Bible Study: Grace (G.G.)

Grace Like Rain

Grace Like Rain is a song adapted from the hymn Amazing Grace. It's words are:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind, but now I see so clearly

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me

Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away - they're washed away

It was grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me

Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away - they're washed away

When we've been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun

We've no less days to sing your praise

Than when we first begun

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me

Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away - they're washed away

Grace - What does it mean to you?

The Bible has a lot to say about grace – these 5 letters "grace" abounded everywhere

In the Old Testament the word "grace" is rare, but "disgrace" is common with almost 100 citations

In the New Testament, "grace" is plentiful with over 100 references, and "disgrace" hardly rated a mention

Clearly grace comes with Jesus Christ - John 1:17 says, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ"

U2 sang

Grace makes beauty out of ugly things

Philip Yancey wrote

There is nothing we can do to make God love us more... There is nothing we can do to make God love us less

Nita Johnstone said

When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day's pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award.

But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award - Yet receives such a gift anyway - that is a good picture of God's unmerited favor.

This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God.

Grace in the Bible

Romans 3: 23,24

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

And are justified freely by his grace

Through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2: 8,9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith.

This not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

It is not by works, so that no one can boast.

No Hebrew word matches exactly the New Testament word for grace; but similar words are

• Chesed – loving-kindness
• Raham – merciful restoration of a broken promise

Zecharian 12: 9, 10 (chesed)

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.

They will look on me, the one they have pierced,

And they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child,

And grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

In the New Testament "grace" is from the Greek word Charis (χαρις) which means gift

Jesus tells about grace – Luke 15: 11–32

Jesus shows grace – John 8:1–11; Luke 23:32-43

Paul writes about grace – Ephesians 2:1–10

The Bible ends talking about grace – Revelation 22:17

Testimonies to Grace

The story of John Newton is a testimony to grace. He was once a slave trader but he was transformed by God and wrote the well known hymn, Amazing Grace

The Newsboys summarize grace well

When we don't get what we deserve that's a real good thing

When we get what we don't deserve that's a real good thing

Questions

Can you remember when you first began to understand what grace meant? Or can you remember a time that you really felt and knew God’s grace?

How do we abuse grace?

How do we forget grace?

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