Mercy

Much has been made in our discussion of grace as applied to the Unconditional Good News of the gospel. The grace seen and extended to us grants us gifts and freedoms we don’t deserve. As we have been reflecting on all that we are free from and free to do, let us not lose sight of mercy.  Mercy and grace though linked are different.

I think of a soul parched in the desert, knowing that without water his body will cease to live and so crawling towards the spring with his last bit of energy. Consumed with finding a source of life, all longing and focus is on reaching for that sip. That first drink gulp prevents death from overtaking him, and brings a deep satisfaction, a refreshing in the innermost.

Yet tomorrow he will thirst again.  The need for water returns shortly.  Mercy is like this need. As I lean in and recognize my need for a Savior each day I am encouraged to hear the writer of Lamentations ring out in my head saying,

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

Several months ago I heard a Turning Point broadcast where David Jeremiah likened mercy to a bookend which closed to door to Hell for us, and drew out that analogy to the other bookend being grace which opens the door to Heaven for us.  Applying this to my life, I start each day recognizing that in Christ I no longer need fear Hell.  That is so huge, and yet I find it easy to gloss over and more on to the next thing. I need to pause and process that I no longer face eternity apart from God! For what I deserved was death, judgement and Hell.

Although not unique to him, a family friend when asked how he is, nearly always replies by saying, “Better than I deserve!” It always brings me up short! It is so true! Because of mercy, I no longer fear separation from God because that separation has been spanned by Jesus’ death on the cross.

Let us pause and reflect again on that fact.  His mercies are new every morning. We get to reset our hearts upon the Author and Perfector of our faith. So doing, we are charged with offering that mercy to others. In the Sermon on the Mount we are told,

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall inherit mercy.” (Matthew 5:7 ESV)

Later we are challenged by James. In James 3: 13-17 we read:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

We need to be full of mercy and good fruits – sincerely! Not putting on masks and behaving in a way that is inconsistent with our hearts, but rather letting our hearts be changed by His mercy and then reflecting that mercy to others. So as we reset to receive God’s mercy as new every morning, may we also reset to offering new mercies to others each day.  Thus keeping our hearts aligned with our Savior and our Father as well as being free to serve unencumbered by hypocrisy. Let us be transformed together to that end – to go show mercy!

Words on Grace by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 “Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks' wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?...

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

The Freedom to Stand

Let us look to another aspect we are free to experience within the context of the Unconditional Good News of Jesus Christ, the freedom to stand in grace.  Let us consider Paul’s words in Romans 5:1-2 (ESV).

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

What an amazingly beautiful picture! We have been justified. Justification takes place when we put our faith in Christ.  This leads to peace with God, as we discussed last week.  But look! We also obtained access or entry into this grace in which we currently stand.

Think of God’s grace, getting what we don’t deserve, as something we have available in such abundant measure that it must overflow and spill onto those around us because we can’t contain it. Grace is something we get from God, we give to others and also something that flavors our spirits, allowing us to be gracious souls.

 It is this grace in which we stand, as a soldiertakes up position to wage battle. Not kneeling or hunched over but upright and planted, head held high. Planted on our faith in Christ which can’t be shaken. Our firm foundation allows us to be steadfast and unwavering in the storms of life.

 Standing in grace is such a beautiful picture.  Such an amazing gift!

So this Unconditional Good News, that God views us differently though our justification in Christ, allows us freedom from performance, condemnation, punishment and fear. This then leaves us free to experience peace with God and to stand in grace.  Such Good News!