Relying on God's Grace

Lent: Relying on God's Grace

1. We need our Savior’s ___________________.

Certainly, I was guilty when I was born. I was sinful when my mother conceived me. (Ps 51:5)

If you aren’t reminded every _______ that you’re ___________ with sin, you will easily _____________ how much _______ need your Savior’s cleansing.

⁷ Teach them diligently to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as a sign on your wrists, and they will serve as symbols on your forehead. ⁹ Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. (Dt 6:7–9)

Large Catechism: It is so we might have our eyes constantly fixed on them. We should have them always in our memory. Then we might do them in all our actions and ways. Then everyone may make them his daily exercise in all cases, in every business and transaction, as though they were written in every place wherever he would look, indeed, wherever he walks or stands. (LC I 331–32)

Whoever belongs to God listens to what God says. (Jn 8:47a)

²² Be people who do what the word says, not people who only hear it. Such people are deceiving themselves. ²³ In fact, if anyone hears the word and does not do what it says, he is like a man who carefully looks at his own natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ Indeed, he carefully looks at himself; then, he goes away and immediately forgets what he looked like. (Jas 1:22–24)

¹⁶ These are six things the Lord hates, seven things that really disgust him: ¹⁷ arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run quickly to do evil, ¹⁹ a false witness who breathes lies, and a person who spreads conflict between brothers. (Pr 6:16–19)

Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mt 10:28)

2. In Christ ___________, God ________________ us.

Remove my sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Ps 51:7)

The translation of אֵזוֹב (ʾā·zôv) as “hyssop” derives from the Septuagint. It may not be correct. The Old Testament hyssop seems to have been a paint-brush-like plant used to brush on or sprinkle blood. Caperbush or varieties of marjoram have been suggested as the Old Testament hyssop. The hyssop referred to in John 19:29 seem to have been a different plant, a sorghum-like stalk. Matthew 27:48 calls this plant a reed.

⁴ the priest shall command that two clean wild birds, some cedar wood, some scarlet yarn, and some hyssop be taken for the person who is being purified. ⁵ The priest shall command that one bird be slaughtered in an earthen pot over water from a flowing source. ⁶ After taking the live bird, along with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn, and the hyssop, he shall dip them, along with the live bird, into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the water from a flowing source.  ⁷ He shall sprinkle the blood seven times on the person who is being purified from the skin disease. When he has declared him clean, he shall release the live bird into the open country. (Le 14:4–7)

NEC Study Bible: Both the reddish color of cedar wood and the crimson colored fabric seem to correspond to the color of blood and may, therefore, symbolize either “life,” which is in the blood, or the use of blood to “make atonement” (see, e.g., Gen 9:4 and Lev 17:11).

The blood ___________________ on the individual identified him once again as a _____________ of the community of God’s people and symbolized his ________________________ to fellowship.

the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn 1:7)

EHV Study Bible: This psalm is one of the most important of all psalms. This psalm rises above the surrounding psalms, which focus on the sufferings and triumphs of David, to give us a graphic picture of the suffering and triumph of the Messiah. Only Isaiah 53 equals this psalm as an Old Testament description of the Savior’s suffering.

After these things I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing in front of the throne and of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. (Re 7:9)

Points to Ponder

1. What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
2. How will obeying the Third Commandment strengthen your relationship with God and with others?
3. Why do you think God included the command against bearing false witness in the Ten Commandments? How does truthfulness relate to our relationship with God and others?
4. Where do you feel most tempted to shade the truth or present yourself differently than reality? How might bringing this to God for cleansing help?
5. How does understanding God's willingness to forgive and cleanse us affect our approach to confession and repentance?
6. What is one step you can take to apply today’s message in your life?

Homework: Psalm 51