June 1, 2017
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS GOD OFFERS TO US? REDEMPTION, GRACE, MERCY, HEALING, AND FORGIVENESS!
Psalm 103
Stacy Thorpe
Central Truth
God, being filled with mercy and grace, has forgiven us from ALL of our iniquity. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, He has removed our sins.
Key Verse | Psalm 103:12
[A]s far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103:12)
Psalm 103
Bless the LORD, O My Soul
Of David.
1
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14
For he knows our frame;
1
103:14
Or knows how we are formed
he remembers that we are dust.
15
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children,
18
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20
Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21
Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22
Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Dive Deeper | Psalm 103
Who is God? He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, a redeemer, a healer, and a forgiver. Psalm 103 is a song praising the Lord for everything that He is and everything that He offers us. Starting in verse 3, David begins listing benefits we receive from God. There is one benefit that I will never be able to fully comprehend the magnitude of what it cost. Which one is it? Forgiveness.
There are days when I can easily forget that though the price of my sin is death, God paid the cost in full because of His abounding love (Romans 6:23). God loved us in the most extreme and greatest way He could: by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross to pay for all of our sins. In doing that, He forgave and cleansed us once and for all.
When I first heard about Jesus and His grace, I thought it was too good to be true. It was hard to believe that someone would die for all the horrible things I’ve done (Romans 5:8). Promiscuity, drunkenness, hatred, and anger were my identity. Was His grace really enough to cover my brokenness? Could God really forgive and heal me?
ABSOLUTELY! YES!
Verse 12 promises that He removes our transgressions "as far as the east is from the west." Jesus removed my sins, giving me a new life. My identity is no longer a selfish, angry, promiscuous drunk. Rather, now my identity is living forgiven and free as a daughter of the King, who has removed all of my sins. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” There isn’t a sin in your past, present, or future for which Christ hasn’t already forgiven you. If He can forgive a story like mine, He will forgive whatever it is you believe is unforgivable. Will you come find rest in His mercy and grace? Do you trust Him?
I’m praying that you would.
Discussion Questions
1. What is your favorite character trait about God? Or what “benefit” that God offers are you extra grateful for?
2. Was there a benefit listed in Psalm 103 that you find hard to believe sometimes? Do you know what could be triggering that doubt?
3. Is there something that you’ve done, or that’s been done to you, that you have believed is too great for God to forgive? What are your thoughts after reading the promise that God completely removes our sin from us?
4. Have you trusted in God’s free gift of grace and forgiveness of sins through Jesus? If not, what’s holding you back?