God Promises ...grace And Mercy Series

God’s Promises…Grace and Mercy

Selected Scriptures

Introduction-

We are looking yet on God’s promises.

We have looked at least 5 of God’s promises.

Last week, we looked at forgiveness.

God promises forgiveness for those that ask Him for it.

Forgiveness is not offered and given because we deserve it, but because God has chosen to forgive us through Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.

Forgiveness was His idea, done His way.

“Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except through Him.”

God the Father has not lowered His standard. A Holy God that cannot tolerate sin is not going to turn His back on sin and forget about it.

God has provided a way for sin to be dealt with and it is through Jesus Christ.

God offers it freely, it comes at the foot of the cross and cannot come any other way.

It is free but it cost Jesus dearly.

God promises us as believers grace and promises us as believers mercy and both come through Christ.

You cannot talk about forgiveness without grace and mercy. They are woven together with God’s plan for mankind.

Listen to me, if you get nothing else, get these two things- maybe you want to write them down.

Grace is undeserved merit-

God’s undeserved love

God’s undeserved salvation

His forgiveness

His relationship, his power, his abundant blessings.

God offers to us what we do not deserve!

A Holy God that gives instead of taking.

He gives to us where he could be justified to take.

He loves where he could leave us where we are at and hate us as much as he hates sin.

Mercy is not getting what you deserve- eternal punishment is what we deserve for sinning against a holy God. But Mercy allows a way out because of Jesus Christ. (Jesus is our rescuer.)

Grace- God giving us things that we do not deserve.

Mercy- God not giving us what we deserve.

G.R.A.C.E.- God’s riches as Christ expense

Let’s talk about grace first- getting from God that we do not deserve.

Society today has an out right attitude that everyone owes them something.

Those that have must give to those that have not.

My rights, my feelings, my pleasures, my money, my time.

The world has very little compassion for others, but is quick to yell foul when they think they have been wronged.

You and I were doomed forever because of our many sins, but because of God’s mercy and grace he has offered a better way.

Scripture says that “while we were yet sinners”, that Christ died for our sins.

While we were yet sinners, Christ comes after us, Christ pursues us, reaches out to us, shows himself to us.

I love those that say I came to Christ. That is a half truth, Christ pursued you, He made himself known to you and at that time that he made himself known, you responded.

The words of the song amazing grace are so fitting of the God that reaches out to us.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I am found

Was blind but now I see.

The most sung Christian hymn in the world. It is the only song that can make you feel unworthy and worthy at the same time.

Back to the attitude of society. Society is willing for others to pay a price for their sins, but wants grace when it happens to them.

Above the law when it is them.

Hammer of the law to fall when it is someone else.

Illustration-

A women who called police department and complained that people are speeding on our streets, endangering the lives of children walking to school. The next morning, she herself was stopped for speeding. But officer, she pleaded, I am the person who called yesterday to tell you about these speeders. Well then ma’am, he replied, handing her a ticket, you should be happy we caught one.”

The law is the law- if you get caught breaking it, we pay a penalty. That is the message of the Bible. The law of God is the law of God, if you break it, there is a penalty.

Romans 3:23- “the wages of sin is death.” (Not everyone except you. Not everyone except good people)

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not of yourself, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.”

This is a major passage for grace, i.e. kindness, undeserved favor with God and His forgiving love.

“Saved” here has a wide range of meaning, it includes salvation here and also a completed action by God.