THE MERCY & GRACE OF GOD
Psalm 103:1-10

Introduction: Just as righteousness and justice are two sides of the same coin, grace and mercy are connected in the same way. Righteousness and justice are referred to as the transitive holiness of God. Mercy and grace, along with God’s benevolence and longsuffering, are referred to as the transitive love of God. In other words, these four attributes are all expressions of God’s love. It is how God’s love impacts how God deals with us.

According to Millard J. Erickson in his book Christian Theology in its basest definition the love of God could be described as His eternal giving and sharing of Himself, because God is love. 1 John 4:8,16 And the greatest expression of this love was seen in God giving His Son for the redemption of man. John 3:16;1 John 3:16 Mercy and grace are two of the ways that His love is expressed toward His creation. Both of these attributes are indicated in our text.

I. THE MERCY OF GOD
Mercy and grace are closely associated and there are times when they appear to be used interchangeably in the Bible. However, there is a distinct difference in the meaning of these two words. Mercy involves two aspects of God’s character.

A. God’s COMPASSION
That is that God has compassion on His creation when He looks on the plight of man. He pities man when He looks upon man’s fallen state and sees man’s misery. Psalm 103:13 The word translated pitieth in this verse is the same root word as the word merciful in verse eight, and it speaks of His compassion for the deepest needs of man. Matthew 9:36.

B. God’s INCLINATION
God prefers not to have to execute punishment. He is inclined to forgive. Psalm 86:5 We need to remember though He never arbitrarily forgives, because His justice always requires a penalty to be paid for sin. So, it is only in Christ that a person can ultimately experience the mercy of God. 1 Peter 1:3

II. THE GRACE OF GOD
The words grace or gracious in both the O.T. and the N.T. have the idea of God’s favor or benefits and are usually defined as God’s unmerited favor.

A. Grace Is UNDESERVED
In truth God’s grace is not only undeserved it is ill deserved, which is to say, man not only does not deserve God’s favor, but he deserves God’s condemnation. J.I. Packer in his book KNOWING GOD described God’s grace this way: “The grace of God is love freely bestowed toward guilty sinners, contrary to their merit and indeed in defiance of their demerit.” vs. 10, 5

B. Grace Is The BASIS Of Salvation
That is to say that God will not save anyone based on his/her own goodness or merit, but rather salvation is based on God’s favor as secured through the payment of Christ. Romans 3:23,24

C. Grace Is The Basis Of Our CURRENT Standing
Often we can get into the bad habit of thinking that grace is only a onetime event, but being saved places us in the position of grace permanently. 1 Corinthians 15:10; Hebrews 4:16

Conclusion: Mercy is essentially God not giving us what we deserve, while grace is God giving us what we do not deserve

1 Chronicles 29:10-12

Introduction: The word sovereign is not a word that is used often in our day and time; however it is certainly an appropriate description of God. When we say that God is sovereign, we are saying that He alone is the ruler of all things. Along with this simple definition, we will consider some things that are implicated in the statement that God is sovereign.

I. GOD IS ABOVE EVERYTHING & EVERYONE
Although since the fall, creation has been in a state of rebellion against God it does not change the fact that He is both King and LORD.

A. God Is Above All False gods
Psalm 97:9 Now we know that false god’s are really non-existent and if there is any power behind them it is demonic. 1 Corinthians 10:20 But, God in His divine foreknowledge knew that people would worship false gods, and His word has much to say about His supremacy over them. The 10 plagues that God sent against Egypt are an example of His sovereignty over the false gods of Egypt. Jethro, Moses’ father in law, when he came to the camp of Israel after the exodus testified to this truth. Exodus 18:11 “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.”

B. God Is Above All Nations & Rulers
Psalm 113:4; Daniel 2:47 Nations and rulers whether good or evil are all subordinate to God. This text in Daniel was the words of Nebuchadnezzar, who at the time of the writing was the most powerful king on earth.

C. God Is Above All Creation
Psalm 148:13 Creation exists for God not God for creation. Colossians 1:16 Creation was created for the pleasure of God. Revelation 4:11

II. GOD IS ACCOUNTABLE TO NO ONE
Another aspect of sovereignty is that if one is sovereign their authority comes from themselves and they answer to no one. No nation, no church, nor any president can claim sovereignty because they get their authority to act from God. Romans 13:1

A. God Does Not Ask Before Acting
Job’s only mistake was that he thought he could tell God what He should do.
Job 40:1-2

B. God Does Not Answer To Man
God does what He wants to and does not answer to anyone for it. We are His creation and He has absolute power over His creation. Romans 9:20-21

III. GOD IS IN CONTROL
Although there are things that He permits that He does not purposefully cause, (man’s sinful actions). He is sovereign and His ultimate will is being perfectly worked out.
A. God Does Everything According To His Will
He allows man’s freedom to effect things, but in the end, He accomplishes His own purposes. Proverbs 16:9 “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Proverbs 21:1 “The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Ephesians. 1:11 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

B. God’s Glory Is The Purpose
That is the conclusion of the subject of God’s sovereignty, He works everything after the counsel of His own will, and He does this to glorify Himself. Ephesians 1:12; Psalm 46:10

THE WRATH OF GOD
Nahum 1:2, 3, 6-8

Introduction: According to J.I. Packer, wrath is an old English word defined as “deep intense anger and indignation.” Anger is “a stirring of resentful displeasure and strong antagonism, by a sense of injury or insult”; indignation is “righteous anger aroused by injustice and baseness.” Wrath is an attribute of God, and contrary to modern belief, God’s wrath is completely compatible with His goodness and love.

I. THE NATURE OF GOD’S WRATH
It is important that we understand the nature of God’s wrath because so many people have a false notion of what is meant by God’s wrath. A.W. pink in his book The Attributes of God defined the wrath of God this way: “The wrath of God is His eternal detestation of all unrighteousness.” We must not make the mistake of thinking that God’s anger is anything like man’s anger. It is a fundamental flaw in this understanding that cause so many believers to have a dysfunctional relationship with God. Let’s note some things about the nature of God’s wrath.

A. God’s Wrath is RIGHTEOUS
This is to say that God is rightfully angry with sinful man and that anger is in direct compliance with His holiness. Remember to be righteous is to be in compliance with a set standard. God’s wrath is consistent with His standard. Romans 1:18 Man’s anger generally is not based on righteousness. James 1:19-20 Because, man’s anger is based on his own perception of right and wrong and his inconsistent emotional disposition. This means that man’s anger is not based on a consistent standard. This is the most defining difference between man’s unrighteous wrath and God’s righteous wrath.

B. God’s Wrath is JUST
This means that God is operating as a Judge administering justice. He is not cruel nor is He unduly harsh, but He pours out His wrath in direct proportion to man’s unrighteousness. Romans 2:5-6 In other words, the punishment fits the crime.

II. THE OBJECTS OF GOD’S WRATH
We must understand against what and against whom God’s anger is directed. A proper understanding of this is absolutely liberating.

A. God is Angry With SIN
As we read earlier in our lesson in the first chapter of Romans that God’s anger is against “all ungodliness and unrighteousness of man”. Therefore, God is angry at man’s sinful actions. Ephesians 5:3-6

B. God is Angry With the SINNER
We know that God loves the sinner. Romans 5:8 We also know from scriptures
that God is angry with the wicked. Psalm 7:9-12 Who are the wicked? According
to this psalm, the wicked are unrepentant sinners. The wicked are unbelieving sinners. Nahum 1:7 Ultimately, this is what brings the wrath of God on man. John 3:36; 2 Thes. 1:7-10

C. God’s Anger Was SATISFIED in Christ
Jesus satisfied the Father’s wrath by offering Himself as the sacrifice for sin. He received the full judicial punishment of sin on the cross. 1 Peter 2:24 This act
both paid for our sins (atonement) and took the guilty verdict away from those who believe (justification). 1 John 2:1-2; Romans 5:9 In truth the sacrifice of Christ enables God the Father to separate the sin from the sinner, if we only believe.