God’s Undeserved Kindness to Us
Grace is undeserved kindness from someone powerful to someone weaker. We will learn about God’s grace by reading a story where Jesus literally saved a woman from being killed. Through Jesus, God has shown us His grace and made it available to us.
Jesus’ Grace for the Woman
(3) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group
(4) and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
(5) In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
According to the law, what punishment did the woman deserve?
(6) They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.
(7) When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
(8) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
(9) At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
How did Jesus save the woman?
(10) Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
(11) “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Did Jesus accuse or punish the woman? What did He do?
Jesus Appeals for Us
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
(23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What are we guilty of? What do we deserve?
(8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In what way and when did God show His great love for us?
(13) When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
(14) having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
(15) And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
What did Jesus do with our sins?
(14) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
(15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
(16) Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
What makes Jesus such a great mediator for us?
We Are Saved by Grace
(22) This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(24) and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
(25) God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
(26) he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
How does God accept us?
(1) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
(2) because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
What does Jesus’ victory mean for us?
Jesus said to the woman, “Sin no more”
(11) “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
(8) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
How should we live after receiving God’s grace?
Ask a Friend
- Can you share about how God has shown His grace to you?
- Do you have any other questions about grace?
Application
- In what ways are we like the woman in the story?
- How can we receive God’s grace?
- How does God’s grace change our lives?
Prayer Model
Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your grace. Thank You for rescuing me from the punishment for my sins. I receive Your grace, forgiveness, life, and freedom.
Key Verse
“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.”