Matthew 5:44-45Unrecognized Grace Unrecognized Grace

“The Lord is good.”

“The Lord is good all the time.”

“But I say to you, love your enemies, and

pray for those who persecute you in order

that you may be sons of your Father who

is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise

on the evil and the good, and sends rain

on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

for

Matthew 5:44-45

“For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45b).

An explanation.

Why? •Provide a deeper understanding

•Draw us closer

The Lord really wants us to understand.

The Lord really wants us to understand.

Why Explain Things?

“For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45b).

A Link

God-caused

God Causality

sun to rise

rain to fall

“For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45b).

God’s grace

Grace Revealed

righteous unrighteous

wickedgood

Grace Defined

• Unearned, undeserved, and absolutely

necessary favor from God, that can

empower and motivate us to live a

transformed life for God.

- Hugo Cheng

“For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mat 5:45b).

For

Three Elements

(1) Exerts His sovereign power

(2) Brings things people need and like

(3) Delivers to everyone everywhere

Two Kinds of Grace

(1) God’s common grace (a, b, c)

(2) God’s special grace (a, b)(a) Exerts God’s sovereign

powerBrings things people

need and likeDelivers to

everyone everywhere

(a) Exerts God’s sovereign

powerBrings things people

need and likeDelivers to

everyone everywhere• Special grace brings favor to a targeted group of recipients.

God’s Special Grace

• Special grace brings favor to a targeted group of recipients.

“‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ‘In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.” (Jer 33:14-15).

Undeserving Grace

Always undeservingAlways undeserving

God’s common grace

God’s special grace

Grace is Undeserved Kindness“For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mat 5:45b).

(1) Jesus does mention the evil and unrighteous (same)

(2) But nullifies it by mentioning the righteous (whom we think deserve God’s favor)

(3) But more significantly, we conclude that nobody deserves this kind treatment (has nothing to do with our character)

righteous unrighteous

Common Grace as a Filter of Love

• God’s general love is seen in His common grace

• We can systematically disperse our doubts by regularly observing His common grace

• Learn from His favor that He cares for you

What about God’s Judgment?

• God will judge

• But His grace comes before judgment

• To call us to seek Him us

God’s Grace

God’s Judgme

nt

2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as

some count slowness, but is patient toward

you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to

come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

“Not wishing for any to perish.”

But this period is temporarytemporary.

Misinterpretations of God’s Love

• Possible that because of God’s patience, we think judgment is put off forever.

• Or that we think there is no thing as God or judgment.

• Or that we keep putting off repentance with hope His love overlooks our sin

God’s common grace encourages us to come to Him, not to use Him.

Summary of Good Works Befitting God

• Never begrudge kind treatment to the wicked and not so wicked (God’s 24/7 example).

• During time of common grace, it is urgent that we preach the gospel. Social works is not enough.

• We must not treat evil as good. Evil is evil. We must hate evil but be gracious as our Father in heaven.

• Better appreciate God’s common grace (see below).

• Never begrudge kind treatment to the wicked and not so wicked (God’s 24/7 example).

• During time of common grace, it is urgent that we preach the gospel. Social works is not enough.

• We must not treat evil as good. Evil is evil. We must hate evil but be gracious as our Father in heaven.

• Better appreciate God’s common grace (see below).

Examples of Common Grace

• Consistency in physical properties of earth

• Digging Deep into the Earth

• Ability to replicate

• Nutrition anyone?

• Needed protection

• Fathers, mothers, families

God’s grace is seen in ways that go far

beyond the sun and rain. Our hearts are

to be deeply impacted by God’s measures of grace

which are waiting to be discovered by

you.

God’s grace is seen in ways that go far

beyond the sun and rain. Our hearts are

to be deeply impacted by God’s measures of grace

which are waiting to be discovered by

you.

God’s Common Grace Calls us to Come

• Put your doubts about God’s care away

• Like my Dad

• God is coaxing us closer

Dangers of Rejecting God’s Grace

• Dulled to Him by not associating (linking) His common grace with the things that we enjoy in in nature or the hi-tech world.

• We are apt to think this world can exist or be okay with God. Miss out double fold.

Power of God’s Common Grace• Seek to unfold at least one mystery of

God’s common grace each day.

• Consistently treat people nicely, even the mean, stubborn people (parent? child? colleague? etc.).

• Draw closer to God.

• Delight in being more like God through imitating His ways.

Matthew 5:44-45Common Grace Common Grace