In the Bible Christian Ministry
Sunday 5-11-25 (Fully Alive, Part 3)

  • Introduction

    Last week:
    Introduction: Discussed the concept of being fully alive, beyond just existing
    Feeling Alive: Describes moments that make us feel extremely alive, such as relaxing in a beautiful place, doing something adventurous, receiving a reward, or focusing on a passion.
    Connection with God: Emphasizes that true life and feeling fully alive come from connecting with God, not just attending church or reading the Bible
    God as a Lifestyle: Highlights that God is more than church, reading, or praying; He is a lifestyle
    Desires vs. Reality: Discusses the conflict between what we say we want and what we really want, and the effort required to achieve a truly fulfilling life *****EXPANDING
    Life-Giving Presence of God: Stresses the importance of living in God's presence for true fulfillment and spiritual vitality
    Week 2 - Death; Walking dead until we find God
    John 14:6 NIV
    6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
    Feeling alive is exciting.  Excitement just to be here. 
    Near death experience and just happy to have made it.
    Kid on a bike almost have an accident
    Daughter ran across the street...Screams!!!!!
    Think about all you had to do get that fully alive feeling.  That exuberance. That tingle of being overwhelmingly happy
    We want happiness
    We want to please God
    We want salvation
    And we work and we try and we push to get what we want but we realize Living life FULLY to the Fullness isn’t something we can ever achieve.
    and that is so disappointing.
    No matter how hard you work you will never achieve all that life has to offer.
    But
    Fortunately all is not lost we get to experience God and all that He is...ALL through because of His GRACE

    God Grace

    Ephesians 2:4–7 NIV
    4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
    Didn’t deserve it.
    Colossians 2:13 NIV
    13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
    Didn’t say when you worked your hardest
    When you finally did what you were supposed to do.
    When you were DEAD!!!!!
    What is this Grace?
    - His unmerited favor, love, and kindness freely given to humanity, even though we don't deserve it and can never earn it.
    - It's not about what we've done right, but about God's boundless generosity and love for us.
    Think of it like this: imagine someone owing an enormous debt they could never repay.
    Grace is the creditor not only forgiving the debt
    but also offering resources and support to help the person rebuild their life.
    1. Grace as Undeserved Favor and Love:
    Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV
    8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
    This passage highlights that salvation itself – the foundation of a relationship with God – is a gift of grace, not something we achieve through our own efforts.
    This understanding brings immense peace and freedom from the burden of trying to earn God's love.
    2. Grace as Empowerment and Strength:
    2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
    9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
    Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – I can depend on Him so much and trust Him so much that I can be at peace in His strength and understanding more so than my own.
    Paul learns that even in his struggles, God's grace provides the strength he needs. This shows us that grace isn't just about forgiveness; it's about divine enablement to face life's challenges.
    Hebrews 4:16 NIV
    16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
    with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
    When we go to God we have confidence not because of our action but because of His grace.  So we actively seek his grace in all times of NEED.
    This encourages us to actively seek God's grace for practical help and guidance in our daily lives. This leads to a life that is supported and guided by a power greater than ourselves.
    3. Grace as Transformation and Growth:
    Titus 2:11–12 NIV
    11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
    Grace isn't a passive acceptance; it's a transformative force that empowers us to live in a way that honors God and brings fulfillment. It guides us towards becoming our best selves.
    We try to transform before we accept His Grace and then after we accept we still feel the need to put our works before his Grace But
    We are transformed by His Grace!!!!
    So we must....
    2 Peter 3:18 NIV
    18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
    Grow....
    This emphasizes that grace is something we continue to grow in.
    As we embrace God's grace, we mature spiritually, leading to a life of increasing purpose and meaning.
    4. Grace as Abundance and Provision:
    John 1:16 NIV
    16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
    This speaks to the overflowing nature of God's grace. It's not a limited resource but a continuous stream of blessings and provision in every area of our lives. This fosters a sense of security and abundance.
    So now from His Fullness we can live a life of FULLNESS

    What does this have to do with a full life?

    How Grace Leads to a FULL life

    When we understand and embrace God's grace, it profoundly impacts our lives:
    Freedom from Condemnation: Knowing we are loved and forgiven despite our imperfections brings immense peace and joy.
    We are no longer weighed down by guilt and shame.
    Strength in Weakness: Recognizing that God's power works through our limitations allows us to face challenges with courage and resilience. We don't have to rely solely on our own strength.
    Purpose and Direction: Grace empowers us to live lives that are pleasing to God and aligned with His will, giving us a deep sense of purpose and meaning.
    Transformation and Growth: As we yield to the transforming power of grace, we become more loving, compassionate, and Christ-like, enriching our relationships and our own inner lives.
    Abundant Life: Experiencing God's provision and favor in our lives leads to a sense of wholeness and contentment that goes beyond material possessions.

    Question is why can’t I earn it.

    Full life.  I DID it.
    This is my LIFE
    Human Effort Falls Short of God's Perfect Standard:
    Romans 3:23 NIV
    23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
    The Bible is clear that every single person has missed the mark and fallen short of God's perfect standard of righteousness.
    Our best efforts, while perhaps well-intentioned, are still tainted by our human nature and can never fully measure up to God's holiness.
    Isaiah 64:6 NIV
    6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
    This powerful imagery highlights that even our most righteous deeds are imperfect in God's sight when compared to His absolute purity.
    It's like being rescued from drowning: You can't rescue yourself if you're underwater. Someone else has to reach out and pull you to safety. God, through His grace, is the rescuer.
    Trying to Earn Grace Misses the Point of God's Love:
    God's grace flows from His deep and unconditional love for us. He desires a relationship with us, not because we've earned it, but because He loves us. Trying to earn His favor suggests that His love is conditional and based on our performance, which contradicts the very essence of His character.
    Illustration:
    Imagine you are in a Hallmark movie and you need to save your business, home and family from financial ruin.  And there is a cake baking competition that will solve everything.
    but you’ve never baked a cake but you got grandmother’s recipe!!!!
    Trying to bake a cake for a competition and this competition is going to save your life.
    You've got the enthusiasm, the drive, the willingness and the motivation but your culinary skills are... let's just say "ok at best."
    But you know how to follow the recipe.
    You follow the recipe best you can:
    - You accidentally use salt instead of sugar (twice!),
    - forget the eggs,
    - You don’t bake it long enough
    - You take it out of the oven decorate it to make it look ok but you decorate it while it’s hot and the icing is everywhere
    -  And then when trying to transport the cake you drop the whole mess on the floor. It looks less like a cake and more like a sad, salty, eggy MESS.
    - You scoop it up and say well this is the best I got
    Now, according to the "Law of Baking," you deserve no cake. In fact, you probably deserve kitchen duty for the next month.
    Then, your incredibly kind friend walks in, surveys the disaster zone, and instead of a lecture,
    I actually baked a perfect cake earlier. And it is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen.  And they just give it to you.  No questions ask.
    They then present you with a beautiful, fluffy, delicious cake, complete with your favorite frosting. You didn't earn it.
    You ask why did you bake this and they said for you.
    You actively created a culinary catastrophe.
    You present it and win first prize.  And it saves your EVERYTHING
    And then this friend helps you keep everything that you almost lost and continues to help you your entire life
    How this is like God's grace (the funny bits highlighted):
    Your disastrous baking represents our attempts at being "good enough": We try our best, but often end up making a mess of things spiritually. Salt instead of sugar? That's like our good intentions getting twisted into something less than perfect.  But no matter how much we follow the rules or the recipe we consistently mess up. Little mistakes add to big problems.
    The "Law of Baking" is like the actual Law: It says "mess up, no cake!" Just like the Law says "sin, you're in trouble!"
    Your friend's reaction is God's incredible patience: He sees our hot messes and still finds a way to love us.
    The perfect cake is God's grace: It's the good stuff we didn't earn and frankly didn't deserve after our baking fail. It's freely given despite our shortcomings.
    You getting the perfect cake and saving your everything  is the sheer, ILLOGICAL generosity of grace: It doesn't make sense from a "you get what you earn" perspective, and that's what makes it so wonderfully absurd and amazing.
    Didn’t but Love..
    GREAT love.   GREAT!!!!
    - What does it mean to have Great love?
    Ephesians 2:4–5 NIV
    4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
    He provides a way for us to live FULLY through His GRACE!!!!!
    ______________________________________

    Consider the words of David in Psalm 27:4:

    Psalm 27:4 NIV
    4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
    David, a king with earthly power and possessions, desired above all else to be in God's presence. He understood that true beauty, true wisdom, and true fulfillment were found there.
    Think about the Tabernacle and later the Temple in the Old Testament. These were tangible places where God's presence was uniquely manifested. The people longed to be near it. Even today, though God's presence is not confined to a physical building (as we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19), our hearts should still yearn for that intimate connection with Him.\
    1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV
    19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
    How do we cultivate this desire and live in His presence?
    Through Prayer: Prayer is our direct line to God. It's an invitation for Him to draw near, and for us to draw near to Him. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
    Through His Word: Scripture is God's revealed truth. As we read and meditate on it, we encounter His character, His promises, and His will for our lives. It's like basking in the warmth of His light.
    Through Fellowship with Believers: When we gather together as the body of Christ, His presence is among us (Matthew 18:20). We encourage one another, build each other up, and experience the collective strength of His Spirit.
    Through Obedience: When we strive to live according to His commands, we demonstrate our love for Him and create space for His presence to work more deeply in our lives (John 14:23).
    So, what should we want? More than earthly treasures, more than fleeting pleasures, more than the approval of the world, let our deepest desire be to dwell in the life-giving presence of our God.
    Just as a plant cannot survive without the sun, our souls cannot truly live and flourish apart from Him. Let us cultivate that longing, seek Him daily, and allow His presence to transform us from the inside out, making us vibrant, fruitful, and truly alive.
    Ephesians 2:4–5 NIV
    4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
    By his Grace we are alive. Through His offering to us and our accepting of Him completely we can now be FULLY ALIVE

      • John 14:6NIV2011

      • Ephesians 2:4–7NIV2011

      • Colossians 2:13NIV2011

      • Ephesians 2:8–9NIV2011

      • 2 Corinthians 12:9NIV2011

      • Hebrews 4:16NIV2011

      • Titus 2:11–12NIV2011

      • 2 Peter 3:18NIV2011

      • John 1:16NIV2011

      • Romans 3:23NIV2011

      • Isaiah 64:6NIV2011

      • Psalm 27:4NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 6:19NIV2011

      • Ephesians 2:4–5NIV2011

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