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“Judgment is without mercy…” The phrase is taken straight from the Bible. If you have followed this series, you know it is located in James 2.13. Before going further into this message, I want you to think briefly about the prospect of judgment, namely God’s final judgment of all mankind, and that judgment occurring without mercy being extended.

How would you like the prospects of facing God and that without mercy? Again, a distinction between mercy and grace might fall along these lines: Mercy is God’s willingness to forego the punishment that I deserve; grace is God’s willingness to give me that which I did not earn. On the one hand, I plead for mercy and ask that I not receive what I deserve. On the other hand, I ask for grace so that I might receive that which I do not deserve (i.e. eternal life). That being said, how would it fare if you had to stand in judgment without the hope of any mercy? I cannot speak for you, but I can speak for me? I absolutely would be horrified to think that the Eternal God and Creator of this universe would have me stand face to face before Him without the prospect of mercy!

If the standard is perfection (and it is – Acts 17.31), if all men sin (and they do – Romans 3.23), and if God wants all men to be saved (and He does – 1 Timothy 2.3-4), then how can these three realities be reconciled. The answer MUST involve mercy and grace! Through the natural and unaided efforts of man, He cannot stand before Holy God. Yet, we know that some will be saved; we know that some are already saved. Therefore, we know through correct thinking that their salvation came about as a result and through the extension of God’s goodness, mercy, and grace; it simply could not be any other way!

The opening phrase of this article – “Judgment is without mercy…” – is only part of a scripture. For that we ought to be thankful to the point of being overjoyed! If judgment were literally without mercy, the picture could be no bleaker. Yet, God would actually have to violate His own will and character to judge humanity apart from grace and mercy. The Psalmist hit the nail on the head centuries earlier when he declared, “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless.” (Psalm 18.25). Unless I missed my count, the fact that God’s mercy endures forever is repeated time and time again in the Bible, reaching a total of more than 40 times. In fact one of the Psalms (the 136th Psalm) contains the phrase “For His mercy endures forever,” occurs in each of its 26 verses.

The New Testament does not explicitly say that God’s mercy endures forever, but it certainly teaches it! In fact, the New Testament contains the strongest possible affirmation of God’s unending mercies. The cross of Jesus Christ speaks more about God’s mercy than all the verbal or written affirmations in centuries past. In fact, the cross is the epitome of grace and mercy. The penalty that all men deserve was “waived” at the cross for all mankind (in potential). Even those who crucified Him could be the recipients of His mercy. In fact Jesus cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do!” (Luke 23.34). The mercy of God extends to and beyond the cross; if He was willing to grant mercy to those who drove the nails in His Son’s hands, it is certain that He is willing to forgive anyone.

“Judgment without mercy…” is a personal choice! You can have it that way if you like, but I wouldn’t advise it! Mercy triumphs over judgment; that’s the way I think I want it! Praise God Almighty!

Questions:

1. Distinguish between mercy and grace.

2. What verbal affirmations are made in the Old Testament about God’s mercy?

3. What verbal affirmations are made in the New Testament about God’s everlasting mercy?

4. What implicit affirmations are made in the New Testament about God’s everlasting mercy?

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

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