The Salutation of God’s Grace

Temple Baptist Church - 9-23-2026

1 Corinthians 16:23

 

Introduction: Tonight, we end our study on 1 Corinthians, a carnal, often divided, and sometimes confused new church plant, filled with newborn children of God who were raised in sin and idolatry!  The Holy Ghost has given them, in this epistle, all they needed to grow and prosper. We now see the ending of Paul’s salutation.

A. The Apostle Paul has been called the Apostle of Grace. Why? Because no one was better acquainted with grace than he was. Paul never forgot where God brought him from!

 

1 Corinthians 15:8-10  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.  (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.  (10)  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 laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

 

1 Timothy 1:12-17  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;  (13)  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  (14)  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  (15)  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  (16)  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.  (17)  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

B. Paul understood that it was all the grace of God! God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense! Paul signed every epistle that he wrote with the grace of God!

 

2 Thessalonians 3:17-18  The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.  (18)  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

(Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, all fourteen ended with Paul’s salutation!)

 

C.  Paul knew that the only thing that would save and sustain the Corinthian believers was God’s grace. He did not know what they would do or what lay ahead of them, but trusted the grace of God to sustain them! It is that same grace that saves and keeps us today. Grace that saves us is the same grace that sustains us, sanctifies us, strengthens us, and ultimately brings us safely into glory.

 

1. Grace Saves Us From The Penalty Of Sin — Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast. (This is where our journey begins. Grace begins our Christian experience. We did not save ourselves.)

 

a. We were sinners — Romans 3:23-24  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  (24)  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 

b. We were spiritually dead — Ephesians 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

 

c. We could not earn salvation — Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 

d. God provided salvation by His grace — Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

 

2.  Grace Saves Us From The Power Of Sin – Romans 6:12-14  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  (13)  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  (14)  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Saving grace continues throughout this life.)

 

a. Grace Teaches Us — Titus 2:11-12  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

 

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Grace is not permission to live in sin. Grace changes the way we live.)

 

b. Grace Changes Us — 2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

c. Grace Strengthens Us — Philippians 4:12-13  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  (13)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

d. Grace Sustains Us – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (10)  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (Through trials, weakness, sickness, persecution, and sorrow. God does not always remove the difficulty. Sometimes He gives us grace to endure it. Grace doesn't always change our circumstances; sometimes grace changes us in the circumstances.)

 

1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

3.  God’s Grace Will Remove Us From The Presence Of Sin – 1 Peter 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (4)  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

 

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

1 John 3:1-2  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

Conclusion: Grace gives us that which we do not deserve!  Paul’s confidence was not in the goodness of this carnal church, but in the goodness of the God of the church and His grace! From salvation’s beginning, throughout this life, and ultimately eternity in heaven, it is all of God’s Amazing Grace!