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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Is mercy without limits?



Interesting question isn't it?  Is mercy without limits?  As I was pondering that question I wondered, what exactly is mercy?  Is salvation mercy?  I don't think so.  Let me try to explain the difference as I see it off the top of my head.  Then we will look at a definition of mercy. 

Salvation is the final fulfillment of the law so I would say it isn't mercy although I could just as easily argue that it is.  What I mean by "salvation is the fulfillment of the law" is that the reason that Jesus had to die on the cross was that blood had to be shed for the forgiveness of sins as required by the law. 

So theoretically in the old days you could have confessed your sins, offered up the blood offering to have your sins forgiven, died right away before you could sin again, and you would be good to go.  Theoretically.  :)

Mercy on the other hand to me is God just flat out saying "I'm going to cut you a break and overlook that one."  Make sense?  So now let's look at a dictionary definition.

mercy
  • n.noun
    1. Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency.
    2. A disposition to be kind and forgiving.
      a heart full of
      mercy.
    3. Something for which to be thankful; a blessing.
      It was a
      mercy that no one was hurt.
    4. Alleviation of distress; relief.
      Taking in the refugees was an act of
      mercy.


OK, that was helpful.  Now what does the Bible define mercy as?  I did a search and found that the word mercy is used 269 times in the Bible.  Unfortunately I'll have to save that question for another time.  Therefore I need to do some more study to find out exactly what the Bible means by mercy.

However back to the original question.  Is mercy without limits?

Isaiah 9:13-17(NKJV)
13    For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them,      Nor do they seek the Lord of hosts.
14    Therefore the Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel,     Palm branch and bulrush in one day.
15    The elder and honorable, he is the head;     The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.
16    For the leaders of this people cause them to err,     And those who are led by them are destroyed.
17    Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men,     Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows;     For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer,     And every mouth speaks folly.      For all this His anger is not turned away,     But His hand is stretched out still.

In this verse the Bible specifically tells us that in this situation here are a couple of groups (the fatherless and the widows) that God has singled out and said that He will not have mercy on.  From that I think it is safe to conclude that there are limits to mercy. 

Of course one of the benefits of accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior as many of us have done is that you don't have to depend on God's mercy, you get God's promise instead.

Which would you rather gamble eternal life on, mercy or a promise?  I'll take God's promise any day.  How do you get God's promise? 

Simple!  Ask Jesus to come into your life and lead you.  Have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

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