STUBBORN LOVE, AMAZING GRACE

STUBBORN LOVE, AMAZING GRACE

I. The Foundation of Grace is Love (Hosea 1:2-11; 3:1-3)
a. 1 The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes."
b. God showed us grace because he loves us!
i. 1 John 4:10- 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[a] our sins.
ii. Romans 5:10- 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
c. He showed us grace because he saw beyond our sin to our potential!
i. 1 Corinthians 13:12- 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
ii. 2 Corinthians 4- 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
2. 1 John 1:5- This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
iii. If God is both love and light- then love clears the distortion and we shine his light to clear up the distortions of the sin
1. 2 Corinthians 3:18- 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
d. We do this by showing grace to others!
1. 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (1 John 3)
2. Matthew 5- 14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
II. The Expression of Grace is Forgiveness
a. Forgiveness is satisfying a debt—and grace is forgiveness that is free!
b. Hosea paid for Gomer’s ransom and chose to forgive her to express the grace that God has shown for us.
i. Romans 8- 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[a] And by him we cry, "Abba,[b] Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
c. Love keeps no records of wrong
d. The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-31)
i. The Father was looking for his son to return, while the brother had already written him off.
ii. 28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
e. The brother failed to understand the grace that was given to him—he owned nothing of his own—it was all a gift from a loving father
III. The Boundaries of Grace is Limitless
a. Love is not fair—it is better than fair!
b. Matthew 18:21-34- Forgive as we have been forgiven
c. Colossians 3:13- 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.