Sunday Sermons

The Merciful

Mark Dunagan
01/14/07 - Sunday Morning

The Merciful

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7)

Evaluating our Attitude toward the Sermon on the Mount

“If we take the Beatitudes as a whole, it is a kind of general test to which we are being subjected. How are we reacting to these searching tests and probings? They really tell us everything about our Christian profession. And if I dislike this kind of thing, if I am impatient with it, if I want instead to be talking about something else, if I dislike this personal analysis, it simply means that my position is entirely contrary to that of the New Testament man. But if I feel, on the other hand, that though these things do search and hurt me, nevertheless they are essential and good for me, if I feel it is good for me to be humbled, and that it is a good thing for me to be held face to face with this mirror, which not only shows me what I am, but what I am in the light of God’s pattern for the Christian man, then I have a right to be hopeful about my state and condition” (Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Martyn Lloyd Jones, p. 96).

The Meaning of “Mercy”

· Expressing mercy certainly does not mean that we must turn a blind eye to evil, or are easy-going when it comes to sin in our own lives or in the lives of others. “There are so many people today who think that being merciful means to be easy-going, not to see things, or if we do see them, to pretend we have not. That, of course, is a particular danger in an age like this which does not believe in law or discipline” (Jones p. 98). Thus, the merciful man is not one who smiles at transgression.

· Remember, “mercy” only can exist if law exists, and when transgression against that law is serious. When sin is viewed as not being a big deal, then mercy becomes meaningless. Maybe this is one reason why unbelievers have such a hard time expressing mercy, for they have constructed a world in which “mercy” does not have any real value.

· “We must remember that it is an adjective that is applied specially and specifically to God Himself (“A merciful and faithful high priest” Hebrews 2:17). So that whatever I may decide as to the meaning of ‘merciful’ is true also of God, and the moment you look at it like that you see that this easy-going attitude that doesn’t care about breaking the law is unthinkable when we are talking about God. God is merciful; but God is righteous, God is holy, God is just: and whatever our interpretation of merciful may be, it must include all that” (Jones p. 99).

Grace and Mercy

“The best definition of the two that I have ever encountered is this: ‘Grace is especially associated with men in their sins; mercy is especially associated with men in their misery’. In other words, while grace looks down upon sin as a whole, mercy looks especially upon the miserable consequences of sin. To have a merciful spirit means the spirit that is displayed when you suddenly find yourself in a position of having in your power someone who has transgressed against you” (Jones p. 99). The reader should observe that in some of his letters, Paul speaks of both grace and mercy, as if they are similar and yet somewhat different (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4).

· Clearly “mercy” is connected with the forgiveness of sins (Titus 3:5).

· Yet there are also many times in Scripture where “mercy” is connected with showing compassion to someone who is in a difficult or miserable situation, including one of physical suffering (Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; Luke 16:24; Philippians 2:27).

My Reaction to God’s Mercy

God is the supreme example of having mercy upon rebels in their misery (“God who is rich in mercy” Ephesians 2:4). “He saw our pitiful estate, He saw the suffering, and in spite of the law breaking, this was the thing that moved Him to action” (Jones p. 100). “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6); “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8); “For you were like sheep going astray” (1 Peter 2:25). “Does it not follow inevitably that, if I have seen and experienced all that, my attitude towards everybody else must be completely and entirely changed? If all that is true of me, I no longer see men as I used to see them. I see them now with a Christian eye. I see them as the dupes and victims and the slaves of sin and Satan and of the way of the world. I have come to see them not simply as men whom I dislike but as men to be pitied. I have come to see them as being governed by the god of this world, as being still where once I was”(Jones p. 103).

Applications

· Men and women are slaves of sin (John 8:34), and yes they were or still are willing slaves, but even such willing slaves have equally become blinded by the sins they initially chose, “They are darkened in their understanding” (Ephesians 4:18); “I am sending you to them, to open their eyes and turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18); “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The sinner might have wanted to remain in ignorance or to place some distance between him and God, yet sin always brings far more distance and darkness than most had anticipated. Just as very few people ever set out to become an alcoholic, just so men and women often do not intentionally set out to become callous and deceived. “Having lost all sensitivity” (Ephesians 4:19).

· Having mercy means showing compassion for those who willingly, naively or ignorantly started on the wrong path and found more than they had bargained for, “And that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26).

· Being merciful also means being patient and kind with those that one is seeking to teach and help. “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct” (2 Timothy 2:22-25).

· Being merciful equally means being “hopeful” and optimistic concerning the sinner’s ability to repent and change. “In the hope that God will grant them repentance” (2 Timothy 2:25). What this means is that long before a person becomes a Christian and is forgiven, we need to be extending mercy in our attempts to teach and help them. As noted above, this will demand of us patience in answering both their questions, excuses and objections. It will equally require patience in helping this person to remove their hard and crusty exterior and finally see the diamond on the inside.

· The mercy that we received from Christ is actually a tremendous motivator to help others come to Christ, for if Christ was willing to forgive me, if He wanted me saved, then obviously He desires others to come to Christ as well,“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:1).

· Have mercy upon your parents (Proverbs 10:1).

· Have mercy upon your children (Colossians 3:21).

· Have mercy in your marriage, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them” (Colossians 3:19).

· Have mercy in reference to dealing with your brethren (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

· Be merciful toward the elders of the local flock (Hebrews 13:17).

In summation, James notes that the Christian life is one that is “full of mercy and good fruits” (James 3:17).

You Shall Receive Mercy

There are a number of passages that stress that those who are willing and ready to forgive will find forgiveness from God (Matthew 6:15), yet we need to remind people that being willing to forgive is not the sole condition for salvation. I believe that some people are under the false impression that if they forgive, then they will be forgiven.

· The merciful attitude that results in receiving mercy is found within the context of repentance and obedience (5:3-10). Thus, saying that one has forgiven someone only counts if one is pure in heart, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, being willing to follow Jesus at all costs, and is mourning over their own sins.

· Saying that one is “merciful” does not count unless one believes in Jesus Christ and is baptized for the forgiveness of their sins (Mark 16:15-16).

· We must not forget that being “shown mercy” could equally include receiving mercy from our fellow man. If I want mercy in a family, congregation, or any other relationship, then I need to be showing it myself.

James 2:13

“For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment”

· Here is further motivation to become a Christian and be faithful, for outside of Christ; the judgment that one will face is one of strict justice, that is, every sin getting its full punishment.

· Yet the merciful can exult over and glory even in the face of judgment. The merciful have nothing to fear from God or His inspection at the last day (Matthew 25:31ff).

· God would much rather extend mercy and salvation than condemnation. God is not frustrated when a person repents, as if that means one less person to punish, rather, God rejoices when there is one less person who will face condemnation at the last day.

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017