“Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD” (Joel 1:14)

Sunday assemblies: 9:30 AM Bible class10:30 AM Worship6:oo PM Worship

Wednesday assembly: 7:00 PM Bible class

Please silence cell phones

A robber breaks into your house. He collects your valuables, but before he leaves, you catch him and subdue him. What do you do?A. Call the police and press charges.B. Get your valuables back and let him go free.C. Let him take your valuables and offer him a

ride to where ever he wants to go.

I visit your house. While there, I accidentally bump your favorite antique, which has both monetary and sentimental value to you. It falls over and breaks. What do you do?A. Require me to pay for it to be fixed or

replaced.B. Say “that’s ok” but not ask for repayment, &

forget it.C. Forgive the accident and pay for the repair or

replacement out of your own pocket.

You are a police officer. One day you catch a driver speeding. He explains that he is on his way to his child’s school play and he doesn’t want to be late. As the police officer, what do you do?A. Write him a ticket-he broke the law!B. Give him a warning & let him go.C. Think about your own child and the

importance of your family, and offer him a police escort to get to the play on time.

You see a homeless family huddled behind the 7-11. What are you most likely to do?A. Call the police on them for loitering.B. Nothing.C. Offer to help them get a job and a place to stay, even if it creates an inconvenience for you.

You are a child, and your birthday is coming up soon. What do you expect to receive?A. A lump of coal and a bag of switches…I’ve

been naughty and don’t deserve any presents.B. Nothing…I’ve been both bad and good, and it

evens out. C. Gifts. Even though I’ve been naughty, my

parents love me and will give me gifts.

When you choose answer “A” on these, you are showing a preference for justice.

When you choose answer “B”, you are showing a preference for mercy.

When you choose answer “C”, you are showing a preference for grace.

What are the differences between these three things?

Their meanings, differences, and how they work together

Getting what you deserveDeserve = earn

Law of Moses was heavy on justiceEye for an eye

If you earn what you desireJustice is getting what you want

If you earn what you do not desireJustice is getting what you do not want

You can ask for justice, for what you deserveConfess guilt and request punishmentProve you worked and ask for payment

When justice happens to others…We seem to like it when justice happens to othersWe regard it as God’s hand taking care of businessWe regard it as people getting what they deserve for sin

But we all sin, so we all deserve justiceWages of sin is death, and we earn it! (Romans 6:23)Devil is cruel employer, but he always pays!

God is just, cannot be unjustWhen God warns, He must carry it outAdam & Eve had to be punished“Had He not done so, our relationship with Him would

be as unpredictable as the relationship the ancient pagan people imagined they had with their numerous deities” (Bales)

Law of Moses: a law of justice!Promised blessings for good behaviorPromised curses for bad behaviorGoverned men on principle of “eye for an eye”

Must have been difficult to live in such timeMen struck dead on the spot, cities destroyedChildren stoned to death for disrespect (Deut.

21:18-21)Gospel of Jesus includes justice

2 Corinthians 5:10Do we want justice today?

Or something better - James 2:13

Is NOT getting what you deserve Implies you did something wrong Is escape from or avoiding punishment Is a “second chance”Mercy > justice: not have to pay for crimes (sins)

You can ask for mercy!The judge may give you a lighter sentenceYour parents may un-ground you soonerGod will forgive your sins

But mercy only sets us back at parWill not, by itself, get us to heavenLeaves demands of justice unsatisfied Justice is good, mercy is better, but we need

something else…

Why must there be punishments?Why not declare moratorium on punishments?Why not automatically forgive all sins?Why not do away with hell so all can be saved?

Why not “declare universal amnesty for the entire human race and be done with the problem?” (Bales)Some have asked our government for amnesty

Draft dodgersIllegal aliens

A civilized nation requires order, consistencyAmnesty creates unjust exceptionsAmnesty does not solve problems

God is just and not an author of confusion

Before the flood…lawlessness ruledGod was sorry He made mankind

Solomon knew better (Ecclesiastes 8:11)Opposite of amnesty: equality (Romans 11:32)God does show mercy…

But not by canceling punishmentsNot by ignoring sin or granting amnesty

We want mercy for ourselvesAnd justice for our enemiesBut mercy & justice won’t get us to heaven

Grace is getting what you do not deserveUsually something good that you have not earnedDefined as “unmerited favor”

Parents show grace to children: giftsYou can offer grace to enemies: pray for them, shareKing of Israel gave grace to enemies: 2 Kings 6: 8-23Sermon on the Mount teaches us to show graceBut you cannot ask for grace for yourself!

Would be preposterous for a criminal to confess to a crime and tell the judge to let him go free anyway

Grace must be freely offered by the giver

Grace satisfies the demands of justiceIt provides punishment as required by justiceBut not upon the one who deserves itRomans 5:8-9

You and I deserve death for our sinsAnd God’s justice cannot be thwartedSo to satisfy justice, God sacrificed His Own SonGod loves us like any parent loves his own erring

childJohn 3:16 - grace meeting the demands of justice

Grace brings mercySince Jesus died, I don’t have to be punished!Mercy is not getting what you deserve…God’s grace makes it possible for me to avoid

hellEphesians 2:4-6

Encompasses both justice and mercyBut does more than just get you & I

out of troubleGives what we do not deserve: eternal

lifeTitus 3:3-7Ephesians 2:1-8Grace makes you an heirGrants entry to heaven

And through grace, God is able to be both just and the one who justifies, without compromising His nature

The terrorist of the Irish Republican ArmyIf that terrorist was you, how would you

respond?The fact is, a sinner is a criminal and rebel

against GodAnd the Prince of Peace did serve your

sentenceHe died in your placeResurrected the King of Kings!How will you respond?

If you are not a Christian, then you are lost in sin. What should God do about it?Send you to hell (justice)Nothing at all (mercy)Pay the price for you, forgive you, and invite you

to heaven (grace?)

If you are not a Christian, what will YOU do about it?

If you are a Christian who has fallen away, when you will do something about that?

Justice: getting just what you deserve

Mercy: not getting something bad that you deserve

Grace: getting something good that you do not deserve

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Come back Wednesday for Bible class at 7:00 PM!