Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. All kingdoms of the earth can
be defined by certain characteristics which make them unique. The same
can surely be said about the kingdom which the Lord Jesus
Christ came into the world to establish. The chief characteristic
of it was revealed as angels appeared to some shepherds on
a Judean hillside and heralded this message. And the angel said
unto them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day
in the city of David the Savior, which is Christ the Lord. This
kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ is one which abounds with mercy.
The God of heaven and earth was under no obligation or necessity
to do anything to effect the salvation of mankind. Yet it
pleased him to do so, that he might bring glory to Christ in
the magnification and manifestation of his mercy to wicked men, worthy
of destruction. Though the Lord had plainly revealed
His mercy in times past in His dealings with Israel, it is in
the unveiling of Christ as the Savior of the world that He demonstrated
that the objects of His mercy were not simply the descendants
of Jacob, but rather a people which He had chosen out of every
nation, tribe, and tongue. The gospel declares the revealed
purpose of God to show mercy to unworthy sinners. It is the
announcement of the fulfillment of all of the promises which
he had made by the prophets in times past. The kingdom of Christ
is established in mercy because it is the prerogative of a king
to dispense his favor as he sees fit. He told Moses, I will proclaim
the name of the Lord before thee and will be gracious to whom
I will be gracious and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. The vast majority of preachers
in our day completely disregard this clear revelation of the
sovereign dispensing of mercy and make the obtaining of mercy
to be the result of the operation of man's free will. They picture
God as one who becomes obligated to show mercy by the activities
of men. How foolish to consider that
God must do anything but fulfill his own purpose. God shows mercy
to men according to his purpose. So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
The kingdom of Christ is established in mercy, because it is mercy
alone that can give a sinner eyes to see his ruined condition,
and the absolute sufficiency of the atoning work of Christ
to settle his debt and make him free. But God, who is rich in
mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace
ye are saved. The kingdom of Christ is established
in mercy, as He completely satisfied the demands of a broken law,
and absolutely fulfilled that law in every jot and tittle.
The sons of God had no righteousness to bring before Him, since each
is a sinner worthy of death. But after that the kindness and
love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost,
which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according
to the hope of eternal life. The kingdom of Christ is established
in mercy, as he is pleased to give his people hope. This hope
is an evidence of life, for the dead have no hope. That which
is seen by the carnal eye is temporary, but hope looks beyond
the present moment and desires that which is eternal. The kingdom
of Christ is established in mercy because it does also please the
Lord to give his people the fruition and fulfillment of that hope
in the present time, though it be seen through a glass darkly.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon
them that hope in his mercy. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead. The kingdom of Christ is established
in mercy each time the Lord is pleased to send one to preach
the everlasting gospel to the ruined sinners of this world.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed? And how shall they believe in
him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without
a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? The kingdom of Christ is established
in mercy each time he is pleased to call a sinner to himself according
to the riches of his grace. But go ye and learn what that
meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. For the promise
is unto you and to your children and to all that are far off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Have you tasted
of his mercy? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.