4. Grace Changes Everything
4. Grace Changes Everything
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”. [Ephesians 2:8]
What is it about grace that makes it so hard to understand or explain, and even harder to receive? We don’t get what we deserve and we get what we don’t deserve. How is that possible?
“Like the rest of mankind, by nature we were deserving of wrath. Living in disobedience, living for the passions of our flesh and carrying out our own desires.” [Ephesians 2:3]
But we don’t get wrath and eternal punishment in Christ, we get forgiveness and acceptance because our debts have been canceled.
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii and the other owed fifty. When both couldn’t pay he canceled both of their debts. Now which one will love him more?” [Luke 7:41-42]
Are your debts canceled? Or do you still feel the enormous weight of guilt and shame and that you feel like you have to carry around and hide, so that maybe no one will know? Through faith, Jesus is asking us to receive his generous gift of grace and mercy and to hear His words, “you are forgiven.” Grace changes everything and we don’t earn it or deserve it but it is given freely and generously to all who put their trust in Jesus.
Scripture Reference:
“One of the Pharisees invited him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.” Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Oh? Tell me.” “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.” “That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.” That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!” He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” [Luke 7:36-50]
Discussion Questions:
- Have you been forgiven much or forgiven little?
- Are you thankful much or thankful little?
- Have you received grace or are you still carrying around the weight of shame and sin?
- Because of the grace you have received are you able to forgive others?
Assignment:
Read the story in Mark 7:36-50 about the “unclean” woman. Look at the way Jesus accepted her, showed her grace & mercy and saved her. Answer the questions above in your journal and explain what grace looks like in your life and what your response to this gift is. Are you like the woman (even if you are a man) who is crying and wiping Jesus feet with your tears and hair or are you looking on judging the sinners, thankful you are not like them.