HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 218
page A216
Mercy & Grace continued
• J O H N 1 :1 7 | For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness
came through Jesus Christ.
In Old Testament times, God gave a code of laws to show his people how to live for him
until Jesus and the Holy Spirit came. Following these laws didn’t earn salvation but simply
illustrated what a life transformed by the Holy Spirit would be like. With the coming of
Jesus, we no longer have to slavishly follow these laws because, by God’s grace, we have
been transformed on the inside so that we want to live pure lives for him.
• H E B R E W S 4 :1 6 | So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will
receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
When we arrive at God’s very throne through prayer, we must linger to receive his grace.
How does grace affect my daily life?
• R O MA NS 6 :1 4 | Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements
of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
God’s grace forgives the penalty of sin and breaks the power of sin over your life. The
Holy Spirit gives you a desire to want to please God and the spiritual wisdom to be able
to discern the truth and pursue it.
• G A L AT I A NS 3 :3 | After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to
become perfect by your own human effort?
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You need to continually remind yourself that God’s approval of you is because of his
grace alone. God approves of you not because of what you do or don’t do but because
he loves you and has forgiven all your sins. God created you to do good works by his
grace at work within you.
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How does grace affect my view of God?
• H E B R E W S 4 :1 6 | So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will
receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
• PSA L M 1 4 5 :1 3 | The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.
What you believe about God is the most important belief you can have. If you believe God
is always angry with you, you will be defensive, fearful, or antagonistic toward him. When
you believe the depth of his love and grace toward you, you live with the joy of being
forgiven and knowing you will live forever with him in a perfect place. You no longer fear
God’s retribution; instead, you seek him out in relationship.
How should I respond to God’s grace?
• PH I L I P P I A NS 1 :6 | And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will
continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
When you understand God’s grace, you will desire to grow more like Jesus in response.
• 2 C O R I NT H I A NS 8 :9 | You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Grace involves self-sacrifice, giving something up in order to give it away.
• DA NI E L 9 :1 8 | “We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.”
Recognizing and requesting God’s grace takes humility, for we realize that we do not
deserve it—which is exactly why we need it.
PROMISES FROM GOD:
• NE H E MI A H 9 :1 7 | “You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become
angry, and rich in unfailing love.”
• PSA L M 8 4 :1 1 | For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
• PSA L M 1 0 3 :8 | The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with
unfailing love.
