Knowing God Study - Lesson 15 Ý
Copyright 2004-5 by William Meisheid

Chapter 13: The Grace Of God

Today’s theme: God’s greatest gift, salvation through grace.

Scriptural background: Titus 2:11 "The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared"

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Quotes for the week

"In this awfully stupendous manner, at which Reason stands aghast, and Faith herself is half confounded, was the grace of God to man at length manifested." Richard Hurd (1720–1808). Sermons. Vol. ii. p. 287.

"This is Daddy's bedtime secret for today: Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue.” Eugene O'Neill (1888 - 1953) US dramatist. The Great God Brown. 1926.

"The fast pace of our lives makes it difficult for us to find grace in the present moment, and when the simple gifts at our fingertips cease to nourish us, we have a tendency to crave the sensational.” MacRina Wiederkehr. A Tree Full of Angels: Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary. Harper, San Francisco. 1995

“In life as in the dance: grace glides on blistered feet.” Alice Abrams. Carolyn Warner. The Last Word: A Treasury of Women's Quotes.

Concern: Can we humble ourselves to accept God’s grace, the essence of agape, God’s love in action?

"I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." Romans 9:15 looking to Exodus 33:19.

1   How does this idea of God having no obligation to show mercy or compassion strike you? How do you reconcile this with God’s love (agape)?

"Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens." Romans 9:18

2   This carries the previous thought one step further. Does this go against your ingrained sense of fairness? Do you feel God is being unfair? How do you come to terms with this scripture?

Interacting With The Text

Goal: To lay aside our concept of “my rights” and our rugged individualism and accept the grace and mercy of God as our path to salvation.

We live in post-Christian, pagan times. As a result, pagan ideas, concepts, and modes of thinking have begun to permeate our existence. As Christians committed to knowing God, we are discipleship-bound to purge, as well as possible, these influences from our lives, remembering the command of 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

1   Why is Packer’s point about God’s grace being a personal activity, instead of “celestial electricity” so important? Think about your view of the sacraments of the church, especially communion, in relation to this insight. Consider how this makes Christianity different that witchcraft.

2   What seems to be at the root of many people's lack of appreciation of the true meaning of grace?

3   Packer calls the first problem of grace "The moral ill-desert of man". Can you rephrase that into something more meaningful to you? With this in mind what do you see as modern man's fundamental problem?

4   What concept of justice does man often use to try and effectively negate God's retributive justice? What problems does this create?

5   How does much modern churchmanship reflect an ancient pagan approach to a relationship with God? How does this insight affect the legitimacy of the teachings of prosperity and success in the Christian Church?

6   Contrary to the assertions of paganism, what is God's "job"?

7   What truth does Isaac Watts, in his famous hymn verses, advance about us?

8   What is God’s grace the source of? What implication does that have for your life?

9   How is grace tied into the plan of salvation and the perseverance of the believer?

10   How does Packer address the complaint that emphasizing grace produces moral laxity or complacency?

11   What consistent fault in our approach to God is make remarkably clear in this section? How do you avoid that trap?

What To Do Next

Read Chapter Fourteen: God The Judge. Think about what is reassuring and what is frightening about God as our judge as we examine the magistrature (jurisdiction of a magistrate) of God.

Goal: To learn to accept God’s grace in our lives by extending it to others.

Using God’s gracious salvation as your starting point put into practice at some point this week the demand of Jesus to extravagantly forgive someone who have offended or hurt you.