Grace is unfair, which is one of the hardest things about it. It is unreasonable to expect a woman to forgive the terrible things her father did to her just because he apologizes many years later…. Grace, however, is not about fairness. What is true of families is true also of tribes, races, and nations.
What’s So Amazing About Grace?
Philip Yancey
Forgiveness [of sin] is our problem, not God’s. What we have to go through to commit sin distances us from God–we change in the very act of rebellion–and there is no guarantee we will ever come back.
What’s So Amazing About Grace?
Philip Yancey
When you hear the word grace, what things come to mind?
- Forgiveness?
- Mercy?
- Love?
- What else?
Is grace simple or complex?
Are there different components to grace?
There are different “pictures” of grace in Scripture. We’re probably familiar with a couple of them:
- Something that adorns or beautifies (Proverbs 1:9)
- Favor (Acts 14:3)
Grace (in both Greek and Hebrew) contains within it, not only the ideas of forgiveness, mercy, and favor, but also of elegance and the bringing of joy or pleasure. Grace as elegance is something that we must learn, so it would seem that grace is both extended and learned. In fact, we are compelled by scripture to grow in grace in the same way that we grow in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18).
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
How did Jesus walk out this grace?
How did he respond to the crowds?
Howe did he respond to sinners?
How did he respond to religious leaders?
- Nicodemus
- Pharisees
What does this tell us about the way we express grace?
