A Heart of Mercy
A Heart of Mercy
There is a big difference between “being” and “becoming”. If you will allow me to wax philosophically for a moment, according to the Greek philosopher, Plato, “becoming” means constant change. “Being” means never changing in any way. This is important because the word “being” was used by the Apostle Paul who wrote a letter in Greek to the ancient Greek city of Ephesus.
In Ephesians chapter 2, Paul described our condition spiritually as dead. We were dead because of our trespasses and sin. Sin doesn’t wound us or confuse us or simply make us sick. Sin kills us. We walked in the world’s ways and followed Satan and we are dead. There are no degrees of death. Dead is dead. There is no such thing as a little sin. Nothing separates the “good moral” people from the “bad moral” people. Even if you are a good moral person, you are a good moral corpse. In this dead state, we are helpless.
Then Paul said in verse 4, “But God, being rich in mercy…” raised us from the dead and seated us with Christ Jesus in the heavenly places. He sent Jesus to pay for our sins. Then, when Jesus died, God raised Him and in doing so, He raises all who repent and believe. Paul didn’t say that God was “becoming” rich in mercy; he said, “being rich in mercy”. His mercy is never changing in any way. God is wealthy in mercy, but His wealth never decreases. God’s mercy is like a fountain that never runs dry; it is never exhausted because it is who He is. It is God’s very heart.
This means that He pours out His endless supply of mercy on all who believe no matter how bad their sin. The absolutely worst sinner imaginable can be saved because he is no different than the best moral person because both are dead. God does not pour out His mercy on different states of sinfulness because we are all equally dead. He pours out His mercy on dead people. Therefore, anyone who will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved!
That is really good news! His mercy never runs out and is never changing in any way. This means that when we squander God’s mercy, He pours out more. He lavishes it on us. God is not some stingy billionaire miser sitting on His riches. He floods us with it. Your soul becomes a reservoir of God’s mercy and He is constantly filling you when you come to Him. This means that your deepest darkest sin is not a problem for God. He is rich in mercy. Your most haunting shame is not an issue for God. He is rich in mercy. It is His heart and it never changes.
These are your Words for Wednesday.
We had a great time of prayer and worship this past Sunday evening with the good folks at Pleasant Grove! This coming Sunday we will be back in the book of Ephesians in chapter 6. Please take the time to read it this week and prepare for worship this Sunday morning at Ballentine Elementary School at 10:45. Have a great rest of your week!
In Christ,
Kevin
There is a big difference between “being” and “becoming”. If you will allow me to wax philosophically for a moment, according to the Greek philosopher, Plato, “becoming” means constant change. “Being” means never changing in any way. This is important because the word “being” was used by the Apostle Paul who wrote a letter in Greek to the ancient Greek city of Ephesus.
In Ephesians chapter 2, Paul described our condition spiritually as dead. We were dead because of our trespasses and sin. Sin doesn’t wound us or confuse us or simply make us sick. Sin kills us. We walked in the world’s ways and followed Satan and we are dead. There are no degrees of death. Dead is dead. There is no such thing as a little sin. Nothing separates the “good moral” people from the “bad moral” people. Even if you are a good moral person, you are a good moral corpse. In this dead state, we are helpless.
Then Paul said in verse 4, “But God, being rich in mercy…” raised us from the dead and seated us with Christ Jesus in the heavenly places. He sent Jesus to pay for our sins. Then, when Jesus died, God raised Him and in doing so, He raises all who repent and believe. Paul didn’t say that God was “becoming” rich in mercy; he said, “being rich in mercy”. His mercy is never changing in any way. God is wealthy in mercy, but His wealth never decreases. God’s mercy is like a fountain that never runs dry; it is never exhausted because it is who He is. It is God’s very heart.
This means that He pours out His endless supply of mercy on all who believe no matter how bad their sin. The absolutely worst sinner imaginable can be saved because he is no different than the best moral person because both are dead. God does not pour out His mercy on different states of sinfulness because we are all equally dead. He pours out His mercy on dead people. Therefore, anyone who will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved!
That is really good news! His mercy never runs out and is never changing in any way. This means that when we squander God’s mercy, He pours out more. He lavishes it on us. God is not some stingy billionaire miser sitting on His riches. He floods us with it. Your soul becomes a reservoir of God’s mercy and He is constantly filling you when you come to Him. This means that your deepest darkest sin is not a problem for God. He is rich in mercy. Your most haunting shame is not an issue for God. He is rich in mercy. It is His heart and it never changes.
These are your Words for Wednesday.
We had a great time of prayer and worship this past Sunday evening with the good folks at Pleasant Grove! This coming Sunday we will be back in the book of Ephesians in chapter 6. Please take the time to read it this week and prepare for worship this Sunday morning at Ballentine Elementary School at 10:45. Have a great rest of your week!
In Christ,
Kevin
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