Mercy
Pastor Justin Smidstra of First PRC in Holland, Michigan explores the theological nature and practical significance of mercy as an expression of God's character and a reflection of His sovereign grace toward the elect. The article defines mercy both as compassionate feeling and active relief of suffering, grounding Christian mercy in God's own merciful nature and connecting it to the doctrine of unconditional election. This resource encourages believers to understand and practice mercy as a response to experiencing God's unmerited compassion in their own salvation.
Is there anything more beautiful than mercy unmerited? For the Christian who knows the mercy of God, not merely with the mind but with the heart and lived experience, God's mercy sets the heart on high to sing "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever" (Ps. 136:1). What is mercy? Put succinctly, mercy is tender- hearted compassion for the miserable, which moves you to endeavor to relieve the miserable of their misery. Described more fully, mercy is a deep...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org