GRACE – Study Two
Welcome to Week Two of the Bible Studies following Nate’s sermons on GRACE. Oddly enough, in this
discussion of grace, we find ourselves consulting the Law. The book of Leviticus was originally named way
yigra, which literally translated from Hebrew means and he called, because the Jews were being called into
holy relationship with God. Though the book revolves around the responsibilities of the Levites, most notably
in the context of sacrifices and feasts, it is still an important book to Christians. In the case of Jews then and
Christians today, God has called us to holy living, to whole-hearted worship. However, sin makes it impossible
to even approach God to worship Him. Nevertheless, we are commanded to worship Him and expected to
obey. Because of that, God had to provide a solution that would solve our dilemma, had to make a way by
which we could be made acceptable to come before our most Holy God. For the Jews that way was through the
sacrifices outlined in Leviticus. [Hebrews 9:22] For Christians, the way is through the precious blood of the
perfect Lamb of God.
In order to get Israel to the point that they would even lean toward the idea of serving the One True God, God
willed to subject them to the front end of ten plagues He inflicted upon Egypt. He then spared them from the
remaining plagues the rest of Egypt was forced to suffer. This turned out to be the assurance they needed to
believe He was on the side of the nation of Israel. And still, their confidence in His favor, His faithfulness, and
His holiness ebbed and flowed repeatedly. As a result, discipline was frequent. And no one likes discipline –
not then, not now. But when we look at discipline from a spiritual perspective we CAN have great appreciation
for it. Jerry Bridges writes,
“Used in a spiritual sense, discipline includes all instruction, all reproof and correction, and all
providentially directed hardships in our lives that are aimed at cultivating spiritual growth and
godly character. The very grace that brings salvation also trains us to live lives that are
pleasing to God.”
Bridges’ point is well made. In conforming us into the image of Christ, God most definitely uses the gifts,
blessings and kindnesses of this life as the means of grace to accomplish the task. But, incredibly, He even uses
the failures, disappointments, and losses of our lives to bring about the very same end. Regardless of the
package grace comes in, it will always be active and exactly what we need to become more like Christ – exactly
what we need to answer God’s call to holiness.
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the
present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for
himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
1. Diving In …
God is immutable; He doesn’t change. If He extends grace today, we can conclude that He extended grace in
ages past. And since God is all of who He is all the time, grace is a part of everything He does. Even when the
Jews were required to offer sacrifices to atone for their sins, it was by God’s grace that they were given a means
by which to do that and at God’s divine pleasure that He accepted them. Grace is as eternal as God is. The life
of the notorious Manasseh, King of Judah, makes a great case for that claim.
In Nate’s sermon this past Sunday, he made it very clear that Manasseh was the poster child for wicked kings,
setting a new benchmark for evil in Judah. [READ 2 Chronicles 33:1-9] Manasseh was despicable! No one
before him or after him in the records of the Old Testament was that dreadful. God eventually disciplined
Manasseh and Manasseh eventually humbled himself. He sought the Lord’s favor, “… and God was moved by
his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew
that the LORD was God.” [2 Chronicles 33:13]
When Manasseh returned to Jerusalem, he cleaned house, tearing down altars and idols and building a fortress
around the city. Many of the Jews who witnessed this transformation followed their king’s example and
repented of their idolatry, as well. The grace of God had made Manasseh a new man.
Discussion Questions:
1. There are many faces of grace. Can you see the presence of God’s grace in the following periods of
Manasseh’s life: (1)his heinous reign as an idolatrous king, (2)his capture and captivity, (3)his appeal
to God, (4)his conclusion that the LORD was God, (5)his release from prison, (6)his return to
Jerusalem, and (7)his transformed life?
2. In light of seeing the discipline of Manasseh as one of the faces of grace, can you recall a time that
grace came your way by way of discipline? How were you more like Christ on the other side of it?
3. How could ongoing discipline be an evidence of grace in one’s life?
4. The grace in Manasseh’s unrepentant life likely looked very differently from that of his transformed life.
How would you characterize the possible differences? Was holiness the outcome?
5. Why would you need God’s grace in periods of your life when things seem to be going really well?
6. Have you ever had periods in your life when you wondered where God was, what God was doing?
Maybe you are in one right now. What from Manasseh’s life helps you interpret such a period? What
from God’s Word reassures you and encourages you that His grace is present?
7. How might Manasseh’s life influence you when you are dealing with very difficult individuals?
8. Recognizing that there are many faces of grace, how does that impact your understanding of how
present and personally involved God is in your life?
2. Connecting to Life …
If holiness, becoming like Christ, is the full end of grace, sanctification is the process we undergo to accomplish
that. This is one extreme makeover that doesn’t take commercial breaks; God is behind it from beginning to
end. [Philippians 1:6] Because this process is far from an overnight one, and our indwelling sin is not about to
raise the white flag of surrender, our need to depend on God’s grace is paramount. We must work in concert
with grace in order not to impede its progress. We do that by staying in right relationship with God, by
acknowledging that He is working within us and through us to accomplish His good pleasure. As we recognize
grace more and more in our lives, we are more and more encouraged and inspired to pursue God. And when He
takes us through the fire, we can be grateful that we will be more like Christ on the other side. Our prayer can
indeed be, “Lord, accomplish your will in my life by whatever means you choose.”
Discussion Questions:
1. How might grace fuel holiness?
2. What does working in concert with grace look like in your life?