god's love and mercy essay

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The Love of God

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The love of God is the benevolent disposition or inclination in God that stirs him to bestow both physical and spiritual benefits upon those created in his image (and is thus in this respect synonymous with grace), the most exalted of all such benefits is God’s selfless gift of himself to his creatures in Jesus Christ.

The love of God is the benevolent disposition or inclination in God that stirs him to bestow benefits both physical and spiritual upon those created in his image (and is thus in this respect synonymous with grace). We see the love of God most clearly in that he gave himself to us in his Son, through which God gave us the most enthralling, beautiful, and eternally satisfying experience possible, that is, the knowledge and enjoyment of God himself. Although the love of God can be discussed in at least five different ways, this is the love of God in its particular, sovereign, and saving form. This eternal love of God for his people is what secures the adoption of the saints into the family of God, the loving discipline of the Father for his children, and the presence of the Spirit of love in their lives as Christians.

Of all that we are justified in saying about God, perhaps the most foundational truth of all is that he is love. Love doesn’t simply come from God. It is more than what he does. As John states so clearly, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Carl F.H. Henry rightly declares that love “is not accidental or incidental to God; it is an essential revelation of the divine nature, a fundamental and eternal perfection. His love, like all other divine attributes, reflects the whole of his being in specific actions and relationships” (see Carl F.H. Henry, God, Revelation and Authority, Volume VI: God Who Stands and Stays , 341). Sadly, though, “love” is one of the least understood and most widely abused concepts in our world, even in the church. What, then, does it mean to say that God is love?

Love is the benevolent disposition or inclination in God that stirs him to bestow benefits both physical and spiritual upon those created in his image (and is thus in this respect synonymous with grace). The most exalted of all such benefits is God’s selfless gift of himself to his creatures. The preeminent expression of love is when the lover, at great personal cost, gives or imparts to the beloved the most enthralling, beautiful, and eternally satisfying experience possible. The latter, of course, would be the knowledge and enjoyment of God himself. So, when Jesus prays that the Father would glorify him so that he in turn might glorify the Father, he is demonstrating his love for us (John 17:1). He is asking the Father to give us that one experience that alone can satisfy our souls forever, far beyond any other gift or sight or experience. Seeing and savoring and being satisfied with the glory and majesty of God is the most loving thing God could ever do for us .

The Characteristics of God’s Love

D. A. Carson identifies five distinguishable ways in which the Bible speaks of the love of God (see D.A. Carson, “ On Distorting the Love of God ”). There is, first, the peculiar love of the Father for the Son (John 3:35; 5:20) and of the Son for the Father (John 14:31). Second is God’s providential love over all of his creation. Although the word “love” is itself rarely used in this way, there is no escaping the fact that the world is the product of a loving Creator (see the declaration of “good” over what God has made in Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). Third is God’s saving love toward the fallen world (John 3:16). Then there is, fourth, God’s particular, effectual, selecting love for his elect. The elect may be the nation of Israel, or the church, or specific individuals (see esp. Deut. 7:7–8; 10:14–15; Eph. 5:25; 1 John 3:1). Finally, the Bible speaks often of God’s love toward his own people in a provisional or conditional way. Carson points to how the experience of God’s love is portrayed as something that is conditioned upon obedience and the fear of God. This doesn’t have to do with that love by which we are brought into a saving relationship with God but rather with our capacity to feel and enjoy the affection of God (Jude 21; John 15:9–10; Ps. 103:9–18).

Love as Grace

Our focus here is on the fourth expression of God’s love, namely, the affection he displays toward his elect people, the beloved of God. We must remember that, insofar as not all of God’s creatures receive and experience his love in precisely the same manner or to the same degree, one cannot speak of the love of God without qualification. It seems inescapable, both from Scripture and experience, that we differentiate between the love of God as manifested in common grace and the love of God as manifested in special grace .

The love of God as manifested in common grace is the love of God as creator which consists of providential kindness, mercy, and longsuffering. It is an indiscriminate and universal love which constrains to the bestowing of all physical and spiritual benefits short of salvation itself. It is received and experienced by the elect and non-elect alike (see Matt. 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-38).

The love of God as manifested in special grace is the love of God as savior , which consists of redemption, the efficacy of regenerating grace, and the irrevocable possession of eternal life. It is a discriminate and particular love that leads him to bestow the grace of eternal life in Christ. It is received and experienced by the elect only.

Therefore, like grace, the saving love of God is undeserved. The love of God for sinners, which issues in their salvation, finds no obstacle in their sin. God loves us while we were yet sinners precisely in order that the glory of his love might be supremely magnified. It was when we were still “weak” (or powerless) that “Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). Indeed, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). The sole cause of God’s saving love for sinners is God himself!

Love and the Death of Christ

This love of God, then, is the source or cause of the atoning work of Christ. God does not love people because Christ died for them; Christ died for them because God loved them. The death of the Savior is not to be conceived as restoring in people something on the basis of which we might then win or merit God’s love. The sacrifice of Christ does not procure God’s affection, as if it were necessary, through his sufferings, to extract love from an otherwise stern, unwilling, reluctant deity. On the contrary, God’s love compels the death of Christ and is supremely manifested therein. In a word, the saving love of God is giving. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16a). Again, as Paul states, “the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20b; see also Eph. 5:1–2, 25; 1 John 4:9–10)

Love as Sovereign

The saving love of God is also sovereign. John Murray explains as follows:

Truly God is love. Love is not something adventitious; it is not something that God may choose to be or choose not to be. He is love, and that necessarily, inherently, and eternally. As God is spirit, as he is light, so he is love. Yet it belongs to the very essence of electing love to recognize that it is not inherently necessary to that love which God necessarily and eternally is that he should set such love as issues in redemption and adoption upon utterly undesirable and hell-deserving objects. It was of the free and sovereign good pleasure of his will, a good pleasure that emanated from the depths of his own goodness, that he chose a people to be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. The reason resides wholly in himself and proceeds from determinations that are peculiarly his as the “I am that I am” (see Redemption: Accomplished and Applied , 10).

Thus, to say that love is sovereign is to say it is distinguishing. It is, by definition as saving love, bestowed upon and experienced by those only who are in fact saved (i.e., the elect). Although there is surely a sense in which God loves the non-elect, he does not love them redemptively. If he did, they would certainly be redeemed. God loves them, but not savingly, else they would certainly be saved. All this is but to say that God’s eternal, electing love is not universal but particular.

Love and Adoption

The love of God is what accounts for our adoption as sons. It was “in love” that God “predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:5a; cf. 1 John 3:1). This love of God is rightly described as “great.” It was because of the “ great love with which he loved us” (Eph. 2:4b) that God made us alive together with Christ. It is a great love because it can never be exhausted, its depths never plumbed, its purpose never thwarted by the sin of man (Eph. 2:4–5).

Love as Eternal

The saving love of God is eternal. It was “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4–5) that he set his saving love upon us and predestined us unto adoption as sons (cf. 2 Thess. 2:13). Charles Spurgeon describes this eternal love:

In the very beginning, when this great universe lay in the mind of God, like unborn forests in the acorn cup; long ere the echoes awoke the solitudes; before the mountains were brought forth; and long ere the light flashed through the sky, God loved His chosen creatures. Before there was any created being; when the ether was not fanned by an angel’s wing, when space itself had not an existence, where there was nothing save God alone — even then, in that loneliness of Deity, and in that deep quiet and profundity, His bowels moved with love for His chosen. Their names were written on His heart, and then were they dear to His soul. Jesus loved His people before the foundation of the world — even from eternity! and when He called me by His grace, He said to me, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee (see Autobiography: Volume 1 , 167).

This love is not only eternal in its conception, it is irrevocable in its purpose. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Rom. 8:35). Nothing! The Apostle Paul can speak of such confident hope on no other ground than that God has loved us in Christ. It is because he loved us when we were yet his enemies, a love demonstrated by the sending of his Son, that his love for us now that we are his friends is unshakeable (see Rom. 5:8–11). J.I. Packer sums up well both the eternal and irrevocable nature of this divine love:

To know that from eternity my Maker, foreseeing my sin, foreloved me and resolved to save me, though it would be at the cost of Calvary; to know that the divine Son was appointed from eternity to be my Saviour, and that in love he became man for me and died for me and now lives to intercede for me and will one day come in person to take me home; to know that the Lord ‘who loved me and gave himself for me’ and who ‘came and preached peace’ to me through his messengers has by his Spirit raised me from spiritual death to life-giving union and communion with himself, and has promised to hold me fast and never let me go – this is knowledge that brings overwhelming gratitude and joy (see “The Love of God: Universal and Particular,” in Celebrating the Saving Work of God: The Collected Shorter Writings of J. I. Packer , 1:158-59).

Love as Discipline

The sanctifying discipline of our heavenly Father, no less than the eternal life he bestows, is a product of divine love: “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Heb. 12:5b–6). The Hebrew Christians to whom these words were addressed had mistakenly come to think that the absence of affliction was a sign of God’s special favor and, therefore, that suffering and oppression were an indication of his displeasure. On the contrary, so far from being a proof of God’s anger or rejection of us, afflictions are evidence of his fatherly love. Discipline, writes Philip Hughes, “is the mark not of a harsh and heartless father but of a father who is deeply and lovingly concerned for the well-being of his son” (see his Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews , 528).

God’s Love and the Christian Life

The eternal and irrevocable love which God has for his people also secures far more than merely the reconciliation of estranged sinners. The love that God has for us also makes possible our love for one another: “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12; see also 1 John 2:5).

Finally, the love of God for his people is not simply a doctrine to proclaim but a vibrant affection in the heart of God that he wants us to experience. Therefore, Paul prays: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thess. 3:5). If we are to experientially enjoy being loved of the Father, it is the Father himself who must (and will) act to remove every obstacle and clear away every encumbrance to that inexpressible experience.

God’s love for us has been “poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5). Paul’s effusive language points to the unstinting lavishness of God’s gift. As Charles Hodge put it (quoting Philippi), God’s love “does not descend upon us as dew drops, but as a stream which spreads itself abroad through the whole soul, filling it with the consciousness of his presence and favour” (see his Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans , 210). God wants our hearts to be inundated by wave after wave of his fatherly affection. This is why Paul can pray that we might “have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Eph. 3:18–19a).

God’s Love and Mercy: Embracing Divine Compassion and Grace Psalm 136:26 Youth Group Lesson

Welcome to today’s lesson, where we’re diving deep into a topic that’s not only relevant but crucial for teenagers in their faith journey: God’s Love and Mercy . As high school and middle school students, you face a world full of challenges, doubts, and uncertainties. In these times, understanding God’s boundless love and infinite mercy can be your anchor, guiding you through life’s ups and downs.

In this lesson, we’ll explore how God’s love and mercy are intertwined, how they shape our faith, and how we can embrace these divine qualities in our daily lives. Let’s start by turning to God’s Word.

Bible Reading 1: Psalm 136:26 (NIV)

“Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.”

Explanation For Teenagers:

God’s love is everlasting, it doesn’t fade or diminish.
His love is a constant source of comfort and strength.

Youth Group Discussion Questions :

What does it mean that God’s love endures forever?
How does knowing that God’s love is eternal impact your relationship with Him?
Can you share a personal experience when you felt God’s enduring love?

Bible Reading 2: Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT)

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.”

God’s mercy is an expression of His deep love for us.
It’s through His mercy that we are forgiven and made alive in Christ.
How does God’s mercy differ from human mercy?
What does it mean to be “made alive in Christ” because of His mercy?
Why is it important for us to understand God’s mercy in the context of our sins?

Youth Group Game: “Love and Mercy Relay”

Divide the youth into teams. Each team must complete a relay race where they carry a “Love” and “Mercy” baton. The “Love” baton represents acts of love, and the “Mercy” baton represents acts of forgiveness and compassion. Each team member shares a personal story of when they experienced God’s love or mercy before passing the baton to the next person. This game encourages personal reflection and sharing within the group.

Bible Reading 3: Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

God’s love and mercy are consistent and renewed daily.
His faithfulness is a testament to His unchanging nature.
How can understanding that God’s mercies are “new every morning” impact your daily life?
Why is it essential to rely on God’s faithfulness in challenging times?
Share a situation where you experienced God’s faithfulness in your life.

Bible Reading 4: Romans 5:8 (NIV)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s love is sacrificial and unconditional.
Christ’s death on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love and mercy.
How does Christ’s sacrifice on the cross illustrate God’s love and mercy?
What does it mean to you personally that God loved you even when you were in sin?
How can you reflect God’s love and mercy in your relationships with others?

Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before you today with hearts full of gratitude for your enduring love and boundless mercy. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, who showed us the ultimate example of love and mercy on the cross. Help us, as teenagers, to embrace these divine qualities in our lives, sharing your love and extending your mercy to those around us.

Guide us, Lord, as we face the challenges of adolescence, knowing that your love and mercy are our refuge and strength. May we grow in faith, trusting in your faithfulness, and living out your love in our daily interactions.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Remember, God’s love and mercy are the cornerstones of our faith, and as teenagers, you have the incredible opportunity to embody these qualities in your lives and share them with the world. Keep seeking His love and mercy, and you’ll find the strength to overcome any obstacle that comes your way.

Children’s Sermon on Forgiveness and Mercy from Matthew 18:21-35

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What Is Mercy and Why Do We Need It?

Mercy fuels compassion, providing promising glints of light in a darkened world. It’s kindness, forward forgiveness, and empathy. Mercy chooses not to be offended, and compassionately sees a hurting heart behind hurtful words. God’s mercy is reflected in the cross of Christ, a direct reflection of His love for us. Mercy is an extension of and expression of love, “an act of kindness, compassion, or favor.” Mercy is a characteristic of the One True God.

What Does the Bible Say Mercy Is?

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” ( Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)

God’s plan stems from His merciful love for His people. Knowing there was nothing we could do to earn our way into His presence, He made a way through the crucifixion of Christ. Defeating death, Jesus opened up access to God for us. Through prayer, God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit living in us, each day brings fresh new mercy. Every morning, God is faithful, even though every day, we fall short. Mercy is God’s gift to the repentant heart. The following verses define this element of God’s love:

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” ( Psalm 86:5 NIV )

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.” ( Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV)

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” ( Titus 3:5 NIV)

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What is God's Mercy?

The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy.” ( James 3:17 NLT)

God’s mercy is closely akin with forgiveness . What we do in response to God’s mercy sends an important message to the people in our lives. James is very clear in his letter that though deeds are not required to earn God’s favor, or to be a Christian, a repentant heart that loves God will surely be evident by the lives we live. In his article “Have Mercy on Me,” David Mathis says “When God shows his mercy, he does so with utter intentionality and strength , and we as his creatures get our deepest glimpse of who he is not just in his sovereignty but his goodness.”

God has chosen to be merciful to His people. Mercy is an expression of who He is, and His love for us. (Exodus 34:6-7)

What Are the Benefits of God's Mercy?

“Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because God is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” ( Luke 6:35-36 NIV )

The benefits of God’s mercy include peace, love, and joy. None of the behaviors Luke speaks of come naturally. In Christ, mercy and truth meet together. Christ-centered people see the world through His perspective, and His love flows through their lives. When we are merciful to others, it brings their hearts, and ours, joy. When we submit to His merciful ways, we choose to acknowledge peace. Apart from Christ this is impossible. Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning. Psalm 86:15 -16 says, “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength on behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you.”

“ Mercy” is a cornerstone characteristic of God, evidenced by its repetition in Scripture . It’s mentioned 262 times in the King James Version, 157 times in the English Standard Version, 99 times in the New American Standard Bible, 170 times in the Amplified Bible, and 146 in the New English Translation, according to Bible Gateway. However, it’s mentioned additionally as “mercies,” and “merciful.”

Are Mercy and Grace Related?

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” ( Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

Love is the common denominator between mercy and grace. “Mercy is what gets us out of trouble,” writes Dr. Ray Pritchard . “Grace gives us what we don’t deserve.” By grace Jesus saved us, and mercy flowed from Jesus last words, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” ( Luke 23:24 ). Mercy and grace, love and forgiveness are characteristics of the One True God, functioning in tandem as He sits sovereign on the throne of heaven . The mystery of our Triune God knits these traits together in a beautiful tapestry of redemption and restoration for all of us.

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Four Examples of Mercy in the Bible

1. the israelites in the desert.

“If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” ( Exodus 16:3 NIV )

God certainly chose to be merciful to His people; He loved them despite their rebellion and ungratefulness. God’s covenant with them was out of His mercy. He chose to bless them with what they did not deserve. “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” ( Exodus 16:12 NIV) He answered their complaints with food, water, protection and provision. The story of the Exodus is repeated many times in the Bible, and referenced in regards to many of the characteristics of God, including mercy.

2. King David

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love.” ( Psalm 51:1 NIV)

David, a man after God’s own heart, slayer of the giant Goliath and chosen king, committed adultery with someone else’s wife and then had her husband killed in battle ( 2 Samuel 11-12 ). Sin has the power to overtake even the most arduous followers of Christ. Consequences will always become our reality, as they were for David, but God will never falter in His mercy for us.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” ( Psalm 51:10 NIV). David pleaded, and God heard Him. “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die” ( 2 Samuel 12:13 NIV). Though the consequences for our bad choices are hard and harsh, our merciful God never leaves us.

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ … And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.” ( Acts 7:59-8 :1 NIV)

Paul, formerly Saul, supported the crusade against Christianity. He was responsible for the death of Christians. Then, he ran into Jesus. “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied” ( Acts 9:5 ). Saul was struck blind but opened his eyes to see Jesus. Jesus’ mercy to forgive him ignited his faith and propelled him forward. Paul went on to survive shipwrecks, jail, beatings, and other calamities, all the while writing letters to encourage the churches he was planting along the way. “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” ( Romans 1:1 NIV). Paul, in every letter he wrote, magnified mercy. He had experienced it firsthand.

4. The Adulterous Woman

“Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with His finger … But let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” ( John 8:6-8 NIV)

We don’t know what he was writing in the dust, but Jesus’ mercy spoke loud enough for all to hear and be convicted. The men scattered, and to the woman Jesus said, “’Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?’ ‘No, Lord,’ ” she said. And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no more’ ” ( John 8:10-11 NIV). Mercy is forgiveness and compassion extended to those who do not deserve it. The accusers and the adulterers. He chooses to extend mercy to us, and He is unchanging. We cannot fail our way out of God’s love.

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What Does Mercy Mean for Christians?

“ Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.” ( Proverbs 3:27 GNT)

Society is entrenched with entitlement alongside the ever-prevalent needy and oppressed. We are not to sit idle. “Our natural tendency is to act in sinful, selfish ways; it is only with a transformed heart that we can truly be merciful toward someone else,” writes Crosswalk.com editor Liz Kanoy. Mercy releases human understanding in order to adopt the command to love the people He places in our lives. Rick Warren wrote, in his article, “Seven Characteristics of Mercy,” that “learning to be an agent of mercy transforms our relationships.”

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” ( Matthew 5:7 ESV)

“ ‘God, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Jesus, have mercy.’ When we pray like that, we will find the mercy we need from God,” writes Dr. Ray Pritchard . Mercy allows us to experience love, forgiveness , compassion, peace and joy, whether we deserve it or not. When we see others striving to see the other side of someone’s anger, crossing a picket line to forgive, or pulling over to help a wandering soul, then love, encouragement, and joy permeate the thick fog of confusion and entitlement. In Crosswalk.com’s “First 15” daily devotional it says “We would be wholly lost if it weren’t for the abundant mercy of our heavenly Father.” He has mercy on us, so we are to have mercy on others.

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What Does Mercy Reveal About God's Character?

“Love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” ( Romans 13:10 NLT)

Mercy reveals how just and fair, yet loving and compassionate, God is. My anthem to my children is “You are always forgiven, and never loved less.”I don’t want them to associate who they are with the mistakes they are bound to make every day. Mistakes can do a number on our self-esteem if we don’t stop to breath “ Yahweh ” into our situations and remind ourselves we are His children.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need” ( Hebrews 4:16 ). We are forgiven because of God’s mercy. “ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even on a cross!” ( Philippians 2:8 NIV ). David Mathis writes “God’s mercy not only shows us who he is, but also tells us something about ourselves.” We are children of the One True God. He has written our names as citizens in heaven, by His mercy.

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A Prayer Thanking God for His Mercy

Today, we praise you for mercy. How you see us for who we are, mess and all, and choose to embrace us completely. Always forgiven, never loved less. We come to you with contrite hearts, praying for the redemptive stature you desire from our hearts, and forgiveness for the sins we commit daily. The mistakes we make are endless and forthcoming, making your mercy so important to our joy and hope. Daily, your mercies are new. Daily, we can come to you for forgiveness and know that we are still loved, called, and purposed. Thank you for the sacrificial death of Christ, which opened up the channel of communication through your Word and prayer. Send your Spirit to help us understand and embrace your truth, applying it to our everyday lives. Father, bless and heal our hurts. Bring healing to the pain that touches our lives, and the lives of those around us. Remind us daily, you are good.

In Jesus’ Name,

“Megs” writes about everyday life within the love of Christ. She stepped out of her comfort zone, and her Marketing career, to obey God’s call to stay home and be “Mom” in 2011. From that step of obedience her blog, Sunny&80, was born, a way to retain the funny everyday moments of motherhood. (https://sunnyand80.org) Meg is also a freelance writer and author of “Friends with Everyone.” She loves teaching God’s Word and leading her Monday morning Bible study, being a mom, distance running and photography. Meg resides in Northern Ohio with her husband, two daughters, and Golden-Doodle … all avid Cleveland Browns fans.

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The Love and Mercy of God Part One

The key Old Testament word for God’s mercy is hesed. Scholars have translated it frequently as “mercy” or “lovingkindness.”

Hesed appears 245 times within 27 books of the Old Testament, 1 indicating that mercy or lovingkindness (for brevity, I will usually refer to it as mercy) is a significant attribute of God.

The Relationship of God’s Love to His Mercy The Bible reveals that God’s love prompts His mercy. God said the following concerning Israel: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jer. 31:3). The word translated “lovingkindness” is hesed .

God’s mighty deliverance of the Israelites from their prolonged slavery in Egypt was an example of His mercy. Moses told them God’s love for them prompted His mercy on their behalf.

The Lᴏʀᴅ did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lᴏʀᴅ loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lᴏʀᴅ has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt (Dt. 7:7–8).

Consequently, Old Testament scholar Gerhard Wallis wrote, “The deeds Yahweh does in behalf of his people are to be explained out of his love for them.” 2

The Relationship of God’s Covenant Commitment to His Mercy Deuteronomy 7:7–8 indicates that God’s love for the people of Israel was not the only reason for His mercy toward them: He was committed to keeping the oath He had sworn to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Exodus 32:13 sheds light on that divine oath:

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, “I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.”

In that statement Moses referred to the promises that constituted the Abrahamic Covenant that God established forever and exclusively with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the people of Israel. The following passages also record these promises:

Genesis 15:5. God told Abraham, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Genesis 15:18. “On the same day the Lᴏʀᴅ made a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates.’”

Genesis 17:7–8. “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you [Abraham] and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

Genesis 17:19–21. After Abraham fathered a son named Ishmael, God declared the following: “Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.”

Genesis 28:13–14. Years later God promised Jacob, one of Isaac’s sons, “I am the Lᴏʀᴅ God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 35:10, 12. “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.”

In Exodus 32:13 Moses indicated that God swore these promises into effect by His “own self.” Many centuries later, the writer of the book of Hebrews referred to this significant fact: “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you’” (Heb. 6:13–14). He also explained the significance of God’s action: “For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath” (vv. 16–17).

This was God’s way of guaranteeing His irrevocable commitment to keeping His promises that constituted the covenant He established with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the nation of Israel forever.

Since that commitment was another reason for God’s mercy toward the people of Israel, it indicated that His attribute of lovingkindness would always be available to them.

Thus, when God’s Son was about to be born as the Messiah many centuries after Moses’ statement in Deuteronomy 7:7–8, something significant happened to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist:

Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham” (Lk. 1:67–73).

Zacharias’s Holy Spirit-prompted prophecy associated God’s mercy with the covenant God swore into effect with Abraham.

In light of the fact that God’s mercy for the people of Israel is the result of His love for them and His commitment to keeping the covenant that He swore into effect with their ancestors, Old Testament scholar D. N. Freedman correctly stated, “The word hesed is a covenant term most often meaning ‘covenant love.’…A relationship built on hesed is meant to be long-term. Hesed should be kept.” 3

Three Principles Involved in Mercy Old Testament scholar H. J. Zobel presented three aspects or principles involved in mercy or lovingkindness:

(1) It involves action that is prompted by an attitude. It is an act that protects or improves life; that alleviates suffering, calamity, loss, disappointment, and sorrow. 4

God’s attitudes that prompted His merciful actions for the Israelites were His love for them and His commitment to keep the covenant that He swore into effect with their ancestors.

(2) It always involves interpersonal relationships. 5

Moses indicated that God established a unique, interpersonal relationship with the people of Israel: “For you are a holy people to the Lᴏʀᴅ your God; the Lᴏʀᴅ your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Dt. 7:6).

(3) It must endure and be reliable throughout time for the sake of a tolerable interpersonal relationship. 6

King David wrote, “Who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people….You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lᴏʀᴅ, have become their God” (2 Sam. 7:23–24).

Because God’s mercy toward the people of Israel involves His commitment to keep His covenant with them, and because He established that covenant forever, He will never allow Israel to be annihilated. There will always be Jewish people to experience His mercy or lovingkindness.

God has promised that, despite Israel’s sins, it will never be destroyed.

In Deuteronomy 4:30–31, Moses told the Israelites,

When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lᴏʀᴅ your God and obey His voice (for the Lᴏʀᴅ your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

In Jeremiah 30:11 God said, “‘I am with you,’ says the Lᴏʀᴅ, ‘to save you; though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, and will not let you go altogether unpunished.’”

The apostle Paul told the Gentiles, “Concerning the gospel they [the people of Israel] are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:28–29).

H. J. Zobel, “hesed,” Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (hereafter cited as TDOT ), ed. G. Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, trans. David E. Green, translated from Theologisches Worterbuch zum Alten Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986), 5:45.
Gerhard Wallis, “ababh,” TDOT, ed. G. Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, trans. John T. Willis (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1974), 1:106.
D. N. Freedman and J. R. Lundbom, “hanan,” TDOT, ed. G. Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, trans. David E. Green (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986), 5:25.
H. J. Zobel, TDOT, 5:51.

(1936-2019) Renald E. Showers was a world-renowned professor, theologian, and author who served with The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry for more than 30 years. He retired shortly before the Lord called him home on April 4, 2019.

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Faith Forum: Does God show favoritism?

We posed our panel of distinguished religious leaders of the region the following question:

As it is generally believed among people of faith that God is in control, God does what God wants and God produces and sustains the universe; it is natural for many to conclude that in all perfection, God should treat everybody fairly and distribute God’s love equally.

But it appears to many that God does play favorites as they see widespread inequality among peoples and nations—wealthy and poor, free and bonded, healthy and sick, etc. Sometimes many tend to feel that God favors and blesses undeserving people and nations. Sometimes one also wonders: Is God impartial in God’s evaluation of me?

Many of us sometimes conclude that “life is not fair”, but still hold out to the expectation that God will ultimately be fair to us.

What is the formula to become God’s favorite? Are there any conditions to be met before one is even considered?

Here is what they have to say:

NO FAVORITES

Stephen B. Bond, Senior Pastor of Summit Christian Church, Sparks

The Bible declares that “God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11). God loves everyone equally. There is nothing we can ever do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can ever do that will make God love us less.

Yet even though we’re loved by God, we still have a dire dilemma. Every human being is less than perfect and cut off from God because of our sin. But God took dramatic action to rescue us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Thus, to receive the full benefits of God’s lavish love requires belief. Believing in Jesus is essential to be adopted as God’s child. “…those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

AN UNFAIR CREATOR?

Kenneth G. Lucey, UNR philosophy/religion professor

It is obvious to anyone who thinks about it that some people are “favored” over others. Some are more beautiful, intelligent, or lucky, etc. than others. This is a fact of life. A theist believes that there is a divine being called God who created everything. God shows favoritism in creating different people with different degrees of beauty, talent, intelligence, etc. Not all religions accept that view. Some of the oldest religions subscribe to a doctrine of karma , in which people are responsible for their own condition from one reincarnation to another. Behave badly in one life and in subsequent lives you’ll pay the price, because of your accumulated karma . The atheist does not have to account for the “favored” status of some human beings. She does not believe that there is any deity responsible for the distribution of favors. Theists must wonder why God treats some people so unfairly.

ONLY FAITH & PIETY

Sherif A. Elfass, Northern Nevada Muslim Community President

God is never unjust. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “In the Sight of Allah, all people are equal, and the only superiority anyone can have over anyone else is his fear of Allah and faith in Him.” it is inevitably that some of us will experience some adversity in this life. However, that does not mean that God does not love us. Because if this is the case, then how about God’s Prophets, who are the most beloved persons to Him. They also suffered the unimaginable depth of adversity in order for them to fulfill their Devine missions. It is all a test. Allah says in the Quran: “And We shall test you until We make evident those who strive their utmost and persevere in patience,” [47:31]. Meanwhile, those who believe in Allah, do good deeds and abstain from bad deeds are the winners in this life and the hereafter.

GOD’S LOVE IS UNIVERSAL

Matthew F. Cunningham, Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno Chancellor

Even though Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden after the fall, God promised that he would not abandon the human race but would restore the relationship between humanity and himself. Abraham and his descendants, the Hebrew people, were God’s “chosen people” through whom redemption would be accomplished. Jesus, however, sent his followers to bring the “Good News” of salvation and God’s love to all: Jew and Gentile alike.

God shows no favoritism and his love extends to all people. Yet the Scriptures clearly speak of God’s preferential concern for the vulnerable: orphans, widows, the ill, the lame, the destitute, the homeless, and the alien among us. A concern we must share. God’s graces and benefits are available to anyone who, in faith, tries to live in accord with his commandments. We have freedom and can choose God or not. God cannot be manipulated with special formulas.

UNIVERSAL SANGHA RELATIONS

Jikai’ Phil Bryan, Reno Buddhist Center Priest & Meditation Guide

For Buddhists, “God” is not active. Buddhists live by “natural laws,” including Karma (action, cause, and effect). Everything is up to us both individually and cooperatively. People and societies, not Nature, show favoritism. Natural laws are driven by neutral forces. Spinoza, Einstein, Suzuki and many modernists have called Nature --God. The only way to overcome any perceived “unfairness” is through cooperation, education, and working together for improvements. Buddhists call such cooperative work “Sangha Relations.” If we treat Nature and each other poorly, suffering eventually results for everyone. Much imputed “unfairness” is simply neutral nature in action. The recent chemical spill (no blame intended) in West Virginia contaminated water for thousands who were “innocent.” Only people can “fix” such problems through improved understanding and controls. Droughts occur naturally in nature and through “natural” human impacts. “God” is innocent. Right Effort means better human relations. That’s Buddhism.

RIGHTEOUS ARE FAVORED OF GOD

Sharla S. Hales, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints area public affairs director

Our Heavenly Father loves all of us, without regard to social class, physical characteristics, or other irrelevant distinction. He does, however, bless or “favor” those who keep his commandments and walk humbly through life: “Behold the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God.” 1 Nephi 17:35.

God invites all to enjoy the blessings of righteousness. These blessings naturally flow from obedience to the principles that will bring them: “when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” Doctrine and Covenants 130:21. For instance, when we are honest we are blessed with peace of mind.

God’s blessings are not necessarily material wealth or an easy life. Sometimes what we need most is not ease, but challenge. God’s blessings then come in the form of tender mercies as we meet our challenges with his grace.

AFFLICTION OF THE FAVORED

ElizaBeth W. Beyer, N. Tahoe Hebrew Congregation & Temple Beth Or Rabbi

Who are G-d’s favorites? Those who yearn for G-d are special, but one should be careful of one’s wishes or yearnings. The path to G-d is not easy. More often, it is filled with suffering. Sages say G-d provides “yissurin shel ahavah” (sufferings of love) to those G-d cares about, for the purpose of benefiting the recipient. Brachot 5a. G-d polishes us up through challenges.

Rav Solovetchik says, “The pangs of searching and groping, the tortures of spiritual crises …sanctify man. Out of these torments there emerges a new understanding… a powerful spiritual enthusiasm.” One’s spiritual stature is formed by the pain endured on the spiritual journey. As one may imagine, such “favoritism” may not be the source of pleasure, but just the contrary. Thus, the Sages state that an individual may choose to avoid the afflictions and their accompanying rewards.

GOD GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL

Stephen R. Karcher, St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church Presiding Priest

God does indeed show favor, and our Saints show that he has favorites. However, it’s to the entire world that he demonstrates his love by sharing his life. In fact, just being called into existence is a special gift of his kindness. Certainly there are challenges in this world, but we’re meant to become citizens of Paradise. Knowing this I can acknowledge that my sense of justice isn’t the same as divine justice, that what I think I want isn’t necessarily identical to what God knows I need, that my ideas of prosperity are much different than treasure from heaven, and that misfortune and hardship don’t automatically indicate God’s displeasure with me. There are holy men and women who’ve learned that their decisions in life count, and who choose to move ever-closer to God. In this way they’re blessed to experience more of his favor, more peace and more grace.

UNITY IS THE CONDITION

Bradley S. Corbin, Bahá’í teacher

“All the inhabitants of earth are recipients of the bounty of the one phenomenal sun, and none are preferred above others; so, likewise, all receive the heavenly bestowals of the Word of God; none are specialized as favorites.” Abdu’l-Baha

The strife of everyday life and religious disagreements veil the simple purity and beauty of God’s blessings and cloud His light so that disunion results. To receive God’s favors we must make use of our intelligence and reason so that we may dissipate the clouds from our hearts, recognize the oneness of all the Prophets and focus on divine questions. As an example: a seed produces a tree, from that tree another tree can be produced. Therefore, the seed is an expression of the whole tree. We are a seed of mankind; we each express the whole, living in this condition of unity we receive of God’s favors.

Guest panelist

WHAT IS LOCUS & NATURE OF GOD

Rebecca H. Allen, Circle’s Edge Center for Spiritual Living Senior Minister

Asking if God plays favorites presupposes the intrinsic nature and location of God. The question suggests that God is vindictive and judgmental. My faith presumes a kind, loving deity, dwelling within all things. All of humanity, the earth and the cosmos are the sacred locus of the Divine.

Given this perspective of the loving, inclusive nature of the Creator, we come to the conclusion that Spirit is caring, adoring and present in all creation. It is unfair to suggest God embraces one and rejects another. To hint at a punitive deity who shows favoritism and demands redemptive behavior before bestowing blessings, is disrespectful of the true, loving, unified essence of the Divine.

Inequity and injustice occur when humans believe in, and perpetuate, separation and disparity. Divine love, comfort and peace are available to all. To catch the winds of Grace, however, we must raise our sails.

Next week’s topic:

Why Nevada ranks very low on religiosity?

NOTE FOR READERS: If you have any suggestions/comments on Faith Forum or you would like to have a question answered in a future Faith Forum, you can contact Rajan Zed at [email protected]

Faith Forum is a weekly dialogue on religion coordinated by Rajan Zed.

How God Loves Us: Rich in Mercy, Ephesians 2:4-5

His love for you is so deep that in his mercy, while you were yet a sinner, God sent his only begotten Son to die for you.

Ephesians 2:4-5, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

These two verses are a treasure trove of theological phrasing that contain words and concepts we use often but may not always understand. A word like “love” is very common to us, and we likely could define its meaning in both the common every day and theological usages. So, when the text tells us that God has “great love for us,” we likely know exactly what that means. We have been loved, and we have loved. We have sacrificed for love and benefited from the loving sacrifices of others on our behalf. We have an internal concept of love and a lived reality to point to when God says he has great love for us.

But the same isn’t necessarily true when it comes to the ideas of “mercy” and “grace,” especially when paired with the idea of “being dead in our transgressions.” Mercy is an ethereal legal idea usually connected to transgressors in need of leniency toward a just sentence.” Thus, the criminal throws themselves on the mercy of the court. But are we criminals in the eyes of God? And if so, why does God love us?

Grace is even less specific. In Roman Catholicism, it is a thing––a substance even––controlled by the Church by means of the sacramental system. For us, it’s a word we hear a lot that seems to convey the exact same thing as mercy. God has mercy on us; thus, he is gracious. But is this the correct definition of grace? And if so, again, why do we need God’s grace? And again, if I need God’s grace, what is there within me for God to love?

So, what is mercy and what is grace, and how do these ideas relate to our transgressional death and God’s inconceivable love? Consider thinking of it this way. God, because of your Holy Spirit-given and sustained, faith in Christ, sees you not as you are but as Christ is. He no longer holds your sin and wickedness against you but instead looks at you and, for the sake of Christ, says well done, my good and faithful servant. His grace is an attitude on his part where he showers his love on you and calls you his child.

What is mercy and what is grace, and how do these ideas relate to our transgressional death and God’s inconceivable love?

Now, this is an act of mercy on his part. He did not have to forgive your sins. Nothing required him to apply Christ’s atoning sacrifice to you. No “law of the universe,” or some such thing, demanded he set aside your wickedness, sin, and corruption for the sake of Christ. He was under no obligation to forgive you for the sin of Adam that remains in you, or your own heartfelt sin, nor the sins you daily commit against him. But he does. The mercy we speak of here, then is not legal; it is out of love. We do not throw ourselves on God’s mercy, for our sin would prevent even this act. He is merciful to us because he loves us, even when we so often do not want that love. He is a merciful God, and we are but recipients of his loving mercy.

So why does God have mercy on you and shower his grace over you? Two reasons, really. One, because he promised he would. He promised the serpent in the garden, way back in Genesis, that Eve’s offspring would crush the power of sin, death, and the devil; “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen. 3:15). The last part of that verse prophecies that the cost for this act of mercy on God’s part would be great. And as we head into Lent, we will remember for several weeks what it cost. But the end would be the atoning death of Christ for we sinners, and his resurrection as the first fruits of our life everlasting.

The second reason God showers his grace upon you and shows you mercy is found in the first part of our verse for today. “But because of his great love for us…” God loves you. He created you. He sustains you in this daily life. He wants peace, happiness, and everlasting life for you. Martin Luther says this about him in his explanation to the First Article of the Creed in his Small Catechism :

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that he has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses, and still preserves them; in addition thereto, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and homestead, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that he provides me richly and daily with all that I need to support this body and life, protects me from all danger, and guards me and preserves me from all evil; and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I owe it to Him to thank, praise, serve, and obey him.

His love for you is so deep that in his mercy, while you were yet a sinner, God sent his only begotten Son to die for you. And now, because of that death and resurrection for you, God shows you grace. He sends a preacher into your life to proclaim his Gospel into your ears. That Gospel comes with the power of the Holy Spirit, who creates and sustains faith in your heart. That God-given faith then makes you “alive with Christ.”

So, then we can understand, believe, and confess this verse with all confidence. In God’s rich mercy, he loves us, and it is solely on account of his grace that we are saved. This is the love of God for you, a sinner-saint bound for glory because of Christ.

Love of God
Death of Christ
Jesus Christ
How God Loves Us

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Homiletic & Pastoral Review

America's foremost pastoral publication. Since 1900.

Submissions

Mary, Mother of Mercy. Christ the Power of Merciful Love

Merciful love is a strong love, is capable of withstanding the cross, both difficulties and challenges.

Where does the title, “Mary, Mother of Mercy,” come from? We have many popular prayers that speak of Mary as Mother of Mercy. For example, “Hail holy Queen, Mother of mercy” … and, later: “turn, then, your eyes of mercy towards us.” In another prayer, the Memorare , we hear : “To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful, O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions but in your mercy, hear and answer me.” Moreover, in the lives of the saints, we hear Mary referred to as “Mother of mercy.” Once, St. Maria Faustina Kowalska had a vision of the Blessed Mother. Mary said to Sr. Faustina: “I am not only the Queen of Heaven, but also the Mother of Mercy, and your Mother” ( Diary of St. Faustina ,330). Also, Pope John Paul II refers to Mary as Mother of Mercy in his 1980 encyclical, Dives in Misericordia :

Mary is also the one who obtained mercy in a particular and exceptional way … Mary, then, is the one who has the deepest knowledge of the mystery of God’s mercy. She knows its price, she knows how great it is. In this sense, we call her the “Mother of mercy” (§9).

Note that the Hebrew word for mercy, rahamim , comes from rehem , a mother’s womb. God’s mercy must have something of a maternal warmth about it—unconditional, intimate, and nurturing love, symbolized by a mother’s womb. God’s mercy is, therefore, tender and affectionate, life-giving and indispensable. God chose Mary to reveal this merciful love to us. Therefore, we need Mary in our lives as Christians. Many people, many sects, will tell you that you don’t need Mother Mary. Have you heard that? One elderly Jesuit I know told me once that some people were arguing about how we don’t need Mary in order to know Jesus. They told him to go directly to Jesus. He replied that God has given us Mary for a reason, suggesting finally: “Okay, you go directly to Jesus; I will go through Mary. And we will see who gets there first!”

God has given us a mother for a reason. At the foot of the cross, Jesus said to his beloved disciple, St. John: “Here is your Mother,” and he said to Mary: “Here is your son” (Jn 19:27). Mary was able to stand firm at the foot of the cross—a merciful love is a strong love! Merciful love is capable of withstanding the cross; capable of withstanding difficulties and challenges. How many times in our lives are we in need of that firm and strong love of Mother Mary?

Do you know the statue by Michaelangelo, called the Pieta ? Mary is holding the dead body of Jesus in her hands. The left hand is small and feminine, but the right hand is under Jesus, supporting the weight of his body. What does it mean? It means that the love of Mary is gentle and feminine, yet, also strong and firm. It is a love that does not give up. St Paul even said that love believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things—the mercy of God, likewise, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.

Through Mary, the divine life is born in us In those words, spoken by Chris from the cross, “This is your son,” Mary is given her mission: to form the image and likeness of Christ in each of her children. In some ways, the mercy she shares with us is to help form the face of Christ in us. It helps me to imagine a mother’s womb. What is a mother’s womb? It is the place where new life grows, where the growing child is nourished, nurtured and protected. Mary, our Mother, desires that the life of Christ grows in us, his divine life in us grows and becomes strong. When we come to Mary, Mother of mercy, when we ask for her help, what is it for? Is it to help the life of Jesus grow in us? Is it so that we can become more Christ-like?

Approaching our Mother of mercy—she is also our Lady of Perpetual help—it is not only to ask for material help. “Mary, help me to pass my board exam to be a doctor.” But, afterwards, when I do become a doctor, is it to really reflect Christ? Or, is it just to become rich? To ask for material help from Mary is fine. But afterwards, do I forgive others?

Sometimes, in coming to Mother Mary, we treat her like a first aid kit. What is a first aid kit? I go and get the medicine, like the Omega lotion for back pain. In treating Mother Mary like a first aid kit, we are just coming to her in emergencies, for more money, for health. But, Mary wants to give us, not merely the Omega lotion, but the Alpha and the Omega , Jesus himself. Do you think it pleases our Mother if we come to her, ask for blessings, and then go home where we scold our children, shout at our husbands, and curse those who work for us?

Through Mary, Christ is born in us, Christ matures in us The desire of Mother Mary is to see that each one of us grows up as her children: growing up in faith, growing up in charity. If we draw close to her, she will teach us how to be more mature in our following Christ. For many years, I lived my faith in a very immature way. I did not know Jesus; I felt distant from him. I went to Church on Sunday, but I did not know Jesus. I was working as a doctor, a surgeon. Many people would admire me for my career: “Wow, you are a surgeon, a plastic surgeon!” I was doing my work and being praised. But my love was quite immature. It needed to grow up. I remember saying a prayer before a job interview, one of those prayers when you make a promise to Mary: “Mother Mary, I want this job. Seeing as it is for three years, I will go to Lourdes three times as payment.” It is like making a business deal with her! So, I went to the interview, got the job, and, then, forgot the promise. What happens when you forget the promise you make? Bad luck? Mary is the Mother of Mercy, remember? A year later, I walked into a church, where I saw a poster which read: “Doctors needed for Lourdes!” with a big finger pointing at me. Next to the poster, there was a statue of the Virgin of Lourdes! “Okay,” I said. “I surrender. You win. I’m going!”

I was so very cautious to get to know the love of God. I don’t know about you, but sometimes, we are so afraid of God’s mercy: “What will he ask me? He will take something away. He will make me do something I don’t want.” These are all signs of immaturity in love. It is the selfish, adolescent syndrome: “Gimme, gimme, gimme…!” But, little by little, Mary was teaching me how to trust more in the Lord, to trust in his mercy over my life. She taught me not to be so stingy in front of him! I learned, instead, to be more generous. In that experience of Lourdes, Mother Mary helped open my eyes to the power of Christ’s merciful love in my life. When I went back home after my time in Lourdes, many of my colleagues were teasing me about seeing miracles. Some people only believe if they see miracles. They asked: “Did you see the lame walking? Did you see the deaf hear?” So I responded: “Yes! I saw a blind person opening his eyes.” What? Even the atheists responded: “Thanks be to God!” But the miracle was that I opened my eyes, and saw the need for the mercy of God. That is what the world needs, as well: to experience the power of Christ’s merciful love. This love can fix our brokenness.

The merciful love of Christ can fix the brokenness of this world I went back to work in Sydney, Australia, and saw things differently. I remember one man coming into the hospital after cutting his wrists, because he did not want to live. He was broken. We went to the operating room at midnight, and the surgery took eight hours, sewing all the tendons and nerves together. When I went to visit him the next day, I told him he should be pleased that it went well. “You should be happy, we fixed your hand,” I said. But he just started to cry, saying: “Who will fix my life?”

What can fix a person who is broken? The answer is, the mercy of God will fix it. We have many people who have been badly treated by the world, who have been abused. They feel hurt and wounded. Is there a love powerful enough to heal them? Recently, Cardinal Rosales published a pastoral letter for all the churches in Manila on the topic of abortion. He was prompted by three recent cases where babies were abandoned: one on an airplane, one in a church, and the other in the Manila cathedral. There is so much brokenness around. Is there a love strong enough to heal the brokenness and misery?

Where God’s mercy meets human misery The Latin word for mercy, misericordia , is derived from two words, “poor” and “heart.” As such, misericordia is where the merciful heart of God meets the misery of man. Where does this happen? In Jesus, in his crucified love, he receives all the human misery, pouring out his merciful love on the world. The cross is like a great yellow ribbon; a visible sign of God’s love for us. This mercy can heal the brokenness of the world of today! This merciful love can put back the broken pieces, making the person whole again.

We have many examples of this, for instance, look at the life of St Paul: “I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated” (1Tim 1:12-13). In fact, he was present at the execution of St. Stephen, but look at the transformation that God made in his life. When each one of us looks at our own life carefully, we can see what the mercy of God has done for us; it has made us new! If we are here today (at this pastoral conference), it is because of the mercy of God. Sometimes, we think it is because of our own merits! “I am a good person, a good Christian!” But, we are not just called to sing our own praises, but to recognize God’s work in our lives.

To be sharers of God’s mercy to others In Lk 6:36, Jesus gives us a commandment: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” We are called to be instruments of God’s mercy, revealing the power of God’s mercy in our lives. It is not only to experience mercy, but that others can experience his mercy through our lives. Do people experience God’s mercy through me? For example, if I keep a record of all the wrongs done to me, is this being merciful? Merciful love does not keep a record of wrongs done against me (1 Cor 13:6). We need to see others with the eyes of mercy. We pray to Mary, “Turn, then, your eyes of mercy towards us.” We know that Jesus looks at us with eyes of mercy. But what if we look at others with eyes of revenge? Do you think that makes Jesus happy? Be merciful! How do we see others? Do we see them with the merciful eyes of Jesus? When you look at others, what do you see? Do you see Christ? If you see Christ, why do you so easily get angry with others? Even the children experience this anger; so many times they are shouted at!

Jesus asks us also to show merciful love by reaching out to the “lost” ones, too. In his parables of mercy, he talks of the lost son, the lost coin, and the lost sheep. He wishes us to seek out the lost until they are found, in the same way that we have been found. Sometimes in our families we have black sheep, who may have not performed so well. Jesus invites us to seek out these lost ones, and not give up for lost anyone we know. It reminds me of Edison and his assistant. His assistant was asked to carry out to him the world’s first light bulb, but he dropped it! Edison asked him a second time, and his assistant was surprised that Edison still trusted him to carry the first light bulb that Edison created. The inventor said that he trusted him because “you will be the one who will take the most care now.”

One family I know is struggling because their son has just come out of rehabilitation. They are trying to show their son God’s merciful love, continuing to support him, even though he is a bit troublesome. Another mother I know is trying to show God’s mercy to her children who no longer go to Mass.

Let us not be discouraged by any situation. Instead, let us rely, more and more, on God’s mercy, believing that Christ’s merciful love is powerful. May we be thankful that we have a God who loves us so much, being able to say “thank you” for his great mercy! In French, the word for “thank you” is “ merci !” So, we are able to say “ merci !” for God’s mercy, to say “thank you” to our Lord for the gift of our Mother, our Mother of mercy, who desires that Christ’s love be mature in us. Let us give thanks to Jesus, who asks us to be merciful to others. He desires that our families be as good as they can be, that we try to love each other as much as we can. He does not want us to become discouraged by our limitations, but rely, more and more, on the merciful love of Christ, which he has for each one of us. Amen.

Fr. James McTavish, FMVD, MD, STL, is a Verbum Dei missionary, currently assigned in Rome as a General Counselor of his community. He is originally from Scotland. He did his undergraduate studies in medicine at Cambridge University, England. He graduated as a medical doctor in 1992, pursuing a career in surgery, eventually gaining his fellowship in general surgery with the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. While specializing in pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery, he met the Verbum Dei missionaries in Sydney, Australia. He entered religious life in 1999, spending his formation years in Cebu and Mindanao, Philippines, before finishing his studies in Rome, receiving a license in moral theology from the Accademia Alfonsiana (Redemptorist Higher Institute of Moral Theology in Rome) and a MA in bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, Rome. He has published various articles in the Linacre Quarterly (of the Catholic Medical Association, USA) as well as for the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. He combines his teaching with an active apostolate, helping to form the laity in prayer and evangelization.

Awesome Blog

Fr. James, You wrote “Through Mary, the divine life is born in us In those words, spoken by Christ from the cross, “This is your son,” Mary is given her mission: to form the image and likeness of Christ in each of her children. In some ways, the mercy she shares with us is to help form the face of Christ in us…” Why don’t we see the authors of the New Testament teaching that Mary is our mother and that she has mercy to share with us?

But we do see it! Read John 19:27. Anyway, as Catholics we do not rely on Scripture alone, but we also have the Tradition of the Church and the Magisterium to help us interpret Scripture. All agree – Mary is our Mother!

Thank you, Fr. McTavish, for this article. The whole article is well-worth the reading and the prayerful pondering that it provokes. I am especially grateful for this one bit of information that forms and informs so much of the theology of the article: “Note that the Hebrew word for mercy, rahamim, comes from rehem, a mother’s womb. God’s mercy must have something of a maternal warmth about it—unconditional, intimate, and nurturing love, symbolized by a mother’s womb.”

If I ever did understand God’s mercy, my understanding has been radically altered and enhanced by this one data point in the divine revelation of His mercy, as received by and as transmitted through His Hebrew people. Mercy is then the “feminine” side of His love, HIs condescending and uplifting love, His love as seen in the maternal love of a mother. Beautiful, and very pregnant with meaning and implication.

[…] Mary, Mother of Mercy, Christ the Power of Merciful Love – Fr. Jame McTavish, H&PR […]

[…] Mary, Mother of Mercy. Christ the Power of Merciful LoveWhere does the title, “Mary, Mother of Mercy,” come from? We have many popular prayers that speak of Mary as Mother of Mercy. For example, “Hail holy Queen, Mother of mercy” … and, later: “turn, then, your eyes of mercy towards us.” In another prayer, the Memorare, we hear: “To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful, O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions but in your mercy, hear and answer me.” Moreover, in the lives of the saints, we hear Mary referred to as “Mother of mercy.” Once, St. Maria Faustina Kowalska had a vision of the Blessed Mother. Mary said to Sr. Faustina: “I am not only the Queen of Heaven, but also the Mother of Mercy, and your Mother” (Diary of St. Faustina,330).…more […]

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A Close Look at the Meaning of God's Love

Exploring the hebrew word khesed.

God loves you. In fact, God’s love is so amazing and enduring that there is an entire poem enthusiastically celebrating God’s love in the Bible . You’ll find it in Psalm 118. The poem begins and ends with this line:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

The Hebrew word translated as “love” in Psalm 118 is khesed .

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his khesed endures forever.

Translating Khesed

Let’s take a closer look at the word khesed . You may have seen this word before spelled as “ chesed .” The problem with this spelling for English speakers is that we will likely pronounce the “ch” like the beginning of the word “cheese.” But in Hebrew, the sound is in the back of your throat like you are lightly coughing. That is why we spell it as “ khesed .” The “ kh ” is to remind you to do that little back of the throat tickle.

There is no good English translation for the word khesed , as we don’t have a word in English that encompasses all of the nuanced meaning of the Hebrew word. Khesed is a type of affection you have for someone, but it’s more than affection. It’s also a loyal commitment to be generous to that person for the long run. Can you think of an English word that captures that meaning? Bible translators have been trying to figure it out for generations. And you can see this by how many different translations have been done for this important Hebrew word.

The most famous use of khesed is in Exodus 34:6, where God calls himself “ compassionate , gracious , slow to anger , abounding in khesed and faithfulness.” Take a look at the different translations of khesed in this verse.

The Wycliff Bible (late 1300s) translates khesed as “steadfast love.” A modern translation, the ESV, uses this same phrase.

The King James Bible (early 1600s) translates khesed as “goodness.” The Geneva Bible, from the same time period, uses this same word.

Young’s Literal Translation (1862) translates khesed as “kindness.”

The World English Bible (1901) uses two words in their translation, “loving kindness.”

The NASB (1960s) translates khesed as “faithfulness.”

The NIV (1978) simply translates khesed as “love.”

Notice the different choices over generations: steadfast love, goodness, kindness, loving kindness, faithfulness, love. When we come across such a large discrepancy in translations, this tells us that the Hebrew word is unique and can’t quite be captured with any one word.

At BibleProject, we use our own translation of khesed , loyal love .

Yahweh, Yahweh, a God compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loyal love and faithfulness.

Khesed is a kind of love you can depend on. When we long for love, what we are really longing for is khesed . Affection can come and go, and it doesn’t satisfy our innate need to be loved without condition. What we really want is a loyal affection not driven by strict or begrudging obligation but by deep compassion.

When we treat someone as a close friend or family member, doing what is necessary to ensure their well-being and the health of the relationship, we can call that an act of khesed . While the action may be an obligation or duty, khesed also refers to the emotional motivation of love that drives overabundant expressions of generosity and care.

Khesed assumes a pre-existing relationship and refers to actions that demonstrate loyalty to that relationship—to preserve and protect it and allow it to flourish. Khesed does not refer to any one specific type of action. Rather, khesed describes a posture in the relationship that can be expressed through many different acts.

In the Bible, we see humans show khesed to one another. Here are a few key examples. Jacob asks his sons to show khesed by promising to bury him in his homeland, which would require a pilgrimage out of Egypt (Genesis 47:29). Ruth , an immigrant, loses her husband and children but decides to stay committed to her mother-in-law, which is described as an act of khesed (Ruth 1:8; 3:10).

God's Loyal Love

While we see these acts of khesed throughout the Bible, the one who shows the most khesed is God . The Bible introduces us to a God who has a generous commitment to his human partners. Throughout the story of the Bible , humans continually show how faithless, selfish, and self-sabotaging they are, but the Bible makes clear how enduring God’s khesed is for us.

In the story of the Bible, God’s khesed is focused on one family, the family of Abraham. God pours his khesed out on them even when they don’t deserve it. He does this because he wants them to become the type of people who can take God’s khesed to all nations.

God shows khesed to Abraham’s family time and again. Jacob is a great example of God’s loyalty to this family. Jacob lies and cheats and steals, yet God upholds his covenant to Jacob. And Jacob recognizes how unworthy he is of that treatment.

I am unworthy of all the khesed and of all the faithfulness which you have shown to your servant.

The entire nation of Israel consistently rebels against God, despite his continued deliverance and forgiveness. Eventually, they are made to wander in the wilderness as a result of not trusting God, but God, in his khesed , is moved to rescue them.

In your khesed you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Please forgive the guilt of this people in accordance with the greatness of your khesed , just as you also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

Despite their rebellion God forgives them, which is called an act of khesed . Later, the entire nation of Israel rebels against God again, and they are exiled to Babylon. During these dark times, Israel’s prophets look at God’s past acts of khesed as the basis for hope of future khesed and their rescue from exile.

Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face And forget our misery and oppression? We are brought down to the dust; Our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up and help us; Rescue us because of your unfailing khesed .

God continues to show abundant khesed to Israel because through them, he will show his khesed to all the nations. This leads us to Jesus. He came to fulfill God’s relationship with Israel by being the faithful human who lives every day in the security of God’s khesed and succeeds in showing khesed back to God. Jesus is the embodiment of God’s khesed . God’s relentless, loyal love arrives in Jesus, and his affection for us drives him to give us the ultimate act of loyal love in his life, death, and resurrection.

BibleProject is a nonprofit ed-tech organization and animation studio that produces 100% free Bible videos, podcasts, articles, classes, and educational Bible resources to help make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere.

A Reflection on Mercy: God’s Everlasting Mercy

April 26, 2016

by Sister Marcella Nachreiner

Mercy is who God is. It is love’s other name. Mercy is forgiveness.

God is more interested in our future than in our past. He takes past sins seriously but never as the last word. God wants each of us to become the best person he wills us to be and this requires conversion — a change of heart. Genuine mercy believes God’s grace has the power to transform us. God does not owe us forgiveness. Nor does God’s mercy license us to continue to sin — it demands a response to go and from now on sin no more (John 8:11). God’s mercy motivates us to do better.

God’s forgiveness is an easy thing to obtain. One needs only to ask. God forgives — he opens his loving arms and grants mercy. He gives love away.

We do not have to feel guilty over the reality of our human frailty. God is not going to sternly judge us. No, God is running down the road toward us, eager to wrap his arms around us and kiss it better. The enormity of God’s love, which is so vast it is beyond measure or comprehension, creates in us an awareness of the depth of our inadequacy. But that awareness does not trigger feelings of unworthiness. Rather it creates a sense of poverty which allows us to trust fully in God and willingly accept his bountiful love.

Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts of the spiritual life. It enables us to be released from the sorrows of the past and reminds us to forgive others without hesitation, without question. Without question is hard to do, which only illustrates more clearly God’s love. Forgiveness simply says that we will never put someone out of our heart.

Jesus says “Be merciful, just as the Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

Our holy father St. Francis who was touched by God — filled by God, burned with a desire to help others believe in their goodness. He invites us today to rebuild our lives in the image of God, whispering in our ears ever so gently, God is waiting for your response.

We believe Pope Francis’ and St. Francis’ mission is clear: help people find reconciliation with themselves, others and God. Day by day rebuild individual lives, communities and the world.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s Second Homily as Pope Francis

Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I think—and I say it with humility — that this is the Lord’s most powerful message: mercy …. It is not easy to entrust oneself to God’s mercy, because it is an abyss beyond our comprehension. But we must! “Oh Father, if you knew my life, you would not say that to me!” “Why, what have you done?” “Oh, I am a great sinner!” “All the better! Go to Jesus: he likes you to tell him these things!” He forgets, he has a very special capacity for forgetting. He forgets, he kisses you, he embraces you and he simply says to you: “Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). That is the only advice he gives you. After a month, if you are in the same situation …. Let us go back to the Lord. The Lord never tires of forgiving: never! It is we who tire of asking his forgiveness. Let us ask for the grace not to tire of asking forgiveness, because he never tires of forgiving. Let us ask for this grace.

Learn more about the Year of Mercy. >

Signs of Hope! – Mercy Works!

A Reflection on Mercy: A Time for Humble Listening

A Reflection on Mercy: Called to Live God’s Mercy

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Home > Theology and Spirituality > What Is The Difference Between God’s Love, Mercy, And Grace

Theology and Spirituality

What Is The Difference Between God’s Love, Mercy, And Grace

Published: March 6, 2024

Written by: Gisella Nystrom

Discover the distinctions between God's love, mercy, and grace in theology and spirituality. Explore the profound meanings and significance of each divine attribute.

(Many of the links in this article redirect to a specific reviewed product. Your purchase of these products through affiliate links helps to generate commission for Christian.net, at no extra cost. Learn more )

Understanding god's love, exploring god's mercy, the meaning of god's grace.

God's love is a central theme in many religious traditions, and it is often described as unconditional, all-encompassing, and eternal. Understanding God's love involves recognizing that it is not based on our actions or worthiness, but rather on the nature of God Himself. This love is often portrayed as a selfless, sacrificial, and unchanging force that seeks the well-being and flourishing of all creation. It is a love that surpasses human understanding and is believed to be the foundation of the relationship between the divine and the human.

Unconditional Nature : God's love is often described as unconditional, meaning that it is not dependent on our behavior or actions. This concept is a source of comfort and reassurance for many believers, as it signifies that God's love is constant and unwavering, regardless of our shortcomings or mistakes.

All-Encompassing : God's love is said to extend to all of creation, embracing every individual, regardless of their background, beliefs, or actions. This inclusive nature of God's love is a powerful and comforting notion for many, as it signifies that no one is beyond the reach of divine love and compassion.

Eternal and Unchanging : The eternal nature of God's love means that it transcends time and is not subject to fluctuations or conditions. This aspect of God's love provides a sense of security and stability, as it implies that God's love is steadfast and enduring, regardless of the circumstances.

Selfless and Sacrificial : God's love is often depicted as selfless and sacrificial, exemplified in the willingness to give without expecting anything in return. This aspect of God's love serves as a model for believers, encouraging them to embody selflessness and compassion in their own lives.

Understanding God's love involves embracing these aspects and recognizing that it is a force that shapes and sustains the universe, offering hope, comfort, and guidance to those who seek it.

Read more : What Is A Sin: All You Need To Know

God's mercy is a profound and essential aspect of many religious teachings, emphasizing the compassionate and forgiving nature of the divine. It is often described as the tender and loving disposition of God towards humanity, particularly in the face of human frailty, sin, and suffering. Exploring God's mercy involves delving into the concept of undeserved compassion and forgiveness, as well as the belief that God's mercy is boundless and available to all who seek it.

Undeserved Compassion : God's mercy is often portrayed as an expression of compassion that transcends human merit or deserving. It is a compassionate response from God, even when individuals fall short or make mistakes. This aspect of God's mercy offers solace and reassurance, reminding believers that they are not defined by their failings, but rather by the boundless compassion of the divine.

Forgiveness and Redemption : Central to the concept of God's mercy is the idea of forgiveness and redemption. It is believed that God's mercy provides a pathway to forgiveness and spiritual renewal, offering individuals the opportunity to seek reconciliation and restoration. This aspect of God's mercy is a source of hope and transformation, inspiring believers to seek repentance and embrace the possibility of renewal.

Boundless and Accessible : God's mercy is often depicted as boundless and accessible to all who seek it. It is not limited by the magnitude of one's transgressions or the depth of one's suffering. This understanding of God's mercy instills a sense of inclusivity and hope, affirming that no one is beyond the reach of divine compassion and forgiveness.

Compassionate Response to Suffering : God's mercy is also seen as a compassionate response to human suffering, offering comfort, solace, and healing in times of distress. This aspect of God's mercy provides a source of strength and resilience, encouraging individuals to turn to the divine for solace and support in the face of adversity.

Exploring God's mercy involves embracing these facets and recognizing it as a transformative and sustaining force that offers solace, forgiveness, and renewal to all who seek it.

God's grace is a concept deeply rooted in religious teachings, representing the unmerited and undeserved favor and blessings bestowed upon individuals by the divine. It is often described as a manifestation of God's love and mercy, extended to humanity as a gift that transcends human understanding and deserving. The meaning of God's grace encompasses the idea of divine generosity, forgiveness, and empowerment, offering believers a source of hope, transformation, and spiritual renewal.

Unmerited Favor : God's grace is characterized by the bestowal of favor and blessings that individuals have not earned or deserved. It is a generous and unearned gift from the divine, reflecting God's benevolence and compassion towards humanity. This aspect of God's grace emphasizes the abundance of divine love and provision, irrespective of human worthiness or merit.

Forgiveness and Redemption : Central to the meaning of God's grace is the concept of forgiveness and redemption. It is believed that God's grace provides a pathway to forgiveness and spiritual renewal, offering individuals the opportunity to experience divine pardon and restoration. This aspect of God's grace signifies the transformative power of divine love, enabling believers to seek reconciliation and embark on a journey of spiritual growth and renewal.

Empowerment and Strength : God's grace is also associated with the bestowal of strength, resilience, and empowerment upon individuals. It is seen as a source of inner fortitude and courage, enabling believers to navigate life's challenges and adversities with a sense of divine support and guidance. This aspect of God's grace instills a profound sense of hope and confidence, inspiring individuals to embrace their inherent potential and live purposeful, empowered lives.

Sustaining and Nurturing : God's grace is often depicted as a sustaining and nurturing force that upholds and sustains individuals through life's trials and tribulations. It is a source of comfort, solace, and encouragement, providing believers with the assurance that they are enveloped in the nurturing embrace of divine love and care. This aspect of God's grace serves as a constant reminder of the enduring presence of the divine in the lives of believers, offering them strength and reassurance in their spiritual journey.

The meaning of God's grace encompasses these facets, portraying it as a transformative and sustaining force that offers believers unmerited favor, forgiveness, empowerment, and nurturing care. It is a profound expression of divine love and compassion, inviting individuals to embrace the abundance of God's grace and live lives imbued with hope, purpose, and spiritual fulfillment.

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Written By: Gisella Nystrom

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Luke 6:36-38 Easy-to-Read Version

36 Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives love and mercy.

Be Careful About Criticizing Others ( A )

37 “Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. Don’t condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”

Cross references

Luke 6:37 : Mt. 7:1–5

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Mercy — The Role Of God’s Mercy In The Bible

The Role of God's Mercy in The Bible

Categories: Bible Biblical Worldview Mercy

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Published: Oct 25, 2021

Words: 1706 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

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Related Essays on Mercy

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100 Bible Verses about Gods Love And Mercy

John 3:16 esv / 46 helpful votes helpful not helpful.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV / 44 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Hebrews 4:16 ESV / 43 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Titus 3:5 ESV / 37 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV / 37 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Matthew 5:7 ESV / 36 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

James 2:13 ESV / 35 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Luke 6:36 ESV / 35 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Micah 6:8 ESV / 35 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 9:13 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV / 30 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

Proverbs 28:13 ESV / 29 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Psalm 86:5 ESV / 29 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Ephesians 2:4 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

Micah 7:18 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Psalm 23:6 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 26 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Peter 1:3 ESV / 26 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

2 Peter 3:9 ESV / 25 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Lamentations 3:22 ESV / 24 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

Isaiah 30:18 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

Psalm 86:15 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Jeremiah 3:12 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord . I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord ; I will not be angry forever.

Psalm 145:9 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

Romans 5:8 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Colossians 3:12 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Psalm 40:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

As for you, O Lord , you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!

Psalm 25:6-7 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Remember your mercy, O Lord , and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord !

2 Chronicles 30:9 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For if you return to the Lord , your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”

2 Samuel 22:26 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;

Deuteronomy 4:31 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Matthew 6:14 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

Isaiah 55:7 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord , that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:1-57:21 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. ...

Psalm 130:1-2 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord ! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

Psalm 51:1 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 51:1-2 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 23:1-26:12 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Nehemiah 9:31 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

1 John 4:16 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Philippians 1:29 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

1 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

Romans 9:15 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Romans 6:15 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

Romans 5:15 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

John 3:3 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Luke 1:50 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

Matthew 23:23 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

Malachi 3:17 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.

Jonah 4:2 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord , is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Psalm 112:5 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.

Psalm 112:1-115:18 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Praise the Lord ! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord , who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. ...

Psalm 103:11 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

Psalm 103:8 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalm 90:17 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

2 Samuel 24:14 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord , for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”

Exodus 34:6 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord , the Lord , a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Psalm 103:17 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,

Psalm 51:2 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

Jude 1:23-25 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Colossians 3:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Luke 6:36-37 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Psalm 103:1-22 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Of David. Bless the Lord , O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. ...

Exodus 34:6-7 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord , the Lord , a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

1 John 3:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 4:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 Timothy 1:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Romans 8:37-39 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

John 13:34 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

2 Peter 3:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Hebrews 12:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Matthew 5:1-48 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ...

Jeremiah 31:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Exodus 33:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord .’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

1 John 2:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

James 3:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...

John 3:16-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Revelation 11:1-19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. ...

1 John 4:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

We love because he first loved us.

1 Peter 2:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

James 5:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ...

Hebrews 9:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Titus 3:4-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 3:15-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Ephesians 5:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles , a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.

October 02, 2018

Six Old Testament Passages That Demonstrate God’s Love

Some Christians and many non-Christians hold, consciously or not, the false belief that the God of the Old Testament is somehow different than the God of the New Testament . When we think of the Old Testament, we think of plagues, wars, and judgments brought onto humanity by God. When we think of the New Testament, we think of Christ’s love for the church and the communion of early Christians.

Perhaps someone has asked you or challenged you in the past with this question: Is God’s character different in the Old Testament than in the New? Look to Bible in response to this, where we learn the answer is a resounding no .

I have picked out six verses to demonstrate God’s loving-kindness, mercy, and faithfulness from the Old Testament. These verses all come from the very same prophets who know God’s wrath more than others at their time. These writers forecast the destruction of cities, yet they still speak to God’s love for humanity.

Share these with a friend or a family member, and write them upon your own heart as well:

1. Nehemiah 9:17

You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.

When we read the major and minor prophets in the Old Testament, we feel bombarded by judgment after judgment. It’s easy to lose perspective of where we are in the ongoing story. When we read the prophets, we need to remember that God has been with his people for a long time. His people have rebelled against him, time and time again. Centuries worth of rebellion.

This verse in Nehemiah returns us to a right perspective: God’s judgment does not mean he is unfairly angry—but his delayed judgment, the years that God bore with the sins of his people, means he is slow to anger .

And even more amazing of a testament to God’s goodness and mercy is that he did not forsake his people. God’s mercy is demonstrated through his judgment on them. It means he still loves them. It means he is working to perfect them.

2. Jonah 3:8-10

“Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

The Ninevites were some of the worst people. Jonah was either so afraid of them or thought they were so hopelessly lost that when God called him to go there he went the other way . But here, Jonah has proclaimed God’s Word to them, he proclaimed God’s offer of repentance to them. They responded in faith, and God withheld their due judgment.

Remember the Ninevites’ story next time someone describes God as one who lacks mercy in the Old Testament. The Ninevites so deserved their punishment that Jonah himself—a prophet of God, having seen many conversions—still believed God would condemn them after they repented. Jonah’s lack of mercy in his story contrasts the overwhelming mercy and love God has for humanity.

3. Isaiah 43:1-3

But now thus says the Lord , he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

What the Lord says here through Isaiah’s writing reflects Jesus’s words in the New Testament: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Jesus is not speaking of some new truth; He refers to something that has been true forever—he is with us because he loves us.

4. Isaiah 54:10

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord , who has compassion on you.

This verse in Isaiah speaks to the eternal nature of God’s love for us. It is more permanent than the mountains and the hills, the Lord says. What an encouragement this must have been to those faithful to him during that time — and what an encouragement it is to us today. Chaos surrounded them, as they witnessed God’s wrath upon their city. But God assures them that the most permanent thing — more permanent than anything in the world — is his love for us.

5. Jeremiah 17:9-10

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind.

This passage from Jeremiah may not immediately jump out to you as a representation of God’s mercy or lovingkindness. The verse calls our heart “sick” and “deceitful.” But consider the need represented here.

We feel the sickness of our heart. We know the deceitfulness of it. We feel things we are ashamed of, and we think in ways we wish we would not. The worst part of it all is that we do not know why. We are a mystery to ourselves.

God, however, knows us. He know us better than we do. And he wants to solve this mystery for us through a relationship with him. Therefore, this verse in Jeremiah demonstrates, once again, his love for his people.

6. Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

These verses come after the prophet asks, “Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger?” (v. 6). I read verse 7 as an answer: God is merciful to the repentant, to those who believe in him and obey his commandments.

The Ninevites, on the other hand, rebelled again and God brought his judgment on them. I see two applications to make from Nahum.

God demonstrated mercy to the Ninevites in Jonah’s time even though he knew they would rebel again and ignore his message in Nahum’s time. He did not have to. He knew they would rebel. But, God is a loving God—he wants people to be free from wrath. He always has.
However, God’s mercy is not universal. He protects those who have repented and obeyed him. He gives grace to all who believe in him. Yet there are real consequences for those who do not.

Those consequences had to become reality. As we fast-forward to the New Testament, we learn that God has not relaxed his standards one tiny bit. God gave up his perfect Son to be the propitiation and expiation for our sins. And on the cross, God’s full wrath was poured upon Jesus. Paradoxically, the same moment demonstrates God’s greatest act of love: Jesus Christ, willingly died so that we may live.

So, reader, believe in him and live.

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God’s Perfect Mercy – A Meditation for Divine Mercy Sunday

We live in times in which mercy, like so many other things, has become a detached concept in people’s minds, separated from the things that really help us to understand it. For indeed, mercy makes sense and is necessary because we are sinners in desperate shape. Yet many today think it unkind and unmerciful to speak of sin as sin. Many think that mercy is a declaration that God doesn’t really care about sin, or that sin is not a relevant concept.

On the contrary, mercy means that sin does exist. Thanks be to God for the glory, the beauty, and the gift of His mercy! Without it, we don’t stand a chance. I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly going to need boatloads of grace and mercy to make it. Only through grace and mercy can we be freed from sin and healed from its effects, or ever hope to enter the presence of God’s glory in Heaven, of which Scripture says, But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false (Rev 21:27). Somebody say, “Lord, have mercy!”

Mercy does not mean there is no judgment; mercy exists because there is a day of judgment. Mercy does not mean there is no Hell; mercy exists because Hell does. Somebody say, “Lord, have mercy!” Without mercy we are lost. With it we stand a chance, but only if we accept our need for it. Mercy, Lord, have mercy!

Oh, thanks be to God for mercy! So let’s consider the glory and the gift of mercy on this Sunday of divine mercy. The Gospel for today’s Mass speaks both to the need for mercy and the glory of it. Let’s look at four teachings on mercy, God’s perfect mercy.

I. The Prelude to Mercy – There is an old saying that if you don’t know the bad news, the good news is no news. And thus as this Gospel opens we enter a room where ten Apostles are gathered in fear; the doors are locked. These are broken, troubled, and disturbed men. All of them but John had fled, deserting the Lord. One of them had denied even knowing Jesus, not once but three times. Here they are, humiliated, downcast, and sinfully without faith. Never mind that Jesus had told them on numerous occasions that He would rise on the third day. Even though several women and two disciples from Emmaus had said they had seen Him alive, on this the third day, these men persist in sinfully rejecting this news that conformed to His promise. Yes, we enter a locked room of fearful men who are downcast, disgraced, and disbelieving.

But it is here that we find the prelude to mercy! They are about to blessed and to experience profound mercy. But don’t miss this prelude. Again, if you don’t know the bad news, the good news is no news; so don’t miss this picture.

One of the great errors of our day is the proclamation of mercy without repentance , without reference to our sinful condition. So many pulpits have gone silent on sin! And therefore are silent on the true glory of mercy and the astonishing gift that it is! Ah, mercy! Divine mercy! Perfect mercy!

But the point of mercy is not to go out and tell others how terrible they are, but rather to tell them about the forgiveness of sin! Now this is why we need a mercy Sunday. On the one hand we’re living in rebellious times, times in which many are dismissive of sin and have refashioned God into just a nice fellow who doesn’t really care all that much about sin (despite what His own scriptures say to the contrary), reducing mercy is to mere kindness and a sort of blindness on God’s part.

On the other hand these are also times when many are scared and angry with God, rejecting His judgments and glorious moral vision . A lot of people know that their lives are in disorder: their families are broken; they are confused; greed, materialism, lust, and other sinful drives are taking a heavy toll. Many are angry with the Church because deep down they know we are right; they don’t like being reminded that people don’t have any business calling good what God calls sinful.

But most of all, many are confused and angry because they don’t know forgiveness. Consider what Psalm 32 says so beautifully:

Blessed is the one whose fault is taken away, whose sin is forgiven, to whom the Lord imputes no guilt! … As long as I would not speak of my sin, my bones wasted away and your hand was heavy upon me. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I did not hide, and you took away the guilt of my sin!

You see, the key to having this blessed state is the acknowledgement of sin.

The Lord said to St. Faustina,

You see what you are of yourself, but do not be frightened at this. If I were to reveal to you the whole misery that you are, you would die of terror. … But because you are such great misery I have revealed to you the whole ocean of my mercy (Diary II. 718).

Now some reading this sort of text think, “There goes that Catholic guilt thing again.” But let’s be honest , it’s not really an exaggeration. The truth is that most of us can be thinned-skinned, egotistical, unforgiving, unloving, unkind, mean-spirited, selfish, greedy, lustful, jealous, envious, bitter, ungrateful, smug, superior, vengeful, angry, aggressive, unspiritual, un-prayerful, stingy, and just plain mean. And even if all the things on the list don’t apply to you, many of them do. In addition, even that long list is incomplete. We are sinners with a capital ‘S’ and we need serious help.

And thus, just as Psalm 32 says, the glory of mercy is unlocked by the acknowledgment of sin . Jesus said further to St. Faustina,

My love and my mercy [for you] know no bounds! … The graces I grant are not for you alone, but for a great number of other souls as well. … The greater the sinner the greater the right he has to my mercy (Diary II.723).

Do not forget this necessary prelude to mercy: the acknowledgement of our sin. If you don’t know the bad news, the good new is no news.

II. The Peace of mercy – Into this upper room filled with men who are dejected, disgraced, doubting, humiliated, hurt, sinful, and sorrowful, the Lord came. The text says, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you . ”

Do you see the glory and the gift of this moment? The Lord says to them, “Peace be with you.” Now I don’t know about you, but if I had been hiding out, denying Him, and running from responsibility at the critical moment, and then suddenly the Lord whom I had let down and offended appeared, I might be a little nervous! But what does the Lord say to these embarrassed and dejected men? “Peace be with you!”

What is peace? It is more than the absence of conflict or division. Peace is the presence in a relationship of all that should be there: justice, integrity, reciprocity, mutuality, and so forth. The Greek word used is eirḗnē , which is from the root eirō meaning “to join or tie together into a whole.” So it means wholeness, a state in which all essential parts are joined together. Peace is God’s gift of wholeness.

Do you see the glory of this moment? The Lord does not merely say, “I will not punish you for what you have done.” He says, “Between you and my Father there is now peace, there is wholeness, there is completeness, there is present in the relationship all that should be there, there is justice.” The Lord does not merely overlook what a mess we are, He makes us whole and pleasing to His Father.

All is well, all is complete, all that is necessary is supplied by my atoning death and resurrection!

Such mercy, such a grace, such a gift!

In English, the text says that they rejoiced. But here, too, the English translation does not capture the richness of the Greek word ἐχάρησαν ( echarēsan ), which means to delight in God’s grace. It means to powerfully experience God’s grace (favor), to be conscious of and astonished by (glad for) His grace! This is no mere passing happiness. This is abiding astonishment at the sheer gift of God’s mercy and grace. The Apostles do not just get happy for a moment; they are given the gift of stable, serene, confident joy at the unfathomable gift of God’s mercy and goodness. They had sinned and yielded to fear; they had run from the Lord and ignored His teaching; but the Lord stands before them and says “Shalom, Peace be with you. May the full favor of the Lord be with you. May you experience that God is pleased that you are well and seeks to draw you more deeply into His love.”

Here is mercy; sweet, beautiful, soul-saving mercy; and astonishing and unexpected grace! There is shalom; there is peace; there is deep, abiding, and confident mercy. It is a joy and mercy that is unmerited. It is stable because it is rooted in the stable and abiding love of God.

III. The Priesthood of Mercy – The text says, “ As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained .”

There is not time here to develop a full apologetic of the Sacrament of Confession entrusted to the Church. But to those who say, “I don’t have tell my sins to any priest, I can just go straight to God,” the Lord Jesus never got your little memo. He gave the power to forgive sins to the Apostles and their successors. That is clear in this passage. The Lord does not do pointless, foolish things; what He says here is to be taken seriously. He tells these imperfect men, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

There is something deeply personal, even if imperfect (on account of the imperfection of priests), in the way the Lord wants us to experience his mercy. But the emphasis is on the personal.

There is a beautiful story of St. John Paul and a fallen bishop . The bishop had fallen from grace; he had had an affair with a woman, and although he ended it, the story came out later and he resigned. Some months later he was called to Rome to meet with Pope John Paul. As he waited to see the Pope, he was nervous. Had the Pope called him to rebuke him? He sat alone, waiting for the Pope to enter. The door opened and the sainted pope walked across the room and greeted the fallen bishop. “I have one question to ask you,” said Pope John Paul. “Are you at peace?” “Yes,” he replied. “Thanks be to God!” said Pope John Paul. The fallen bishop took the joy of that mercy into the remainder of his life and went on to care quietly for the spiritual needs of religious who were underserved in a certain part of this country. He never forgot the mercy he experienced and the story was told at his funeral, for he himself told it often.

There is just nothing that surpasses the way the Lord can convey his mercy in the deeply personal way of the confessional . There is nothing more precious than those words that conclude every confession: “I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Go in peace. Thanks be to God!”

The Lord did not want his mercy to depend on some self-generated notion that mercy was extended. He wanted us, for whom faith comes by hearing, to hear those precious words: “I absolve you from your sins … Go in peace.” There is nothing more wonderful and certain than those words spoken by the Lord through His priests.

IV. The Prerequisite of Mercy – But one of the Apostles, Thomas, was missing. Here was the most wounded of all the Apostles, so wounded that he drew back from the only place mercy could be found, for where two or three were gathered the risen Lord appeared in the midst of them. In drawing back, Thomas blocked his blessings.

The point is this: the Lord unfailingly offers His mercy. He says, No one who calls on me will I ever reject (Jn 6:37).

The question is , will we call on him? There is only this one need, this one requirement for mercy: that we ask for it. Jesus says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me (Rev 3:20). The door to our heart and to repentance must be opened from the inside. The Lord will not force His mercy. This is why there is a Hell. Without God’s mercy we are doomed; we don’t stand a chance. His mercy is free except for this price: we must surrender our pride, admit our need, and open the door.

Thanks be to God that St. Thomas did not persist in his impenitent stance, but instead rejoined the community where mercy and the Lord were to be found. Sure enough, where two or three were gathered the Lord appeared once again and St. Thomas found mercy. The Lord rebuked Thomas’ lack of faith but rewarded his penitence.

St. Thomas opened the door from the inside of his heart. The Lord lovingly entered and built up his faith so that never again would Thomas think that he could find the Lord on his own terms. Rather, Thomas would seek the Lord where He could be found: in the Church, among those gathered in His name. Mercy is found where God is found. He knocks but it is we who must open the door and receive Him into our hearts on His terms not ours .

St. Thomas fell to his knees, astonished by the Lord’s mercy ; such mercy, such a glorious gift. “My Lord and my God!” The Lord never stopped calling Thomas. The Lord did not give up but waited until Thomas answered the door. “Peace, Shalom, Thomas. I am glad you are here. Now never again stop believing in my mercy and love for you. Never again draw back thinking I am lost to you. I love you with an everlasting Love. I have called you and you are mine. Peace to you, and mercy, Thomas.”

Mercy! So great, so divine, so perfect. It is a mercy that does not deny the need for its own existence. When humbly received, it conveys peace through the priesthood that Christ Himself established. It is a mercy which, as a prerequisite, respectfully knocks and waits for our “yes.” Lord, give us your perfect mercy.

I have it on the best of authority that Thomas sang a song later that night, a song that sang of the Lord’s mercy and persistence, of His abiding call when we would give up. Yes, I have it on the best of authority that he sang,

I almost let go; I felt like I just couldn’t take life any more. My problems had me bound; Depression weighed me down; But God held me close so I wouldn’t let go. God’s mercy kept me; so I wouldn’t let go

I almost gave up; I was right at the edge of a break through, but couldn’t see it. The devil really had me, but Jesus came and grabbed me, and He held me close, so I wouldn’t let go. God’s mercy kept me, so I wouldn’t let go.

So I’m here to day because God kept me I’m A live today only because of His grace Oh He kept me, God kept me God’s mercy kept me, so I wouldn’t let go

23 Bible Verses About Mercy and Grace (With Commentary)

The Bible is filled with countless verses that speak about God’s mercy and grace. These two characteristics of God are often intertwined, yet hold significant meanings and importance in our daily lives.

Whether you are going through a tough time or simply seeking to deepen your understanding of these attributes, let’s take a closer look at some of the most powerful and uplifting passages about mercy and grace in the Bible.

Bible Verses About Mercy and Grace

Ephesians 2:8

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

This verse reminds us that our salvation is not something we can earn or achieve on our own. It is a gift from God, given purely out of His grace. We cannot boast about our own efforts or righteousness, but instead, we humbly receive God’s grace through faith.

Hebrews 4:16

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

In times of need, we can approach God’s throne with confidence, knowing that He is full of mercy and grace. We can depend on His loving-kindness to provide the help we need. This verse encourages us to come boldly before Him, trusting in His unfailing grace and mercy.

Lamentations 3:22-23

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

This passage assures us of God’s infinite mercy and compassion. Despite our failures and shortcomings, His love and compassion never run out. Each day brings a fresh batch of His mercy, reminding us of His unfailing faithfulness and steadfastness.

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

God is not only forgiving but also abundantly loving. When we call upon Him, He responds with compassionate understanding and forgiveness. This verse testifies to His limitless love and grace, extended to all who seek Him.

Romans 3:24

“…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Our justification and redemption come freely through God’s grace, not by our own efforts or works. Through Jesus, God offers us undeserved favor and forgiveness. This verse highlights the amazing gift of grace we receive through faith in Christ.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”

This verse emphasizes the inclusive nature of God’s grace. His grace is not limited to a select group but is available to all people. God’s love and salvation extend to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.

2 Corinthians 12:9

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

In our weaknesses and shortcomings, God’s grace shines through. This verse reminds us that His grace is enough to sustain and empower us. When we acknowledge our weaknesses and rely on His grace, His power is showcased in our lives.

Hebrews 12:15

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

We are urged to guard against anything that may hinder us from experiencing and extending God’s grace. This verse serves as a reminder to keep our hearts free from bitterness and negativity, ensuring that we are conduits of God’s grace to others.

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'”

God gives us an abundant supply of grace. However, we must approach Him with humility. Pride erects a barrier between us and God’s grace, but humility allows us to receive His favor and overflowing grace.

1 Peter 5:10

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

In times of suffering, we can find comfort in the assurance that God is the God of all grace. He will restore, strengthen, and establish us after the trials we endure. His grace equips us to remain firm and steadfast in our faith.

Psalm 103:8

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”

This verse paints a beautiful picture of God’s character. He is compassionate, showing deep empathy and tenderness. He is gracious, bestowing unmerited favor. His patience and abundant love demonstrate His overflowing grace towards humanity.

2 Corinthians 9:8

“And God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

God’s grace goes beyond mere forgiveness and salvation. It extends to providing for our needs and empowering us to do good works. This verse reminds us that God’s grace is not limited but generously blesses us, enabling us to impact the lives of others.

Psalm 145:8

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”

God’s grace and compassion are intertwined with His love. This verse reaffirms His patient and abundant love, emphasizing His willingness to extend grace to all who seek Him. It highlights the character of God as one who forgives and shows mercy.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus, the embodiment of God’s grace, came to dwell among us. He revealed God’s glory, demonstrating His abundant grace and truth. This verse reminds us that Jesus is our ultimate example of grace, inviting us to emulate His graciousness in our lives.

Romans 5:20

“But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”

This verse showcases the grandeur of God’s grace. No matter how great the abundance of sin may be, His grace exceeds it. Even when we feel overwhelmed by our failures, we can rest assured that God’s grace is more than sufficient to cover and overcome them.

Psalm 86:15

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

God’s character is consistently described as gracious throughout the Bible. This verse captures His compassion, grace, slow anger, abounding love, and unwavering faithfulness. It emphasizes that His grace is an intrinsic part of who He is.

Galatians 5:4

“You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.”

When we seek to earn our salvation or justification by our own efforts or adherence to the law, we fall away from grace. This verse warns against relying on our own deeds and legalism, emphasizing the need for complete reliance on God’s grace for our salvation.

2 Thessalonians 2:16

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope…”

The eternal encouragement and good hope we receive come as a result of God’s love and grace. This verse reassures us that our hope is secure, thanks to His abundant grace. It is a reminder of the everlasting benefits we receive through His grace.

“No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Salvation comes through the grace of Jesus. This verse emphasizes the equality of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles, declaring that all are saved by God’s grace. It reinforces the idea that salvation is not based on ethnicity, but by God’s unmerited favor.

2 Timothy 2:1

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

This verse encourages believers to draw strength from the grace found in Christ Jesus. God’s grace not only saves us but also empowers us as we navigate through life. It prompts us to rely on His grace to face challenges and live victoriously.

Romans 11:6

“And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

Grace and works are entirely separate. Grace is not something we can earn or deserve through our actions. If grace were based on our works, it would no longer be grace. This verse underscores the unmerited nature of God’s grace, highlighting that it is a free gift.

2 Corinthians 8:9

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

In Jesus’ sacrifice, we see the ultimate display of grace. Though He was rich, He willingly became poor for our sake, so that we might become rich through Him. This verse depicts the immense love and selflessness found in God’s grace.

“…so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

Through God’s grace, we are justified and made heirs of the eternal life He promises. This verse highlights both the present and future aspects of God’s grace. It assures believers of their justified status before Him and the hope of eternal life they possess.

1 Peter 1:13

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”

As believers, we are encouraged to fix our hope on the grace that will be fully revealed when Jesus returns. This verse reminds us to keep our minds focused and ready for the ultimate revelation of God’s grace, which is yet to come.

“Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?”

God’s jealousy for His people is rooted in His abundant grace. He longs for a deep and meaningful relationship with us. This verse signifies the importance God places on the connection between His Spirit and our spirits, a bond made possible through His grace.

Also Read: 21 Bible Verses About Battle (With Commentary)

What Does the Bible Say About Mercy and Grace?

In the Bible, we find numerous references to both mercy and grace, two essential concepts that are central to Christian theology. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they carry distinct meanings, and the Bible provides guidance on how they relate to our lives.

1. Mercy: Mercy, in biblical terms, refers to God’s compassion and forgiveness toward us, despite our sins and shortcomings. We read in Romans 9:15 (NIV) that God says, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” This means that God’s mercy is a divine gift that is freely given, not based on our merits. As recipients of God’s mercy, we are called to show mercy to others, as stated in Matthew 5:7 (NIV), “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Therefore, we are encouraged to extend forgiveness and compassion to others just as God does to us.

2. Grace: Grace, on the other hand, signifies God’s unmerited favor and kindness. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) reminds us that “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” This passage emphasizes that our salvation is a result of God’s grace, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts. This understanding of grace calls us to humbly receive God’s blessings with gratitude, knowing that we are undeserving of them.

3. The Relationship Between Mercy and Grace While mercy and grace have distinct meanings, they intersect in the Bible. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) encourages us to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, “so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Here, we see that when we approach God with humility, seeking His help and forgiveness, we are met with both mercy and grace. Mercy pardons our sins, and grace empowers us to live righteous lives.

In summary, the Bible teaches us that mercy reflects God’s compassion and forgiveness toward us, while grace represents His unmerited favor and blessings. As recipients of these divine gifts, we are called to extend mercy to others and humbly receive God’s grace. Both mercy and grace are foundational to our relationship with God and our interactions with fellow human beings.

Divine Mercy Sunday (Year B) - Eternal Contemplation of God’s Mercy Catholic Daily Reflections

Christianity

Saint Faustina writes in her Diary: “My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the First Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy” (Diary #699). What will it be like to contemplate the love and mercy of God for all eternity? To some, this might not at first seem that appealing. Won’t it become boring if all we do for all eternity is contemplate God’s mercy? If that is a question that resonates with you, then the reason this idea initially lacks appeal is because you cannot fathom how fulfilling and glorious this will be. Jesus said, “My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.” God willed that this Sunday, the eighth day of the Octave of Easter, be celebrated as the Feast of Mercy. By placing this Feast on the last day of the Octave of Easter, God is telling us that the message of this Feast reveals the ultimate purpose of our lives. Easter is the culmination of the perfect plan of redemption. And Divine Mercy Sunday is the culmination of that perfect plan. Therefore, nothing is more important than trying to understand the message this Feast presents. By analogy, if you were given a new car but never drove it, the car would be of no use. Or if you won the lottery and the money simply sat in your account unused, what’s the benefit? Or if you were gravely ill and were given a medicine that would cure that illness but you never took it, then you would remain ill. So also, if we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, but never allow the Mercy that is given by that act to transform us, then we have missed the point. The Divine Mercy is the point of life. It’s the only thing worth seeking. It’s the only source of satisfaction and fulfillment. It’s the only cure for our ills. It’s the only source of true riches. In three short words: It Is Everything! When Jesus says that our eternity will be spent contemplating His Mercy, He doesn’t only mean that this is something we will do after we die. True, the fullness of the revelation of His Mercy will be set before us when we enter into the Beatific Vision and contemplate God forever. But “eternity” includes today. It includes the here and now. Therefore, our contemplation of The Divine Mercy must be the single most important goal in our life today. When it is, everything else in life will fall into place in support of this goal. In order to make the contemplation of The Divine Mercy the most important goal of your life, you must begin to understand it. That’s why we were given this special day, this most solemn Feast of Mercy. Therefore, use this day as an opportunity to deepen your contemplation of this Gift. Begin by reading about God’s Mercy as it was revealed to us through Saint Faustina. Try to spend time reading Jesus’ words, His explanations, descriptions and revelations about His Mercy. As you do, if you find that it remains incomprehensible, don’t worry. It is incomprehensible! However, since Jesus promised us that our eternity would be spent in contemplation of His Mercy, then we must believe that the more deeply we enter into that contemplation now, the more glorious our lives will become. If we can truly taste of this Mercy, gain a small glimpse of its grandeur, and comprehend even a small aspect of its meaning, then we will truly find much satisfaction in this endeavor. Reflect, today, upon The Divine Mercy. As you do, humble yourself through prayer by admitting to God and to yourself that His Mercy is beyond what...

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Facing likely prison sentences, michigan school shooter's parents seek mercy from judge.

Associated Press

FILE - James Crumbley enters the Oakland County Courtroom of Cheryl Matthews during his trial, March 13, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. In a court filing Wednesday, April 3, prosecutors in Michigan recommended at least 10 years in prison for Jennifer and James Crumbley, two parents who are the first in the U.S. to be held criminally responsible for a school shooting, when they're sentenced Tuesday, April 9. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press via AP, Pool, File)

PONTIAC, Mich. – The parents of a Michigan school shooter are asking a judge to keep them out of prison as they face sentencing for their role in an attack that killed four students in 2021 .

Jennifer and James Crumbley are scheduled to appear in court Tuesday for the close of a pioneering case: They are the first parents convicted in a U.S. mass school shooting.

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10 Best God's Mercy Poems
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God's Love and Mercy
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Mercy God Love PowerPoint Sermons
God's Mercy

VIDEO

One Minute Theology
D.A. Carson
God of Mercy and Compassion| Jesus World| christian hymn with lyrics
Edem Evangelist feat. Limoblaze
GOD’S LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE || Billy Graham
how great is your love-mercy me

COMMENTS

The Love of God
The love of God as manifested in common grace is the love of God as creator which consists of providential kindness, mercy, and longsuffering. It is an indiscriminate and universal love which constrains to the bestowing of all physical and spiritual benefits short of salvation itself. ... God's Love and the Christian Life. ... This essay is ...
God's Love and Mercy: Embracing Divine Compassion and Grace Psalm 136:
Welcome to today's lesson, where we're diving deep into a topic that's not only relevant but crucial for teenagers in their faith journey: God's Love and Youth Group Ministry God's Love and Mercy: Embracing Divine Compassion and Grace Psalm 136:26 Youth Group Lesson Bible Study for Teenagers, God's Love and Mercy, Psalm 136:26
PDF The Love Mercy And Grace Of God
And note, that all that God is and all that He does always begins with "love", not our love towards God, but with His love towards us. And may I say again, it is always that way, and it will always be that way. Love, mercy and grace always begin with God and His love. He is always the source, the beginning, the well-spring of all good things.
What is Mercy & Why We Need it: Bible Meaning & Examples
And Jesus said, 'Neither do I. Go and sin no more' " ( John 8:10-11 NIV). Mercy is forgiveness and compassion extended to those who do not deserve it. The accusers and the adulterers. He chooses to extend mercy to us, and He is unchanging. We cannot fail our way out of God's love. Photo credit: Lightstock.
The Love and Mercy of God Part One
The Bible reveals that God's love prompts His mercy. God said the following concerning Israel: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you" ( Jer. 31:3 ). The word translated "lovingkindness" is hesed. God's mighty deliverance of the Israelites from their prolonged slavery in Egypt was ...
Faith Forum: Does God show favoritism?
The Bible declares that "God does not show favoritism" (Romans 2:11). God loves everyone equally. There is nothing we can ever do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can ever do ...
How God Loves Us: Rich in Mercy, Ephesians 2:4-5
How God Loves Us: Rich in Mercy, Ephesians 2:4-5. Reading Time: 3 mins. His love for you is so deep that in his mercy, while you were yet a sinner, God sent his only begotten Son to die for you. Ephesians 2:4-5, "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions ...
The Meanings of Love in the Bible
God's love for Israel is not a dutiful divine response to a covenant; rather, the covenant is a free and sovereign expression of divine mercy or love. We read in Exodus 34:6-7 how God identified himself more fully before he reconfirms the covenant (Exodus 34:10): "The Lord … proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious ...
Mary, Mother of Mercy. Christ the Power of Merciful Love
God has given us a mother for a reason. At the foot of the cross, Jesus said to his beloved disciple, St. John: "Here is your Mother," and he said to Mary: "Here is your son" (Jn 19:27). Mary was able to stand firm at the foot of the cross—a merciful love is a strong love! Merciful love is capable of withstanding the cross; capable of ...
A Close Look at the Meaning of God's Love
Jesus is the embodiment of God's khesed. God's relentless, loyal love arrives in Jesus, and his affection for us drives him to give us the ultimate act of loyal love in his life, death, and resurrection. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his khesed endures forever. Psalm 118:1.
How Is God's Love Experienced in the Heart?
We know from Romans 5:5 that the experience of the love of God is "through the Holy Spirit who is given to us." But now Galatians 3:5 tells us that this supply of the Spirit is not without content. It is "by hearing with faith." Two things: hearing and faith. There is the hearing of the truth about Christ, and there is the faith in that truth.
God's Love and Divine Mercy
The message of the Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us— all of us. God does not love us because of the good things we do; we are loved because of our need of God's love. God is love. The truth is - quite a paradox - we experience the loving presence of God not so much in our giftedness or talents - not when things are going ...
What Does The Bible Say About God's Grace And Mercy
Understanding God's Unmerited Favor. God's unmerited favor, also known as grace, is a fundamental concept in Christianity. It refers to the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it. This concept is beautifully captured in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament.
A Reflection on Mercy: God's Everlasting Mercy
Nor does God's mercy license us to continue to sin — it demands a response to go and from now on sin no more (John 8:11). God's mercy motivates us to do better. God's forgiveness is an easy thing to obtain. One needs only to ask. God forgives — he opens his loving arms and grants mercy. He gives love away. We do not have to feel ...
What Is The Difference Between God's Love, Mercy, And Grace
God's grace is a concept deeply rooted in religious teachings, representing the unmerited and undeserved favor and blessings bestowed upon individuals by the divine. It is often described as a manifestation of God's love and mercy, extended to humanity as a gift that transcends human understanding and deserving.
God and Emotions series -- "God is Love"
God's love isn't a second-hand emotion, but God himself. God's 'emotions' aren't second-hand properties but identical to him and to each other. Recalling the doctrine of divine simplicity, God simply is. God is God. And God is love: 'God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.' (1 John 4.16).
Experiencing God's Grace in the Everyday
Tripp writes, "grace is not a thing, but a person-the Holy Spirit." 1 Grace is not a theoretical concept or a one-time transaction, but a living and active and constant Presence. We experience grace "through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Grace is the Helper who guides and prompts and ...
Luke 6:36-38 ERV
Luke 6:36-38. Easy-to-Read Version. 36 Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives love and mercy. Be Careful About Criticizing Others. 37 "Don't judge others, and God will not judge you. Don't condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give to others, and you will receive.
The Role of God's Mercy in The Bible
They fasted to the Lord, put upon a sackcloth, offered daily sacrifices of animals and even organs as omens to the Lord that he may show mercy (Walton 780). Jonah had preached repentance to the people of Nineveh, and because the Ninevites had listened and changed their ways, God displayed mercy upon them.
PDF God's divine mercy and compassion as Incarnational: A practical
God's mercy is evidently discernible and pervasive in The Old Testament as exemplified, for instance, in Exodus 34:6: "The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, is slow to anger, abounding in love and ... Indeed, the amazing endurance of the father's compassion in Luke's narrative is on full display. God's immeasurable love and ...
What Does the Bible Say About Gods Love And Mercy?
Psalm 103:1-22 ESV / 10 helpful votesHelpfulNot Helpful. Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy ...
Six Old Testament Passages That Demonstrate God's Love
Share these with a friend or a family member, and write them upon your own heart as well: 1. Nehemiah 9:17. You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. When we read the major and minor prophets in the Old Testament, we feel bombarded by judgment after judgment.
God's Perfect Mercy
So let's consider the glory and the gift of mercy on this Sunday of divine mercy. The Gospel for today's Mass speaks both to the need for mercy and the glory of it. Let's look at four teachings on mercy, God's perfect mercy. I. The Prelude to Mercy - There is an old saying that if you don't know the bad news, the good news is no ...
23 Bible Verses About Mercy and Grace (With Commentary)
Lamentations 3:22-23. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.". This passage assures us of God's infinite mercy and compassion. Despite our failures and shortcomings, His love and compassion never run out.
Divine Mercy Sunday (Year B)
"My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness.
Facing likely prison sentences, Michigan school shooter's ...
Facing likely prison sentences, Michigan school shooter's parents seek mercy from judge. FILE - James Crumbley enters the Oakland County Courtroom of Cheryl Matthews during his trial, March 13 ...

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