Knowing God Series #16
¡§Our Merciful Forgiving God¡¨
Review
I. The nature of God
II. The Attributes of God
A. God is infinitely GREAT in His ability / capacity
B. God is infinitely and perfectly PURE in His morality and judgments
C. God is infinitely GOOD in His relationships
When Moses requested to see God¡¦s glory, God told him He would hide him in the protection of a rock and would allow Moses to view the back side of His goodness as it passed over.
Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." Exodus 34:6-7
God included many of the aspect of His goodness that we include. Compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, faithful, forgiving.
All of these characteristics are essential elements involved in building meaningful community.
Because God built us to love and be loved we need to receive and give love.
Because of our frequent failures we need give and receive continual grace.
Because of our transgressions and guilt we need to give and receive mercy.
Because of our frailty gentleness needs to guard our interactions with people.
Because of our cantankerousness and inadequacies we need to receive and practice longsuffering and forbearance.
Because of our hurtful offenses we need to give and receive forgiveness.
Because of our insecurity and fear of rejection we crave faithfulness.
All of us carry the community buster bugs.
We fail each other.
We transgress against others.
We are frail and sometimes oversensitive.
We are not always easy to live with or deal with.
We easily offend and are offended by others.
We fear and protect ourselves against rejection.
James clearly reminds us that no one is exempt from ravaging our relationships.
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. James 3:2
You many avoid stumbling in our external behavior, but avoiding stumbling in our words takes a perfect person.
The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6
These deficiencies (stumbles) tend to generate anger, lying, abusive speech, malice, bitterness, vengeance, strife, angry words, dissension and broken relationships. Only the presence and power of the Holy Spirit can prevent relational forest fires.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22
Paul instructed the Colossians on how to develop and maintain meaningful relationships.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion(mercy), kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15
God naturally relates to us this way. He instructs us to relate to one another in the same way He relates to us.
Love one another as I have loved you. Show loving kindness.
Extend grace to each other.
Show mercy to one another.
Show longsuffering and forbearance.
Be gentle.
Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.
Be faithful to one another.
Let¡¦s take a little closer look at these essential elements of community.
1. God¡¦s infinite LOVE
2. God¡¦s infinite GRACE
3. God¡¦s infinite MERCY
Mercy partners with grace. We draw near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace.
Grace addresses the failures of the creature with unconditional favor.
He blesses us with blessing we did not and do not deserve.
Mercy addresses the transgression and misery of the creature with compassionate mercy.
He withholds the punishment that we did deserve.
Grace gives us blessing we didn¡¦t deserve.
Mercy withholds the punishment we did deserve.
Mercy is an attribute of God, an infinite and inexhaustible energy within the divine nature that disposes God to actively show compassion towards undeserving creatures. It is that aspect of His goodness that confronts human misery and guilt.
TWO ASPECTS TO MERCY
1 ¡V Mercy restrains the just actions due to the guilty.
2 ¡V Mercy relieves the guilty and rebellious in their miserable state.
His Mercy is great. 1 Kings 3:6
His Mercy is plenteous. Psa 86:5
His Mercy is tender. Lk 1:78
His Mercy is abundant 1 Peter 1:3
His Mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. Psa 103:17
It is translated, ¡§pity¡¦, ¡§mercy¡¨, ¡§compassion.¡¨
We all deserve to be left in the misery of our own rebellious ways. Whatever misery we experience is due to our own foolish choices. We all deserve punishment for our rebellious thoughts, deeds, and attitudes. Mercy restrains deserved judgment and offers to relieve our deserved misery with undeserved mercy. When it comes to our relationship with God, don¡¦t demand justice, plead for mercy. There is no mercy in law. There is only mercy in the judge.
Because God is a merciful judge, he continually restrains the deserved judgment and seeks to relieve the deserved misery. Mercy restrains judgment and relieves misery.
„« God shows mercy over all His works
The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. Psalm 145:8-9
„« God¡¦s mercy motivates him to rescue the blatant sinner.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Ephesians 2:4
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him,
and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7
Whenever God acts to relieve misery rather than execute judgment, it is a manifestation of his mercy.
That relief comes in the form of physical relief ¡V healing.
That relief comes in the form of emotional relief ¡V forgiveness
That relief comes in the form of spiritual relief ¡V deliverance from demonic oppression.
That relief comes in the form of salvation ¡V rescue from sin.
Out of His goodness, God seeks relationship and when goodness encounters the barriers of sin and rebellion, He is willing to withhold judgment in order to rescue from misery. That is mercy. Paul prayed for the exercise of God¡¦s mercy on believers along with grace and peace and love.
„« Practice Mercy
But go and learn what this means: ¡¥I desire compassion (mercy), and not sacrifice,¡¦ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.¡¨ Matthew 9:13
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion (mercy), kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Col 3:12-13
This is such a vital element of community that God distributes an extra measure of grace, gifting to certain members of the body. Rom 12 lists mercy among the spiritual gifts. Instead of being so quick to pass judgment and execute judgment, we should remember how God deals with us. Too often we write people off, ignore their pain, blame their choices, multiply their misery. The true follower of Jesus focuses on relieving misery rather than generating misery.
Are we irritated by people¡¦s misery or inspired to act with compassion?
For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13
4. Our Longsuffering, forbearing God
Similar to mercy is longsuffering. Whereas mercy withholds punishment, longsuffering restrains anger and reaction out of love. The natural response to sinful and rebellious creatures is anger. Anger is the natural and just response to evil or offense.
Longsuffering comes from the union of two words. ¡§Long¡¨ ¡§anger¡¨
This character quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish. It is the control God exercises over Himself, causing Him to bear with the wicked, and forebear so long in punishing them. Grace relates to the creature in his failures.
Mercy responds to the creature in his transgression and misery. Long-suffering bears with and forbears the creature in his infuriating behaviors. It is a love-directed mental exercise that carefully considers before executing action or passion. God demonstrates longsuffering toward sinful rebellious creatures.
How quickly we react to people around us. We are ready to string them up at the drop of a hat.
God waited until unbelievable corruption permeated the entire human race except one family before He executed well-deserved judgment. He promised mercy on Sodom and Gomorrah if Lot could point our only 10 out of thousands.
We do not have a shortage of examples of God¡¦s longsuffering.
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is longsuffering toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8
Do not assume that because God does not act now, He is not bothered by stubborn rebellion.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and longsuffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God Rom 2:4
God exercises longsuffering, not eternal suffering. Jesus continually demonstrated astonishing compassion. So many of His actions were the result of His deep compassion for the plight of people.
Just like the other attributes in this section, God expects and instructs us to follow His example.
We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be longsuffering with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Put on then, as God¡¦s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 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. Colossians 3:12-13
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love Eph 4:1-2
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; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
May the realization of God¡¦s mercy and longsuffering toward us motivate the same toward others. Open your heart to express God¡¦s longsuffering with others as He has for you. If there were no difficult people and circumstances, there would not be need for longsuffering and forbearance. If the ¡§stumbling¡¨ of others continually bothers us, it might be time for a heart check. There will never be a shortage of things to bother us about people. ¡§All have sinned and fall short of godliness.¡¨ ¡§We all stumble in many ways.¡¨
The expected response of the citizens of God¡¦s kingdom is love, kindness, grace, mercy, longsuffering and forbearance. How short is our fuse? How high is our frustration level?
Don¡¦t confuse tolerance with forbearance. In our present culture, tolerance demands that we accept and agree with everyone¡¦s view of things. Today¡¦s culture demands tolerance with everyone and every wacko idea EXCEPT Christianity. We are called bigots and intolerant because we believe there is a divinely given standard. Biblical tolerance allows people to believe whatever they want but we do not have to agree. Forbearance is a choice to accept people at their level. In humility we are instructed to consider others more important than ourselves.
Forbearance is when the referees don¡¦t call a penalty on EVERY play. Just because they are there doesn¡¦t mean you have to always point them out. They choose to forebear minor infractions for the sake of the game.
Too often we act like referees rather than coaches. God calls us to encourage (come along side) one another. Yes there are times to deal with infractions, but do it as a coach not a referee.Do it as someone who has a passion for the growth and success of the team.
5. Our GENTLE God
Gentleness has to do with the manner in which we deal with people. Two terms seem to describe this characteristic and are translated by meekness or gentleness. Meekness is not synonymous with weakness. It is actually the opposite. It is a sign of great strength.
Does it take more power to restrain your temper or lose your temper?
In our rough-and-rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft, and virtually spineless. Not so!... Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity.... Instead of losing, the gentle gain. Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, they come out ahead! Charles R. Swindoll
Meekness is power under control. It is like the full power of a horse under the control of the rider. There are several illustrations of God¡¦s gentleness.
And you will be nursed; you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem. Then you will see this, and your heart will be glad, and your bones will flourish like the new grass; and the hand of the LORD will be made known to His servants, but He will be indignant toward His enemies. Isaiah 66:12-14
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. Psalm 91:1-4
Luke puts both mercy and tenderness together.
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high Luke 1:78
Scripture pictures God as the Gentle Shepherd leading the nursing lambs
Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Psalm 103:13-14
But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; and often He restrained His anger and did not arouse all His wrath. Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and does not return. Psalm 78:38-39
We would all be consumed but for the gentleness of God. So many things get broken when we fail to consider their frailty. The reality is that all people are broken and frail. Of course Jesus is the ultimate illustration of gentleness.
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
Here we see Jesus anxious to relive our burden by yoking up with Him. He calls us to learn meekness from Him.
Be hold My Servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well-pleased; I will put my Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel, nor cry out; nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A battered reed He will not break off, and a smoldering wick He will not put out, until He leads justice to victory. And in His name the Gentiles will hope." Matthew 12:18-21
God instructs kingdom citizens to relate to one another with gentleness. Gentleness is listed with love, joy, peace as the evidence of the live controlled by the Spirit.
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3
But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5
Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ¡XI who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! 2 Corinthians 10:1
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
It is interesting how the spiritual gifts list in Romans 12 dovetails into the elements for community development.
The prophet reminds people of God¡¦s truth and expectations.
The server ministers to the members of the body in practical ways.
The teacher gives practical instruction.
The exhorter addresses issues that threaten community.
The giver blesses needy members of the body with God¡¦s resources.
The administrator keeps the body running smoothly and orderly.
Those with the gift of mercy extend compassion throughout the body.
Love controls and blends all of the gifts together for the good of the body.
God loves us ¡V are we truly loving each other?
God lavishes grace ¡V are we extending grace to others?
God grants mercy ¡V are we showing tender mercy and compassion to others?
God forebears our defects ¡V are we suffering long and forbearing the defects of others?
God deals with us gently ¡V are we relating to one another with meekness and gentleness?
If not why not? These are all signs of a life empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit.
