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“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12.1).

Eleven intense chapters after setting forth the fact that God’s power to salvation was manifested through and only through the gospel, Paul made an emotional and a rational appeal for his brethren to offer themselves sacrificially in service to God. In as much as sin had infected each and every aspect of humanity, the sole means by which anyone could be saved from eternal destruction was by submission to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The reason for Paul’s appeal had been carefully and meticulously documented through his doctrinal discourse; now it was time for theory to be put into practice. Hence his admonition was introduced by the word therefore. “I beseech you therefore…!

Paul’s source of appeal was “by [through or by means of] the mercies of God.” Note the plural use of the word, which according to Albert Barnes was done in imitation of the Hebrew word for mercy which had no singular. The Gospel which Paul introduced in Romans 1.16 had been shown to be the means by which God’s mercies were made available to all of humanity. Without the guidance God, the Gentiles had become depraved and were separated from Him. Even with God’s guidance through the law of Moses, the nation of Israel had also spiraled downward into a life of sin and debauchery. In short, all had sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3.23). However, in Christ Jesus there was no condemnation to those who walked not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8.1).

What basis for action could be more compelling than the mercies of God? Without His mercies, we have not one scintilla of hope; with His mercies, hope springs eternal and every tomorrow is a day to be longed for! Before Him we fall in worship and adoration, not because of who we are but because of who He is and who He made us to be! With His mercies, every sin, every threat, every fear can be conquered. We recognize that He is the Father of mercy (2 Corinthians 1.3) and just as He is the Father of lights (James 1.17), so mercy also springs from His being even as light and every other good gift.

Cries for mercy are strewn over the entirety of the biblical landscape. The condemned frequently recognized that their only hope was mercy. The sick and lame cried out to those in possession of miraculous powers for mercy. Sinners such as the thief on the cross recognized that mercy was not to be merited, but a gift to be coveted and longed for. God first recognized our need for mercy, demonstrating the trait of mercy at every turn of human history, His ultimate display obviously being upon the Cross of Calvary.

To beseech another by the mercies of God it to appeal to the highest need that man has, the need for being declared right with His Creator. How could a believer fail to heed such a call to action! Such was Paul’s appeal when he said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Questions:

1. Define mercy.
2. Why is God said to be the Father of mercy?
3. How can mercy be earned? If it is earned, is it mercy?
4. What higher appeal could be made than to the mercies of God?

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Comfort in Isaiah II (12-14-10)