Lesson 22 Our Response to Grace
Question 1
Dear friend, welcome. I’m glad you’re here, and I’m glad we’re studying together. It’s always good to look into God’s Word together.
The previous two lessons have been about how Jesus rescued us at the cross. What amazing grace it is that Jesus did not stay in Heaven where He had wonderful fellowship with His Father and was worshiped by all the angels, but rather He chose to leave that all behind to come to this world and die on a cross. He did that for you, out of love. He was rescuing you from Satan’s kingdom, from habitual sin, from an empty or wasted life.
When confronted with the love and grace that Jesus displayed on the cross, there should be an appropriate response. We don’t want to look at our suffering Savior and just say, “Oh, thanks for doing that” and then continue on in our same old way of living. To do so would be ungrateful and unfitting for a child of God. There needs to be a response from our hearts and an outward evidence that Jesus has changed us.
Today I want to look at a passage that will help us know what a proper response looks like. We will seek to answer the question: in light of Jesus’ rescue that He accomplished through His death and resurrection, what should our response be?
Let’s look at it together. Our main passage today will be Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 6:
2 Corinthians 6:1-2; 11-3 NIV As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. (2) For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (11) We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. (12) We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. (13) As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.