This week Bro. Leo leads us on an introductory study of God’s grace by using Moses and the children of Israel as an example of both God’s saving grace and His sustaining grace.

In Deut.7:6-9 we learn that God did not choose the nation of Israel because of their righteousness or their population. In other words Israel didn’t earn their favor with God. God chose Israel to be a “special people” unto Himself. The phrase “special people” means God chose the children of Israel to be in a special loving relationship with Him, so that He could bless them with blessings, give them victory over their enemies, bless all the other nations of the world.

As a born again child of God, once we are saved, we are brought into a special loving relationship with Jesus by which He can bless us, equip us, so that we can be a blessing to other folks. The same way He blessed Israel. Like Israel, a born again child of God is not chosen because of our merits, we were chosen by God because God is love, faithful and overflowing with grace (Titus 3:4-7, Eph.2:8).

In Titus 3:7 and Eph.2:8 grace is made up of three elements. 1) a giver, 2)receiver, 3) a gift. God is the giver, we are the receiver and salvation is the gift (saving grace), daily blessings (sustaining grace). The word “grace” is translated from the Greek word “doron” which means a present or a gift given freely or gratuitously, not earned or merited or deserved. Grace is an experience, we actually experience the moment God saves us.

In John 3:16a we find the reason for God’s grace towards us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave”. Love is the spirit in which we experience God’s grace.

In order to better understand God’s grace towards us we must learn His love for us. In Luke 6:32 and Luke 7:41-43 we our natural nature of love. In contrast, we see how God loves in Rom.5:6-8,10. Our love for God is actually His love for us being reciprocated back to Him through His Holy Spirit indwelling us 1John 4:10,19,9, Rom.5:5-6.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Deu 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Deu 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave….

Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luk 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luk 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

Luk 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
Luk 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
Luk 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.