1-The God of Grace
9/14/14
INTRO:
I. “Grace: More Than We Deserve; Greater Than We Imagine”—Max
Lucado
II.
Three misconceptions about the Old Testament:
A. The OT is about killing; the NT is about love.
B. In the OT God is judgmental and mean; in the NT He had a
personality transplant.
C. In the OT they were saved by works, in the NT we are saved by
grace.
III.
 Exodus 34:4-7
A. Compassionate (rachum) deep love and emotion.
1) Always used of God.
2) Opposed to Plato who said God was impassible.
B. Favor (chanun) graciousness and sympathy.
C. Slow to Anger (erek apayim) long to anger
D. Love (checed) loving, kind, gracious
E. Faithfulness (emeth) truthful, trustworthy
BODY:
I.
Finding His Favor
Heb (chen ÷j,) favor, pleasure, graciousness
Adj. (chanan) to stoop down in kindness to an inferior
A.
Favor is not earned, but it is found in the eyes of another.
1) Genesis 6:6-8
The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the
earth, and his heart was deeply troubled . . . But Noah
found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
2) Joseph found favor in Potifar’s house
David found favor in Saul’s court
Ruth found favor in Boaz’s eyes
B.
We all come to a time when there is nothing left but grace.
1) DAVID AFTER HE SINNED WITH BATHSHEBA
2) Psalms 41:4,10
As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; Heal my soul,
for I have sinned against You . . . be gracious to me and
raise me up.” (NASU)
3) RAY RICE GETTING CAUGHT ON VIDEO TAPE
II.
Finding His Acceptance
Heb (ratson ÷/xr;) acceptable, to satisfy a debt, to be favorably
received.
A.
AMENDS
B.
WRONG
III.
What God desires more than performance is genuine repentance.
1) Leviticus 22:21-22
When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship
offering to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill
offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be
acceptable.
2) DR. BOB (AA) CALLED IT MAKING RESTITUTION OR
It is through Jesus that we who are flawed find total acceptance.
1) “A lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Pet. 1:19)
2) 1 Peter 2:5-6
You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual
house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
3) GUY APOLOGIZING BY EXPLAINING WHY HE WASN’T
Finding His Unfailing Love
Heb (checed Ds,j,) loving kindness, steadfast love, grace, mercy,
faithfulness, goodness, devotion. (strength + steadfastness + love)
A.
It is God’s abundant love for us that taught us how to love.
1) The weaker party seeks the protection and blessing of the
patron and protector, but he may not lay absolute claim to
it. The stronger party remains committed to his promise, but
retains his freedom, especially with regard to the manner in
which he will implement those promises. Checed implies
personal involvement and commitment in a relationship
beyond the rule of law.—Vines
2) Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for
his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
3) FROZEN—“AN ACT OF TRUE LOVE WILL THAW A FROZEN
HEART”
B.
God doesn’t love you because He has to, He loves you because it
is who He is.
1) Isaiah 54:10
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my
2)
covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has
compassion on you.
NEVER FALLING OUT OF LOVE WITH MOLLY—20 YEARS
OTHER SCRIPTURES:
2 Kings 13:23
But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern
for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Proverbs 3:34
He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
Psalms 33:5
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing
love.
Psalms 36:5
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness
reaches beyond the clouds.
Ruth 2:10
She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice
me—a foreigner?”
Zechariah 4:6-7
This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but
by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the
capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” (NKJV)
Colossians 1:22
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to
present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.