Ephesians 4:14-15 NLT – Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Matthew 18:21-22 ESV – Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:23-25 ESV – Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Romans 3:23 ESV – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Ezekiel 18:20 ESV – The soul who sins shall die.
Romans 6:23 ESV – For the wages of sin is death.
James 2:10 ESV – For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Commandment 1: No other gods besides me
Commandment 2: No idols
Commandment 3: Honor God’s Name
Commandment 4: Honor the Sabbath
Commandment 5: Honor your father and mother
Commandment 6: Don’t murder
Commandment 7: Don’t commit adultery
Commandment 8: Don’t steal
Commandment 9: Don’t lie
Commandment 10: Don’t covet
God offers a solution we don’t deserve: Grace
Matthew 18:26-27 ESV – So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
Hebrews 12:15 ESV – See to it that no one misses the grace of God.
What is Grace?
Justice – you get what you deserve
Mercy – you don’t get what you deserve
Grace – you receive unmerited favor, a gift
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV – For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Grace demands a response
Matthew 18:28-35 ESV – But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him about a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Titus 2:11-14 ESV – For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
