As I thought today about the numerous promises that the Lord has designated for those who love Him, and then, subsequently, how these very same promises are extended -- as a consequence of His abundance of mercy -- unto you and to you children, and to all that are afar off, I realize how very thankful we should be. For our destiny and heritage could have been contrary to that of the Lord, knowing not from whence comes our salvation. The prophet Micah described the Lord this way.
"Who [is] a God like unto Thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger for ever, because He delights [in] mercy." (Micah 7:18)
Think about this for a moment. The same Lord God who created us in the beginning is sharing how He delights in mercy. Interestingly, Mirriam-Webster defines mercy as -- "a : compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment." In other words, while we were still His enemies, He had His hand and heart stretched outward toward us.
Some may be asking -- how do we know this to be true? Because God declared peace and good will to all, in the beginning of this current new testament of grace. In prophecy of old, the Lord openly declared that His salvation was near to come, and His righteousness soon to be revealed. (Isaiah 56:1)
"I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to [him that is] far off, and to [him that is] near," saith the Lord, "and I will heal him." (Isaiah 57:19)
And when the time neared, as Luke set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, "even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eye witnesses, and ministers of the Word," it seemed good to him also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write and confirm so that we "mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed." (Luke 1:1-4)
For example, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)
And, "blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." (Luke 19:38; Psalms 118:26; Ephesians 2:14)
This same "God who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;) and hath raised [us] up together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:4-9)
As Micah had prophesied so many years before -- "Hear all ye people: hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple. For behold the Lord comes forth out of His place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains shall be molten under Him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, [and] as the waters [that are] poured down a steep place. For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel." (Micah 1:2-5)
The prophecy confirming that the Lord Himself would come forth and come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. This same Lord made flesh to dwell among us to bring us salvation. (John 1:18) "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) The same "in the beginning, God" in Genesis 1:1 was the same "Word that was with God and was God" in John 1. The Lord coming forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) All the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Him. (Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9)
And, in so doing, He blotted out the ordinances that were against us, that were contrary to us, and took it out of the way, and nailed it to His cross, and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:13-15)
Thus, when we repent, and are buried with Him in baptism [baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus], wherein also ye are risen with [Him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead, and you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses. (Colossians 2:12-13; Acts 2:36-47; Acts 8:27-40; Acts 10:32-48)
Although our sins be as scarlet, He has made them white as snow. But the Lord doesn't just stop with cleansing the outside. He changes our heart and renews our mind. He gives us strength to walk in the battles without fearing any evil. He makes us overcomers because of His perfect sacrifice on the cross.
"And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of a testator." (Hebrews 9:15-18)
And from His mercy? We become His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them, wherefore, remember, that [ye being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands: that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new ma, [so] making peace, and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby; and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner [stone] -- in whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:10-22)
"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God ..." and seek to understand the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, we also (like apostle Paul) will desire to bow our knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:2-19)
Stand in the offering plate.
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