God's Promise

INTRO.: Define grace as seen in the Scriptures: "A spiritual gift or attainment. Something received freely from God, Divine favor or good will." Grace is something we all need but none of us deserves it. God’s grace pours out of His heart of overflowing love for us.

I. We are saved because of God’s grace: Eph. 1:6-8 & 2:5-8

A. The testimony of Saul of Tarsus: I Tim. 1:13-16

1. Saul had nothing at all to commend him to God except zeal, and that was misguided.

2. His was a name that would hardly appear on anyone’s "prospect list." An unlikely candidate for Christianity. A violent persecutor.

3. Grace was poured out upon him abundantly. Nothing less could save his soul. V. 14.

B. God wants to be able to Brag about us someday: Eph. 1:6, 2:7

1. We love to brag about our children. Every parent and grandparent does.

2. God bragged about Job. "Have you considered my servant Job. . .?"

3. Imagine a scenario: God is bragging to the angels about all He has been able to do in saving and using the troublemaker from Tarsus.

4. What can He brag about in your life? "I saved him from addiction?" I saved him from the gutter?" "A Church that was leading him into falsehood?" "Spiritual pride and reliance on works?" We are all saved from something.