HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER!!
““…The Lord is ...of great mercy…” (Number 14:18 KJV). “…The Lord God, [IS] merciful …” (Exodus 34:6 KJV).
“…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).
“…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).
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God, the Holy Spirit is a MERCIFUL God, which means HE withholds FAIR and JUST punishment from mankind for their many transgressions against HIM. “…The Lord God, [IS] merciful …” (Exodus 34:6 KJV).
“…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV). “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).
There are several verses in the bible that express and demonstrate God’s MERCY toward mankind.
Those who trust in and depend upon God’s MERCY will not and do not RECEIVE the PUNISHMENT they deserve, are worthy of and have earned.
King DAVID asked God for MERCY. “...Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me...Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit...Deliver me from bloodguiltiness...” (Psalms 51 KJV).
King David KNEW God, the Holy Spirit, would have MERCY on him and asked boldly. “...Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me...Deliver me from bloodguiltiness...” (Psalms 51 KJV).
“…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV). “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).
God’s unconditional love not only extends GRACE, but MERCY to his OFFENDERS, but he also forgives, heals, and cleanses them form ALL unrighteousness. “...because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).
Life can lead mankind to become wretched, guilty, and depraved sinners SEPARATED from God, the Holy Spirit, with NO possible way BACK to HIM.
PRAISE be to God, the Holy Spirit, and his MERCY that COMES to help. “…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). “…The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him…” (Psalms 37:40 NLT). “… The Sovereign Lord helps me…” (Isaiah 50:7 NLT).
God’s GRACE gives mankind what they DON’T deserve and God’s MERCY keeps them from RECEIVING what they DO deserve.
SALVATION is an expression of unconditional LOVE as well as both GRACE and MERCY. . “…God so loved the world that HE GAVE his only begotten Son…” (John 3:16 KJV). God “…spared not his own Son, but delivered him up (GRACE) for us all….?”(Romans 8:32 KJV). “...[Jesus]... said, It is finished…” (John 19:28-30 KJV). “… I lay down my life... [FOR YOU] …” (John 10:17-18 KJV). Jesus did “…not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (MERCY)...” (Matthew 20:28 KJV). “...
Herein is [unconditional] ... love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and SENT His SON to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “…There is no greater love …” (John 15:13 NLT).
MERCY withholds FAIR and EQUITABLE punishment from mankind. “…[because God’s] ...Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).
In the story of the Ungrateful Servant, God’s mercy withheld the punishment of selling off his wife, children, and property. God is“... RICH IN MERCY…” (Ephesians 2:1-5 KJV). (Isaiah 63:9 NASB). “...[Thankfully]... it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it...” (Romans 9:14-16 NLT).
Read the parable again and see God’s GRACE and MERCY expressed and demonstrated. “…The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
“But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
“His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened.
Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart…” (Matthew 18:23-35 NLT).
Though the “ungrateful servant” had received MERCY, he was NOT generous in GIVING mercy to other. “…DO NOT repay evil with evil or insult with insult…” (1 Peter 3:9 NIV).
“..his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. “BUT when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full…” (Matthew 18:23-35 NLT).
God’s word informs his people how to respond to opportunities to show MERCY to others. “...Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God, for it is written: "Vengeance (justice, not revenge) belongeth unto to me; I will recompense (repay)," saith the Lord…” (Romans 12:19 ASV).
Some of God’s own people DO NOT practice MERCY. “…Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness …they have no understanding, no fidelity, NO LOVE, NO MERCY. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.…” (Romans 1:32 NASB).
What does the bible say about the UNMERCIFUL? “...‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ …” (Matthew 18:23-35 NLT).
The MERCILESS are people who intentionally aim to punish or get revenge on another person, because they did something to them and they want to get them back. “…DO NOT repay evil with evil or insult with insult…” (1 Peter 3:9 NIV). “Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God, for it is written: "Vengeance belongeth unto to me; I will recompense (repay)," saith the Lord…” (Romans 12:19 ASV). “…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV).
God is immutably MERCIFUL to even the worst offenders, the worst sinners, and the worst rebels. “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, It is not easily angered, It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV).
“…He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust…” (Matthew 5:45 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit, KNOWS the evil and unjust are guilty of offending and sinning against him in MANY ways. YET, “…[God, the Holy Spirit’s]...mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB). “…[God]…WILL HEAL their apostasy, [and]…love them freely…” (Hosea 14:4 KJV). “...Fortunate for the undeserving, “...HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit, SAYS: “..Come boldly unto the throne of GRACE ...[and]...obtain mercy…” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). God is“... RICH IN MERCY…” (Ephesians 2:1-5 KJV).
“...Herein is [merciful]…love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “...For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God[‘s merciful Love] ...”(EPHESIANS 2:8-9 KJV).
God redeemed mankind BACK into a right relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. . “…Christ …. died for sins ONCE for all, the just for the unjust, SO THAT HE MIGHT BRING US [BACK]…TO GOD…” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB).
Everybody or “…ALL have sinned (including you and everyone else you KNOW has) ...fallen short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23).
MERCILESS people FAIL to realize the very punishment they seek to inflict on someone else is DUE them.
MERCILESS people, who have been SAVED by GRACE, have forgotten that they, themselves, have sinned against the HOLY God who SHOWED them MERCY. King David said to God, “…Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just…” (Psalms 51:4 NLT).
“…against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest…” (Psalms 51:4 KJV).
It is GOOD to know, without a doubt, that God “IS” “... rich in mercy… [because of]... his great love…even when [you] were dead in sins, had quickened [you] together with Christ (by grace are ye saved)…” (Ephesians 2:1-5 KJV). “…God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...the just for the unjust...that whosoever believeth in him should not perish (be punished)…” (John 3:16 KJV & 1 Peter 3:18 NASB).
NOT “ONE” human being, without Jesus, can meet God’s standards of righteousness or holiness, That’s why God CAME to mankind with HIS free GIFT of Salvation in Jesus Christ, which are expressions and demonstrations of GRACE and MERCY. “...For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God[‘s merciful Love] ...”(EPHESIANS 2:8-9 KJV).
NO human being upon earth deserves salvation, or earns it, nor are they worthy of it. “...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy....” (Titus 3:5 NIV). “…[In HIS] ... love and in His mercy He redeemed [mankind]…” (Isaiah 63:9 NASB). “…Christ died for [mankind’s] sins according to the scriptures; And …he was buried, and … rose again the third day according to the scriptures...” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).
God, being “... RICH IN MERCY… [because of]... his great love…had quickened [mankind] together with Christ (by grace and mercy are ye saved)…” (Ephesians 2:1-5 KJV).
“…O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God…” (Micah 6:8 NLT).
“…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?” (Micah 6:8 KJV). “...because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV
God’s mercy is generously offered to sinners and his people. He has told and shown, his people, in particular, what is good through his OWN expression and demonstration of GRACE and MERCY toward them. “…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).
“…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). “…it is God who works in [his people]... to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).
Being MERCILESS toward others is NOT becoming of a child of God and does NOT offer HIM glory. “…Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time...” (JAMES 2:12-13 MSG). “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).
It doesn’t matter what someone has done to you, or how long they’ve done it, or how horrible it was, or how deserving they may be of punishment; it is NOT for God’s people to avenge or get revenge for themselves. “…DO NOT repay evil with evil or insult with insult…” (1 Peter 3:9 NIV). “...Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God, for it is written: "Vengeance belongeth unto to me; I will recompense (repay)," saith the Lord…” (Romans 12:19 ASV).
God “...delights in MERCY" whether than punishment (Micah 7:18). “..O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is GOOD; for his mercy endureth for ever...” (1 Chronicles 16:34 KJV).
“...It came …to pass, as … [they] praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever…” (2 Chronicles 5:13-14 KJV). “…The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy…” (Psalms 103:8 KJV).
“…For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him…” (Psalms 103:11 KJV). “…But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children…” (Psalms 103:17 KJV).
God’s MERCY is full of compassion and empathy toward his people. “...For [God’s people]... do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with [their]... weaknesses, but [they]... have one who has been tempted in every way, just as [they]... are--yet he (Jesus) did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15 NIV).
God, the Holy Spirit’s, expression and demonstration of MERCY reveals HIS HOLY unconditional love toward mankind. “...Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV).
God, the Holy Spirit through Jesus, put on human flesh just to BECOME our understanding, MERCIFUL and faithful SAVIOR! “...Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people…” (Hebrew 2:17 NLT).
“...We love, because HE FIRST LOVED US…” (1 John 4:19 ASV). “…[God]...delighteth in mercy…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).
“…A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. …” (John 13:34-35 KJV). “...By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another…” (John 13:34-35 KJV).
And it “…prove(s) [to you]…what [is in your own]…heart, whether [you]…wouldest keep his commandments, or no...” (Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV). “….the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7 ASV). “...[God] knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold…” (Job 23:10 KJV).
“…In this world we are like Jesus (forgiving and full of merciful love)…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). “…it is God who works in you to will and to act (keep NO record of wrongs) in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “… [YOU]… can do all things THROUGH CHRIST which strengtheneth… [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
“…In this world [god’s people]... are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). “...Be … imitators of [Jesus]…” (Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 5:1 ASV). “… growing in every way more and more like Christ (merciful)…” (Ephesians 4:14-16 NLT).God who “…delighteth in mercy…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).
God’s requires his people to be merciful. “…O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God…” (Micah 6:8 NLT). “…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?” (Micah 6:8 KJV).
To show MERCY is costly. It will cost you your PRIDE, but it will also humble you through obedience. “...Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he (she) must deny himself (herself), and take up his (her) cross and follow Me...” (Matthew 16:24 NASB). “...humble yourselves under the mighty power of God...” (1 Peter 5:6).
WHATEVER and EVERYTHING you give up or gave up to follow in obedience to God – God, the Holy Spirit, will give it back to you multiplied. “…‘We’ve given up everything to follow you…” (Mark 10:28-31 NLT). And Jesus said, “…I assure you that everyone who has given up...[ANYTHING or WHATEVER]... for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times...[ANYTHINGs and WHATEVERs]...– along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life...” (Mark 10:28-31 NLT).
You don’t have to like God’s merciful attribute that is governed by his unconditional love for mankind or understand it, but you do have to respect that MERCY is his delightful will. “… delighteth in mercy…” (Micah 7:18 KJV). “...Are [Job and his friends]… saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course [he’s]…not! For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it...” (Romans 9:14-16 NLT).
It gives God, the Holy Spirit, pleasure or great delight to show MERCY, to human beings, no matter how undeserving. “…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).
Showing and demonstrating GRACE and MERCY to the underserving may be one of the hardest characteristics of Jesus to imitate. “…In this world [god’s people]... are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). “...Be … imitators of [Jesus]…” (Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 5:1 ASV).
God’s people CANNOT do it (show true mercy) without, the empowerment, of the indwelling Christ. “….apart from Me, you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “...is there anything too hard for [God, the Holy Spirit]?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “...I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me...” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
“…For it is God who works in [his people]… to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…this is what [God, the Holy Spirit]... requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God…” (Micah 6:8 NLT).
AGAIN, God “… delighteth in mercy…” (Micah 7:18 KJV); simply because God is“... RICH IN MERCY…” (Ephesians 2:1-5 KJV). “…The Lord is ...of great mercy…” (Number 14:18 KJV). “…The Lord God, [IS] merciful …” (Exodus 34:6 KJV).
So God’s unconditional, merciful “love …always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, [God’s]…love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV).
God is MERCY. God, the Holy Spirit of MERCIFUL LOVE continually offers his SALVATION and gifts FREELY to EVERYONE who chooses to receive them, even the WORST, unrepentant sinners. ”… ye [are]…saved through faith…it is the GIFT of God…” (Ephesians 2:8 KJV). “…The GIFT by grace……” (Romans 5:15 KJV). “…The GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “….ye shall receive the GIFT of the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 2:38 KJV). “…the GIFT of righteousness…” (Romans 5:17 KJV). “…I am leaving you with a GIFT—peace of mind and heart...” (John 14:27 KJV). “…God has given us different GIFTS for doing certain things well…” (Romans 12:6 NLT). “…every man hath his proper GIFT of God...” (2 Corinthians 7:7 KJV). “…Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable GIFT(S)…” (2 Corinthians 9:16 KJV). “…his divine power hath given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV).
MERCY is a hard thing to elicit from most human beings after some offenses, but NEVER from God. God’s MERCY is immutable and is always GOVERNED by his HOLY unconditional, LOVE. “… [God, the Holy Spirit]...delighteth in mercy…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).
When human mercy is nowhere to be found God’s MERCY is there for you FOREVER!! “..O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old…” (PSALM 25:6 KJV).
God is the SOURCE of immutable MERCY. “...[God’s] …Holy Spirit [of MERCIFUL LOVE] …is the SOURCE [of it ALL]…” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING….” (LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23).
“…O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is GOOD; for his mercy endureth for ever” (1 Chronicles…” 16:34 KJV). God said he nor his MERCY will “…[ever] ... leave nor forsake you…” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).
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