02_Mercy and the steps of Conversion: Gods love for man and the sinners need for Christ

Note: The "02" in the title is just to note that this is the second portion of the series which will be looking at God's mercy as it relates to the steps of Conversion

In the previous section, we found that it is according to God’s mercy that mankind may be saved. We also saw that mercy, together with truth, is the means through which ones sins or iniquities are purged (removed, eliminated). The question may then arise as to how does one gain access to that mercy, where and how that mercy which purges iniquity is obtained.

We find our answer in the letter to the Hebrews:

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15

Mercy is obtained at the throne of God, God is the giver of mercy; but in order for us to obtain that mercy, the writer tells us that we must do our part of coming to God.

This presents us with a slight problem. Paul writes concerning humanity:

“There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Romans 3:11

Human beings are not born with any desire to seek after or come to God. Our hearts as fallen humanity are in a condition that is described as being at “enmity (as in hatred/ constant warfare) against God”, because they are “not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Romans 8:7) As a result of that, there exists in man no natural desire to come to God in order to obtain mercy.

How then would God get a resisting race to “come boldly to the throne of grace” (the only place where salvation and mercy are obtained)? Noting the fact that God is a God of mercy, He would not use force or compulsion to have men come to Him; so how then would this happen?

Note the words of Christ: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:” John 6:44.

What an idea to consider. God, knowing that in us there no desire to come to Him, still draws us to Himself. But how does God draw us? Well, He says:

“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee” Jeremiah 31:3. Since God has loved us with an everlasting (undying and unchanging) love, the medium he uses to draw resistant sinners to Himself is none other than His loving-kindness.

 

Thus, in order to impress us to come and obtain the mercy which we so need for our salvation, God draws us with his love. The highest expression of God in showing His love was in giving His son, not merely to live among us, but moreover to die for man’s sins. Hence Christ could say: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This He said, signifying what death He should die” John 12:32-33. When one takes the time to consider Just what manner of death Christ dies, the just and innocent dying the death of a murderer, for nothing other that the sake of saving those who deserved to die that death, one grasps a bit of the everlasting love of God.

What an idea to consider. Think on the thought: We are helplessly rebellious by nature, and yet God makes the very first effort to sinful man in order to give to man what man does not deserve, in order to grant us His mercy.

Paul makes a practical reference to this idea, (also showing this close relationship between God’s mercy and His love):

In Titus 3:3, Paul makes reference to earthly rulers and mentions that “We ourselves (like them) were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” The question to Paul may then be, ‘but what happened to bring about the change?’ Hence he follows with the words: “But after that, (that is, after our foolishness, and disobedience) the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” (Verse 4).

The idea being presented is that the reason why Paul, and the rest of the church, are no longer living the unrighteous lives they used to live is because the love and kindness of God appeared to us, us who were disobedient. But what would motivate God to reveal His love and kindness to a disobedient foolish and hateful race who do not deserve it? The very next verse tells us why: because it was “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us…” (v.5)

God, by reason of His mercy, revealed His love and kindness towards us sinful human beings, and as a result we who were sometimes foolish and disobedient were drawn by that everlasting love to come to Him where we may obtain the mercy needed to remove sin from our lives.