April 20 2025

Sunday April 20

The Amazing Truth About God’s Amazing Grace

Titus 2:11

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The following is the message that I will be sharing at our annual Sunrise Service on North Topsail Beach. “The Amazing Truth About God’s Amazing Grace”. This morning, we’ll reflect on seven incredible truths that reveal the depth of God’s love and grace toward us—truths that change everything

The Amazing Truth That God Loves Us – John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This is where it all begins—God’s love. Not a fleeting emotion, but a relentless, sacrificial love that pursues us even when we’re lost in sin. John 3:16 isn’t just a verse; it’s the heartbeat of the gospel. God loves you—personally, deeply, eternally. Before we go further, let that sink in. The Creator of the universe loves you. That’s the foundation of His amazing grace.

The Amazing Truth That God Became Flesh – John 1:1, 14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” This is the miracle of the incarnation. The eternal God didn’t stay distant—He stepped into our world, taking on human flesh. Jesus, fully God and fully man, walked our dusty roads, felt our pain, and faced our temptations. Why? To bridge the gap between a holy God and a broken humanity. God’s Amazing Grace came down to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Amazing Truth of Jesus Christ and His Virgin Birth – Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25 Isaiah prophesied, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called Immanuel.”

Matthew tells us this came true when Mary, a virgin, gave birth to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The virgin birth isn’t just a detail—it’s a cornerstone of God’s plan. Jesus wasn’t born with a sinful nature like us; He was holy from the start. This set Him apart as the perfect Savior, born to be “God with us.” God’s Amazing Grace entered the world through a humble manger.

The Amazing Truth of Jesus Christ and His Sinless Life – 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15;

1 Peter 2:22 “He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Jesus lived a life none of us could—a sinless life. Hebrews says He was tempted in every way, yet without sin. Peter declares He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth. Why does this matter? Because only a perfect sacrifice could atone for our imperfections. Jesus’ sinless life qualified Him to be our substitute. That’s amazing grace—He lived the life we couldn’t live.

The Amazing Truth of Jesus Christ and His Vicarious Death – 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 10:10

“He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree… For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” On the cross, Jesus took our place. The word “vicarious” means He died for us—the innocent for the guilty. Every sin we’ve committed, every failure, every shame—He carried it all. Hebrews tells us His one sacrifice sanctified us forever. The cross is the ultimate display of amazing grace: Jesus paid the price we owed, so we could be forgiven and free.

The Amazing Truth of Jesus Christ and His Victorious Resurrection – Matthew 28:5-8 “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” Easter morning changed everything! The tomb is empty, death is defeated, and Jesus is alive! The resurrection proves that Jesus’ sacrifice was accepted, that sin and death have no power over Him—or us. Because He lives, we can live with hope, purpose, and eternal life. Grace doesn’t end at the cross; it bursts forth in victory at the empty tomb.

The Amazing Truth of God’s Holy Spirit – John 16:13-15; John 16:8-9

“When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth… He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” God’s amazing grace doesn’t leave us to figure things out alone. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, who works in our hearts even now. The Spirit convicts us of our sin, showing us our need for a Savior (John 16:8). He reveals the truth about Jesus and guides us into a life of faith. Without the Spirit’s work, we’d never see our need for grace. Even today, as we stand here, the Spirit is drawing us closer to God’s amazing truth.

Closing Thought: This morning many of us will observe the sun rising over the ocean or the horizon. But here’s a thought: the sun isn’t really rising. It appears to be, but the truth is, the earth is turning toward it. In the same way, for us to see the Son of God—Jesus—rising in our lives, we need to turn. The Bible calls this repentance: turning away from our sin and turning toward God and His grace.

This Easter morning, will you turn to Christ? Will you believe His amazing truth and receive His amazing grace? It’s not about being good enough—it’s about trusting in what Jesus has already done. If you’ve never surrendered to Him, or if you need to recommit your life, now is the moment. Let’s pray together.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing grace. Thank You for loving us, for sending Jesus to live, die, and rise again for us. Thank You for Your Spirit, who opens our eyes to Your truth. Right now, we turn to You. Forgive our sins, fill us with Your grace, and help us live for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Go in the joy of the risen Savior, empowered by His grace, to share His love with the world. He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

God bless!