Introduction

A few days ago, one of our members helped me with a problem. I asked him how much I owed him, and he said, “You don’t owe me anything. Just help me get to heaven.” This morning, I ask the question, “How do we do that?” Back of that is another question, “What kind of God do we server? Is He harsh and stern, or is He kind, loving, and gracious? Can He be both?

Body

I. To be sure, there are two aspects of God’s nature.

A. Paul put it this way:

(Rom 11:22 NKJV) Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

B. We must remember these two aspects of God’s nature, but sometimes we ignore the grace of God.

1. In the verse we just read, Paul addresses both extremes of God’s nature.

2. We must also remember both aspects of God’s nature, but this morning, we want to notice the graciousness of God.

(John 3:16 NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

a. This text is called the golden text of the Bible.

b. Many misunderstand it,

c. Some think it is too soft.

II. Some are angry with the graciousness of God.

A. Jonah was angry with God because He was too kind.

(Jonah 3:10 NKJV) Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. (4:1) But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. {2} So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.

B. Today, we often hear the cry that what we need are more “hell fire and brimstone sermons.”

C. Sometimes we forget that the word gospel means “good news.”

(Luke 2:14 NKJV) "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

III. There is a “softer” side of God.

A. The people marveled at Jesus gracious words.

(Luke 4:22 NKJV) So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"

B. He will have mercy.

(Rom 9:18 KJV) Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

C. He is a gracious God because we need His mercy.

1. He is gracious in His judgment.

(James 2:11-13 NKJV) For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. {12} So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. {13} For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

2. He is gracious in His response to us.

(James 1:5 NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

(James 1:5 Phillips) And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God – who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty – and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.

D. We are saved by the grace of God.

1. We have received the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

(John 1:16-17 NKJV) And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. {17} For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

2. Our works do not earn us our salvation.

(Eph 2:8-10 NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, {9} not of works, lest anyone should boast. {10} For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

IV. We are to be gracious in our judgment of others.

A. James reminds us that we are not the ones to pass judgment.

(James 4:11-12 NKJV) Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. {12} There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

B. Paul reminds us that God is the One Who passes judgment, and that with His willingness to forgive.

(Rom 14:3-4 NKJV) Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. {4} Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

C. We need to be kind to one another.

(Eph 4:31-32 NKJV) Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. {32} And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph 5:1-2 NKJV) Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. {2} And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

1. It applies to husbands.

(Col 3:19 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

2. It applies to fathers.

(Col 3:21 NKJV) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

3. It applies to how we all treat others.

(Col 3:12-14 NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; {13} bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. {14} But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Conclusion

I. God is a gracious God. We need to be gracious to each other.

II. God gave His Son that we might not perish.

III. We need to help each other get to heaven/

Bible Study with Harley Sermons I have Preached