 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

 Good done to others who do not deserve it.

 The riches of God given to lost sinners.

 God’s riches at Christ’s expense.

 Unmerited favor

 Mercy = God sparing me the punishment I deserve, by punishing His own Son.

 Grace = God giving me the blessings only His Son deserves.

 How can I be a gracious person?

 Start here. 1 Peter 5:5  God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.  6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour  9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, brotherly affection with love.

7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and

 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, brotherly affection with love.

7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and

 Add to your faith  Doing Good  Faith + Virtue

 Add knowledge  Faith = Virtue = Knowledge

 Add Self Control  Fruit of the Spirit  Faith + Virtue + Knowledge + Self Control

 Steadfastness  Perseverance  Hang in there even when it gets really hard  Faith + Virtue + Knowledge + Self Control + Steadfastness

 Godliness  Christ formed in you  His glory transferred into my life  Faith + Virtue + Knowledge + Self Control + Steadfastness + Godliness

 Brotherly Kindness  Faith + Virtue + Knowledge + Self Control + Steadfastness + Godliness + Brotherly Kindness

 Love  The very essence of God flowing out of my life.

 Faith + Virtue + Knowledge + Self Control + Steadfastness + Godliness + Kindness + Love

 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.