IT BEGAN WITH MERCY

This year Pastor Chris will be guiding us on a journey with a sermon series entitled “The Grand Story of Scripture”; subtitled: “I Love it When a Plan Comes Together”. If we want to fully understand how we get to the outcome in Revelation, we must start with creation and follow God’s finger as He traces the path through the Old & New Testament. It is important to see how the different stories and prophecies in the Bible connect to lead us to a fuller knowledge of who He is and His unquenchable desire to bring us home to heaven.

It is the same with understanding the components of salvation. We need to start at the beginning and grasp the concept of mercy before we can fully understand grace, faith, and works, the components of salvation.

There is a belief among many that the Old Testament is about a vengeful God who shows no mercy nor grace and that the New Testament represents Jesus as a merciful, gracious Savior. I would submit to you that the belief that the God of the Old Testament is more vengeful than merciful, is far from accurate.

God’s mercy was shown before the foundation of the earth was laid.  “God in His great mercy bore long with Lucifer. He was not immediately degraded from his exalted station when he first indulged the spirit of discontent, nor even when he began to present his false claims before the loyal angels.”  Ellen G White, The Great Controversy, page 495.

And David, whom Steven described as a man who understood God’s heart (Acts 13:22), wrote in Psalms 145:8-9 “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.”

How is God showing you His mercy this week?

Blessings,

Tom McSherry