Sermon notes for my recent teaching on God’s Great Mercy.

When we look at the world today and think of God, oftentimes we may question, “Where is God’s mercy when there is such evil in the world, such suffering in the world around us?”

If He is a merciful God, then why does He allow evil to continue, and good people to suffer, and not do something to end it?

Today I hope to enlighten and encourage us through God’s Word and teaching on His Merciful Nature so that we can be encouraged to be thankful for His mercy.

I. Understanding God’s Mercy

“When God calls us to love our enemies, He only calls us to follow His own example”

• Augustus Hopkins Strong, Systematic Theology (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1907), 289.

To understand God’s mercy, we must understand our standing before Him.

We were enemies:

• Romans 5:10 (ESV)
• 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

• Colossians 1:21 (ESV)
• 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

We are creatures in need of His grace, as we discussed last week, and we need Him to show us mercy for our wayward ways.

Grace vs. Mercy

Grace – Unmerited favor. It is a gift He decides to give to us freely by His own desire.

Mercy

Strong defines mercy as “that eternal principle of God’s nature which leads him to seek the temporal good and eternal salvation of those who have opposed themselves to his will, even at the cost of infinite self-sacrifice.”

• Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity: Prolegomena and the Doctrines of Scripture, God, and Angels, vol. 1 (Allen Park, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2009), 266–267.

Hebrew OT – Racham – a word expressing a deep and tender feeling of compassion and pity.

Greek NT – Oiktirmos and Eleos

The Hebrew and Greek words both speak of this character in God to be compassionate towards us. It is from His heart that He is a compassionate God.

We are those who have opposed ourselves, by our nature, to His will. This is our sin nature.

II. An Illustration of God’s Mercy in the Bible

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

Luke 15:11–32 (ESV)

III. The Compassionate Nature of God

Like the Prodigal son, we have all sinned against God.

We’ve went our wayward way, taking His gifts for granted. YOLO

Thankfully God is a God of Mercy.

God’s character of compassion and mercy:

• Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Fear of “going too far.” – Never cease, are new every morning.

• Psalm 103:8: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

Fear of angering God – slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

IV. A Thankful Heart for God’s Compassion

Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Have you experienced God’s mercy? 

If you’ve received mercy then you should show mercy.

His mercy changes us, and it should inspire us to be a people of mercy.

Compassion

Kindness

Goodwill

Doesn’t this describe Jesus?

How often do we read in the scriptures, “He had compassion for them?”

The Father’s Mercy

Look at the father in the parable.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

Maybe you’ve walked away from the faith before. 

Maybe you feel as though there isn’t another chance for you.

He’s waiting, waiting on you to turn back to Him.

V. Responding with Thanksgiving

What about he brother in the parable?

“But he was angry and refused to go in.”

• Romans 9:15: “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'”

It is in His nature to show mercy, but as the Righteous Judge, He decides who to show mercy to.

Just like His grace, His mercy is a gift that He decides upon who to give it to.

It is because of His love for you that He has shown you mercy.

If you are thankful for the mercy He has shown you, then you should also be thankful for those others He has decided to show mercy to.

Hoow you can extend mercy and compassion to others?

Conclusion:

The bible is full of stories of God’s mercy upon His people and His offer of mercy to you and I.

Remember His mercy is everlasting. He always welcomes the repentant sinner.

It’s in His character to forgive, to give us not what we deserve, but what is in His nature, His Love, Grace, and Mercy.

My hope and prayer is that we learn from His example, as New Creations, created in His image, we too build upon the character He has created us to be and be more compassionate to those around us.

This is how we thank God for the Gift of Mercy He has given us.