try our hardest and then God’s grace is just something that’s going to kind of bridge the future gap between our frailties and necessary judgment that is going to happen before the throne. Of course, grace has to do with the future but, we are told as God’s children to willing rely on the grace of God today. That lead us to several not this but this statements, not my righteousness but the righteousness of God, not righteousness and justification through law but by grace through faith, not my goodness but the goodness of Christ, and if that is true then one of the most important things for me to do is to surrender… Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Power to Overcome Sin Growing In Grace – Week 38 Of course, we are nearing the very end of our study of grace. Just a very brief recap of where we have been. We began by talking about our bad news, the bad news of all of us as human beings. We moved from there to Romans 7 to talk about God’s good news and how His grace is sufficient to help us through the difficulties of life. But that grace came at great cost and we want to remember that and commemorate that of course today as those who are Disciples of Christ. We move from there in lesson 5 to talk about relying of God’s grace today, that it is not simple something that we are looking forward to in the future but it is something that is actively/presently training God’s children to be the people he wants us to be. We move from there to talk about not this but this important point, not my righteousness but the righteousness of God, not law but through faith, not my goodness but the goodness of Christ. And that lead us to significant discussion of surrendering. Last Sunday morning we spent time in talking about keeping God’s grace pure. We’ve reminded ourselves on numerous occasions that grace is not God’s permission to sin but, that it is God’s power to overcome sin and we want to continue to beat that drum this morning as we draw to the conclusion of this study… Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Power to Overcome Sin Keeping Grace Pure – Week 37As I said, we’re nearing the back stretch here of our study this quarter on grace as God’s power to overcome sin. Just very briefly, a reminder of where we have been. We began by talking our bad news, alienation from God because of our sins. But, good news that is indicated by Paul in Romans 7:25, even following up the “Oh, wretched man that I am” exclamation. Praise God for what is available in Jesus Christ. We visited with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, in the midst of very great difficulties hearing God say, “My grace is sufficient for you.” We took some time to notice the price of that grace that at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. We went to Titus 2, and listened to how not only is there an element of what God has done in the past in the grace of God adhering to all in the form of Jesus Christ. But, right now in an ongoing way in the life of His children the grace of God trains us to renounce ungodliness and world lust. That’s really where we began to make this very very practical. Sometimes we think about grace simple in terms of what God did in the past and what God will do in the future at the judgment. And for weeks we’ve looked at a variety of different ways to emphasize we need God’s grace right now. Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Power to Overcome Sin Surrender – Week 36So let’s move on to Matthew 26. First off in Matthew 26:39 it says, “And going a little farther he fell on his face” (this is where He three disciples come up and watch Him pray) “and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” So, He’s contemplating the cross and He’s saying He knows how intense this is going to be but, He’s asking, you know, “if it possible that this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” right, so He’s saying His will. And then as a follow up look at 51-54 of the same chapter, “And behold,” (so there in the garden and there’re confronted, and it says) “And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” Right? So we see hear and instance where He’s praying and He says I don’t want to bare this, this is not going to be pleasant but, not as I will but yours… Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Power to Overcome Sin Christ’s Goodness, Not Mine – Week 35 One more time, we’re going to be in Matthew 20 if you do not have your Bibles opened back there, Matthew 20. And one more time if you do need material for this morning lesson 8, if you would raise your hand and keep that raised and --- will get a copy of that for you. Of course, we are right in the middle of a lengthy of grace as God’s power to overcome sin. And each week, really the authors of our material have had one central idea that they are adding to this discussion. So, it’s very helpful to go back and briefly recap where we have been. We began this study of God’s grace, talking about our bad news. We thank God that we didn’t end there but, lesson 2 brought us the good news God has for us. Lesson 3 taught us about grace and the idea that God’s grace is sufficient to endure this life and enjoy life and make this life meaningful. We’re not only looking forward to grace as something that is going to be revealed in the future but, it is sufficient to deal with the difficulties of the here and the now. Lesson 4 we moved to the price of grace and the sacrifice of Jesus. Lesson 5 we really emphasized from Titus 2 relying on the grace of God today… Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Power to Overcome Sin Grace through Faith, Not Law – Week 34If you have not already open a Bible back to Romans chapter 9. We’re very that you’re here. We’re at this at the half way point of our study, a little more than half way by the time we are done with this particular lesson. I want to take just a moment to recap with you of course where we have been. We began in week 1 talking about our bad news, we know what we ought to do but we don’t do it. And we know that we should not do certain things but we do it anyway and that is sin that separates us from God, causes this divide between us that we cannot bridge on our own. But Paul says in Romans 7:25, “Thanks be to God”, God has provided good news. God has provided a way and He has clearly communicated that His grace is sufficient for us, not only to save us in the end but, to empower us, and inspire us, and strengthen us to live life in the way that He would have us to live. Of course that came with great price to God and specifically to Jesus the Christ in Romans 5. We move from there to really get into some very practical notes. We spent some time in Titus 2, week 5 noticing that grace not only has to do with where I go after I die, but grace trains us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts… Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Power to Overcome Sin God’s Righteousness, Not Mine – Week 33If you’ve got a Bible and haven’t already let’s open them to the Gospel of Luke 18, where we will be reading here in just a few moments. Our course in this auditorium this summer quarter we’re talking about grace as God’s power to overcome sin and I want to gives just a moment to refresh ourselves as to where we have been. We’ve been saying nearly every week this is such a massive topic we cannot possibly talk about it in every aspect in one 35 minute Bible class and so we are gradually building. Think about with me where we’ve been. We began with our bad news, Romans 7:24 specifically it encapsulates that bad news for us when even the Apostle Paul says, “Oh, wretched man that I am, who will deliver from this body of death”. We move from there to week 2, God’s good news. And we focus specifically on Romans 7:25, “Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ”, and he talks about what is available in and through Jesus. The good news is in Jesus, good news comes to us through Jesus and what we’ve been building ever since then is exactly what that means and what it looks like. Week 3, 2 Corinthians 12, we went back with Paul and we heard Jesus saying to him, “My grace is sufficient for you because my power is made perfect in weakness”… Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Power to Overcome Sin Relying on Jesus’ Grace Today– Week 32Just very very briefly, to recap where we have been. It’s important for us to keep our bearings as to what we have already talked about because it is absolutely impossible to talk about every aspect of God’s grace in one 35 minute period. So we are very very much laying layer upon layer as this quarter goes along. Of course, we are talking about God’s grace this quarter as power to overcome sin. Okay, that’s very important and that’s going to come out even more in our discussion today. But, we began in week 1 in Romans 7, we read a lengthy passage, and we ended with Romans 7:24 with Paul saying, “Wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body death”. That is the bad news, that is problem because we can determine in our heads to do and to be one thing but we lose the battle against the flesh. Each and every one of us, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. That is the bad news. The good news was in traduced to us from Romans 7:25, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord”. There is good news that can trump our bad news and that good news comes through and exists in Jesus Christ our Lord… Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Power to Overcome Sin The Price of Grace – Week 31This morning we’re talking about the “price of grace”. And we’ll go ahead and start if you have your material with that case study, just to get us set with an image in our minds to talk about this price of grace. If you have your material look on page 9, it’s the front page and we’ll go ahead and start reading. It says, “Alias was returning to Bethany from Jerusalem. It hadn’t been one of those prescribed feast days but he was a devout man. He understood the law and knew he was a sinner. He was ashamed to think of the lies he had told, the coveting he indulged in, the uncleanness he had brought upon himself. At the end of each month he considered his sins and offered the sacrifice. He could not afford a bull so he took one of his best promising lambs from the flock and headed for Jerusalem. When Alias slit its throat he winced, the blood flowed everywhere, even now Alias grimaced at the image and was a little surprised at his response. How many lambs had he slaughtered because of his sins? Perhaps if he could remember that image before he sinned, he would turn away from them. But sin had a price. The soul who sins shall die Ezekiel had written. Alias was glad that God graciously allowed for this sacrifice instead of his own death”… Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Grace is Sufficient – Week 30Okay! 1 Corinthians 15 is where we are going to start here in just a few moments. We’re glad you’re here this morning. Of course this quarter we are talking about grace and looking at it particularly from the standpoint of grace as God’s power to overcome sin. Just a very very quick recap. I asked you to open your Bibles there to 1 Corinthians 15 look at verse 56. 1 Corinthians 15:56 does a great job of encapsulating what we talked about in week 1. 1 Corinthians 15:56 the Apostle Paul says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law”, that was really lesson 1, we weren’t in 1 Corinthians 15 we were in Romans 7, but if you were here you know that we learn from the Apostle Paul that it is one thing to want to overcome sin, it is another thing to be able to say and willing to say as the Apostle Paul, the good that I want to do I do not do. The things that I know are wrong I keep on doing. Left to our own devices sin masters us, we become enslaved. Right? From the standpoint of 1 Corinthians 15:56, “The sting of death is sin”, sin is going to produce naturally the fruit of death. Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/

God’s Good News – Last week we ended with “Our Bad News” and that was very well summarized by Romans 7. And really that discussion about our bad news started in Romans 7:15 and Paul’s says, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” And that’s really the phrase that we centered on last week, I have the desire to do what it good, to do what is right but not the ability to carry it out. This is Paul’s situation as he reflects upon, well it was his situation under the laws. He was trying to justify himself through the works of the law and ultimately as we read here that was a futile practice and futile exercise. And he goes on to say…Grace: God's Power to Overcome Sin (Student Workbook)Want to know more about Grace? Have you seen Grace abused too much, either by making it cheap or by acting like it doesn't really help the Christian? If so, then this student workbook is just what you are looking for. *** You May purchase workbook for $4:97 at http://edwincrozier.com/my-store/