Would you turn with me to First
Corinthians, Chapter 15? This afternoon, they put Donna
Grubb in hospice and at St. Joseph's. And very, very soon
she's going to begin to live. That's a wonderful thought, isn't
it? She's going to be done with sin. She's going to be done with
unbelief and she's going to live. 1 Corinthians 15, I want to begin
reading in verse 9 and move to verse 11. I've entitled this
my motto. And I am sure that every believer
will agree that this is the motto of every believer. Not just my
motto, but the motto of every believer, and I'm sure you'll
pick it up as I read this passage of Scripture. 1 Corinthians chapter
15, beginning in verse 9, Paul says, For I am the least of the
apostles that am not meet to be called
an apostle. Because I persecuted the church
of God, but By the grace of God, I am what I am. And His grace which was bestowed
upon me was not in vain. But I labored more abundantly
than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with
me. Therefore, whether it were I
or they, so we preach. And so you believed. A motto is a concise statement
that defines a guiding principle. Now I, along with every other
believer in the grace of God, take this as my motto. I am what I am by the grace of
God. Don't you believe that? You believe
that, don't you? You are what you are by the grace
of God. Now, in the context, Paul says
in verse 9, For I am the least of the apostles, that am not
meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church
of God. It is utterly owing to the grace
of God that I'm the least of the apostles. I count that as
a high gift of grace. I do not deserve such a high
calling because of the enormity of my guilt. I persecuted the
church of God, yet he by his grace made me an apostle. And it's only by the grace of
God that I'm the least of the apostles, that I see myself that
way. I'm so proud by nature, so arrogant, so self-righteous
that I would naturally think that I'm the greatest of the
apostles. But by the grace of God, I see myself to be the least
of the apostles. Some years later, he would write
in Ephesians chapter 3, verse 8, I'm less than the least of
all the saints. You see, he'd grown from being
the least of the apostles to less than the least of all the
saints. And shortly before he would die,
He penned these words about himself. I'm the chief of sinners. He went from being the least
of the apostles to less than the least of all the saints to
the very chief of sinners. And he didn't say I used to be
the chief of sinners before God saved me. He didn't say that
at all. He said, Christ came into the world to save sinners
of whom I am. The chief. Verse 10, he says, but by the
grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace, which was bestowed
upon me, was not in vain. But I labored more abundantly
than they all. Now, this was not a mock humility
when he said, I'm the least of the apostles. He also said his
grace, which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain. I labored
more abundantly than they all. And Paul wasn't just blowing
smoke when he said this. He did labor more abundantly
than they all. He was the chief apostle in a
very real sense. He was he was the minister of
grace. But he says it wasn't me. I realize
that. It wasn't me who labored more
abundantly than they all, but it was the grace of God which
was with me. I am what I am by the grace of
God. And he said in verse 11, therefore,
whether it were I or they, so we preach. This is what every
true preacher preaches, every single one of them. No exceptions
to this rule. I am what I am. by the grace
of God. This is what every true preacher
preaches. This is what every true believer believes. So we
preached. So you believed. I am what I
am by the grace of God. I'm not what I would be. And
I blush with shame at the thought of what I would be right now. without the grace of God. Aren't you thankful for restraining
grace? What would you be without the grace of God? We would be
very monsters in iniquity. Thank God I'm not what I would
be by the grace of God. And I'm not what I was by the
grace of God. Now, I realize my flesh is not
improved. I've still got the same old nature,
but I'm a new creature in Christ Jesus. That's the real me. I'm
a new creature in Christ Jesus. I love the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe the gospel. And I am what I am by the grace
of God. Now, there are two questions
that arise from our text. What is meant? by the grace of
God, when he says, I am what I am by the grace of God. What
do you mean by that? That's the first question that
arises from our text. And the second question is this.
Well, Paul, what are you? He said, I am what I am. What
are you? Whatever he is is whatever a
believer is. So we're going to see what this grace is. And what
a believer is. Now, what is meant by the grace
of God when he says, I am what I am by the grace of God? Would
you turn back to Genesis chapter six? This is the first time the
word grace is mentioned. Genesis chapter six. Verse five. And God saw. That the wickedness
of man was great in the earth. And that What's the next word? Every. Not most. Not 99%, but every. Imagination, he's not even talking
about his works right now, he's talking about what goes on through
his heart, the imaginations, every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil. Continually. Now, I want you
to think of that. God looked at every man and this
is all he saw. Every imagination, every thought
that passed through his heart was only evil non-stop. Now that is God's description
of you and I. You believe that? It's so. Now let's go on reading. And it repented the Lord that
he'd made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the Lord said, I'll destroy man whom I've created from the
face of the earth, both man and beast, and the creeping things,
and the fowls of the earth. For it repented me that I've
made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes
of the Lord. Now, was Noah included in that
description of verse 5? When God looked at Noah, did
He see somebody who every imagination and the thoughts of his heart
was only evil continually? Is that what God saw when He
looked at Noah? You better believe it was. But Noah found grace,
found unmerited favor in the eyes of the Lord. And we just
heard the commentary on this. Back to Ephesians chapter 2.
Bob read just a moment ago, Ephesians chapter 2. Verse 3, among whom also we all
had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. And we
were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. We were
just like everybody else. But you turned it around. But
you believed. But you repented. But you turned
over a new leaf. But you did. But God. That's the difference. But God,
who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved
us even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together
with Christ. And here's what I mean by all
of this. By grace, you are saved. God's grace saves. That thing that men call grace
that makes salvation available, if we do whatever it is we're
supposed to do to make it work, that's not grace. That's not
grace at all. God's grace saves. By grace ye are saved. Biblical grace is saving grace.
Listen to this scripture, 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 9. It says,
He saved us. summary of our theology, isn't
it? He saved us. And He called us with a holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to His own
purpose and grace which were given us in Christ Jesus before
the world began. We most assuredly believe what
is known as the doctrines of grace. I think it would be better
stated, the doctrine of grace. It's one doctrine. It's not a system of theology.
It's what the Bible actually teaches, the doctrine of grace. And an easy way to remember it
is the acrostic tulip. TULIP. T-U-L-I-P. TULIP. Stands for Total Depravity,
Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace,
and the Perseverance of the Saints. Now, what do these terms mean?
Total Depravity. It's what the Bible teaches.
It says man, as a result of Adam's fall, is totally depraved. That means every faculty is no
good. My heart, which makes up my will,
my affections, my understanding is no good. By nature, I cannot
understand the gospel. I can't figure it out. It's not
because of lack of intelligence. It's because I'm spiritually
dead and I don't have the ability to understand the gospel. You
know, an unbeliever cannot understand the gospel. The only way somebody
can understand it is if God opens their eyes and gives them understanding.
My affections are no good. My affections are evil. Every
imagination of the thoughts of my heart is only evil continually.
My will is chained to sin. People talk about free will.
That's the most ridiculous thing in the world. There's no such
thing as free will. Your will is controlled by your
nature. I've got a nature that's evil. That's where my will comes
in. To talk about free will, that's talking about a non-entity.
God doesn't even have a free will. God's will is controlled
by His nature. He can't sin, can He? He can't
lie. His will is controlled by his
nature. If I have an evil nature, I... Every faculty of man is
under the dominion of sin where I cannot even come to Christ
unless God is pleased to do something for me. That's what total depravity
means. Doesn't mean everybody's out
murdering everybody else and stealing and so on, although
take away the restraining grace of God and who knows what would
happen. But total depravity means we're
completely under the dominion of sin. Now, because of that,
you, unconditional election, thank God, because He's gracious,
because He's merciful, because He delights in saving, way back
before time began, He chose a people to be saved. And He did so unconditionally. He didn't look down and say,
well, I believe they'll be saved because I foresee they'll believe.
No, not at all. chose them because He would. We're saved to the praise of
the glory of His grace, according as He hath chosen us in Him. Now, that's unconditional election.
Now, if total depravity is true, the only way anybody will be
saved is if God elected a people. No election, no salvation. It's amazing how people argue
against the doctrine of election. That's where God's grace begins.
It's the best news you've ever heard. Don't bite the hand that
feeds you. This is the only hope you got, that God chose the people
to be saved. Limited atonement. T-U-L. Limited
atonement. That means Christ's intention
in saving was limited to the elect. He never intended on saving
everybody. If He did, everybody would have
been saved. He only intended on saving the elect of God. Limited atonement. Everybody
He died for must be saved. Then I, irresistible grace, invincible
grace, call it what you want. It's the grace of God the Holy
Spirit. It means when God says live, you can't say no. You may
say no, but He says yes, and He makes you willing in the day
of His power. Psalm 110.3. His grace is invincible
and irresistible. We might bar the door of our
heart, but He breaks it down and comes in and reigns by irresistible,
invincible grace. P is perseverance, the perseverance
of the saints. Everybody got elected. Everybody
crossed out for everybody that God, the Holy Spirit gives life
to. They shall persevere all the
way to the end, walking with the Lord Jesus Christ. They will
not fall away. Now, this is what the Bible teaches.
And if I don't believe this, I don't believe in grace at all.
And if I don't preach this, I do not preach the gospel. This is
salvation by grace. I know this, if I believe that
I'm totally depraved, if I believe that about myself, if I really
believe that about myself, unconditional election, limited
atonement, irresistible grace, perseverance of the saints, it's
good news to me. It's the only hope I have that
salvation is of the Lord, that He really does save by His grace. And Paul says, I am what I am
by the grace of God. That's the grace he was speaking
of. Saving grace. Sovereign grace. There's no other
kind of grace. If somebody wants to argue against
that, well, every man to his own poison. But that's the only
grace that will save this sinner. The saving grace of God. Don't you love salvation by grace? I just love this. Now, Paul said,
I am what I am by the grace of God. Now, what are you, Paul?
See what he meant by grace? He meant saving grace. Saving
grace. Now, Paul said, I am what I am
by the grace of God. What are you, Paul? Well, here's
the first thing Paul would have said. I'm a sinner. I'm a sinner. And I'm not proud
of that. I'm not bragging about that.
I'm not glorying in that. He said, I know that in me that
is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. I'm a sinner. And it's
only by the grace of God that I know that. If God didn't reveal
that to me, I would go on in my self-righteousness and in
my pride and my arrogance, and I'd miss Christ altogether. You
know, the songwriter Joseph Hart said this, a sinner is a sacred
thing. The Holy Ghost had made him so. And if you know that you're a
sinner, praise God, it's because God revealed that to you. And
there's never been anybody that He revealed to them that He was
a sinner who He didn't save. Every sinner Christ died for,
every single one of them. I'm a sinner and it's by the
grace of God. I'm elect. I'm one of God's chosen. And that's by the grace of God.
I know that. I know He didn't look down and
foresee something good in me that made me desirable to Him.
I know the only reason He chose me is because He would as a sovereign
act of His will. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight." That's his reason for doing it. I am what
I am by the grace of God. I love that scripture in Romans
9 and 11, for the children being not yet born, neither having
done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election
might stand. Not of works. But of him that
calleth, it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger,
as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
I know why I am elect, it is the grace of God. I have been
called. I am somebody that God has called. And this is, so is everybody,
every other believer. I have already quoted this scripture,
2 Timothy 1, 9, He saved us and He called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own purpose
and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began. Paul said in Galatians 1 15,
When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and
called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach
him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and
blood. I've been called by his grace.
And it's a most gracious call. Like Zacchaeus, the chief of
the publicans. Zacchaeus, make haste and come
down. Today I must abide at thy house.
You know what Zacchaeus did? He made haste and he came down
and he received Him joyfully. I'm justified. Paul said, I am
what I am by the grace of God. I'm justified. You know what
that means? That means I'm just before God. That means I'm not
guilty. That means I stand perfect before
the law of God and I'm justified. I sure know that that's an act
of the grace of God because by nature I'm unjust. And the only
way I can be justified is if I'm justified by the grace of
God. I can't justify myself. This is the work of His grace
and His grace altogether. I'm redeemed. All my sins are
paid for. And what did I have to do with
that payment? He by Himself, Hebrews 1.3 says,
He by Himself with no help from you, He by Himself purged us
of our sins. I am redeemed and that is by
the grace of God. I'm sanctified. Like I said this
morning, I'm St. Todd. St. Todd. That could be said of every
believer. I see a lot of saints here. That means holy ones. But you just said you were a
sinner. Indeed, I did. But I'm sanctified. I'm a saint.
I'm a holy one. Really? Holy before God. Now, understand this regarding
holiness. There's nothing you do to achieve holiness. It's
what God makes you to be. Holy before God. We're called
holy brethren. Partakers of the heavenly calling. Every believer is holy before
God. And the only way that can be
is by grace. Now, I am holy. You know, David
said that in Psalm 86, verse 2. He said, preserve my soul
for I'm holy. And I used to read that passage
of Scripture. I just kind of grimaced because it's hard to say that.
You know, I mean, because as far as the way I look at myself,
I sure don't feel holy. I don't look at myself and say,
yep, that's holy. That's a holy action. But because
God says I am holy, I am holy. Every believer is holy. It's
a holy nature given at the new birth. I'm holy, and I know that
that's by the grace of God. There's no other way it could
be. I'm born from above. I'm born
again, and that is holy by the grace of God. I didn't cooperate
in this thing. I didn't say, okay, you can give
me life now. No. He birthed me into the kingdom of heaven. I'm
born again, and that's by the grace of God. I'm forgiven. And that's by the grace of God.
He didn't forgive me because I asked Him to. He didn't forgive
me because of something that I did or something that He saw
that I would do. He forgave me for Christ's sake. Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven
you. I'm preserved. I persevere in
the faith. I've continued up to this point.
I've not quit. I've not fallen away. And the
reason I haven't fallen away is because of the grace of God,
because I know that if He didn't preserve me, I know I'd fall
away. Can a believer fall away? Well,
if he can, he will. I'll tell you that. If he can,
he will. But thank God he won't, because
he's preserved by the grace of God. I'm one who perseveres,
and that's by the grace of God. I believe. I believe the gospel. I'm relying
on the Lord Jesus Christ right now, and that's by the grace
of God. I know that His, the faith I have is the gift of His
grace. We just read, for by grace you say through faith, and that's
not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast. I repent, and I know that repentance
is the gift of God. I am what I am by the grace of
God. I'm a preacher of the gospel.
And I say with Paul, unto me who am less than the least of
all the saints is this grace given, that I should preach among
the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Grace. God is the God of all grace.
His salvation is all of grace, and I am what I am by the grace
of God. Now, isn't that precious? If
you believe you're a sinner, it's precious. And the only thing
that would prevent somebody from seeing this as precious is not
really believing they're a sinner. If you're a sinner, this is good
news that salvation is by grace. You know, when we see somebody
else fall, Don't you say, there go I, but
for the grace of God. That would be me. When we're spiritually dull and
look within our heart and see such dullness, aren't you thankful
that you can see seeing when darkness veils His lovely face? I rest in His unchanging grace. When you're on the mountain top,
you know it's by grace, don't you? You're sure of that. Now, what a reason for humility. Don't you have a reason to humble
yourself before God? Salvation is by grace. You know,
somebody once said this, a proud believer, is as great a contradiction
as a humble devil. And that's so. What do you have
to be proud about? We're proud of the gospel. We're
proud of the Lord. But as far as ourselves, we have
nothing to be proud about. We've been saved by grace. We
are to humble ourselves before the Lord. And what a reason for
charity toward others. You know, you look at somebody
else. And you know, we're disappointed with people all the time, aren't
we? Disappointed with the way they conduct themselves. Disappointed
with the way they handle situations. Just disappointed. So many reasons
for disappointment. But wait a minute. Wait. Wait
a minute. What about you? You've got to admit that apart
from the grace of God, you'll be worse than they will. And
you really believe that. And you have a reason for charity
toward others. And what a reason for optimism
and hopefulness. God's grace is saving grace. There's nobody beyond the grace
of God. What a reason for optimism and
hopefulness since salvations of the Lord. Since I can say
this. Truly. If God saved me by his
grace. I don't despair of anybody. Salvation is of the Lord. What a reason for hopefulness
and optimism. You know, sovereign grace is
not negative. It's positive. It's not bad news. It's bad news
if you're coming on your own words, but it's good news to
everybody who needs mercy. And what a reason for cheerfulness
and gratefulness. Salvation by grace. Isn't that
a reason to rejoice? Isn't that a reason to be happy?
Don't you have every reason to be happy in the Lord? To be thankful
salvation is by grace. I am what I am. By the grace of God, that's my
motto. That's your motto, isn't it?
It's the motto of every believer. And as we get ready to take the
Lord's table, We're saying, I am what I am by the grace of God. Oh, the gift of the grace of
His blood that washes away my sin. His broken body that put
away my sin. His perfect obedience that's
my righteousness before God. I am what I am. I say this from the very depths
of my heart. I am what I am by the grace of
God. Let's pray.