The Grace of God and Our Response
The Gift We Could Never Afford
Jesus as the source of Grace for imperfect people.
The Bible: Our Reflective Mirror
Understanding Our Brokenness Through Scripture
This study views Grace as God’s unmerited favor. It emphasizes that while we cannot earn salvation (it is a gift), God has designated a specific way for us to accept that gift through faith and obedience (specifically repentance, confession, and immersion for the remission of sins).
God's Unconditional Love
The Reality of Our Condition (We Are Broken)
In our journey of faith, the Bible serves as a mirror, revealing the truth about our imperfections and the universal need for redemption. As Romans 3:23 reminds us, ‘for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23
In the Restoration tradition, we look at the Bible as a mirror. When we look into these verses, we see a hard truth: everyone is in the same boat.
It doesn’t matter if you are a “religious” person or someone who has never stepped foot in a church. We all have missed the mark. Sin isn’t just “doing bad things”; it is a separation from the source of Life. We cannot fix this separation by simply trying harder. We need a rescue.
Discussion Question 1
1. Why is it hard for modern people to admit they are “sinners”? Does that word carry too much baggage today?
Discussion Question 2
If the “wages” (what we earn) of sin is death, why is it good news that salvation is a “gift” rather than a “wage”?
Discussion Question 3
Have you ever tried to fix a spiritual problem with a physical solution (working harder, being nicer)? Did it work?
Grace Appearing
The Initiative of God
Grace is God moving toward us before we moved toward Him.
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” — Titus 2:11-12
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8
Grace is often defined as “unmerited favor.” God didn’t wait for us to get our act together before sending Jesus. He sent Jesus while we were messy and broken. This is crucial: Grace is not God ignoring our sin; it is God paying for our sin through Jesus.
Discussion Question 1
1. In Romans 5:8, what is the significance of the phrase “while we were still sinners”?
Discussion Question 2
2. Titus 2 says Grace “teaches us.” How does receiving kindness make you want to change your behavior more than receiving punishment does?
Discussion Question 3
3. Do you think God expects us to be perfect before we come to Him? Why or why not?
The Response of Faith
Accessing the Gift
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” — Acts 2:38
Imagine receiving a million-dollar check, a gift beyond your wildest dreams. This check represents Grace—God’s unearned favor, freely given to us. But to benefit from this gift, you must endorse and deposit it. This act of endorsing the check is akin to Faith and Obedience. Just as a check is worthless unless cashed, Grace requires our active participation through Faith to be realized in our lives. It’s not about earning God’s favor, but about accepting and acting upon the gift He has already provided.
Faith is the bridge between God’s generosity and our spiritual reality. It compels us to trust and obey, to take the steps necessary to embrace the life God offers. Without Faith, the check remains just a piece of paper. But with Faith, it becomes the key to a transformed life, filled with purpose and peace.
Biblically, we see this acceptance happen through:
1
Believe: Jesus is Lord
2
Repent: turn away from self-rule
3
Confess: Jesus is Lord
4
Baptism: Immersion
In Acts 2:38, Peter connects repentance and baptism directly to the “remission” (forgiveness) of sins. We view baptism not as a “work” of merit, but as the moment God operates on the heart (Colossians 2:12), washing away sin through the blood of Jesus.
Discussion Question 1
1. Look at Ephesians 2:8. If salvation is a gift, why does God require us to respond?
Discussion Question 2
2. Read Acts 2:37 (“Brothers, what shall we do?”). Why is it important that they asked what they should do?
Discussion Question 3
3. Many people view baptism as just a symbol or a public ceremony. How does reading Acts 2:38 change that perspective to seeing it as the moment we meet God’s grace?
Discussion Question 4
4. Is it comforting to know there is a specific point in time where you can know you were “buried with Christ” (Romans 6:4)?
The Christian Life
Walking in Grace
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” — 1 John 1:7
Once we have been washed, we are part of God’s family. We will still make mistakes. We will still be imperfect. But the promise of 1 John 1:7 is beautiful: as long as we keep “walking in the light” (staying in relationship with Him, admitting our faults, trying to follow Him), the blood of Jesus continues to cleanse us. We don’t have to be re-baptized every time we mess up. We live under a “canopy of Grace.”
Embrace the journey with humility and hope, knowing that you are never alone. As we walk in the light, we reflect His love to the world, becoming His ambassadors.
A Journey of Faith, Not Perfection
Discussion Question 1
1. What does “walking in the light” look like in a practical, everyday sense (at work, at home)?
Discussion Question 2
2. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus’ blood keeps on cleansing you as you stumble forward?
Discussion Question 3
3. How can we as a group help each other “walk in the light”?
Reflect on Your Spiritual Path
God has done everything necessary to save us. He provided the sacrifice (Jesus), He provided the plan (The Gospel), and He provided the invitation. The only variable left is our response. He doesn’t ask us to be perfect; He asks us to be obedient and trust Him.
For the Believer: Are you extending this same grace to others that God extended to you?
For the Seeker: If you believe Jesus is who He said He is, what is holding you back from accepting His gift the way the Apostles taught in Acts?
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