Introduction: Today, both lessons will deal with these short verses, but a passage full of information for the Christian.  The outline here will not be one with all the verses that will be presented during the sermons, but hopefully will help as we study this passage.

1)  THE GRACE OF GOD
     A.  Grace literally means mercy. In this text the word grace refers to God's mercy extended in forgiving man his sins.  Eph 2: 5-8, Titus 3:7, 2: 11,12. This is the grace which brings eternal salvation, also.  2 Thess 2:16.
     B.  How is this grace made known?  First, in the giving of His Son for the redemption of man Eph 2: 4-9
          In this passage it's revealed through the Word. The Word of His grace- Acts 14:3; 20:32.
     C.  The NT ties grace and truth together - John 1:17; Col 1: 5,6; Gal 1:6.
     D.  You cannot know God's grace without the teaching of the Word.
     E.  How does grace save?  Through the blood of Jesus Eph 1:7, it was shed for all by grace.
     F.  When one becomes a Christian he can do several things with it - grow, be strong, stand, set it aside, or fall from it.

2)  THREE PHASE LIFE
     A.  Live soberly - W. E. Vine says it's a life of self-restraint that governs all passions and desires.
        1. The Christian life has first consideration - Acts 2:40; Phil 2:12
        2. The inward man of the heart - 2 Cor 4:12
     B.  Live righteously - this is the idea of what we are before others.
     C.  Live godly - this is the idea of living a pious, devout or reverent.
        1.  the idea is that the Christian, in conjunction with living soberly and righteously, must likewise live with consideration toward God Rom 14: 7,17, Heb 12:28
     D.  What are some other things to consider?  1) Consider self - Matt 16:24; 2) save self Acts 2:40 3) examine self - 2 Cor 13:5 4) cleanse self - 2 Cor 7: 1 5)  Consider others - teach others - 2 Tim 2:2 6) Do good - Gal 6:10 7)  set a good example - Matt 5: 14-16 8) Consider God - we should believe Him- John 14; 1,2 9) obey Him - Acts 5:29 10) Love Him - Mt 22:37 11) worship Him -  Matt 4:10

3)  THE LORD'S PEOPLE
     A.  Christ came to make a people who are peculiar to Him.  What kind of people are these?
          1.  redeemed - this refers to having been bought or purchased like the purchase of a slave. - Christ did this for His people with His death on the cross -Eph 1:7, 1 Peter 1: 18-19, Acts 20:28-30. these purchased people should remember that we have a master who has bought them!  1 Cor 6: 19-20
          2.  purified - people that have been cleansed from past guilt.  Christ gave Himself for His people. -Eph 5:26; 1 John 1:7.  The Word also has something to do with it - John 15:3 ; 1 Peter 1: 22-25.  Each person has something to do with it - 1 Peter 1:22; James 4:8; 2 Cor 7:1.  Being baptized has something to do with it - Acts 22:16.
          3.  peculiar - a people for God's own possession. Not all people are a people for God's own possession -Rom 1:28.  Do we act like we are the Lord's or do we acts like people who resist our Lord every step of the way, acting as if we control our own destiny? The reason for the translation peculiar is that the Lord's people are to be so possessed by the Lord and so completely following His will that they are peculiar to others who do not understand all of this.
          4.  zealous of good works - people that are on fire for the Lord.