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How We Show Gratitude for God's Grace

What happens when we see the seriousness of our sins?

Introduction

1. Text: 1 Cor. 15:9,10.

2. The problem of ingratitude is often addressed in the Scriptures. There is no worse sin than to take for granted blessings that have been received from God - Lk. 17:11-19.

3. The person most like to be really faithful is always the person who is really thankful.

   1. What would happen if a person were genuinely and deeply grateful for God's mercy?

   2. If the "what" is God's grace, what is the "so what"?

4. What are some things that grow out of a true appreciation of God's willingness to forgive us?

I. HUMILITY

1. The Prodigal Son exhibited the profound lowliness that is produced by an understanding of grace - Lk. 15:18-21.

   1. What do we have that we "did not receive" (1 Cor. 4:7)?

   2. God "has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities"
      (Psa. 103:10).

   3. We are "not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant" (Gen. 32:10). Cf. Mt. 8:8; Rev. 3:20.

   4. A recognition of our unworthiness + an awareness of God's grace = a love that is humbly thankful. Cf. 1 Jn. 4:9,10.

2. God wants us to understand: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness"
   (2 Cor. 12:9,10). Cf. Rom. 5:1-5.

II. DEVOTION

1. Diligent discipleship and service grow out of a recognition of the unmerited favor that God has shown toward us - 1 Cor. 15:9,10. Cf. 1 Tim. 1:12-17.

   1. Personal gratitude is the primary motive for personal evangelism - Mk. 5:19.

   2. The person grateful for God's grace will not receive that grace "in vain" (2 Cor. 6:1).

   3. The grace shown at the cross is what will keep us faithful - Gal. 3:1. Cf. Phil. 4:6,7; 2 Tim. 1:12;
      Hb. 10:29.

2. The greatest labor in the world is the labor of love - 1 Thess. 1:3.

III. GENTLENESS

1. Patience toward others results from an understanding of how patient God has been with us. The impatient person almost always turns out to be an unthankful person - Mt. 18:21-35. Cf. 1 Jn. 4:11.

2. The person grateful for God's kindness will deal gently with others - Gal. 6:1,2; 2 Tim. 2:24-26.

3. Forbearance and eagerness to forgive are the natural results of our having been forgiven by God - Col. 3:12,13. Cf. Eph. 4:32.

4. We should deal with others in just the same way that we want God to deal with us - Jas. 2:13.

Conclusion

1. We need to be truly thankful for God's grace, not only in word, but in deed - 1 Jn. 3:18.

2. Humility, devotion, and gentleness are the products of deeply appreciating what God has done for us in our unworthy condition.

3. Yet something else grows out of gratitude, too: godly character. Cf. Tit. 2:11-14.

   1. We will want to be like Christ - 1 Jn. 3:1-3.

   2. We will want to become partakers of the divine nature - 2 Pt. 1:2-4.

   3. We will want to be with Him where He is - Jn. 14:1-3. Cf. Jn. 12:26; 13:36.

   4. We will want Christ to live in us and through us - Gal. 2:20. Cf. Eph. 2:4-10.

   5. The love of Christ will compel us - 2 Cor. 5:14,15. Cf. Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:6-11; Eph. 5:2.
      

4. Look at all of the good things that come from gratitude for grace!

5. Is it any wonder that we have been given the Lord's Supper to remind us every week of our debt of gratitude
   to God?

   1. Nothing is more vital to our relationship to God than gratitude.

   2. Nothing is more productive of gratitude than meditation on the Lord's sacrifice for us.

6. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome"
   (1 Jn. 5:3).