Worshiping God for His Grace

When worshiping God, often we find ourselves worshiping in general. There isn't anything wrong with just worshiping God, but I find in my own life, and in scripture, that praises and doxologies that focus on specific attributes for worshiping God, such as His grace, His justice, His love, His faithfulness and so on, leave a lasting impression on my heart, and my soul, and draw me closer to the most amazing display of His character of all, the cross.

There are so many things that God has revealed to us through His word, that we should worship Him for, so for the next two weeks or so, we will involve ourselves with a study, intended to focus our worship on His amazing grace.

When the “Doctrine’s of Grace” are mentioned within Christian circles, you can expect a variety of different responses. Some groups will hear the word “doctrine” and immediately disregard the conversation. Others will actively engage you in conversation and bring their views to the table. Any Protestant Reformer hearing these words will instinctively think of Calvinism and the acrostic T.U.L.I.P., where the “T” stands for the Total Depravity of Man, “U” God’s Unconditional Election, “L” Limited Atonement, or as it is better stated Definite Redemption, “I” for God’s Irresistible Grace, and “P” for the Perseverance of the Saints. I love to discuss the grace of God with others, and though, I am in the latter group that immediately associates the words “Doctrines of Grace” with Calvinism, I want to step back for just a moment and show you how every Biblical doctrine is a doctrine of Grace.

Biblically Grace is referring to the unmerited favor and kindness of God shown to the undeserving sinner. But I want to show you just how much ground that covers.

• It was the amazing grace of God to display His power, and reveal Himself through His creation.

• Psalm 19:1-2 tell us “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

• Romans 1:19-20 “because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

So, in this amazing act of grace, God revealed Himself to His own creation, so that in just looking at the wonders of nature, the changing of seasons, the stars in the heavens, the mighty sun lighting the earth and every facet of this marvelous earth, we can see God’s divine nature and eternal power!
How about the intimate access we have to God’s privacy, the backstage pass to see His true character as He reveals Himself to the world, through His Word. God completely discloses Himself to us in the pages of scripture, He forfeits His privacy, so that we can see who He really is. These certainly are acts of grace and mercy, because of the simple fact that we do not deserve them. God doesn’t owe anything to anyone at anytime, but in kindness, He has given so much more then we could ever think to ask for.

When you view every little thing that God has done for us as a gift of His grace, then all the more gracious and merciful salvation becomes to the sinner, who has received a full pardon from guilt, from sin, and from the divine judgment and wrath of a holy God.

Our text for this study will deal with just that, the grace of God, in the salvation of man. Please prayerfully begin reading 1 Timothy 1:12-17 as we take this journey together, and keep looking for the next post!