THE GLORY OF GOD’S MERCY AND OF HIS GRACE
That We May Obtain Mercy, and Find Grace
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Some definitions
Glory —
high renown
magnificence
brightness or splendor
great power and strength
majesty and honor
eminence
preeminence
great beauty
Mercy — is compassion or kindness shown when it’s in one’s power to lord above another or punish lesser ones.
Grace — in Christian theology, is the spontaneous, unmerited gift of the divine favor in the salvation of sinners, and the divine influence operating in individuals for their regeneration and sanctification.
Grace is the basis for the Christian faith. We believe we are saved by faith through grace. God’s grace is usually defined as undeserved favor. Grace cannot be earned; it is something that is freely given.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1–2)
God’s glory is revealed to us by His grace.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (John 1:14,16)
The glory of God was manifested in Jesus Christ, and we beheld God’s glory.
(Jesus said)…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. (John 14:8–11)
How the Son Brings Glory to the Father
God manifested His glory upon the earth and that glory was witnessed by those who knew the works and person of Jesus Christ. Jesus never was a sinner, He never had to die. The Father gave His son as the perfect sacrifice of one who knew no sin. Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father fulfilling His purposes. His sacrifice was sufficient to pay our debts once and for all. He died for us that we might live. GLORY!
God’s Word to us bears witness to His glory. His works of mercy and grace are given to us so that we may join Him in all His glory as Sons of God, glorifying the Father. The Son bears the image of his Father, and glory for glory.
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:1–5)
The Glory Of God’s Mercy to Us
Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, our souls were naked before God’s holiness. We had no covering. We could not hide or cover our sins with excuses or fig leaves.
His Word pierces our iniquities discerning our thoughts and finding us lost in sin, ever self-serving, lost in darkness. Yet His mercy and grace abound toward us without limit. Because He is Love, His mercy knows no bounds. His mercy is freely and willingly extended to us without merit.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:12–13)
The Glory of God
God’s pure nature of righteousness is without sin or guile. He is holy. He has no impure motive whatsoever. He stands ever anchored in the pureness of Love, serving Love always. He is Love in its fulness, Love perfected. Love imputes holiness within His nature, His laws, and His ways. And we behold His glory.
Love is what makes Him Lord God Almighty. It is the source of his holiness, His power, His mercy, and what makes His name above all names.
When God saw our eternal souls in their fallen state, a state of darkness, void of light and life, He set about making a way for us to be recreated in His image so we might be filled with His glory and know Him. He desired that we be saved from our former state and join the glory of Love. The glory of Love is light and life for those who abide in it. That glory is greatly to be desired above all that is.
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;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 4:2–10)
When God saw us, He set forth a plan to redeem us into His kingdom. His mercy demanded it of Him. The way is made by His grace. By His grace, He sent His son to pay the price for our sins and to serve as the perfect sacrifice to die in our place. By His grace, God sent His Spirit to dwell in us so that we might walk in His Spirit. His grace is sufficient.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9–10)
Thank God for His mercy toward us and the sufficiency of His grace to sustain us.
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 1:25)
BY THE MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD, WE WALK IN HIS LIGHT AND WE WALK IN HIS LOVE.
Let All Within Me, Praise His Holy Name!
Psalm 103
1 {A Psalm of David.} Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
AMEN
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This article is from the publication ‘Love Reigns Supreme’ on Substack
by Aaron Freeman