"So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs,
but of God who shows mercy."
Romans 9:16
A man said to a minister, "I know the definition of mercy, but I'm a visual type person. I need to see it. What does God's mercy look like?" The minister said, "God shows us His mercy at the cross, where His Son died for our sins." God showed His mercy to people in different ways and different times before the cross, but the full revelation of God's mercy for sinners is shown at the cross of Jesus. "Mercy there was great and grace was free."
Free grace for sinners is the mercy of God in Christ. It is free because "it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs." Man's efforts cannot compete with the mercy of God. It is God's will to save sinners everywhere, who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31). It is freely bestowed on all who believe. The self-righteous person prays, "God I thank You that I am not like other men." The sinner prays, "God be merciful to me a sinner." That sinful man is justified through God's mercy freely.
A song writer understood what it meant to see God's mercy. His name was Fred Whitfield. He wrote these words as he looked at God's mercy:
but of God who shows mercy."
Romans 9:16
A man said to a minister, "I know the definition of mercy, but I'm a visual type person. I need to see it. What does God's mercy look like?" The minister said, "God shows us His mercy at the cross, where His Son died for our sins." God showed His mercy to people in different ways and different times before the cross, but the full revelation of God's mercy for sinners is shown at the cross of Jesus. "Mercy there was great and grace was free."
Free grace for sinners is the mercy of God in Christ. It is free because "it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs." Man's efforts cannot compete with the mercy of God. It is God's will to save sinners everywhere, who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31). It is freely bestowed on all who believe. The self-righteous person prays, "God I thank You that I am not like other men." The sinner prays, "God be merciful to me a sinner." That sinful man is justified through God's mercy freely.
A song writer understood what it meant to see God's mercy. His name was Fred Whitfield. He wrote these words as he looked at God's mercy:
I saw the cross of Jesus,
When burdened with my sin.
I sought the cross of Jesus
To give me peace within.
I brought my soul to Jesus.
He cleansed it in His blood.
And in the cross of Jesus,
I found my peace with God.
God, we see Your mercy in Christ at the cross. We receive His cleansing from all of our sins. Amen.
