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Elements of Grace: God’s Grace is Extravagant

Pastor Scott Applegate

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them…”  2 Corinthians 5:19 NLT

  • Grace is the unmerited and un-earnable favor and forgiveness of God based upon the merits of Jesus Christ
  • Grace is God giving us the power to do what we could never do on our own

Extravagant: Exceeding the bounds of reason, as in actions, demands, and passions. Excessively high. Going beyond what is deserved or justifiable.

“Jesus did not give the parables to teach us how to live. He gave them, I believe, to correct our notions about who God is and who God loves.” Philip Yancey

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” … Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But 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. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 NIV

What does Jesus want us to learn from this story?

  1. He wants to change my concept of God
  • My concept of God has been shaped by my own experiences and cultural influences 
  • Jesus is describing God in a way that was new to His audience
  1. He wants to change how I relate to God
  • Two Sons: The Younger and The Older
  • Two Perspectives: Self-centered and Self-righteous
  • Two Approaches: Reckless and Religious
  • One Mistake: Neither of them wanted their father, they both wanted something from him
  1. He wants to change my view of grace
  • Mercy is treating someone better than they deserve
  • Grace is giving someone something they do not deserve
  • Is God’s extravagant grace amazing to me?