Saturday, February 12, 2005
Defineing Mercy
MERCY — the aspect of God’s love that causes Him to help the miserable, just as grace is the aspect of His love that moves Him to forgive the guilty. Those who are miserable may be so either because of breaking God’s law or because of circumstances beyond their control.
God shows compassion toward those who have broken His law (Dan. 9:9; 1 Tim. 1:13, 16), although such mercy is selective, demonstrating that it is not deserved (Rom. 9:14–18). God’s mercy on the miserable extends beyond punishment that is withheld (Eph. 2:4–6). Withheld punishment keeps us from hell, but it does not get us into heaven. God’s mercy is greater than this.
God also shows mercy by actively helping those who are miserable due to circumstances beyond their control. We see this aspect of mercy especially in the life of our Lord Jesus. He healed blind men (Matt. 9:27–31; 20:29–34) and lepers (Luke 17:11–19). These acts of healing grew out of his attitude of compassion and mercy.
Finally, because God is merciful, He expects His children to be merciful (Matt. 5:7; James 1:27).
God shows compassion toward those who have broken His law (Dan. 9:9; 1 Tim. 1:13, 16), although such mercy is selective, demonstrating that it is not deserved (Rom. 9:14–18). God’s mercy on the miserable extends beyond punishment that is withheld (Eph. 2:4–6). Withheld punishment keeps us from hell, but it does not get us into heaven. God’s mercy is greater than this.
God also shows mercy by actively helping those who are miserable due to circumstances beyond their control. We see this aspect of mercy especially in the life of our Lord Jesus. He healed blind men (Matt. 9:27–31; 20:29–34) and lepers (Luke 17:11–19). These acts of healing grew out of his attitude of compassion and mercy.
Finally, because God is merciful, He expects His children to be merciful (Matt. 5:7; James 1:27).
