Ephesians 2:3

Ephesians 2:3

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Oh yes we deserve hell. We have no argument. If we get to the pearly gates and Jesus says, “you know I can’t let you in here.” I actually have no reasonable retort at the ready. Except this one thing, this singular possibility, His mercy. Not my years of service, not my myriad decisions to deny the flesh, not my bold acts of heroic faith, neither my fortune of a tithe record. None of that matters one iota of relief from the immutable fact that if justice prevails what is absolutely the correct verdict is that I deserve Hell period. But what about the love of God, well that is important and wonderous but in the matter of justice it just does not change things, there will be many who are loved by God who will be found in Hell. No, the one singular absolute and narrow path to escape the eternal fire of Hell is the richness of God’s mercy.

Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary definition of:

MER'CY, noun [Latin misericordia.]

1. That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being.

The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty. Numbers 14:18.

2. An act or exercise of mercy or favor. It is a mercy that they escaped.

I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies. Genesis 32:1.

3. Pity; compassion manifested towards a person in distress.

And he said, he that showed mercy on him. Luke 10:37.

4. Clemency and bounty.

Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercyProverbs 28:13.

5. Charity, or the duties of charity and benevolence.

I will have mercy and not sacrifice. Matthew 9:13.

6. Grace; favor. 1 Corinthians 7:25. Jude 1:2.

7. Eternal life, the fruit of mercy 2 Timothy 1:2.

8. Pardon.

I cry thee mercy with all my heart.

9. The act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected. The prisoner cried for mercy

To be or to lie at the mercy of, to have no means of self-defense, but to be dependent for safety on the mercy or compassion of another, or in the power of that which is irresistible; as, to be at the mercy of a foe, or of the waves.

application

To respect the mercy of God in my life today.



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