God’sGraceandMercyinSuffering

MattMorgan,PastorBethanyBaptistChurch

Godlovesyou

Godisforyou

Godisgracious

Godismerciful Godisfaithful

Godisastrongtower

TheRootsofSuffering

TheRootsofSuffering• PersonalSin:Painproducedbyourownsinfulactions—Consequences/Discipline• PersonalAttacks:Sorroworiginatingfromunmeritedhurtinflictedbyothers—Persecution• GeneralToil/Trouble:Difficultyfromaworldcorruptedbythefall—Disease,difficulty,death• EpicEvents:Circumstancesthatbringsudden,widespreaddevastation–cosmiccatastrophe

GeneralTruthsaboutSufferingq Therootsofoursufferingshape ourexperienceofGod’snature.

q Oftentherootsofsufferingarelinked together.

q Sufferingisthetangiblereminderthatlastingjoy canbefoundinGodalone.

q Forthebeliever,sufferingisalwaysameans andneveranend inGod’splan.

Grace MercyJustice

Righteousness

TheRelationshipofGraceandMercy

ü MercyDefined:Thewithholdingofjustpunishment/consequencesthataremerited byrebelliousactions.

RelatedBiblicalTerms:Compassion,Pity,TenderLove,andLoyalLove

TheRelationshipofGraceandMercy

ü GraceDefined:ThegenerousgiftofGod’sfavor andrighteousness tothosedeservingcondemnation.

RelatedBiblicalTerms:Favor,Goodness,andLovingKindness

Grace Mercy

TheRoleofGraceandMercyinDeliverance

TheRoleofGraceandMercyinTemporalDeliverance

q Providingrelieffromphysicalsufferingwascentral toJesusearthlyministry.(Luke4:14-21)

q Humansufferingcontrastsourvolatile naturewiththeunchangingnatureofGod.(Rom8:18)

q Goddeeplycares forthesufferingofHispeople.(Ex3:7-10;Luke4;1Pet5:6-7)

TheRoleofGraceandMercyinTemporalDeliverance

q God’scomfort inoursufferingenablesustoserveasinstruments ofcomfortforothers.(2Cor 1:3-7)

q God’smanifests Hispowerandpresenceinourweakness.(2Cor12:7-10)

7 Sotokeepmefrombecomingconceitedbecauseofthesurpassinggreatnessoftherevelations,athornwasgivenmeintheflesh,amessengerofSatantoharassme,tokeepmefrombecomingconceited.8 ThreetimesIpleadedwiththeLordaboutthis,thatitshouldleaveme.9 Buthesaidtome,"Mygraceissufficientforyou,formypowerismadeperfectinweakness."ThereforeIwillboastallthemoregladlyofmyweaknesses,sothatthepowerofChristmayrestuponme.10 ForthesakeofChrist,then,Iamcontentwithweaknesses,insults,hardships,persecutions,andcalamities.ForwhenIamweak,thenIamstrong.(2Cor12:7-10ESV)

TheRoleofGraceandMercyinEternalSalvation

q God’smercyisthebasisforthenewbirth.(1Pet1:3;Tit3:5-6;Eph2:3-5)

3 BlessedbetheGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist!Accordingtohisgreatmercy, hehascausedustobebornagaintoalivinghopethroughtheresurrectionofJesusChristfromthedead,4 toaninheritancethatisimperishable,undefiled,andunfading,keptinheavenforyou,5 whobyGod'spowerarebeingguardedthroughfaithforasalvationreadytoberevealedinthelasttime.(1Peter1:3-5ESV)

4 ButwhenthegoodnessandlovingkindnessofGodourSaviorappeared,5 hesavedus,notbecauseofworksdonebyusinrighteousness,butaccordingtohisownmercy,bythewashingofregenerationandrenewaloftheHolySpirit,6 whomhepouredoutonusrichlythroughJesusChristourSavior,7 sothatbeingjustifiedbyhisgracewemightbecomeheirsaccordingtothehopeofeternallife.(Titus3:4-7ESV)

TheRoleofGraceandMercyinEternalSalvation

q Godpromisesadefiniteend tosuffering.(Isa25:8-9;Rev7,21:3-5)

3 AndIheardaloudvoicefromthethronesaying,"Behold,thedwellingplaceofGodiswithman.Hewilldwellwiththem,andtheywillbehispeople,andGodhimselfwillbewiththemastheirGod.4 Hewillwipeawayeverytearfromtheireyes,anddeathshallbenomore,neithershalltherebemourning,norcrying,norpainanymore,fortheformerthingshavepassedaway."5 Andhewhowasseatedonthethronesaid,"Behold,Iammakingallthingsnew."Alsohesaid,"Writethisdown,forthesewordsaretrustworthyandtrue."(Revelation21:3-5ESV)

TheRoleofGraceandMercyinEternalSalvation

q Godprovidesasacrifice inJesustosecureeternaljustice andfreedom fromlifelongslaverytosin.(Heb2:14-18;6,13)

14 Sincethereforethechildrenshareinfleshandblood,hehimselflikewisepartookofthesamethings,thatthroughdeathhemightdestroytheonewhohasthepowerofdeath,thatis,thedevil,15 anddeliverallthosewhothroughfearofdeathweresubjecttolifelongslavery.16 Forsurelyitisnotangelsthathehelps,buthehelpstheoffspringofAbraham.17 Thereforehehadtobemadelikehisbrothersineveryrespect,sothathemightbecomeamercifulandfaithfulhighpriestintheserviceofGod,tomakepropitiationforthesinsofthepeople.18 Forbecausehehimselfhassufferedwhentempted,heisabletohelpthosewhoarebeingtempted.(Heb 2:14-18ESV)

TheRoleofGraceandMercyinEternalSalvation

q God’sgiftofrighteousnessestablisheseternalpeace.(Rom5:1-5)

Therefore,sincewehavebeenjustifiedbyfaith,wehavepeacewithGodthroughourLordJesusChrist.2 Throughhimwehavealsoobtainedaccessbyfaithintothisgraceinwhichwestand,andwerejoiceinhopeofthegloryofGod.3 Morethanthat,werejoiceinoursufferings,knowingthatsufferingproducesendurance,4 andenduranceproducescharacter,andcharacterproduceshope,5 andhopedoesnotputustoshame,becauseGod'slovehasbeenpouredintoourheartsthroughtheHolySpiritwhohasbeengiventous.(Rom5:1-5ESV)

TheRoleofGraceandMercyinEternalSalvationq God’sabidingpresence nowandmorefullyforever.(Ex33;Matt

1:23;28:19-20)

q Substitutionaryatonement isGod’sperfectvictoryoversuffering.(Rom3:26;2Cor 5:21)

21 Foroursakehemadehimtobesinwhoknewnosin,sothatinhimwemightbecometherighteousnessofGod.(2Cor5:21ESV)

Grace Mercy

21 InthatsamehourherejoicedintheHolySpiritandsaid,"Ithankyou,Father,Lordofheavenandearth,thatyouhavehiddenthesethingsfromthewiseandunderstandingandrevealedthemtolittlechildren;yes,Father,forsuchwasyourgraciouswill.22 AllthingshavebeenhandedovertomebymyFather,andnooneknowswhotheSonisexcepttheFather,orwhotheFatherisexcepttheSonandanyonetowhomtheSonchoosestorevealhim."(Luke10:21-22ESV)

ØGodshowsustheinfinitecontrast betweenourheartandHisthroughtesting/trials.

ØGod’sorchestrates sufferingwithinourlimitstoproducecharactertransformation untilwearecomplete.(Jam1:2-4;Rom5:2-5)

TheRevelationofGraceandMercyinSuffering

2 Countitalljoy,mybrothers,whenyoumeettrialsofvariouskinds,3 foryouknowthatthetestingofyourfaithproducessteadfastness.4 Andletsteadfastnesshaveitsfulleffect,thatyoumaybeperfectandcomplete,lackinginnothing. (Jam1:2-4ESV)

ØGod’sunchangingcharacter isthebrightbeaconoflightpenetratingthescarydarknessofourfallenworld.(2Cor 4:6-12)

ØGodiscommittedtodirectourheartstowardtheonlytrueandlastingtreasure:Himself.(2Cor 3:18;4:15-18)

TheRevelationofGraceandMercyinSuffering

God’sGloriousCharacter

Ex32-34AppealtoGod’sCharacter

Psalm6,13,35,62,74,79,80,89,90,94

God’sTransformingGrace

Paul—DamascusRoad(Acts9;2Tim1:15-16;Rom8)

God’sGloryinChrist

Jesus(Heb 2:17;4:14-16;7:25-27;9:11-12,25-28;13:20-21)

God’sGraceGod’sMercyGod’sFaithfulnessGod’sPromisesGod’sPresenceGod’sPower

TheRecipeforHope

Firstaddmercytoremovetheguiltandcondemnationofsin,thenaddabundantgracetorestoreustoGodandempowerus.UsesufferingtothoroughlymixwhilesprinklinginGod’sfaithfulness.FinallyaddinGod’spromises,presence,andpowerthenplaceinthefurnaceofafflictionuntilhopeisfullybaked.

q SET theeyesofyourmindonthecharacterofGod.(3:21)

q SPEAK thetruthaboutGod’sinfiniteworthtoyourself.(3:24)

q SAVOR God’sgoodnesswhileyouwaitquietlyforHisdeliverance.(3:26-27)

TheRecipeforHopeinSuffering—Lamentations3

ASongofAscents.OfDavid.OLORD,myheartisnotliftedup;myeyesarenotraisedtoohigh;Idonotoccupymyselfwiththingstoogreatandtoomarvelousforme.2 ButIhavecalmedandquietedmysoul,likeaweanedchildwithitsmother;likeaweanedchildismysoulwithinme.3 OIsrael,hopeintheLORDfromthistimeforthandforevermore.(Psa 131:1-3ESV)