The Promises of Grace

Living in the Grip of God’s Love

Bryan Chapell

© 1992, 2001 by Bryan Chapell

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-3160-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Names of individuals and occasional specifics are changed in some personal accounts appearing in this book to respect the concerns and wishes of those involved. My debt is great to those who have taught me the gospel of grace with the testimony of their lives.

Contents

Introduction: The Promises of Grace

Part 1 Calming Storms

1. No Condemnation

2. Grace Whispers Peace

Part 2 Spirit Signs

3. Dance of Joy

4. Power in Prayer

Part 3 God’s Grace

5. The Increase of Grace

6. The Mystery of Grace

7. The Perseverance of Grace

8. The Purposes of Perseverance

Part 4 Jesus’ Love

9. The Best Promise

10. The Greatest Love

11. Snapshots of Mercy

For Small Groups or Sunday Schools

Introduction

The Promises of Grace

“Come See Live Pheasant!” “Come Pet Baby Pigs!” “Come See Live Buffalo!” The series of billboards beckoned us to veer off the highway to get our gas and a meal at “Cowboy Bob’s Circus of Fun.”

Somehow Cowboy Bob seemed to know that it would take more than cheap gasoline prices and a hamburger to get vacationers off the interstate. So, as we neared his exit, each billboard made bigger and more exotic promises. Not only could we pet baby pigs, but soon, we learned, we could “Feed Live Rattlesnakes” (we hoped not with the baby pigs). But the best attractions were yet to come. “Come see the five-legged cow,” the next billboard advertised. And if that were not tantalizing enough, then the “six-legged steer” touted on the next sign was sure to allure. Yet to come, however, was the promise of all promises—the biggest and best, saved for last. Lest we even think about driving by Cowboy Bob’s without a visit, the final billboard promised we could see “The World’s Largest Armadillo.” Who could resist a promise like that?

Promises have power. It is the reason we want to use them. Promises have the power to persuade, to assure, and to attract. Promises have so much power that we are tempted to use bigger and better promises to manipulate others. As a result, promises tend to get out of hand. A rundown store in central Kansas attracts customers with billboard ...