3. Sometimes people get so upset with people who do them wrong. They may say that they deserve eternal punishment for what they have done or hope they spend time in hell in eternity for what they have done. It is because they are so angry with those who have offended them. However, divine mercy is not giving to another in what they deserve. Mercy is never what we deserve, because we deserve God's punishment for our sins. There is no doubt that sinners merit hell but do not merit heaven. Jesus has taken this divine punishment upon Himself alone and atoned for the sins of God's people in their behalf. Mercy is God's divine grace for God's people. We ought to put the needs of others above ourselves. We ought to uplift others more than ourselves. It may come as a personal expanse but we are to be merciful to those who have wronged and offended us. God remembers mercy when He judges. If we are shown mercy on "this" or "that" particular wrongdoing that we have done to another person, shouldn't we show mercy to those who have wronged us in the same way? If we don't show mercy God may judge us most severely. We are to forgive people that beg for our forgiveness. It is possible to forgive unilaterally without their repentance. This is probably the most gracious thing we can do as mere sinners. We ought to think on the nature of God regarding His mercy. The nature of man is not merciful but spiteful and hateful. God's knowledge is ultimate but our knowledge is limited. Philippians 1:9 says that love indeed increases with knowledge. God's character about His mercy refreshes us and encourages us through His written Word. His Word preached increases our love for Him as mere fallible sinners. We ought to examine the mercy of God. The Cross is a awesome display of God's mercy in behalf of sinners.
4. The nature of God's mercy is to His people. Sometimes God shows mercy to people touching providential benevolence in the display of God's manifestation of His preordained plan. God's mercy is something that is ready to help relieve the sinful and great misery of God's abominable creatures. God's mercy is God's absolute goodness to those in spiritual sin, wrath, hell-bound misery and conflict. The Bible is filled with verses that display God's absolute mercy as our holy Creator. God is gracious and merciful. He is slow to wrath and great in lovingkindnesses. The God of the Bible is good to all people from every corner of the earth. The mercies of God are over all of God's works. The New Testament in 1 Peter 1:3 describes God's character in His mercy as great. His mercy in the Old Testament is described as abundant, tender and everlasting. God has shown mercy to His people that are sinners who blaspheme His mighty name and profoundly despise Him by their corrupted flesh and nature! The mercy of God is His dominant attribute. 2 Corinthians 1:3 describes God as the Father of Mercies. Many people see God the Father as hating sinners that He would provide no sure way of spiritual escape. However, this is not the God of the Bible. Rather the God of the Bible designed that God's dear Son be sent to earth to earn salvation for His people in His perfect life because no mere man could keep the law of God perfectly, and to die for the sins of God's people in their place a most excruciating death! The mercy of God is displayed in Jesus Christ. Those who reject the Cross do not understand the necessity of the mercy of God in His character. The Father designed the redemptive plan as the Son appeasing the Father by His all-sufficient sacrifice! The redemptive mercy of God is through Jesus Christ alone. Only the God-man could endure the wrath of God. No mere sinner could endure God's wrath to obtain His mercy for mere sinners. The Father destroys both soul and body in eternal hell. Hell was placed upon Jesus at His Cross. That is, He crushed His divine Son that we might not be crushed. He endured hell so we might not endure hell. That is, He provides us with super-hyper-abundant mercy in Christ alone. We cannot add our agonizing tears to the Cross. We cannot add our good works to the Cross. We cannot add "religious activity" to the Cross. We cannot literally "buy" God's mercy, because Jesus purchased God's people at His awesome Cross. If you want the mercy of God, look to the Cross with empty hands of faith! The Cross is the treasure of treasures and the riches of riches! There was no greater act of mercy than the Cross.
This blog web site is for the in-depth, sound and basic exegetical study of the Bible in Reformed apologetics; that is, I shall expound upon the inerrant and infallible Word of God, the Holy Scriptures. There shall be biblical studies in world religions and non-Christian cults. I also quote and research reformed writers and I am happy to study from them. May the Lord bless everyone who reads this blog with spiritual riches in Christ which is His imputed merit by faith alone.
