Grace Unveiled, #9: Established in the Gift of Righteousness | Jim Hammond
 
Recap
 
Pastor Jim taught his 9th installment in his series on the book of Romans entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” The first three and a half chapters of Romans, Paul talked extensively, driving home the point, on how no one can make himself righteous in God’s eyes. The Apostle Paul didn’t leave anyone out. He listed the Pagans in the secular world, people just trying to do good, and the zealous disciplined Jews… he made sure they knew that none of them measured up in God’s eyes. No matter what they did, they would never be able to escape God’s wrath… unless there is something that appeases that judgment. That was Paul’s way of working up to a point. Paul then introduced the righteousness of God through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
 
Dive Deeper
 
Subtitle: Established in the Gift of Righteousness
 
Paul said, “But now the righteousness of God is revealed through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
 
This is a holy God bridging the gap between His holiness and a genetic defect that all men have a sin nature. And it’s a gift that He gives through His death, burial, and resurrection. It’s the gift of righteousness.
 
There are two kinds of righteousness in the Bible: there’s an Old Testament righteousness and there’s a New Testament righteousness.
 
Romans 5:16–17, says “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”
 
The phrase, “for if because of one man’s trespass,” is talking about Adam’s sin. Through Adam’s sin, through the sin of one man, death reigned.
 
It continues: “much more surely…” That’s talking to us. We’re the “much more.” We will receive God’s overflowing grace, His unmerited favor and the free gift of righteousness.
 
It says in the Amplified Bible what His unmerited favor and free gift of righteousness does: It puts you into right standing with God!
 
Notice it says, “much more they which receive.” We have to receive the free gift.
 
The King James says they receive “an abundance of grace.” Those Christians that receive the free gift of righteousness are the ones that reign as kings in life.
 
Notice it does not say those Christians who “sin the least.” It does not say that they reign in life.
 
There are some in the church that think they hardly ever sin; and they have a certain amount of pride about it. Yet, they are miserable. It’s because they’re living under the law. Their faith is not in a merciful God, but rather in the good works they do.
 
Pastor Jim says, “I’m not saying you shouldn’t do good works.” We are to continue to do good works, but we should not look to our good works to justify us before God.
 
Paul said he did more work that any of the other apostles… by the grace of God. But Paul knew he wasn’t justified before God because of his works. Paul didn’t believe he deserved the position he had.
 
He believed all that he had was due to the grace of God. Because of his past in persecuting the church, he believed he was the least of all the apostles. He said, “I’m the least, but by the grace of God, I outwork them all.”
 
Paul said his good works did not justify him before God.
 
Read About It
 
Romans 5:16–17, “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”
 
Discussion Questions
 
The Apostle Paul said we are not justified by our good works. Can you think of an area in your life where you felt your actions would somehow get God to favor you?
 
Have you ever been surprised by the grace or favor God has shown you?
 
Have you ever encountered a believer (or non-believer for that matter) who was mad at God because they felt they deserved something that they didn’t get from God?
 
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Recent Sermon Notes

THY KINGDOM COME, #2, “Seek First the Kingdom of God” | Mac Hammond

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Pastor Mac delivered the second installment of his series entitled, “Thy Kingdom Come.” The book of Hebrews says that in the end times, God is going to shake the world systems. Some things will be removed by the shaking. Things that cannot be shaken will survive. And what survives the shaking will be transformed. Regarding the world’s systems, Pastor Mac says, “If our dependence is more grounded in these worldly systems than our dependence on God, we too will be shaken.” We are in the midst of the world being shaken. It’s important we understand why the shaking is happening and what we are to do in the midst of it.

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GRACE UNVEILED, #13, See Jesus in His Grace | Jim Hammond

Jun 23, 2024

, Pastor Jim gave his 13th installment of his series “Grace Unveiled.” Still in Romans chapter 4, Pastor Jim says if you don’t understand the message of this chapter, you will not be able to understand the rest of Romans. Chapter four makes the case that you are made righteous by His grace, not by your good works or by your good deeds. It is through faith in His grace. One must understand that His righteousness is a gift. It can’t be earned. Pastor Jim went through the chapter and carefully laid out the understanding of each verse.