1. Grace for Beginners Mike Mazzalongo What’s So Good About The Good News? 1

2. John Newton 1725-1807

3. “Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be; I can truly say that I am not what I once was, a slave to sin & Satan and I can heartily join the Apostle (Paul) and acknowledge, by the grace of God, I am what I am.” - John Newton, 1725-1807

4. CHARIS = GRACE (Greek) (English) CHARA = Beautiful, Lovely, Delightful N.T. = Joy/Rejoicing LATIN = Gratitude

5. GRACE God’s attitude & Actions towards Mankind

6. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

7. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph. 2:8-9

8. The Danger of Grace 1.They don’t understand the idea

9. The Danger of Grace 1.They don’t understand the idea. 2.They prefer a “works” system.

10. The Danger of Grace 1.They don’t understand the idea. 2.They prefer a “works” system. 3.They fear living by faith.

11. and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, Phil. 3:9

12. that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Phil. 3:10-11

13. I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Gal. 1:6-7

14. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! Gal. 1:8

15. Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:37-38

16. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” Acts 2:39-40

17. So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:41-42

18. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

19. The Good News of the Gospel is that we are saved by grace!

20. Grace & Salvation A.God’s motivation to save us is His grace.

21. Grace & Salvation B.The method God uses to save us is faith.

22. Grace & Salvation C.The Biblical demonstration of faith for salvation is baptism.

23. - Saved through grace - Jn. 3:16 - Saved through faith - Lk. 8:12 - Saved through baptism - Mk. 16:16 Apostles’ Teachings

24. Grace is Free Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, Rom. 4:4-5

25. Free Grace… Implies man is helpless

26. Free Grace… Implies man is helpless Eliminates Boot-Strap Religion

27. Free Grace… Implies man is helpless Eliminates Boot-Strap Religion Crushes pride

28. “Tell men what God did before you tell men what they should do.” Charles Hodge

29. What about human responsibility?

30. The Law Demands Grace Produces

31. Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Rom. 2:4

32. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. I Cor. 15:10

33. The Law = Have To Grace = Want To

34. Question So…What’s So Good About The Good News?

35. Answer #1 Because of His grace, God offers salvation and eternal life to everyone based on faith, not Law, Knowledge or Culture.

36. Answer #2 God’s grace makes it possible for all persons to go to heaven because they believe and not because they’re perfect.

37. Next Lesson Amazing Grace: The True Plan of Salvation

38. Amazing Grace Vs. 13 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow The sun forbear to shine But God who called me here below Shall be forever mine.