Turn to Paul's epistle to the
Galatians Chapter 2 I'm going to read one verse Galatians chapter
2 and verse 21 Paul wrote these words I Do not
frustrate the grace of God For if righteousness come by the
law Then Christ is dead in vain. Now, a brief foundation here. These are the last words that Paul spoke to Peter when
Peter was to be blamed. And he is recounting these words
to the Galatians making a point. So remember that, because this
defines some of Paul's language as he speaks here. Now that's
the first thing. The second thing is this. Remember,
these were Paul's words to Peter. And you actually read them, what
is it? About the middle of verse 14,
if thou, I said, I said unto Peter before them all, if thou,
being a Jew, and then he ends it up, I do not, this is what
he told Peter, I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness
come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Here's the second
thing, I think that it is very easy because of all that surrounds
us, it's very easy to be confused concerning some language in the
scripture. Now if I were to say to you,
let's see if I can get this right, I do not walk in the righteousness
of the law. If I were to say that to you,
would you automatically conclude then that there are others then,
that I'm saying then, that there are others who do walk in the
righteousness of the law? Would you conclude that? Now,
knowing me, you probably would not. But if I said that to any
people in general, I do not walk in the righteousness of the law.
The natural mind, the mind automatically wants to conclude, well he must
be saying somebody does. You understand what I'm saying?
But you know that's not the truth. It's not the truth. So what did
Paul say again? It was his last words, at least
as he Recalled to the Galatians. I do not it's what he said to
Peter. I do not frustrate the grace of God For if righteousness
come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain There are those of the humanistic
free will persuasion Who because of this very verse? They say
see man can frustrate the grace of God and Right? Because Paul said, I do
not frustrate the grace of God. They naturally conclude that
Paul is inferring then that some have or can or will or may frustrate
the grace of God. Right? In other words, that there
are those who may neutralize the grace of God. This is one
of the, some of the meanings of the word. There are those
who may make void the grace of God. They may disannul the grace
of God. They may bring to naught the
grace of God. And I'm here to say that's the
meaning of the word frustrate. Now, if you're a little confused
right now, just hang on a minute, you'll be even more confused
in a moment. There are those that say, Paul
said, I do not frustrate the grace of God. Therefore, it's
concluded that some do frustrate the grace of God. Now, if you
read many of the commentaries, they're probably not going to
help you a whole lot, even some of the good ones. Here's another
point. There are those of the puritanical,
forensically Calvinistic ilk, and I mean by that, they have
to lay all their ducks in a row. That is, they will give an explanation
to the scripture that fits their Calvinism, rather than looking
for what the scripture is actually saying. That's what I mean by
that. They are this puritanical, and
you can, you read the Puritans, boy, they have all the, they
can explain. Matter of fact, they don't explain
every verse and phrase. They give you sometimes seven,
eight, or nine explanations to the same thing. It could mean
this. It could mean that. He could
have been meaning this. Have you ever read some of them?
Well, Paul meant exactly what he said when he's talking to
Peter. I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness
come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. So those of
this puritanical, forensically Calvinistic ilk, they, because
of this verse, would say, yes, man can frustrate the grace of
God. They're Calvinists, but they
say it means to disesteem. They say it means to set aside.
It means to put as of no value, or to reject the grace of God. That is, at least the grace of
God in a relative sense. Reject the gospel of his grace,
or reject the truth of his grace. The other believes in the word
as an absolute sense. Okay? Both are right as to the
meaning of the word frustrate. The word frustrate means all
those things. to neutralize, to make void, to disannul, to
bring to naught. It also means to set aside, to
disesteem, to put as of no value, to reject. But both are wrong
as to what Paul wrote. He didn't write, I do not frustrate
the grace of God, but some do. Did he? Did he write that? Yet
the mind being twisted by its depravity, that is the natural
mind, automatically wants to find the other part of what Paul
was getting at. Well, the other part of what
Paul was getting at is, for if righteousness come by the law,
then Christ is dead in vain. So let's go back now. If you're
still a little confounded, let's go back. Both of these two groups
are right as to the meaning of the word frustrate, but they're
wrong about what Paul wrote. Paul did not write as to what
some men do here. He was writing as to what he
told Peter that he did not do here. And that's it, that's all
he was talking about. I'll give you three validations
of this. Number one, if any man can frustrate the grace of God,
if that was what Paul were saying in the, I don't, but some people
do, okay? If any man can frustrate the
grace of God, then any man can make Christ's death meaningless. In other words, any implication
of anything must apply to both phrases. Some people say, well, the way
men preach, but no, we're not talking about what men preach
here. Paul said, but I do not frustrate the grace of God and
look at all the cause. For I, through the law, am dead
to the law, that I might live unto God. And I do not frustrate the
grace of God. For if righteousness has come
by law, then Christ is dead in vain. Any implication of anything
here that implies anything else would have to be applied to all
the phrase Paul said. I don't care how much men may
lie about what Jesus Christ did, they do not make his death meaningless. They do not make Christ to be
dead in vain. It'll never happen. Here's number
two. Paul actually goes on to declare
exactly contrary to anyone being able to frustrate the grace of
God. Look at chapter three, verse 15. Brethren, I speak after the
manner of men. Now he said, I'm gonna give you
a human illustration, that's what he's talking about. Brethren,
I speak after the manner of men, though it be but a man's covenant,
yet if it be confirmed, no man, do you see that next word? Dishonor, that's the same word
translated frustrate over in chapter two, verse 21. Paul says,
even on a human level, though it be but a man's covenant, yet
if it be confirmed, no man dishonor, no man. He cannot, if the covenant
is confirmed, you cannot bring it to naught, whether in an absolute
way or a relative way. And you can't add to it. That's
the same word. Now why they translated it different,
I have no idea, but it's the same thing. But then it goes
on. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. And anyone
who says, but he's not mentioning grace here, when he mentions
the promise of God in Christ, he's talking about grace. Now
to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not,
and to seeds as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which
is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant
that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which
was 430 years after, cannot, and now it's a different Greek
word, but it's even stronger. There is no absolute or relative
sense. It's only absolute. It says,
30 years after cannot disannul that it should make the promise.
none effect So therefore we must beware when we read what Paul
is Saying he said to Peter in verse 21 when he says I do not
frustrate the grace of God Then that infers that the grace of
God can be frustrated Because he just went on to say it cannot
And now what he's just said I read it to you You could go back and
even check the Greek words, you'll see exactly what I'm saying.
Even the law, Joe, could not frustrate it. And even more,
it can't even, and then we see the disannul. This is only an
absolute sense. In other words, this is to invalidate
completely. One of the same meanings of the
word frustrate, only it doesn't have the relative sense. In other words, Paul's not saying
whenever we preach the gospel, I do not frustrate the grace
of God, but there are some who preach a message that frustrates
the grace of God. That's not what he said. That's
number two. Now here's number three. Now
I want you to hear what Paul actually calls anyone who touts
legal righteousness. Now let's look at what about
these people who preach something different? He leads off with
that in chapter one and says in verse six to the Galatians,
I marvel that you're so soon removed from him that called
you into the grace of Christ and to another gospel, which
is not another, but there'd be some that trouble you and would
frustrate the gospel of Christ. Is that what he says? No. When
he's actually talking about what men do against the truth of the
grace of God, he calls it a perversion of the gospel, not a frustration
of the gospel. It's even deeper. It is more
heinous. It's a perversion of the gospel
of Christ. That was Paul's language when
we talk about anything in a relative sense. You see what I'm saying? Or is it now, maybe? coming to
head a little bit of what Paul was actually recounting here
to the Galatians of what he said to Peter. And then what about
those who turn from? What about the Galatians? Look
at chapter five, verse one. Stand fast, therefore, in the
liberty with Christ hath made us free. And be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage. What's he talking about? That
law, law righteousness. Behold, I, Paul, say unto you,
that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Now
what's he talking about? He's saying if you're seeking
righteousness before God by circumcision, Christ is of no avail to you.
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised that
he's a debtor to the whole law. Christ is become of no effect
unto you whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are
what? Fallen from grace. He didn't
say you frustrated the grace of God, no. He said you've fallen
from grace, and that's real. He didn't say you fell out of
grace. It didn't say you had grace and you lost grace, no,
you've fallen from grace. In other words, you have abandoned
its truth. That's what he's talking about.
In other words, Paul calls it what it is. To preach legal righteousness
as acceptance before God is not to frustrate the grace of God,
it is to pervert the gospel of Christ. To follow after such
a thing, even if you've professed grace, no matter how much you've
professed grace, to turn from that is into what? Fall from
grace. So much so that Jude puts it
this way. Turn to Jude, that book right before the book of
the Revelation. This is what Jude writes. And before I even
read it, let me preface it with this statement. Even in the face
of apostates, even in the very teeth of men who teach false
doctrine, who teach this perverted gospel. Look at what he says,
verse three. Beloved, when I gave all diligence
to write unto you the common salvation, it was needful for
me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Now we know here this is the faith in a relative sense, not
in the absolute sense. You don't have to contend for
that faith that God gives as a gift that is a fruit of the
spirit. It's the doctrine of the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ he's talking about contending for you. Even as Paul said to
the Galatians, he said, when I went up to Jerusalem, I withstood
them not for an hour that the truth of the gospel may continue
with you. I didn't care who they were. That's basically what he
was saying. But look, earnestly contend for
the faith which was once delivered unto the saints, for there are
certain men crept in unawares." They're snuck in. But then look
at what it says, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation.
So this ain't called God by surprise. This ain't called His purpose
by surprise. This ain't called His grace by
surprise. God Almighty is in absolute sovereign
reign over all of it. See it? who were before of old
ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, not just men who
frustrate the grace of God, but ungodly men turning the grace
of God into what? Lasciviousness. Now did they
turn the grace of God absolutely speaking into lasciviousness?
No, but relatively, their message was turning the grace of God
into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and the Lord
Jesus Christ. In other words, when Paul talked
about men who lied on God and touted men's worth or men's work
or men's will, he called them what they were. He didn't say
they were frustrating the grace of God. He said they're preaching
a perverted gospel. The Jew says they're ungodly
men. They turn the grace of God into
lasciviousness. They use it for their own uses,
whatever that might be. Whatever that might be. So there
are the three validations of what I'm trying to give you this
morning. It's not a matter of, well, the grace of God can be
frustrated because Paul said he didn't frustrate it in any
way. Now, here's the title of my message. God's grace cannot be frustrated.
And I give it that title right in the teeth of what Paul said,
because I know what Paul's talking about. Let me give you five facts about
God's grace. Now that was my introduction.
I hope you see what I'm saying here. God's grace cannot be frustrated.
And yet some read this and then some say, well, see, it can be,
or then others then go try to show how well, it's not really
frustrated in the end or overall. No, God's grace is never frustrated. Let me give you five things about
God's grace. First of all, I'm going to term
it this way, it's eternal grace. Turn to 2 Timothy chapter 1.
It's eternal grace. Second Timothy chapter one, listen
to what the Apostle Paul said, writing to Timothy, verse eight
and nine. Be not thou therefore ashamed
of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me as prisoner, but be
thou a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the
power of God, who hath saved us and called us, and note the
order. And here he speaks of salvation as even preceding calling. Who hath saved us and called
us with the holy calling. In what sense can that be true,
Paul? Because I was born lost, right? Yes, sir. Wasn't I born
as depraved as everybody else? Weren't we the children of wrath
even as others? Yes, but look, here's how I,
in what sense, not according to our works, but according to
his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began. Amen. In other words, there was
nobody there to frustrate it. Exactly. Amen. Who could have
frustrated this? Exactly. Right? None but the
triune God existed then. This is before the world began. And even Satan's fall is said
to be in connection with the world. He said, I will ascend
up into heaven and I'll be like the most high God. So I know
this took place, Joe, before even that. There was no one there
to frustrate God's grace. And Paul tells Timothy, God gave
us this grace in Christ Jesus before the world began. Now you
can't have something that don't even exist frustrating the sovereign
God who did exist. Now that's just common spiritual
sense. Is it not? That's number one.
Here's the second thing. It's also called reigning grace.
Turn back to Romans chapter five. It's also called reigning grace.
Before I read that one, let me think about this. Even where
abounding sin exists, even abounding sin cannot frustrate grace. Read what he says, Romans five,
verse 20 and 21. Moreover, the law entered that
the offense might, what? Abound. So here we're talking
about abounding offense. Abounding sin. Sin overflowing. Sin, we could say, at its maximum. Moreover, the law entered that
the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did. much more, much more, much super
abound, some have said. So the maximum of sin, Joe, could
not frustrate the maximum of grace. Got it? But where sin abounded, Grace
did much more abound that as sin hath reigned unto death,
even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life
by Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace cannot be frustrated even
by abounding sin. That's right. Amen. Somebody
says, I don't like that. Well, you don't like God. There
you go. I don't love that. You don't love God. I don't believe
that. You don't believe God then. Because
this is what he says. It's called eternal grace. It's
called reigning grace. Look at chapter 3. It's also
called justifying grace. And it's called justifying grace,
and this happened even in the teeth of our fallen state. Because look at how chapter three
and verse nine then begins. What then? Are we better than
they? No and no wise. We have before proved, both Jews
and Gentiles, that they're all under, under. Under sin. In other words, it's like a monster
that's on top of you. Like a huge, humongous weight
that you can't get out from under. We're all under sin. Then it
goes to this great litany of what we all are by nature. Right? All right, but look, verse 20,
therefore by the deeds of the law, that's some of the very
same things Paul was talking about to Peter in Galatians 2
and 21, that he was recounting to the Galatians, right? Therefore
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in
his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now
the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. And even
the law and the prophets give witness to this, he says. Being
witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness
of God, which is by the faith of who? Of Jesus Christ. Not our faith, his faith. Unto
all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference, for
all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And he's
not done with the phrase yet, being justified freely. Do you see it? Even when we'd
already sinned, Joe, and sinned in these most heinous ways. And the law clearly shows this
to be true. But he says, nevertheless, being
justified freely by his grace. How? Through the redemption that
is in Christ Jesus. So again, I say it's called justifying
grace. This grace cannot be frustrated because it abounds, it reigns,
and it was free even in light of and in the teeth of our sins
and our sin. And people say sin's the one
thing that can keep you out of heaven. Not if Jesus Christ died
for you, it's not. Because if Jesus Christ died
for you, if he shed his blood to redeem you, bless God, you
are redeemed even in the teeth of your sinful state. Yes, sir. That's what he teaches here.
And people want to come along and feel like they've got to,
I've got to, I need to at least kind of stand up for grace can't
really be frustrated. No, grace cannot be frustrated.
When Paul said, I do not frustrate the grace of God, there is only
one reason why for if righteousness has come by the law, then Christ
is dead in vain. That's just the way it is. Justifying grace. Well, here's, here's number four.
It's also called converting grace. Now, I'm not gonna read all of
it. You know it. Go to 1 Thessalonians 1, and Paul says this, I know,
brethren, beloved of the Lord, your election of God. And the
election is called the election of what? Grace. Now, is there
anything or anyone that can frustrate that? No. He said, now I know
your election, beloved, I know your election. I know why? Because
our gospel came not to you in word only. Now it will come in
word, in one form or another, but it'll come in word, but it
don't come in word only. But what? In power. In the Holy
Ghost. And in much assurance. In affliction.
And you what? You became. He didn't say you
just decided to be. You became followers of us. and
of the Lord, so much so that people around you knew something
had happened to you. I'm paraphrasing, but that's the way it says. And
the word, I didn't even have to say a lot because the word
spread about what had happened to you. Look what happened to
these people when that man preached to them. Look at what a change
that took place. Now you've turned to God from
idols to serve the true and the living God and to do what? To
wait for his son from heaven. And people talk about grace can
be frustrated. Even the preaching of the gospel
can't be frustrated toward the elect. Now can it? This is why we teach that the
gospel will conquer, while the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. It cannot! Why? Because grace reigns. Grace super
abounds. Grace was given and ordained
and given by God before the world began. And you just keep working
your way all the way back till finally you see he's the God
of all grace. So much so that it says about
Jesus Christ, even in light of the fact that some hadn't received
him, and the fact that some had, it said he was still full of
grace and truth. Isn't that what John said? We
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full. Now he wasn't full of grace because some wouldn't receive
him, therefore he couldn't give some out. He's just full of grace.
He's intrinsic grace. He is grace. He's sovereign grace. And some had received him, right? Some had received him, Hal. Not
by an act of their own, but by an act of God. Isn't that what
he teaches there? And even though, Joe, he has
dispensed out this grace to these who have received him, He still
ain't empty of any grace. He's still full of grace and
truth. I'm saying this morning that
God's grace cannot be frustrated. I mean so much so that it says,
remember, I lost his name, I mentioned in Acts chapter 18, especially
verse 27 and 28, Apollos. a very good speaker. I mean,
he could publicly convince men from the scriptures now, from
the scriptures, that Jesus was the Christ. And it said the people
who had believed had believed how? By grace. By grace. I'm saying it's called
eternal grace, it's called reigning grace, it's called justifying
grace, it's called converting grace. Grace has the power, the
sovereign power, the grace of God has the sovereign power to
do all these things. So much so that it is stated
by Luke in Acts chapter 13 and verse 48, and as many as were
ordained to eternal life, what? They believed. And they always,
always do. Because you know why? The grace
of God cannot be frustrated. Well, I just don't know about
that, but then you never experienced that grace. Because once God
Almighty lays hold of you by that free sovereign grace, that
eternal grace, that reigning grace, that justifying grace,
that converting grace, He gonna bring you down in the dust and
you gonna know grace is eternal. Grace reigns, grace justifies,
and grace converts. Even in the teeth of my sin and
rebellion against God. Look at Saul of Tarsus. Look
at Saul of Tarsus. As a matter of fact, that's what
we're gonna do for my fifth one there. Turn to 1 Corinthians
chapter 15. Here's the fifth thing about
this fact that God's grace cannot be frustrated, one of the fifth
fact about it. It's called conforming grace.
You hear what I said? Conforming grace. Not only does
grace convert sovereignly, but it conforms. Now look at what
Paul said. In other words, let me just sum
it up before I read it. Grace will get the job done. Grace will get the job done in
the teeth of everything and everybody, every demon in hell and every
cherubim and seraphim in glory. The cherubims and the seraphims
do not add to its power and the demons in hell, even Satan himself,
cannot subtract from its power. It is eternal grace, reigning
grace, justifying grace, converting grace, and it's conforming grace.
Why? Because Paul said these words. First Corinthians 15,
look at verse eight. And last of all, he, that is
the Lord Jesus Christ, and last of all, he was seen of me also
as of one born out of due time. Now born, when it comes to being
born, you got nothing to do with that. Look, for I am the least of the
apostles. that I am not meet to be called
an apostle. Why? Now look here, even in the
teeth of this very thing, because I persecuted the church of God,
he was not looking to become a believer in Jesus of Nazareth,
was he? Exactly the opposite. I guarantee
you, Neil, he was trying to frustrate that grace that these people
were talking about as best he could. He goes, shut her down.
I'm going to nullify it. I'm going to bring it to naught,
whether absolutely or relatively. I'm going to hammer on it all
I can and wipe his name off the face of the earth. But what a
glorious three-letter word. But by the grace of God, I am
what I am. Now there's the precedent. Grace
brought this change about. Now that's converting grace,
we've looked at that. Look, but by the grace of God, I am what
I am, even in the face of a man who wanted to wipe the name off
the face of the earth. Mason, that very same grace of
that Lord Jesus Christ brought this man down and brought him
to be what he is, an apostle. Look, and his grace which was
bestowed upon me was not in vain. Now look, but I labored more
abundantly than they all. Well, see there, Paul Samble,
I got out there and I did it. That's not what he says, does
he? Yet not I, but the grace of God, which was with me. Do you see it? I'm saying it's
converting and conforming grace, continuing grace. That's why
I wanted to sing that song. It's a pretty good song. Now
look, Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. And he said that grace that was
with him that even had brought him through all of this. Joe,
that was the same grace that what brought him from his mother's
womb. And then called me what? By his grace. Let me tell you,
when any man says in any way that grace can be frustrated
in any way. He's either lying on God or he's
trying to make his doctrine fit what he thinks the truth is.
Because grace cannot be frustrated. Men might do despite in the spirit
of grace. They do hate his grace. They
may throw up their fists in his face and say I hate that kind
of grace. But just like Saul of Tarsus,
if God determined before the world began to by His grace bring
them down, being brought down, they will be. And they'll continue to be. That's just the way it is. In
other words, let me say it again, grace will get the job done. Now men can and do preach a corrupt
message. Yeah, a perverted gospel. It's
not even the gospel, but they pervert the gospel of Christ.
So men can and do preach a corrupt message. But because of that,
because that is true, we must say this, thus all that comes
from it must be corrupt, no matter what kind of overt results seem
to take place. Boy, here's a guy, he was a drunk.
He heard that message of free will, and he ain't a drunk no
more. That ain't evidence of that? Well, boy, he used to hate
going to church on Sundays. Boy, now he loves going to church
on Sundays. No, and he probably thinks he's gaining God's favor
by going to church on Sundays, too. Paul says, I do not frustrate
the grace of God. Why? For if righteousness come
by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. So remember, there is a corrupt
message out there, but they're not frustrating the grace of
God. They're perverting the gospel of Christ. And everything that
flows from that is corrupt, it is perverted, no matter what
you think you see out here. But even so, God calls some to
preach the gospel of the grace of God. Thus its results will
be efficacious, even though it may appear hindered overtly. I'll go back to Galatians again.
So much so, remember Paul said, if you try to be justified in
God's sight by circumcision, you've fallen from grace. But
then look at what he says, verse seven, ye did run well. Who did
hinder you? You remember what Earl said about
that years ago? Somebody throwed a body block
into you, that's what it hindered me. He didn't say who did frustrate
the grace of God. No, grace of God cannot be frustrated. He said, you did run well, who
did hinder you? Now I could be body blocked.
Yes sir, but look. You did run well, who did hinder
you that you should not what? Obey the truth. This persuasion
cometh not of him that calleth you, A little leaven, leaveneth
the whole up. He said, left like it is, it'll
be to your destruction. If it's left like it is, a little leaven, leaveneth the
whole, look, I have confidence in you, how? Through the Lord. That ye will be none otherwise
minded. And basically, with all that
he still says, Mason, and the rest of this, he's basically
said, I've gotta lay it in God's hands, because God's grace will
get the job done. That's what he's talking about.
I have confidence in you, how? Through the Lord. If he begun
this work in you, this good work in you, he will perform it unto
the day of Jesus Christ. If it don't continue, then you
ain't got what you thought you had. If you could abandon it
and leave it, then it wasn't really what you thought, it wasn't
the grace of God. It might have been some quasi whatever it is,
perverted grace that men may talk about, but it's not the
grace of God. He said, I have this confidence
in you through the Lord that you will be none otherwise minded.
But not only that, but he that troubles you, he'll bear his
judgment, whosoever he be. God'll deal with this matter.
You see it? God'll tell you. Ain't nobody
and no thing, demon, angel, fallen man, rebel against Christ. Ain't nobody gonna frustrate
the grace of God. That's the foundation. You wanna
look at Galatians chapter two verse 21, you need to get a hold
of what I've just been telling you about. I do not frustrate
the grace of God, for if righteousness come by law, then Christ is dead
in vain. But you know what? Righteousness
don't come by law. Christ ain't dead in vain. Never
will be, never shall be, never was, never is, never shall be.
So in other words, next week, God willing, next time we'll
look at this verse as a whole, because a lot of people say,
well, I'm not trying to be circumcised. The law is the summary. Listen,
the law is the summary of this, and I've said it, I've already
mentioned it. The law is the summary of this, human will,
human work, and human worth. That's what it's the summary
of. And I don't care whether it's ecclesiastical, will, work,
and worth, or whether it's strictly mosaic, will, work, and worth,
it's all legalism. It's all law. It's all human
effort. And you could say it that way.
I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come
by human effort, because that's what the law is about, human
effort. Thou shalt not, thou shalt, right? If righteousness,
I don't frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come
by the law, Christ did in vain. So again, I'll sum it up this
way. God's grace cannot be frustrated. You know what, I thank God for
that. When there was a time when I, not would have, I mocked that. Yeah, didn't want it. Laughed about it. Despised it. Yet that same grace, that same
God that I despised and hated, ran from, rejected. That same
God in his grace conquered me. That's my only hope. My only
hope is he will still keep conquering me. Yeah. You know, bring me
to the feet of Christ. Christ, if you didn't do it for
me, it ain't done. It ain't done. David Wright, would you ask God
to bless the food for us, please? Most gracious Heavenly Father,
Lord, we thank you for the messages that we've heard today, Lord.
We thank you that you are in Christ and met with us this morning,
Lord. Thank you for these men that
you've set up in this place, Lord. Continue to give them an
utterance that they proclaim your mysteries, Lord, and give
us grace, Lord, that we keep our hearts and minds set on things
above while we are here, Lord, that we're attentive to the message,
Lord, It doesn't just stay here when we leave, Lord, but by your
grace, cause it to follow us as we walk into this world, Lord.
Though we be in this world, we're not of this world, Lord. Thank
you for the brethren here. Give us grace, Lord, that we
truly strive to keep the unity, Lord, that we lift each other
up and exhort each other higher than one another, Lord. Esteem
each other greater than ourselves, Lord. We ask that you give us
grace, Lord, that we truly not be a hindrance to each other,
Lord, not be for all that you've given us
lord cause us to be truly grateful for what we have in christ lord
we ask that you bless our time of fellowship and that this food
may be the nourishment of our bodies lord thank you for all
those hands that prepared lord be with chad and all the brethren
here lord and elizabeth that are going through any ailment
lord cause them to look to Christ for comfort alone, Lord, not
to seek the wisdom or the care of this world, Lord, but to truly
seek after your will, Lord. Your will be done in all things.
Remember all your sheep throughout this world, Lord, and may we
be pleased as if you've seen fit, Lord, to bring us back next
week to hear your gospel. Thank you for all things in Christ's
name, amen.