Topical Encyclopedia The mercy of God is a central theme throughout the Bible, intricately woven into the narrative of salvation history. It is through God's mercy that humanity is offered redemption and reconciliation with Him, despite the fall and the pervasive nature of sin. The concept of divine mercy is not merely an abstract attribute of God but is vividly demonstrated in His actions and His plan for salvation.Old Testament Foundations The Old Testament lays the groundwork for understanding God's mercy, often depicted as His steadfast love and compassion towards His people. In Exodus 34:6-7, God reveals Himself to Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." This self-revelation underscores the enduring nature of God's mercy, which is foundational to His covenant relationship with Israel. The Psalms frequently celebrate God's mercy, emphasizing its role in deliverance and forgiveness. Psalm 103:8-12 declares, "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Prophetic Promises The prophets also highlight God's mercy, often in the context of judgment and restoration. In Micah 7:18-19, the prophet exclaims, "Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion. He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." New Testament Fulfillment The New Testament reveals the ultimate manifestation of God's mercy in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are the pinnacle of divine mercy, providing the means for salvation to all who believe. In Ephesians 2:4-5, Paul writes, "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved." The mercy of God is further illustrated in the parables of Jesus, such as the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), where the father's compassionate reception of his wayward son mirrors God's readiness to forgive and restore those who repent. Apostolic Teachings The apostles continue to expound on the theme of God's mercy in their teachings. In Titus 3:4-5, Paul emphasizes, "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." Peter also speaks of God's mercy as the basis for the believer's new identity and hope: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Practical Implications The mercy of God, as manifested in salvation, calls believers to respond with gratitude, humility, and a commitment to extend mercy to others. Jesus' teaching in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7), underscores the expectation that those who have received God's mercy will, in turn, demonstrate it in their relationships with others. In summary, the mercy of God is a profound and transformative aspect of His character, revealed throughout Scripture and culminating in the redemptive work of Christ. It is through this divine mercy that believers are drawn into a restored relationship with God, experiencing the fullness of His grace and love. Torrey's Topical Textbook Titus 3:5Not 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; Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Goodness of Marcion's God Only Imperfectly Manifested; it ... The Boasted Merit of Works Subversive Both of the Glory of God, in ... Salvation by Faith Christ, Though Known to the Jews under the Law, yet Only ... Christ Rightly and Properly Said to have Merited Grace and ... "For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak Though the ... The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep ... Submit Yourselves Therefore to God. James 4:7. On the Vocation of Sinful Men to Christ, and to a Participation of ... Unity of the Faith of the Church Throughout the Whole World. Resources What is the definition of mercy? | GotQuestions.orgHow do God's mercy and justice work together in salvation? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean that God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4)? | GotQuestions.org Mercy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Mercy: After the Example of God Mercy: Beneficial to Those Who Exercise Mercy: Characteristic of Saints Mercy: Denunciations Against Those Devoid of Mercy: General Scriptures Concerning Mercy: should be Shown with Cheerfulness Mercy: should be Shown: To Animals Mercy: should be Shown: To Backsliders Mercy: should be Shown: To Our Brethren Mercy: should be Shown: To the Poor Mercy: should be Shown: To Those That are in Distress Mercy: The Israelites to the Man of Beth-El Mercy: The Prison Keeper, to Joseph Mercy: To be Engraved on the Heart Mercy: Upholds the Throne of Kings The Mercy of God is his Delight The Mercy of God is Part of his Character The Mercy of God: A Ground of Hope The Mercy of God: A Ground of Trust The Mercy of God: Epaphroditus The Mercy of God: Filling the Earth The Mercy of God: High As Heaven The Mercy of God: Manifested in Long-Suffering The Mercy of God: Manifested in Salvation The Mercy of God: Manifested in the Sending of Christ The Mercy of God: Manifested with Everlasting Kindness The Mercy of God: Manifested: To his People The Mercy of God: Manifested: To Repentant Sinners The Mercy of God: Manifested: To Returning Backsliders The Mercy of God: Manifested: To the Afflicted The Mercy of God: Manifested: To the Fatherless The Mercy of God: Manifested: To Them That Fear Him The Mercy of God: Manifested: To Whom he Will The Mercy of God: New Every Morning The Mercy of God: Over all his Works The Mercy of God: should be Magnified The Mercy of God: should be Pleaded in Prayer The Mercy of God: should be Rejoiced In The Mercy of God: should be Sought for Others The Mercy of God: should be Sought for Ourselves The Mercy of God: Typified: Mercy Seat Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
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