*Benefits of Following Christ 1 Corinthians 1:4-9. Ill. We should know the benefits of following Christ and be able to explain them to others.

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1 *Benefits of Following Christ 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 Ill. We should know the benefits of following Christ and be able to explain them to others. When you think about it, the benefits of following Christ really are out of this world. It is so important that we understand those benefits because as we embrace who we are in Christ, it enables us to realize our tremendous potential. It also helps us to invite others to experience these same benefits by putting their faith in Christ. When you realize all that faith in Christ can do, then you know you have some Great News to tell the people you meet. The message of Christ does not focus on what you give up, but on what you gain. Jesus basically told the woman that he met at the well in John 4:10, If you ask me I will give you living water. 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 tells us that those that receive Jesus Christ as Savior are made holy and are called to live holy lives. Paul writes this letter to admonish us to live up to our potential in Christ. The fact of who we are in Christ is God s basis for His expectation of how we

2 ought to act. We are holy because Christ is in us; therefore, we ought to act like him. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 delineates the benefits of being saved by Christ and following him. This is a divine presentation of why you should be a Christian. 1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way in all your speaking and in all your knowledge 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. NIV Let s pray. The first benefit of following Christ is. *1. You are given grace. *Look at 1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. Now what is grace? The Greek word is charis and it means unmerited favor or undeserved kindness, or unrecompensed mercy. Our sins are forgiven by grace. This is unique to the Bible.

3 One of the best ways to understand what grace is, is to look at what can't coexist with grace. *(1.) Guilt cannot coexist with grace. Grace provides for the total elimination of all guilt. Grace is undeserved, unmerited forgiveness of all our sins. Now God is a God of justice so he can't just say, "Well forget the sin, who cares." So how is grace provided? *Romans 3:25 God presented him (Jesus) as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice Jesus died for your sins and mine, which is how grace is provided. Ill. I read about a man who was so absolutely eaten up with guilt. He was overwhelmed by his sin. He had paid for the abortion of his own child. The only thing that can deal with our guilt is grace. Grace means you get forgiveness and all guilt is removed even though you don t deserve it. *(2.) Debt can't coexist with grace. Debt is canceled by grace. Grace cannot to be reimbursed. You're not to think, "Well God was

4 gracious to me and saved me so now I've got to pay Him back." It's not grace if you try to pay for it. Besides repaying God would be like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon. God does not expect you to repay him. *In Romans 4:4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. NIV So, what is our motivation for serving Him? It is a heart of gratitude and love. So, debt can't coexist with grace. *3. Human merit cannot coexist with grace. If you think, "Well it's obvious who the good people are; look at who God saved you would be totally wrong. God doesn t save the good people, he only saves sinners. One of the issues that Israel struggled with was the idea that God chose them because they were better than everybody else. Many in the church today struggle with the same thing.

5 God makes it clear that this superiority complex is wrong in: *Romans 3:9 What shall we (Jews)conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; NIV What we deserve or merit is hell, but God offers grace through Christ. So the first benefit of following Christ is that you receive grace. The second benefit *2. You are enriched in every way. *Look at 1 Corinthians 1:5 For in him (Christ) you have been enriched in every way. NIV Did you know that as believers and as a church we are enriched in every way? What does that mean? It means we have everything that we need. Does a Christian lack anything? No, according to *2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. NIV You have everything you need to do the job.

6 To reinforce this principle, Paul lists a few of the things that you have in Christ. *(1.) Enriched in your speaking *Look at 1 Corinthians 1:5 in all your speaking NIV This is so exciting! God has given you the capability and the capacity to speak the truth of the Gospel. One of the biggest problems that Christians have is a lack of confidence to speak to others about Christ. It is killing the churches in America. When you talk to most Christians about sharing their faith, most respond by saying, I don't think I can do it." If we could only believe God! *Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." NIV Someone is bound to be thinking, Why is that such a great benefit? Let me tell you! It is the greatest thing on earth to rescue a person from hell and set them on the path to heaven. That will set your soul on fire and give you a reason for living. It is the purpose for

7 which you were created and when you fulfill it there is nothing more satisfying! Let s look at the second way that God has enriched the believer. *(2.) Enriched your knowledge *Look at 1 Corinthians 1:5 in all your knowledge NIV God has given you enough revelation to speak the truth to the world. God has given you the truth. *2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. NIV If you know and believe John 3:16, then you have more knowledge that 70% of the people in the world. Let s look at the third way that God has enriched the believer. *(3.) Enriched you with spiritual gifts *1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift NIV Spiritual gifts are spiritual abilities given at the moment of salvation.

8 The Church at Corinth had no lack of spiritual gifts, which meant they had everything they needed to fulfill their calling and minister. That is true of us as a church and individually. Every believer has spiritual gifts, every single Christian has gifts of the Spirit that is given to you to minister and build up the church. A church grows when every member uses his gifts in ministry. There were a lot of things wrong with the church at Corinth, but one of those things was not a lack of spiritual resources. Whatever is wrong with a church, it isn't because it lacks spiritual resources. We don t need something else. God has enriched you in every way. God has stocked your shelf. We just need to use what we have. There is a final benefit we are given in this passage *3. You can look forward to the future. *1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into

9 fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. NIV We live in a hopeless world filled with hopeless people, but we have the greatest reason for hope in the world. The followers of Christ look forward to the future because we know Jesus is coming! When Christ comes, death will be destroyed, suffering will cease, evil will be ended. For those who have trusted Christ as Savior, we will spend eternity in heaven where there will be no more sickness, sorrow, or separation. We look forward to the coming of Jesus because it means heaven for us and all those we lead to faith in Christ. It will be the consummation of all that we have lived our lives for. Why would anyone eagerly look forward to the coming of the Righteous Judge of the Universe? *(1.) You will stand blameless before God. *1 Corinthians 1: 8 so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV Jesus himself will present you blameless before God. That is why we have a confident assurance of a home in heaven. That is why the follower of Christ can look forward to the coming of Christ.

10 How can we be sure of the future? *(2.) God is faithful. *Look at 1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. NIV We can be sure of the future because God is faithful. Eagerly waiting for Christ is not idleness, but an active preparation. It is like eagerly expecting special company to come to your home. You cook the meal, clean the house, and set out the best dishes. So how do you actively prepare for the coming of Christ? You tell as many people as you can about Him so you can take as many as possible with you into heaven. Those are the benefits of being a follower of Christian.