8. Goodness and mercy  God is good to those who do not deserve his goodness. This undeserved goodness is also called his mercy or his kindness towards us.  Jesus told a story similar to this one to show how great God’s goodness is towards us even though we deserve his punishment.

9.  The story is found in Luke 15:11-32  When Jesus told the story there were two sorts of people listening. ‘Tax collectors and sinners’ – these were the hopeless cases spiritually… but Jesus taught that he had come to rescue people like them! ‘Pharisees and scribes’ – these were the people who knew that they were the best of the best spiritually… but Jesus taught them that they needed rescuing as much as the tax collectors and sinners.

10.  The place where God’s goodness is seen most clearly is the place where Jesus was crucified. ‘God demonstrates his love towards us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his son.’ Romans 5:8,10

11.  God welcomes us back to himself because of all that Jesus has done

12.  Whoever we are and whatever our background, without Jesus we are spiritually lost.  Whether we are deeply religious or hopeless sinners- we all need rescuing by him we all need the new life that only he can give  Have you turned to God in your need and put your hope in his goodness and mercy?