God shows mercy to the lost by choosing them for salvation and revealing the gospel to them.
God's mercy toward the lost is fundamentally initiated through His sovereignty in the act of salvation. The story of the Philippian jailer exemplifies this beautifully: despite his status as a Roman jailer and initial rejection of God, mercy was shown through the intervention of Paul and Silas. The jailer's awakening to his condition as a sinner and his subsequent cry for salvation reveals how God prepares the hearts of individuals. This mercy is active, as God orchestrates circumstances, such as the earthquake that freed Paul and Silas, to culminate in the jailer's salvation. Thus, mercy is not just an abstract concept but a dynamic act of God reaching into the lives of individuals to reveal their need for Him and providing the means for them to respond in faith.
Commentary