Why we need the mercy, grace and patience of God
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalms 103:8 (NLT)
God s mercy means God s goodness toward those in misery and distress God s grace means God s goodness toward those who only deserve punishment God s patience means God s goodness in withholding of punishment toward those who sin over a period of time
We see all 3 operate in the lives of many biblical people. Moses- The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Ex 34:6 (NLT)
David- I m in a desperate situation! David replied to Gad. But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands. 2 Sam 24:14 (NLT)
Two blind men After Jesus left the girl s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, Son of David, have mercy on us! Matt 9:27 (NLT)
Paul- All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NLT)
We also see his grace. The Lord replied, I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. Ex 33:19 (NLT)
Peter- In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.11 All power to him forever! Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11 (NLT)
We also see his patience at work. Paul- Don t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? Romans 2:4 (NLT)
1. As a sinner saved by grace I need God s mercy in my life every day. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. Psalms 103:10 (NLT)
Early on God wanted us to know He is merciful. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected even children in the third and fourth generations. Ex 34:6-7 (NLT)
6 times he speaks of mercy and 1 time of justice. This tells me something: A. This tells me that God is inclined toward mercy over wrath. The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lam 3:22-23 (NLT)
God does punish but as a last resort! It was because the Lord could no longer bear all the disgusting things you were doing that he made your land an object of cursing a desolate ruin without inhabitants as it is today.23 All these terrible things happened to you because you have burned incense to idols and sinned against the Lord. You have refused to obey him and have not followed his instructions, his decrees, and his laws. Jer 44:22-23 (NLT)
2. As a sinner saved by grace I need God s grace in my life every day. A. The best snapshot of God s grace is found in Jesus. For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. Titus 2:11 (NLT)
> we see this in the words of Jesus. Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. How can this be? they asked. Isn t this Joseph s son? Luke 4:22 (NLT)
> we see this in the works of Jesus. As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns.14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matt 14:13-14 (NLT)
B. Grace of God is best understood through the cross. What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position a little lower than the angels ; and because he suffered death for us, he is now crowned with glory and honor. Yes, by God s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. Heb 2:9 (NLT)
C. Grace is expressed in a variety of means. > common grace The Lord isn t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
> saving grace God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Eph 2:8-9 (NLT)
> securing grace Therefore, since we have been made right in God s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God s glory. Romans 5:1-2 (NLT)
> sanctifying grace But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Cor 15:10 (NKJV)
>serving grace God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
3. As a sinner saved by grace I need God s patience operating for me. A. The world needs us to be patient.
As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival.53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem.54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up Luke 9:51-54 (NLT)
B. We need to be patient in our walk of faith. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God s throne.3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won t become weary and give up.4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. Heb 12:1-4 (NLT)
But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16