The Mercy of God Titus 3:5 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
In this lesson, we will expound on the mercy of God. God is merciful to save us from our sins. But God wasn’t merciful with us so that we would go on living in our sin. His mercy is not some religious concept of sinning all week against our merciful God and then squaring up with him in a confessional; doing a little penance only to continue the same scenario week after week.
We saw this kind of conduct with Israel. Israel sinned against God and he was merciful with them repeatedly [Neh 9:16-31]. This is because he has a covenant with Israel to not consume them as a nation [Mal 3:6]. His intention was for them to fear him, to follow him, to love him, to serve him, and to obey him [Deut 10:12-13]. For their obedience, God promised to bless them beyond measure [Deut 28:1-15]. And yet they have continued to sin against him. And he continues to chasten them, yet, be merciful to them. The trouble they will endure in the Tribulation will be worse than anything men have ever seen. And still God will have mercy upon them when Jesus returns because he is faithful to his covenant with them.
When David sinned with Bathsheba, he looked to God for mercy and repented of his sin [Ps 51]. God granted him, what Paul referred to as, “the sure mercies of David,” [Acts 13:34]. Do you think David took advantage of God by committing adultery again? Not on your life. He knew that God’s mercy had been granted to him despite his wicked sin and he wasn’t about to go down that road again.
David understood that God’s mercy is not God’s approval. And yet, many Christians live like it is. God is merciful with us because God is merciful. As with Israel, God made a covenant with us in Jn 5:24, Jn 6:37, Jn 10:27-30 and 1 Jn 5:13 to give us eternal life. And he has sealed his promise with his Holy Spirit [Eph 1:13; 4:30]. This is based on his promise that he made to Israel in Jer 31:31-34. Do you think he promised you eternal life so that you can go out and live like the devil till you die or Jesus comes? Not on your life. That’s not what his mercy if for.
God granted you mercy when he saved you [1 Tim 1:15-16; Titus 3:5] so that you would greatly rejoice, endure temptations, love Jesus, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, hope to the end, be obedient children and be holy [1 Pet 1:3-16]. He wasn’t merciful with you so that you could go on living like you lived before you were saved.
Don’t make a mockery of the mercy of God by returning to your sin against God. Rather, we should follow what Paul said, “…come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” [Heb 4:16]. When you are faced with temptation, turn to the Lord for the strength of his grace. And “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” [2 Pet 3:18]. And thank God for his mercy that allows you to live with him as a child of God [1 Pet 2:9-11].