Grace and Mercy

How well do we understand the principles of grace and mercy? Everyone wants to receive God’s grace and mercy, but do we understand we must also extend those to others?

I. BIBLICAL GRACE

A. What is Grace? Typically, we define it as “.” But, grace is more than that:

1. It is a quality of .

2. It is not , we are not .

B. Unfortunately, there are many who misunderstand God’s grace.

1. God’s grace will not save those who . Thus, will be filled with people whom God loves because, being good and just, He has on His grace.

2. God’s grace will not save those who .

C. Biblical grace also consists of:

(1) – Eph 1:7; (2) – Rom 14:18; (3) – 1 Cor 3:16 & Heb 4:16;

(4) – 2 Cor 1:12; (5) – Rom 6:15-18; and (6) – Col 2:10

ALL of this is encompassed within the we receive by GRACE! Titus 2:11

D. What is Mercy? Often defined as “.”

1. Mercy from God is not merely His , but it is His toward all of mankind, in general. Again, it is part of .

2. There is a difference between true and .

Additional Scriptural References: Matt 9:12-13; John 1:17; Romans 3:23,24, 5:8, 6:1-2, 6:15-18, 11:5-6, 14:18; 1 Cor 3:16; Col 2:10; Tit 2:11; Heb 4:16.

II. WE MUST GIVE TO RECEIVE

A. A simple, Biblical truth: If you want to , then you need to . If you want to benefit from then you need to !

B. Our lack of forgiveness and our unwillingness to forgive others comes from a lack of .

C. To extend grace and mercy toward others begins by having a keen awareness of God’s grace and mercy.

D. True mercy is not prompted by an – it should already be .

Scriptural References: Matt 5:7, 5:38-43, 6:8, 6:12, 7:2, 18:33-35, 23:23; Luk 6:36, 18:13; Eph 2:4-6; Titus 3:5-6; James 2:13

III. PRACTICAL APPLICATION

A. Luke 10:25-37 and Matthew 18:21-35