Mercy and the Everlasting Gospel_01: Defining Mercy

It may be helpful at this point in our study to spend a few moments in defining what is meant by the word “mercy.” There’s a section I’m yet to post, entitled “Mercy in action/ What mercy looks like” where I dwell more on the idea, but for the sake of understanding as we continue, this part may be vital.

An understanding of what mercy is may be found in looking at an example of mercy being exercised. In Ps. 103:10 we read:

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.”

When man transgressed the law of God, justice demanded that man be destroyed: “The wages of sin is death,”(Romans 6:23). The just punishment for sin is the eternal death of the sinner; yet what we find is that with that still being the case, God has not dealt with sinners the way that they deserve. The question may be then as to why/ how could God do that? We find the reason why in the verse that follows:

‘For as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him…” Psalms 103:11.

So the reason God has not dealt with us just as we deserve, in giving to man the due reward of their sins is on account of the fact that God is merciful; says the prophet : “This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed…” Lamentations 3:21-22. The reason man has not been consumed (as justice demanded that man should) for his, for our, transgressions, is found in none other than the fact that God is merciful.

Thus we may find our definition of mercy: Mercy is when God does not treat an offender/ transgressor just as he deserves to be treated.

Now one must early one observe the dilemma that God has been placed in in exercising this regard. If “the Lord is righteous in all His ways...”  (Psalms 145:17) then God must still carry out the justice which the law demands in granting eternal death of the transgressor. The question then arises as to how can God be just and merciful at the same time? How can He not give to sinners exactly what they deserve without doing away with the law which the demands justice (see Matt. 5:17-18- God’s law is eternal)? This question is dealt with in the section on “Justice and Mercy.”

With our definition of mercy, it must be noted that this is somewhat distinct from grace. Let’s note the following words to help us see the distinction:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8.

Speaking of salvation, Paul describes it as something which is given to man as a gift: that is to say that man did not deserve that salvation. This act of giving to man what he has not earned or worked for is called an act of God’s grace. Thus we may understand grace then to be when God gives to man that which he does not rightly deserve, it is “unmerited favour” as some would describe it.

So the distinction between mercy and grace may be described then to be as follows:

Mercy	Grace
When God does not give man (sinners and transgressors of His law) that which man does deserve	When God gives to man, that which we do not rightly/naturally  deserve

 Although these 2 are distinct, the almost always travel together:

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Psalms 103:8

“The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious…” Exodus 34:6

This definition of mercy is the overall definition which will be considered throughout the series, (unless another aspect of God’s mercy is being touched on, which will be stated whenever that is the case.)

This then is God’s mercy, and it is to be the kind of mercy we exercise as those who hope to obtain mercy.

 “Be ye therefore merciful, as your father also is merciful.” Luke 6:36