LOOKING FOR THE MERCY
SCRIPTURE: Jude 1:21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
INTRODUCTION:
5083 tereo {tay-reh'-o} from teros (a watch, perhaps akin to 2334); TDNT- 8:140,1174; v
AV- keep 57, reserve 8, observe 4, watch 2, preserve 2, keeper 1, hold fast 1; 75
1) to attend to carefully, take care of [If you do nothing else in life, “take care” to be in the love of God.]
1a) to guard
1b) metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
1c) to observe
1d) to reserve: to undergo something
Keep yourselves — not in your own strength, but “in the love of God,” that is, God’s love to you and all His believing children, the only guarantee for their being kept safe. Man’s need of watching is implied; at the same time he cannot keep himself, unless God in His love keep him. Jamison, Fauset & Brown
Jude v. 21 refers to the second coming; keep your hope sharp and bright, looking for the intervention again of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ray Stedman
As we keep the blessed hope of Christ's immanent return alive in our hearts, this effectively keeps us in the love of God, and helps us to not give away our faith. David Guzik
None but those who“keep themselves” are likely to “save” others. JFB
looking for — in hope. JFB
4327 prosdechomai {pros-dekh'-om-ahee} from 4314 and 1209; TDNT - 2:57,146; v
AV - look for 4, wait for 3, receive 3, waited for + 2258 1, allow 1, take 1, accept 1; 14
1) to receive to one's self, to admit, to give access to one's self
1a) to admit one, receive one into intercourse and companionship
1b) to receive one (coming from some place)
1c) to accept (not to reject) a thing offered
2) to expect: the fulfilment of promises
1656 eleos {el'-eh-os} of uncertain affinity;TDNT - 2:477,222; n n AV - mercy 28; 28
1) mercy: kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them
1a) of men towards men: to exercise the virtue of mercy, show one's self merciful
1b) of God towards men: in general providence; the mercy and clemency of God in providing
and offering to men salvation by Christ
1c) the mercy of Christ, whereby at his return to judgment he will bless true Christians with eternal life
I. LOOKING FOR THE MERCY OF SALVATION
How many here can say like John Newton in his song Amazing Grace, “I once was lost”?
A. Personal Testimony - Dec. 5, 1982
1. At the end of my rope.
2. In fear of judgment.
3. In need of mercy.
4. I went to the House of God . . . looking for the mercy.
Titus 1:3 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost;”
5. He saved me!!!!!! According to His mercy, He saved me!!!!!!
Ephesians 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:5 “Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
B. To Seek And To Save
Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 8:25 “And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save
us: we perish.”
Matthew 14:29 “And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”
How many times has this call gone out?
How many times has He answered the call?
Matthew 14:31 “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
Matthew 18:11 “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
From the very beginning to the very end, it was a ministry of mercy.
C. Look back yourself to the that time when you came . . . looking for mercy.
I Corinthians 6:9 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of
God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
D. Keep in mind that many who are astray today are just like you once were. The difference
now between you and them is that you have accepted the mercy and they are still
lingering or looking for the mercy.
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
Remember, you will reap what you sow.
II. LOOKING FOR THE MERCY OF CONTINUATION (Strength to go on.)
A. At The End
1. Of the Life Of A Loved One
2. Of A Paycheck
3. Of A “Bad Day”
4. Of Falling To Temptation
B. The Difference Between
1. David vs. Saul
a. David
1. A shepherd boy with humble beginnings.
2. A Man After God’s Own Heart
3. Sinned and was reprimanded by Nathan.
4. Repented of his failures and returned to God. (Looking for the mercy.)
5. Died in honor as a man after God’s own heart.
b. Saul
1. Humble beginnings. Hid himself when chosen to be king.
2. Head and shoulders above the rest.
3. Sinned and was reprimanded by Samuel.
4. Hardened his heart and rebelled.
5. Committed suicide after being wounded in battle.
I Samuel 31:2 “And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons;
and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul’s
sons.”
I Samuel 31:3 “And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and
he was sore wounded of the archers. 31:4 Then said Saul unto his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armorbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.”
2. Peter vs. Judas
-Both were chosen to be among the twelve disciples. Only one persisted. Why?
C. The Saint’s Secret To Staying Saved
1. Keep going back to the throne of grace . . . looking for the mercy!!
(I am in no way suggesting an abuse of the grace of God by being willingly
sinful.)
Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling
of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly [boldly--Greek, "with confidence,"] unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need.”
mercy--"Compassion," by its derivation (literally, fellow feeling from community of suffering), corresponds to the character of our High Priest "touched with the feeling of our infirmities".
2. The throne of God is a throne of grace; we may come to obtain mercy (not getting what we deserve) and find grace (getting what we don't deserve) in our time
of need. David Guzik
Illustration by Dr. Tony Evans
-- Police stop -- Mercy = letting you go; Grace = giving you $100
D. Satan’s Strategy
Discouraging us from this access is a central strategy of Satan; David Guzik
1. He either wants us to consider Jesus unapproachable (perhaps we should come by Mary or the saints?), David Guzik “I can’t go directly to God.”
2. Or to consider Him impotent to help, not as one who sits on a throne in heaven.
“God can’t help me.”
3. “I’ve gone too far. No one can help me now.
III. LOOKING FOR THE MERCY OF CONFRONTATION
James 2:13 “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
James here guards us against a selective obedience, the sort that will pick and choose which commands of God should be obeyed and which could be safely disregarded. We are under the law of liberty; it has liberty, yet it is still a law that must be obeyed and that we will be judged by at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). As those who will be judged by the law of liberty, we do well to show mercy to others by refraining from partiality; the mercy we show will be extended to us again on the day of judgment, and will enable us to triumph over judgment. David Guzik
The converse of, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy". Translate, "The judgment (which is coming on all of us) shall be without mercy to him who hath showed no mercy." It shall be such toward every one as every one shall have been [BENGEL]. "Mercy" here corresponds to "love," mercy rejoiceth against judgment--Mercy, so far from fearing judgment in the case of its followers, actually glorifieth against it, knowing that it cannot condemn them. Not that their mercy is the ground of their acquittal, but the mercy of God in Christ towards them, producing mercy on their part towards their fellow men, makes them to triumph over judgment, which all in themselves otherwise deserve.
14. James here, passing from the particular case of "mercy" or "love" violated by "respect of persons," notwithstanding profession of the "faith of our Lord Jesus", combats the Jewish tendency (transplanted into their Christianity) to substitute a lifeless, inoperative acquaintance with the letter of the law, for change of heart to practical holiness, as if justification could be thereby attained. JFB
IV. LOOKING FOR THE MERCY OF GRADUATION
How many have breathed their last breath uttering the words, “Lord have mercy.”
A. It will depend on your heart’s intent. Is this just a statement used casually.
It will depend on God’s mercy.
B. Sinners will be looking for judgment.
Hebrews 10:26 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of
the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”
C. Saints will be looking for the mercy.
CONCLUSION:
I Peter 1:3 “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
An invitation: come to the throne of grace [Hebrews 4:16]
a. Because we have a Lord who is both omnipotent and compassionate, we can come boldly to His throne
Discouraging us from this access is a central strategy of Satan; he either wants us to consider Jesus unapproachable (perhaps we should come by Mary or the saints?), or to consider Him impotent to help, not as one who sits on a throne in heaven
b. The throne of God is a throne of grace; we may come to obtain mercy (not getting what we deserve) and find grace (getting what we don't deserve) in our time of need
Rabbis taught that God had two thrones, one of mercy, one of judgment. They said this because they knew that God was both merciful, and He was just, but how could these two attributes of God be reconciled? Perhaps God had two thrones, displaying the two aspects of His character. On one throne He would show His judgment, and on the other His mercy. But we see mercy and judgment reconciled into one throne of grace
ii. Remember that grace does not ignore God's justice; it operates in fulfillment of God's justice, in light of the cross
c. Thankfully, God provides help in our time of need; no request is too small, for He wants us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer . . . let your requests be made known to God .
David Guzik
come--rather as Greek, "approach," "draw near."
boldly--Greek, "with confidence," or "freedom of speech".
the throne of grace--God's throne is become to us a throne of grace through the mediation of our High Priest at God's right hand. Pleading our High Priest Jesus' meritorious death, we shall always find God on a throne of grace. Contrast Job's complaint and Elihu's " IF," &c.
obtain--rather, "receive."
mercy--"Compassion," by its derivation (literally, fellow feeling from community of suffering), corresponds to the character of our High Priest "touched with the feeling of our infirmities".
find grace--corresponding to "throne of grace." Mercy especially refers to the remission and removal of sins; grace, to the saving bestowal of spiritual gifts [ESTIUS]. Compare "Come unto Me . . . and I will give you rest (the rest received on first believing). Take My yoke on you . . . and ye shall find rest (the continuing rest and peace found in daily submitting to Christ's easy yoke; the former answers to "receive mercy" here; the latter, to "find grace,".
in time of need--Greek, "seasonably." Before we are overwhelmed by the temptation; when we most need it, in temptations and persecutions; such as is suitable to the time, persons, and end designed. A supply of grace is in store for believers against all exigencies; but they are only supplied with it according as the need arises. Compare "in due time,". Not, as ALFORD explains, "help in time," that is, to-day, while it is yet open to us; the accepted time.
help--"He is able to succor them that are tempted."
God's motive in reconciliation [Ephesians 2:4 - 5]
a. With but and because, Paul explains God's motive in reconciling man to Himself, and the motives are found totally in God: in His rich mercy and in His great love, which He has focused on us
b. We might imagine a God of rich mercy and great love who did not focus that mercy and love upon us; but behind the good news of God's salvation offered in Jesus is the fact that this mercy and love is extended to us
c. We have warped the idea of God's great mercy and love into something that justifies our pride: imagining that we must be so lovable that God has decided to give us this great love! Instead, the truth is that God's love is so great that it extends even to the unlovely - to the children of wrath
i. Every motive for God's mercy and love is found in Him; we give Him no reason to love us, yet in the greatness of His love, He loves us with that great love anyway
ii. Therefore, we must stop trying to make ourselves lovable to God, and simply receive His great love while recognizing that we are unworthy of it - this is the grace secret of the Christian life David Guzik
the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ — to be fully manifested at His coming. JFB
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (READ v. 15 &16)
The character of this wisdom is wonderful; it is full of love and a giving heart, consistent with the holiness of God. This fruit is like a seed that will bear fruit as it is sown by those who make peace. David Guzik
