3 Important Words Justice Mercy Grace 1. Today we are going to study three great words from the Bible. 2. These words describe our relationship with God. 3. These three words are JUSTICE, MERCY and GRACE Words

Justice

Justice JUSTICE IS GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE A. JUSTICE IS GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE. 1. A person commits a crime, they are caught, tried and convicted. 2. When that process is completed within the terms of the laws of the land, we say that justice has been served. 3. That does not mean that man’s system of justice is perfect, but the system does work. B. Justice is defined as: “the administering of deserved punishment or reward.” 1. That is an apt description of true justice. 2. In the American Justice System when a person goes to court: a. If found not guilty, they get to go free. That is Justice, right? b. What if they were found guilty, then set freewithout punishment. c. Would that be justice? Would that be justice to the family of a murder victim? Would that be a deterrent to future crime? 3. We understand justice in the legal realm, but many don’t understand it in the divine realm. “the administering of deserved punishment or reward.”

By definition, His justice contains reward AND punishment God is supremely JUST A. God is supremely JUST. By definition, His justice contains reward AND punishment. 1. There are many examples of how God rewarded and blessed those who obeyed Him in the Old Testament and the New Testament. 2. We love to talk about God’s blessings. 3. But many do not like to acknowledge His punishment. 4. His justice demands sin be punished properly. THIS HELPS TO EXPLAIN GOD'S ACTIONS in the following cases: By definition, His justice contains reward AND punishment

Justice 1. Nadab and Abihu were killed for offering profane fire before God, Leviticus 10:1-2. Nadab and Abihu were killed for offering strange fire before God. Lev. 10:1-2

Justice 1. Moses and Aaron were not allowed to enter the promised land Numbers 20:12 “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” Moses and Aaron were not allowed to enter the promised land. Num. 20:12

Achan was killed for disobeying God. Josh. 7 Justice 1. Achan was killed for disobeying God - Joshua 7. Achan was killed for disobeying God. Josh. 7

Justice Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of _________, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment… Amos 1:3 Damascus Gaza, 1:6 Tyre, 1:9 Edom, 1:11 Ammon, 1:13 Moab, 2:1 Judah, 2:4 Israel 2:6 1. “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment thereof”, Amos 1:3,6,9,11,13, 2;1,4,6. Gaza, Tyrus, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, Israel

Justice ETERNAL JUSTICE will be meted out at the Judgment Day: Rom. 14:12 “each one of us shall give account” 2 Cor. 5:10 “all appear before” A. The Justice of God demands BOTH reward and punishment. 1. ETERNAL JUSTICE will be meted out at the Judgment Day: 2. Romans 14:12 “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” 3. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” 4. Matthew 25:46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 5. That is one thing that will make heaven so wonderful B. Man’s justice system is not always swift, certain, or fair. C. God’s justice will be all of those. Matt. 25:46 “righteous into eternal life” Rev. 21:8,27 – will make heaven so wonderful

MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE A. MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE. 1. When you get pulled over for speeding and you don’t get a ticket, that is mercy. 2. If you think about it, every one of us at one time or another has been shown mercy. a. Not having to pay a bill, not receiving a deserved punishment, not being penalized for handing in a late paper, receiving help on a job or project around the house, that was your own responsibility. b. The greatest shower of mercy who ever lived is God. Forms of “mercy” occur 135 times in Psalms Forms of “mercy” occur 70 times in the NT Forms of “mercy” occur 135 times in Psalms Forms of “mercy” occur 70 times in the NT

Mercy “Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old.” Ps. 25:6 “Hear me, O LORD, for Your loving kindness is good; Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.” Ps. 69:16 “Show us Your mercy , LORD, and grant us Your salvation.” Ps. 85:7 “Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Ps. 106:1

Mercy “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” 2 Cor. 1:3 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us” Eph. 2:4

Mercy “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Heb. 8:12 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” 1 Pet. 1:3

Mercy Jn. 8:1-11 - woman taken in adultery Law demanded both man and woman be punished Lev. 20:10 “the adulterer and the adulteress” Where was the Man? “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Jn. 8:7 “And Jesus said to her, neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more.” Jn. 8:11 A. An EXAMPLE in the life of Jesus: The woman taken in adultery, John 8 1. This woman was caught in the act of adultery. 2. The Pharisees also knew the identity of the male involved. What is the significance of that? 3. Well, it is this: The Old Testament demanded that both the adulteress and the adulterer be subjected to the same penalty a. Leviticus 20:10 “And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife, even he that commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” 4. Where, then, was the man? a. These sanctimonious Pharisees were themselves in stark violation of the law. b. Had Jesus been under a commission to render a civil judgment in this case (and he did not come to attend to such matters - see Luke 12:13-14), he could not have countenanced this “kangaroo” procedure. c. The thrust of Christ’s statement “He that is without sin...” was this. Jn.8:7 d. None of you are in a position to stone this woman, for you have disregarded the very law you profess to honor. It is a travesty. e. v. 11 “And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more.”

Mercy Napoleon Mother asked for “Pardon” Justice demands death! “I don’t ask for justice, I plead for mercy” He does not deserve mercy ! Napoleon 1. ILLUSTRATION: A story is told of a mother who once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. “But I don't ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.” “But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied. “Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.” “Well, then,” the emperor said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman's son “It would not be mercy if he deserved it.” I will have mercy. He spared the woman’s son!

Because of God’s mercy, there is hope Mercy is not getting the punishment we deserve for our actions. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23 A. This story very well describes what mercy means. To put it simply, mercy is not getting the punishment we deserve for our actions. There was a time when we were all in the son's shoes. As soon as we sinned we fell short of God's glory and we stepped into a place where we deserved death. Death was the “wages” that we earned through our poor decisions 1. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” 2. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 3. We deserve to be eternally lost because of our sins. 4. Because of God’s mercy, there is hope. MERCY and HOPE are linked together. 5. Aren’t you happy that God is a God of mercy? Because of God’s mercy, there is hope

GRACE IS GETTING WHAT YOU DO NOT DESERVE GRACE A. GRACE IS GETTING WHAT YOU DO NOT DESERVE. 1. We did not deserve the Son of God coming to earth to die for us: 2. Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” 3. Jesus was the manifestation of that grace. B. ILLUSTRATION: I heard a former Muslim who is now a “Christian” on the radio. He said that Christianity is the only religion in the world that has the concept of grace. Some have the concept of mercy; for example, a primitive tribe might throw infants into a volcano to appease the gods and get mercy from them. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” Tit. 2:11

Grace 23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24. being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25. whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed. Rom. 3:23-25 The Bible tells us that we are saved by grace

Grace “even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved” Eph. 2:5 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9

Grace charis: signifies "favor," "goodwill," and "lovingkindness"- especially as granted to an inferior by a superior. “unmerited favor” A. What is Grace? Greek word charis: signifies “favor,” “goodwill,” and “lovingkindness” especially as granted to an inferior by a superior. 1. It is sometimes defined as “unmerited favor.” What does that mean? 2. Although truthful, those words put most of the emphasis on the ones receiving the grace. We need to place the emphasis on God. a. He is the One granting the favor, the grace. b. He loved, He gave, and He saves. B. Because the Bible says we are saved by grace, some have concluded and taught that we cannot do anything to be saved. 1. Some quote, “not of works, lest any man should boast.” They say grace and works are mutually exclusive of each other. 2. ARE we saved by grace? ABSOLUTELY! Are we saved by Grace Only? THAT is the important question C. There are two parts to Grace: God’s part (in sending Jesus) and Man’s part (when I obey Him). That does not mean I earn my salvation, but rather that I am obedient to Him, which has been a requirement since Eden. D. Salvation is by grace! But it is not the easy, cheap thing that so many have made it out to be. And it certainly doesn't eliminate responsibility on my part. God's grace gave the Cross; my faith responds to it. 2 parts to grace: God’s Part – Sending Jesus Man’s Part – Obey

3 Important Words Justice Mercy Grace 1. Three important words - Justice, Mercy and Grace a. God doesn’t want to punish you, although that is what Justice requires. b. Mercy has been extended to all of us by the Love of God c. Grace is God giving His Son to die in our place. 2. Will you come to God while you have the opportunity to access His grace ? 3. Will you respond to God’s grace ? Words