Grace and mercy of God (5)

God’s grace and mercy are made known in Jesus Christ

John 1:16–17 NKJV

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The abundance of God’s grace and mercy

Ephesians 2:4–8 NKJV

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

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God’s grace and mercy are always unearned and unmerited

Deuteronomy 7:7–8 NKJV

The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

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God’s grace and mercy are a source of blessing

Genesis 21:1–2 NKJV

And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

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God’s grace and mercy are expressed in the covenant relationship

Hebrew “hesed” (translated as “love”, “loving-kindness”, “unfailing love”) expresses specifically the grace and mercy that underlie the covenant relationship.

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Salvation comes by grace

Titus 2:11 NKJV

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

See also Jesus Christ’s words to his disciples; ; ; ;

This is ultimately shown in the cross of Jesus Christ

Romans 3:24–25 NKJV

being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

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God’s grace and mercy are offered to sinners

Punishment is withheld

Ezra 9:13 NKJV

And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this,

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Sin is forgiven

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Sinners’ prayers are heard

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The favour of God

Examples of those who found favour with God

Abel; Noah; Moses; Gideon; Samuel; Ezra; Mary; Jesus Christ; David

Examples of those who seek the favour of God

Moses; Jehoahaz; Manasseh

Nehemiah:

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Daniel

Promises relating to the favour of God

It is given to the obedient (see Lev 26:3); It is given to the righteous; It lasts for a lifetime.

The OT predicts a future age of God’s favour

Isaiah 49:8 NKJV

Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;

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Implications for believers of the grace and mercy of God

God’s grace and mercy are to influence the character and conduct of believers

Romans 6:1–2 NKJV

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

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Believers must humbly rely on God’s grace and mercy

Galatians 2:21 NKJV

I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

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God’s grace strengthens believers for service

Ephesians 3:7–8 NKJV

of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

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Illustrations of God’s grace and mercy

God shows grace to Noah, saving him from the flood and afterwards establishing a covenant with him:

; ; God shows mercy in saving first Jonah and then (following their repentance) the people of Nineveh; ; ; ; ; The forgiving love of the prodigal’s father illustrates the divine mercy of God.