Bible Talk 101: Mercy

Bible Talk 101

King James Dictionary


Mercy

MER'CY, n. L. 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. Num.14.

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. Gen.32.

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

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

4. Clemency and bounty.

Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy. Prov.28.

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

I will have mercy and not sacrifice. Matt.9.

6. Grace; favor. 1 Cor.7. Jude 2.

7. Eternal life, the fruit of mercy. 2 Tim.1.

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.

Passing The Test

Grace: This is NOT a test!

I came across this story while in my studies and I thought I'd share it. While it's not the full length of the devotional, it's a great story depicting what grace really is and how it applies to our faith. What are your thoughts?

YOU RELATE TO GOD AND OTHERS GRATEFULLY MATTHEW 20:1-16

 

Denise Banderman left work early so she could have some extra, uninterrupted
study time before her final exam in a youth ministry class at the Christian college
she attended. When she got to class, everybody was doing their last-minute
studying. The teacher, Dr. Tom Hufty, came in and said he would review with
them before the test. Most of his review came right from the study guide, but
there were some things he was reviewing that Denise had never heard. When
questioned about it, he said they were in the book and they were responsible for
everything in the book. They couldn't argue with that. Finally it was time to take
the test. "Leave them face down on the desk until everyone has one,” Dr. Hufty
instructed, “and I'll tell you when to start."

When they turned the tests over, the students saw, to their astonishment, that
every answer on the test was filled in. Denise’s name was even written on the
exam in red ink. At the bottom of the last page Dr. Hufty had written these words:
"This is the end of the exam. All the answers on your test are correct. You will
receive an A on the final exam. The reason you passed the test is because the
creator of the test took it for you. All the work you did in preparation for this test
did not help you get the A. You have just experienced…grace." Dr. Hufty then
went around the room and asked each student individually, "What is your grade?
Do you deserve the grade you are receiving? How much did all your studying for
this exam help you achieve your final grade?" Then he said, "Some things you
learn from lectures, some things you learn from research, but some things you
can only learn from experience. You've just experienced grace. If you know
Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, your name is written down in a book, and
you had nothing to do with writing it there. That is the ultimate grace experience."
 

When Jesus is King, you relate to God and others gratefully. You live with God
because of grace. You serve God because of love.

Anger and Forgiveness Pt. 2

Continued coverage of the Charles Stanley sermon on Anger and Forgiveness (Part 2 of 3)



Obstacles to Forgiveness (Cont.)
8. Partial forgiveness (just like partial obedience is disobedience, partial forgiveness is unforgiveness. If you wait until you feel like forgiving someone then you probably never will.)
9. Justifying someone else's wrong doing for the sake of not wanting to forgive.

"12 And forgive us our debts,  as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,  but deliver us from the evil one. 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

(Matthew 6:12 - 15; NIV 2010 Edition)

Why we must forgive:
-God forgives our sins only if we forgive the sins of others
- God does not condone willfully refusing to forgive others. Therefore it is an example of living in sin.
- Unforgiveness will destroy your life and separate your fellowship (not your relationship) with Christ.
- If you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive you.

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

(Matthew 18:21-22; NIV 2010 Edition)

- God does not give us a measuring rod to count the number of times we should forgive sin. There is no end to our need to forgive.

The Parable of The Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18 22-35)
- Have mercy on those who owe you in the same way that The Master has mercy on us.

-There is no justifiable reason to not forgive someone.

Part 3 to be posted tomorrow!