Napoleon was once asked to pardon a woman's son. He responded that the boy had committed an offense and that justice must be served. The woman's son would die.
"But I don't ask for justice," the mother cried. "I beg for mercy."
"Your son doesn't deserve mercy," Napoleon responded.
"Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and I ask for mercy."
"Well, then," the emperor said, "I will give mercy." And he spared the woman's son.
"Saved by Mercy" is the title of today's study. So, let's see what the Bible says about God's mercy:
Receive
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV).- We've been saved by what?
- How does that fit with mercy?
- Why does God have mercy on His children?
- What does God's mercy mean to you?
Reflect
Understanding how you are saved by mercy means grasping what it is to be completely and totally forgiven of all your sins--past and present and future. It also means that we will hear God pronounce the following verdict:"T here is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, NKJV).
Check out these Scriptures to understand more about the breadth and depth of saving mercy.
"As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12, NASB).
Did you ever wonder why the Bible does not say "as far as the north is from the south?" Because if you go south at one point you will cross the South Pole and then you will be heading north. North and south meet at the poles. But if you go east, you can travel for a million billion years, and you will never touch west.
"And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins" (Jeremiah 31:34, NLT).
If all your sins and transgressions have been separated as far as the east is from the west, if God remembers them no more, then you have been saved by mercy and your sins are gone, gone, gone--completely, totally and forever. Now, that's the richness of God's mercy in Christ!
Respond
Read the following description of "saved by mercy" and let it guide your heart in expressing your gratitude, praise and awe to your Savior and God."He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth" (Psalm 103:10-11 NLT).
Back To the Bible
David McGee
My Comments: There isn't anything I could offer that would add to what Pastor McGee has pointed out. I would only encourage all who have never taken a look at the saving grace of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, that they would read the stories and comments of Jesus Himself. Start with John the read the whole New Testament then when you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior go to the Old Testament and seek Him in the full word of God because friends He is through out the whole word of God!
After one has received the righteousness and covering of Jesus then we do things to build up our treasures in heaven because treasures here mean noting but treasures in heaven are forever. Not that we can do anything to be anymore saved yet we can lay up treasures in heaven and they are not like what we would think of as treasures here. We find great joy in doing things for others not because of the treasures in heaven but because we become more and more like Jesus and He was about helping others. And is about helping others so the more we become like Him the more we like helping others. Especially helping others to know Jesus so they will be saved as well. It is not a gift we hide but a gift we share so more and more come to the saving grace of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ the Son of God. If we had not accepted His saving grace we would have chosen hell. That is what it means to not accept His generous loving offer of life eternal.
Often I hear people say, "My relative went to heaven." I say were they Christs? "No." they say. Then that person has chosen to go to hell because they rejected the one who went to the Cross so they might live forever. I find this very sad. there are many who do not understand. Do you? I hope so. I hope all who read this blog will turn to Jesus and ask forgiveness of their sin and accept His saving grace. He has paid the penalty but it is not ours unless we accept it. So easy yet so many are not going to heaven because they do not do it.
Abba, I thank you for Your gift of Your Son Jesus and His sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus, I thank You for Your gift of dieing on the Cross and becoming sin for me. Holy Spirit thank You for giving me understanding and teaching truths, wisdom and discernment. Abba Father make me more like Jesus everyday and help me to understand Your word more fully and especially as it pertains to the Lord Jesus and His coming. Help all who come to this blog to know and understand their need for Your Son Jesus' sacrifice and help them to accept His sacrifice for their sin. In Jesus Name, Amen
Rebishka
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