How do we know that Christ's mercy is for everyone?

Christ’s mercy is universal for those who acknowledge their need for Him. In Luke 18:38-39, we see Bartimaeus, unable to see, yet desperately calling out for Jesus' mercy, illustrating that Christ reaches out to those who see their spiritual need. God's grace does not discriminate; it is offered to everyone who accepts their state of utter helplessness and cries out for help. As Romans 10:13 states, 'For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' This inclusion emphasizes that salvation is by grace through faith, not based on any merit of our own, but solely dependent on the work of Christ.

Furthermore, the passage draws attention to God's sovereign choice in saving sinners, as the grace extended by Christ is not based on human qualification but on His will to save His people. The historic Reformed perspective harmonizes these truths, revealing that while God’s mercy is freely given, it is effective for those whom He has chosen and called.