Mercy and Truth

Q: What does the Bible say about God's mercy and truth?

The Bible reveals that mercy and truth meet together through the Lord Jesus Christ, where righteousness and peace are established. The psalmist in Psalm 85 illustrates the harmonious meeting of mercy and truth, showcasing how these attributes converge in Christ. God's mercy is inclined to save humanity, while truth, rooted in divine righteousness, demands justice for sin. This duality is fulfilled at the cross, where Christ's obedience and sacrificial death satisfy both God's justice and His longing to redeem. Thus, mercy and truth exemplify the nature of God's character, culminating in the gospel of grace offered to His people.

Q: How do we know that God's salvation is real for believers?

God's salvation is certain and assured in Scripture, emphasizing God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His people. The certainty of God's salvation is founded on His immutable character, as expressed in Malachi 3:6, where He proclaims, 'I am the Lord, I change not.' This assurance extends to all whom the Father has given to Christ, ensuring that none will be lost (John 6:39). Salvation encompasses not only our initial deliverance but also God's ongoing work in our lives, affirming that His grace sustains us, strengthens our faith, and ultimately guarantees eternal life. The hope we have in God's word bolsters our assurance that salvation is comprehensive and final for those in Christ.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to understand the concept of being chosen by God?

Understanding God's choice emphasizes His sovereignty and grace in picking a people for Himself, assuring believers of their security in Him. The doctrine of election is crucial for Christians as it highlights God's sovereign grace in salvation, reminding us that our standing before Him is based solely on His choice rather than any merit of our own. Ephesians 1:4 states that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, reflecting His purpose in salvation. This understanding fosters deep humility in believers, as it is by grace alone that we are saved, and it strengthens our faith, knowing that God’s call and gifting are irrevocable. The security derived from being chosen encourages a life of gratitude and service to the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Q: What does it mean that salvation is of the Lord?

It means that salvation originates from God alone, encompassing His planning, provision, and application through Jesus Christ. The phrase 'salvation is of the Lord' encapsulates the truth that our deliverance is entirely a work of divine grace. It signifies that God is the architect and executor of salvation, as seen throughout Scripture. This divine initiative ensures that God's purposes are accomplished and that the method of salvation—through Christ's atoning sacrifice—is entirely reliant on His mercy and truth. In Psalm 85, the plea for mercy and salvation reinforces that human efforts are incapable of effecting true redemption; it is God's initiative and grace alone that can reconcile us and secure our eternal state. Recognizing this is transformative, leading to reliance on God's promises and the comfort of His unfailing love.

Q: How does God's wrath relate to His mercy?

God's wrath against sin underscores the necessity of His mercy in providing salvation through Christ. The relationship between God's wrath and mercy reveals profound truths about His character. While God's wrath is directed towards sin and injustice, His mercy offers a means of reconciliation to sinners. As Romans 5:9 articulates, we are justified from God's wrath through Christ, who bore our sins and the repercussions we deserved. This duality emphasizes both the seriousness of sin and the depth of God's love, where He does not compromise His justice while simultaneously extending mercy to those in Christ. Understanding this interplay helps Christians appreciate the magnitude of what Christ accomplished on the cross, emphasizing that mercy triumphs over judgment.

Open your Bibles with me this evening to Psalm chapter 85. Psalm 85. Spurgeon wrote this Psalm, he said, it's the, the prayer of a patriot for his afflicted country in which he pleads the Lord's former mercies and by faith sees brighter days ahead. Look with me beginning with verse one. Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land and thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. He says, you've brought back the captivity, and that word means the captives, the captives, the captives of Jacob.

You know, earthly speaking, the Lord brought them out of Egypt. He brought them out of Babylon. How many times did he deliver his people? And spiritually, he has brought his people out, delivered them from sin, delivered them from Satan, delivered them from the law. His people are special people, and they often go by the name of Jacob.

These captives mentioned here, They're redeemed. They're set free by the Lord Jesus Christ. That's how we're delivered from captivity. Scripture says this, that he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Here we have freedom. We have liberty proclaimed to these captives and we're delivered as a result of his divine favor.

In Malachi 3, 6, we read this often, but he said, I'm the Lord. I am the Lord. I change not. Therefore, you sons of who? Of Jacob. Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed. Delivered, delivered from the bondage of sin. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Let's read on here. Psalm 85, look at verse two. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people. Thou hast covered all their sin. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath. Thou hast turned from the fierceness of thine anger.

Here's a description of the author of all spiritual blessings, the Lord. That's who the psalmist is writing about here. And he says, listen to this, thou hast. Who? Thou. God has been what? He's been favorable. He says, thou hast delivered, thou hast forgiven, thou hast covered, thou hast taken away all of thy wrath. The Lord has done all these things. Salvation is of the Lord. You see that? And then we read here of a people. He said, these are his people. He says, thy people, the people that he has chosen to bless.

Who's he talking about? Jacob. What do we read in scripture of Jacob? Jacob, listen, we read all kind of bad things about Jacob. But what's the Lord say? Jacob have I loved. And Esau have I hated. His people. His people by divine choice. Listen to the words of our Lord from John chapter six.

He said this, all that the Father hath given me shall come to me. And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And this is the will of Him that sent me. This is the Father's will, that of all which He hath given me, I'll lose nothing. He's not going to lose one. In fact, He said, and I'll raise Him up at the last day.

Thy people, His people by divine purchase. It's the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. His people by a divine call. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. 1 Corinthians 1. Look beginning with verse 26 of 1 Corinthians 1. His people by divine call.

Verse 26, for you see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh Not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. He hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, the base things of the world, and the things which are despised, God hath chosen. chosen ye, and things which are not, to bring to naught the things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him, of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. In verse two, let's look back to our text here. We read of some of the blessings of his covenant. What are they? He says, thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people. Forgiven them for a price. What was that price? He was bruised for our iniquities. We read this, that all our iniquity was laid on Him. There's also a reference here to that scapegoat of old that we read of back in the book of Leviticus.

Remember that they were instructed to bring a live goat. And Aaron was to lay his hands, both hands on the head of that live goat and confess over that goat all the iniquities of the children of Israel. All their iniquity, all their transgression, their sins ceremonially put on the head of that goat. And then it was sent away by the hand of a fit man and taken into the wilderness. That goat was to to bear upon Him the iniquities of that land, of those people. And He was, again, to go into the wilderness.

That's our Lord Jesus Christ. All our iniquity was laid on Him. And He suffered and died in the place of His people. We read here also of another blessing of the covenant. He said, Thou hast covered all of our sin. a mercy seat, a covering for sin. Just like that blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat of old, a propitiation through faith in his blood.

We read this to declare his righteousness, the very righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. We also read in this passage the extent, the extent of these blessings. Just listen to this.

He says, thou hast forgiven, and without this word, I don't know how there would be any comfort in this scripture. What if it said, thou hast forgiven most of your iniquity? What if it said, He has forgiven some of your iniquity. That would give us no hope, would it? But he says, thou hast forgiven all, all their iniquity. And then he says this, thou hast taken away all of thy wrath.

We sing this. I don't know if we've sang it long. Praise the Lord for full salvation. God still reigns upon his throne. And I know, I know that his blood still reaches. How far? Deeper, deeper than the stain has gone. I have forgiven. He said, I've forgiven all thy iniquity. taking away all of his wrath.

There is therefore now, right now, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Well, let's read on in our text. Look at verse four there of Psalm 85. Turn us, turn us, O God, of our salvation. Cause thine anger to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us forever? Will thou draw out thine anger to all generations? In salvation, in the salvation of his people, God's wrath is removed. This world, this religious world doesn't talk much. They don't talk any about the wrath of God. The people of God are, we're just as deserving as wrath as any other.

But the Lord gathered all that up and he placed it on his son. on his only begotten son. You know, if you go back in the book, there in Exodus, we see this in the Passover. God passed through the land of Egypt. And we're so thankful for that Passover lamb. But I tell you, his wrath was poured out on sin. The Egyptians, every firstborn in their home was slain. God is angry with the wicked. God must punish sin. But you know, again, in those homes where there was no blood, where there was no Passover lamb, There was death.

But under the blood, under the blood, that was a whole different story, wasn't it? Under the blood of Jesus, safe in the shepherd's fold. Under the blood of Jesus, safe while the ages roll. Safe though the worlds may crumble, safe though the stars grow dim. under the blood of Jesus. What's the rest of it? I am secure only in one place, only in one person. I am secure in Him.

God's wrath removed, taken away. The wrath of God is turned from His people by the obedience and death of His Son. And our enmity toward him is removed. We hate God by nature. We raise up our hands and we declare, we'll not have this man reign over us. But that enmity is removed.

The believer is reconciled to God. That's what we read in the scriptures. Reconciled to God. Regenerated by the Holy Spirit. given a new heart that love God, to love God, to seek God. Paul wrote in Romans 5 verse 5, he said this, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Now verse 6, let's move on here. Verse 6, will thou not revive us again, that our people may rejoice in thee.

Like those dry bones back there in Ezekiel's vision. Remember that valley of dry bones? Can these bones live? Lord, thou knowest. prophesied to him, preached to him. And the Lord was pleased to raise up a mighty army. He revived those old, dead, dry bones. Like Lazarus, whose dead body lay there in the grave. And the Lord was pleased to speak in power and say, live. He raised him from the dead.

We desperately need to be revived. Not just once, we need to be revived over and over again. Lord, revive us again, quicken us by thy spirit, quicken us by thy grace. He doesn't just say revive us. He said, will thou not revive us again? Continually, constantly in need of refreshing. Revive us that thy people may rejoice in what we've done, in what we have to offer. What's it say? that we may rejoice in thee. To rejoice in the Lord, to rejoice in him, to rejoice in his mercy, forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before. Let's read on here again, verse seven. Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. Show us thy mercy, O Lord. It's of the Lord's mercies that we're not consumed.

It's his mercy, listen, There when we were laying there out in that field, polluted in our own blood, it was his mercy that passed by and said, live. Mercy that covered our nakedness. Covered us with a robe. A robe of his perfect, that robe of his perfect righteousness. Mercy that washed away our sin. Mercy that gave us repentance and faith. Mercy that keeps us in the way and will not ever let us go. His mercy, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to what? His mercy, He saved us. Show us, that's a prayer, isn't it? Show us thy mercy and grant us, grant us thy salvation. Look at that, look at that closely.

It says, it's his salvation, thy salvation. Salvation's of the Lord. Salvations of the Lord in its planning, in its provision, in its application, in its sustaining power. Salvations of the Lord in its final consummation. What's he asked for here? Grant us thy salvation. It's all of him. It's all by his grace. Think about that. A dead sinner, a dead sinner lifted from the dunghill, washed and made ready to appear in his divine presence. Thy mercy, grant us thy mercy, grant us thy salvation.

Verse eight, I'll hear what the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to everybody. He will speak peace unto his people and to his saints, but let not them turn again to folly. How vital How vital is the Word of God to His people? It's by His Word that He speaks peace. Peace to His people in the Lord Jesus Christ.

His Word is the foundation of faith. His Word, listen, it is the source of comfort. It's the means of spiritual growth. It's the children's bread. And the psalmist here declares, he will. He will speak peace. I love the certainty, the certainty of God's word to his people. He will speak peace. And he does so through his word. It's the gospel of peace. He speaks Peace through His ministers who bring good tidings of it, who publish it. He speaks peace through the blood and righteousness of His Son.

There's nothing like it. There's no provision, no protection against sin or apostasy or daily peace to be found anywhere apart from His Word. Bunyan said this, he wrote this regarding the word of God. He said, this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.

It's the word of God that endureth forever. Verse nine, surely, Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. The Lord is near them that fear Him. He's always near His people, no matter what the circumstance. He'll never leave. He will never leave. nor forsake his people.

Verse 10. Mercy and truth are met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Listen to these attributes. Mercy. Mercy was inclined to save men. Peace. Peace couldn't be the enemy, but truth orders the death of a rebel. God will by no means clear the guilty. And righteousness, righteousness demands a perfect obedience. Every point of God's law, one law, Breaking one law is enough to condemn us and send us to hell. By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight.

And these attributes we read here are in Christ, who is God. He's very God of very God. But mercy and truth are met together in his son, they're met together in the Lord Jesus Christ. We read righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Where? At the cross, at Calvary. God's a just God and a savior. by the obedience and death of his son, obedience and death of the Lord Jesus Christ for sinners. God is both just and justifier. Verse 11, truth shall spring out of the earth. Righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give. The Lord shall give that which is good, and our land shall yield her increase. The Lord shall give that which is good.

Listen to a few of these good, good things which he's given. Repentance. He's given us repentance. Repentance, that's a good thing, isn't it? God gives it, the Lord will give repentance. How about pardon? That's a good thing, isn't it? It is for somebody who's guilty that we read he will abundantly pardon. Faith, to give that which God's word says it's the gift of God. For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is what? It's the gift of God. Justification. We're justified freely by His grace. Regeneration. Growth in grace. The preservation of His saints to the end. We're kept, kept by the power of God.

Eternal glory. All these things He's given given His people in Christ. Every good and perfect gift, where does it come from? Every good and perfect gift is from Him. And He's not gonna withhold anything truly good for His people. Our eternal good. All these things that work together to accomplish it.

Well, quickly look at verse 13. Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps. to follow in the path of righteousness and truth, to follow Him. Listen, that's what, to follow in someone's steps is to become a follower of them, right? Paul wrote this, he said, you be followers of me even as also I am a follower of Christ. to cause us to follow him. You know, if you're following somebody, what are you?

We read that earlier. Forgetting those things that are behind and looking ahead. I can remember years ago, one of the first times I raked hay on the farm, I learned something pretty quick. Every time I look back, I'd hit the steering wheel, and I'd throw that rake out, and it looked like that windrow looked like a snake following me. But you know what?

If you're looking straight ahead and not worrying about those things that are behind us, simply looking, looking to Him. to follow His teachings, to follow His commandments. The words of our Lord, that should be our rule, shouldn't it? Just to follow Him. To look to Him and Him alone. All right. Let's stand and sing a closing hymn.

Mercy and Truth

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about God's mercy and truth?

How do we know that God's salvation is real for believers?

Why is it important for Christians to understand the concept of being chosen by God?

What does it mean that salvation is of the Lord?

How does God's wrath relate to His mercy?

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Mercy and Truth

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about God's mercy and truth?

How do we know that God's salvation is real for believers?

Why is it important for Christians to understand the concept of being chosen by God?

What does it mean that salvation is of the Lord?

How does God's wrath relate to His mercy?

Sermon Transcript

About Eric Floyd

Comments

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