Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

The Story of Grace - Philippians 4:23

Bryan Schneider · April 20, 2019

Philippians 4:23

sharonrpc.org/sermons/the-story-of-grace

Summary

Paul's closing blessing in Philippians directs believers to rely upon the grace—God's favor—of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Humanity was created in God's image amid the goodness and favor of Eden, but Adam and Eve's unbelief and disobedience brought shame, alienation, corruption, and death.
Even within the curse, Genesis 3:15 promised a descendant of the woman who would defeat the serpent and restore what sin had ruined.
Jesus came full of grace and truth, obeyed where Adam failed, and gives believers his perfect righteousness while bearing their guilt as their substitute.
Christ's resurrection guarantees grace: those united to him are no longer ruled by sin but are raised to newness of life and called to put sin to death.
The risen Christ also guarantees believers' final resurrection, when soul and body will enjoy God's gracious presence forever.

What does Paul mean by pronouncing the grace of Jesus Christ upon the church?
How did the fall transform humanity's relationship with God and with one another?
Why is Genesis 3:15 rightly understood as the first promise of the gospel?
Why do I need both Christ's righteousness and the removal of my guilt?
How did Jesus obey and overcome where Adam and Eve failed?
What does union with Christ's death and resurrection mean for my present struggle with sin?
Which old pattern should I put off, and which grace-shaped practice should replace it?
How does Christ's resurrection guarantee my hope beyond death?

Grace: God's undeserved favor toward sinners, given in Jesus Christ rather than earned by human obedience.
Image of God: The distinctive likeness in which humanity was created to know God, represent his rule, and live in fellowship with him.
Fall: Humanity's descent from original righteousness and communion with God into guilt, corruption, misery, and death through Adam's sin.
Promise of grace: God's announcement in Genesis 3:15 that the woman's offspring would defeat the serpent, the first biblical promise of the gospel.
Imputed righteousness: Christ's perfect obedience counted to believers so that God accepts them as righteous in his sight.
Substitutionary atonement: Christ's bearing of his people's guilt and punishment in their place to reconcile them to God.
Union with Christ: The believer's Spirit-given participation in Christ's death and resurrection, producing freedom from sin's dominion and new life.