The God Who Shows Mercy

Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5

Paul is writing to the church in Rome about the Gospel. It is an in depth epistle that goes into great detail on the theological and practical components of God’s redemptive plan for Israel and the gentiles. It appears that after the work of the cross and the proclamation of the Gospel throughout the known world that God had forgotten about his covenant with Israel. Paul writes to assure the Roman believers that the nation of Israel still has a part in God’s plan.

In fact all of mankind has a part in Gods plan. The Gospel is for everyone and that whosever believes upon Jesus will have everlasting life. But that is the key to the Gospel. It’s about believing, and believing requires faith. So Paul, as he is dealing with Israel in this ninth chapter reminds the Roman believers, as well as you and I, that salvation is a gift of God. It cannot be earned or inherited.

Paul wrote that “It is not unto him the runs or to him that wills, but God who shows mercy.”

To run is an athletic term meaning that it is not something acquired by some physical exertion or some moral discipline. To will means to seize with the mind or to purpose ones own way to salvation. In other words it is not an intellectual achievement. So having concluded that it is not to the Moralist or Gnostic that will earn salvation, it is the one who throws him or herself upon the mercy of God.

This contrast is given by our Lord in the parable of The Pharisee and The Publican. (Luke 18:9-14) The Pharisee trusted in his on morality and knowledge of the law. The Publican, who was looked down upon in Jewish society for his thievery and loyalty to Rome, was nothing but a standard of measurement for the Pharisee to boast in his self-righteousness. Christ would go on to hear the prayer of the publican who sincerely acknowledged his sins and confessed his need for God’s mercy. Mercy is the loving kindness of God towards man. It is God showing pity to to miserable sinners.

Anyone who has, is, or will ever be saved is done so because God showed mercy to them. We cannot be morally disciplined enough or acquire enough knowledge to pull ourselves up by our on bootstraps and make us righteous enough to stand and give an account unto God. It is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)

Not running and willing, but washing and renewal. This is how we enter into the kingdom of God and one enters by crying out, “God be merciful to me a sinner!”

Pastor Robby