Part 4: Mercy - Withholds Deserved Judgment
Grows from
Ephesians 2:4
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.”
“But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us.”
Key passages
Lamentations 3:22-23
“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
“It is because of the LORD’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his mercies don’t fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”
Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
“Not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:4-5
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
“But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
Psalm 103:8-10
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.”
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.”
Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Luke 6:36
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
“Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful.”
James 2:13
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
“For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Hebrews 4:16
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
“Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.”
Romans 9:15-16
“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
“For he said to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.”
Micah 6:8
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
1 Peter 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
What Scripture says
- The Lord’s mercies are why we are not consumed; new every morning (Lam 3:22-23).
- Saved according to His mercy, not by works of righteousness (Titus 3:5).
- God is “rich in mercy” because of His great love (Eph 2:4) — mercy flows from love.
- He has NOT dealt with us according to our sins (Ps 103:10) — mercy withholds deserved judgment.
- The merciful obtain mercy (Matt 5:7); judgment is without mercy to the unmerciful (James 2:13).
- Mercy is sovereign — God gives it according to His will (Rom 9:15-16).
- His abundant mercy gives us a living hope (1 Pet 1:3).
Connections
- To God’s Love — mercy flows from His great love (Eph 2:4)
- To Grace — same throne, both obtained there (Heb 4:16)
- To Holy Spirit — saved by mercy through “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5)
- To Humility — “love mercy, walk humbly” (Micah 6:8)
- To Hope — His abundant mercy → living hope (1 Pet 1:3)
- To our showing mercy — merciful obtain mercy (Matt 5:7); be merciful as Father is (Luke 6:36)
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, it is because of Your mercies that we are not consumed. They are new every morning. Thank You for not dealing with us as our sins deserve.
You saved us according to Your mercy and not by anything we have done. Make us merciful to others, as You have been merciful to us.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.