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Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement

The word Mercy is in the Bible primarily understood as an act of godly favor or compassion. In the obvious language this word means compassion shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power. It also mean a compassionate treatment of those in distress.

Let us look closer to the word mercy as is used in the New Testament.


Characteristics of God's Mercy

Firstly, "His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him."  (Luke 1:50)
Romans 9:16 clarifies  that receiving mercy from God does not depend on
human will or effort but it is a sovereign act of Him.
Mercy is a property of wisdom from above (James 3:17) that a person can receive. One can say, God is discretionary in the way He gives His wisdom. There are prerequisites to receive it: obedience, fear of the Lord and meekness.

Essential is the relationship and the balance between judgement and mercy in God's heart: "judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13) It is His mercy that keep us even today to suffer all the consequences of the judgements that God should apply to our sins.

It is important to consider mercy as we look to nations. God showed and shows mercy to both jews (Romans 11:30-32) and gentiles (Romans 15:9). But He will use mercy in the End Times to redeem the jews His holy nation from their disobedience. However due to their disobedience the gentiles received God's mercy so that the jews realize that He loves all the people and all the nations.

Jesus showed and taught about mercy

Jesus showed His mercy to different people that asked for. He showed His mercy by healing two blind men (Matthew 9:27) or the daughter of a canaanite woman (Matthew 15:22). In Luke 17:13 ten men with leprosy raised their voices  saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" All these examples encourage us to ask even today for His mercy for healing, restoration, comfort and much more. Jesus showed in a very concrete way how mercy can be expressed.

Because mercy was and is so crucial for Jesus he spoke about it his preachings. First He motivated us to be merciful for us will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7). Than Jesus thought us that the priority in the Kingdom is mercy before sacrifice. "For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:13) So He expects us to show mercy and act merciful toward the sinners so that they may be saved. Because mercy is such an important characteristic of God's nature Jesus asks us to be witnesses of the mercy of God:  "Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19)

Jesus warns all religious people as they showed that they only follow rules and rituals but forgot justice mercy and faith. (Matthew 23:23). This warning is valid today! This verse is an invitation to proof ourselves if we show mercy to the people around us.

The parable of the good samarithan (Luke 10) exemplifies how mercy can be shown to a person in need. Jesus speak to us as for 2000 years: "Go and do the same".

Mercy and You

Apostle Paul encourages you to not give up in your works and sanctification (2 Corinthians 4:1) due to the mercy you received.

You should have mercy on those who doubt (Jude 1:22). However you are warned to not becoming proud if you show mercy to others. Jude 1:23 states: "have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh." It means, showing mercy does not mean you agree with the sins of the others. It is important to not contaminate yourself as you show mercy to the others. You hate the sin but you are indulgent toward the person and encourage it to get rid of it.

Recapitulation

Let us summarize the essential things about mercy:

  • Is an act of godly favor or compassion
  • Is shown by God to those who fear Him
  • Receiving mercy does not depend on human will or effort
  • Is a property of the wisdom from above
  • It triumphs over judgement
  • Jesus thought us to show mercy to the people around us
  • We have to be witnesses of the mercy of God toward us
  • We must show mercy to those who doubt
  • Showing mercy should not lead us to be proud.

We live in a mercy season and God shows a lot of indulgence to us. Let us be merciful to the others, showing that we indeed are His children and act like Him.

I bless you all with this verse from Jude 1:2: "May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you." Amen!


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