A Word in Season
A monthly message from our Senior Pastor.
"The Mercy of God"
Often the criminals in movies are shown being caught in their
illegal activity by an outraged husband, store owner or policeman
and crying out, "have mercy on me." Who would not want to get off "scott
free" after breaking the law? But the law is strict and the
lawbreaker must answer to the requirements of justice; there is no
mercy in man's law.
God's law is higher and stricter than man's law and it does not
provide mercy for those who break it. Man's laws may allow for a
"plea" bargin or some "loophole" to get a criminal "off the hook."
But it will never be so with God's law because God is the Judge and
He is Omniscient and Perfect. Because of God's holy character, His
laws require perfect obedience and if there is not 100% compliance,
offenders must be punished. There is no loop hole or plea
bargain or
hope of mercy or relief if a person breaks God's law. The Bible
teaches, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" and
"the wages of sin is death." (Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23). Simply
stated, every person has sinned (broken God's law) and must pay the
penalty God prescribed; eternal death. No amount of tears,
pleading, remorse or any other human efforts can bring relief. The
Law shows no mercy to anyone. But there is hope. God has provided
a way for criminals to go free and escape the penalty for lawbreaking.
God's Son became a man over 2000 years ago and died on a cross for
sinners. As the unique God-Man, fully divine and fully human, Jesus
Christ kept God's law perfectly and then willingly bore the
punishment for the law- breaking of sinful men. God was satisfied
by the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ. God accepts all who
come to Him by faith in what Jesus did for helpless sinners. That's
what the Bible says: Romans 3:26; "To declare, I say, at this time
His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of him
who believeth in Jesus."
Think today about what you deserve as a criminal, one who broke
God's infinitely holy laws. Then think of the mercy offered by God
to all who trust in His Son. The law demanded death (Ezk. 18:20)
but God commanded life: "Look unto Me and be saved all the ends of
the earth; for I am God and there is none else." (Isa. 45:22)
By His grace alone,
Pastor Bob Dennis