Mercy

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Every time someone diminishes the requirements of God, they unwittingly lessen God’s mercy. If they remove a commandment, it’s one less thing God can forgive because they have in their conscience removed that possibility. Telling people that they can live as they please since we are under grace is like saying, “Do what you want God will let you off the hook.” By following this advice, they are removing their own ability to receive His mercy.

Look at God’s description of Himself to His faithful servant, Moses.

Exodus 34:5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”

He will never clear the guilty because it would lessen His mercy. He holds those accountable who are guilty but then has mercy on them when they come to Him for help. This is why His law is as unchangeable as He is.

Take this to the ultimate end; let’s say God just decided to set His law aside. There’d be no law to break, no sin, no sense of guilt, no need for a savior and no way for God to forgive or show mercy. Carnal man would remain the same as he’d have no need of a savior. Praise God He is not like that! Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

We have a loving, just, righteous and merciful God and Savior who are in love with us, but will not let us be deceived. There’s no need to keep the law to gain favor, after all, that is vain, but there is a need to understand God’s mercy. Think this through and see if it doesn’t revive your spirit.

Norman

[Gail]

Thanks for this thought, Norman!

[Robert]

-BC- PK

-TI- Prophets and Kings

-CN- 47

-CT- Joshua and the Angel

-PR- 02

-PG- 588

The tempter stands by to accuse them, as he stood by to resist Joshua. He points to their filthy garments, their defective characters. He presents their weakness and folly, their sins of ingratitude, their unlikeness to Christ, which has dishonored their Redeemer. He endeavors to affright [scare] them with the thought that their case is hopeless, that the stain of their defilement will never be washed away. He hopes so to destroy their faith that they will yield to his temptations, and turn from their allegiance to God.

Satan has an accurate knowledge of the sins that he has tempted God's people to commit, and he urges his accusations against them, declaring, that by their sins they have forfeited divine protection, and claiming that he has the right to destroy them. He pronounces them just as deserving as himself of exclusion from the favor of God. "Are these," he says, "the people who are to take my place in heaven, and the place of the angels who united with me? They profess to obey the law of God; but have they kept its precepts? Have they not been lovers of self more than lovers of God? Have they not placed their own interests above His service? Have they not loved the things of the world? Look at the sins that have marked their lives. Behold their selfishness, their malice, their hatred of one another. Will God banish me and my angels from His presence, and yet reward those who have been guilty of the same sins? Thou canst not do this, O Lord, in justice. Justice demands that sentence be pronounced against them."

But while the followers of Christ have sinned, they have not given themselves up to be controlled by the satanic agencies [i.e., they haven’t given themselves totally over to the flesh, to live according to it]. They have repented of their sins and have sought the Lord in humility and contrition, and the divine Advocate pleads in their behalf. He who has been most abused by their ingratitude, who knows their sin and also their penitence, declares: "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan. I gave My life for these souls. They are graven upon the palms of My hands [that’s the “in Christ” motif]. They may have imperfections of character; they may have failed in their endeavors; but they have repented, and I have forgiven and accepted them."

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Rob, long time no see,

Quote:

They may have imperfections of character; they may have failed in their endeavors; but they have repented, and I have forgiven and accepted them."

This is a good quote and shows the mercy of God while not lessening His requirement thereby lessening His mercy. In other words He doesn't just say, "that's ok don't worry about it, I'll let you go" The law remains but Christ's sacrifice and God's mercy step in, for the repenting ones. Their/our repentance in this case does not earn them/us acceptance and forgiveness, but it reveals that they/we have seen and believed the justice, love and mercy of God. They/we know His character, they/we know Him and cannot be deceived by Satan about this. Therefore they/we trust and love God. Our faith in His goodness promts us to ask for forgiveness. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Norman