But by the grace of God I am what I am I am what I am But by the grace of God I am what I am I am what I am 1 Corinthians 15:10

My observation of Christendom is that most of us tend to base our relationship with God on our performance instead of on His grace. Jerry Bridges Speaker,Author (w/ Navigators) ( )

If we’ve performed well— whatever “well” is in our opinion— then we expect God to bless us. If we haven’t done so well, our expectations are reduced accordingly. Jerry Bridges Speaker,Author (w/ Navigators) ( )

In this sense, we live by works, rather than by grace. We are saved by grace, but we are living by the “sweat” of our own performance. Jerry Bridges Speaker,Author (w/ Navigators) ( )

Moreover, we are always challenging ourselves and one another to “try harder.” We seem to believe success in the Christian life (however we define success) is basically up to us: our commitment, our discipline, and our zeal, with some help from God along the way. Jerry Bridges Speaker,Author (w/ Navigators) ( )

We give lip service to the attitude of the Apostle Paul, “But by the grace of God I am what I am (1 Cor. 15: 10), but our unspoken motto is, “God helps those who help themselves.” Jerry Bridges Speaker,Author (w/ Navigators) ( )

But by the grace of God I am what I am 1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10-11

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Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1

The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. Exodus 34:5

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, Exodus 34:6

keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty... Exodus 34:7

for God is love. 1 John 4:8

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Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11

DavidDavidMephiboshethMephibosheth Shows kindness - checed ↳ Initiated by David ↳ Beloved one [David]

We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3–4

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, Ephesians 1:3–4

DavidDavidMephiboshethMephibosheth Shows kindness - checed ↳ Initiated by David ↳ Based on Covenant ↳ Beloved one [David]

And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die; but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 1 Samuel 20:14–15

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “Let the Lord require it at the hand of David’s enemies.” 1 Samuel 20:16

In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:25

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 2 Corinthians 3:5

who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6

DavidDavidMephiboshethMephibosheth Shows kindness - checed ↳ Initiated by David ↳ Based on Covenant ↳ Expressing God’s kindness Completely unworthy born as an enemy ↵ thru a fall - can’t walk ↵ ↳ Kindness that seeks out ↳ Beloved one [David] no idols [Mephibosheth] - Law ↵

Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; 2 Samuel 4:4

and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth. 2 Samuel 4:4

DavidDavidMephiboshethMephibosheth Shows kindness - checed ↳ Initiated by David ↳ Based on Covenant ↳ Expressing God’s kindness Completely unworthy born as an enemy ↵ thru a fall - can’t walk ↵ no pasture, wasteland [Lo Debar] ↵ ↳ Kindness that seeks out “sold” [Machir], hopeless ↵ ↳ Beloved one [David] no idols [Mephibosheth] - Law ↵

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 7:14

DavidDavidMephiboshethMephibosheth Shows kindness - checed ↳ Initiated by David ↳ Based on Covenant ↳ Expressing God’s kindness Completely unworthy born as an enemy ↵ thru a fall - can’t walk ↵ no pasture, wasteland [Lo Debar] ↵ Sent & brought Fell as dead before BlessesBlesses ↳ do not fear ↳ I will show kindness ↳ I will restore ↳ you shall eat with me ↳ Kindness that seeks out “sold” [Machir], hopeless ↵ Received by David Unworthiness known ↵ No condemnation ↵ ↳ Beloved one [David] no idols [Mephibosheth] - Law ↵

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus... Romans 8:1

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Luke 15:20

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ Luke 15:21

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Luke 15:22

DavidDavidMephiboshethMephibosheth Shows kindness - checed ↳ Initiated by David ↳ Based on Covenant ↳ Expressing God’s kindness Completely unworthy born as an enemy ↵ thru a fall - can’t walk ↵ no pasture, wasteland [Lo Debar] ↵ Sent & brought Fell as dead before BlessesBlesses ↳ do not fear ↳ I will show kindness ↳ I will restore ↳ you shall eat with me ↳ Kindness that seeks out “sold” [Machir], hopeless ↵ Received by David Unworthiness known ↵ No condemnation ↵ Blessed abundantly ↵ Treated as a son ↵ ↳ Beloved one [David] no idols [Mephibosheth] - Law ↵

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1

DavidDavidMephiboshethMephibosheth Shows kindness - checed ↳ Initiated by David ↳ Based on Covenant ↳ Expressing God’s kindness Completely unworthy born as an enemy ↵ thru a fall - can’t walk ↵ no pasture, wasteland [Lo Debar] ↵ Sent & brought Fell as dead before BlessesBlesses ↳ do not fear ↳ I will show kindness ↳ I will restore ↳ you shall eat with me ↳ Kindness that seeks out “sold” [Machir], hopeless ↵ Received by David Unworthiness known ↵ No condemnation ↵ Blessed abundantly ↵ Treated as a son ↵ ↳ Beloved one [David] no idols [Mephibosheth] - Law ↵

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, Ephesians 2:4

even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Ephesians 2:5

and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6

that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8

DavidDavidMephiboshethMephibosheth Shows kindness - checed ↳ Initiated by David ↳ Based on Covenant ↳ Expressing God’s kindness Completely unworthy born as an enemy ↵ thru a fall - can’t walk ↵ no pasture, wasteland [Lo Debar] ↵ Sent & brought Fell as dead before BlessesBlesses ↳ do not fear ↳ I will show kindness ↳ I will restore ↳ you shall eat with me ↳ Kindness that seeks out “sold” [Machir], hopeless ↵ Received by David Unworthiness known ↵ No condemnation ↵ Blessed abundantly ↵ Treated as a son ↵ ↳ Beloved one [David] no idols [Mephibosheth] - Law ↵

But by the grace of God I am what I am 1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10-11

DavidDavidMephiboshethMephibosheth Shows kindness - checed ↳ Initiated by David ↳ Based on Covenant ↳ Expressing God’s kindness Completely unworthy born as an enemy ↵ thru a fall - can’t walk ↵ no pasture, wasteland [Lo Debar] ↵ Sent & brought Fell as dead before BlessesBlesses ↳ do not fear ↳ I will show kindness ↳ I will restore ↳ you shall eat with me ↳ Kindness that seeks out “sold” [Machir], hopeless ↵ Received by David Unworthiness known ↵ No condemnation ↵ Blessed abundantly ↵ Treated as a son ↵ ↳ Beloved one [David] no idols [Mephibosheth] - Law ↵