This week, we began a brand-new series called Counterfeit Jesus, where we are looking at false perceptions people have of Jesus and correcting incorrect perceptions of who Jesus is. The first incorrect perception that we are addressing today is the false belief that Jesus was only about grace, not truth. In our Bible study today, we are going to discover that Jesus is not just about grace or just about truth. He is all about both grace and truth, and never compromised one for the other.
In your own words, how would you define grace?
1. What is the danger of only focusing on grace and never focusing on truth? What is the danger of only focusing on truth without focusing on grace?
2. Read Galatians 6:7-8. How does this passage of Scripture reveal that Jesus is not only focused on grace, but also the truth? How are we to live based on the truth communicated in this passage of Scripture?
Galatians 6:7-8
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. Based on this passage of Scripture, why is meeting together so important for followers of Christ.
3. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-2. Why is love an essential character trait when it comes to interacting with others, especially when speaking the truth?
1 Corinthians 13:1-2
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
4. Read Luke 19:1-10. How did Jesus model both grace and truth in this interaction with Zacchaeus?
Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
1. Do you tend to focus primarily on grace or mostly on truth in your interactions with others?
2. What does it look like in our world today to model both grace and truth as we interact with those around us?
3. When it comes to modeling both grace and truth, which of these characteristics would you like to grow in? Why?
Now that you have shared which characteristic you would like to grow in, take a few moments to think about one way this week you can grow in that area. Maybe you can speak a hard truth you have been avoiding out of fear of hurting someone. Remember to speak that hard truth with grace and love! Maybe you can grow in showing grace by extending forgiveness and kindness to someone you have currently been judging. Whatever that looks like for you, share it with your group. When everyone has shared, pray. Ask God to help each one of you be people filled with both grace and truth.
Grace is a common word used in our vocabulary, but it can be difficult to define and understand. Let’s take a few moments to understand three things that Scripture teaches about God’s gift of grace to all who turn to Him.
Scripture makes it clear that God’s grace is a gift to each one of His people. It is a gift given to all who turn to Him and is given out of His love. When we understand that grace is a gift, we develop a greater appreciation and gratitude for His grace in our lives.
1. Read Ephesians 2:8.
Ephesians 2:8
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
2. What does this verse reveal about God’s grace?
3. What is the proper response to receiving a gift?
4. What is the proper response to receiving God’s gift of grace?
In a world where we try to earn everything, we may have a difficult time understanding grace because grace is not earned. It is freely given to us because of what Jesus did on the cross. Because of this, we can rest in God’s grace, knowing that we do not have to work to receive it.
1. Read Ephesians 2:9
Ephesians 2:9
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
2. What does this verse reveal about God’s gracious gift of salvation to us?
3. What is the danger in acting as if God’s grace can be earned when it comes to salvation?
4. How does the truth that we cannot earn God's grace impact you and how you can live your life?
Some people treat grace like a get-out-of-jail-free card. They live and do whatever they want, knowing that God’s grace is a free gift to His people. The truth is, grace does not give us a license to sin. In fact, grace is an invitation to turn from our own sinful nature and live for Christ in gratitude for the grace He has shown us.
1. Read Romans 6:1.
Romans 6:1
1Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?
2. Summarize Paul's teaching in this passage of Scripture.
3. Why is responding to God’s grace by sinning an affront to Him?
4. How does God’s grace call us to live, according to this passage of Scripture?
Which of the teachings about grace stood out to you and why? Share your answer to that question with your group. Commit to memorizing the verse that corresponds to that teaching about grace over the next week. As you memorize this verse, you will be reminding your heart of the great grace that God has shown you and reminded to respond to His grace with obedience and gratitude.
©2025 Sagebrush Church
