The Christian Graces – Faith
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SUBJECT: Christian Graces
TITLE: Faith
PROPOSITION: In this lesson, we will study the first of the Christian graces and learn how faith helps us to be gracious to others.
OBJECTIVE: To understand the role of faith in living a gracious life.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: 2 Peter 1:5-9
2. About the Text:
1) Why are they called the Christian Graces?
a. These are things that permit the grace of God to work in our life.
b. They are also things that when practice permit us to be gracious toward others.
c. What does it mean to practice grace?
d. 2 Corinthians 8:9 – “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
2) Why be gracious?
a. God was gracious with us.
b. Christ was gracious with us.
c. We need to be gracious to one another.
3) How can we be gracious?
a. We are gracious when we practice these Christian graces.
b. Faith helps us to be gracious to others.
c. Romans 10:17
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: Faith helps us to be gracious to others because . . .
I. Faith Informs Us As To Who People Really Are.
1. They are made in the image of God – Genesis 1:27
2. They have a purpose of loving God and their neighbor – Matthew 22:37-40
3. Christ Jesus provides their true model for being human.
1) 1 Cor.15:45 – “And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”
2) Rom.8:29 – “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
4. We can be gracious as Christians to others because of who God made them to be.
II. Faith Lets Us Know What Their Greatest Need Is
1. Sin has separated them from God – Isaiah 59:1-2, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23
2. Jesus died to bring them back to God.
1) 1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
2) Ephesians 2:18 – “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
3. We must see them as souls that God desires back.
4. We can be gracious as Christians to others because of understanding their spiritual need.
III. Faith Helps Us To Love Them as God Loves Them
1. Our response to others is not just a reflection of their behavior.
1) We don’t return evil for evil.
2) “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17).
2. We are to truly love others like God loves us.
1) 2 Cor.13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
2) Eph.5:1-2 – “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
3. We can be gracious as Christians to others because of true love for others.
CONCLUSION:
1. Faith helps us to be gracious because . . .
1) We will know who they truly are.
2) We will know what their greatest need is.
3) We will know how to love them as God loves them.
2. Invitation