JESUS IS MERCIFUL

“MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT”

There is lots of revelation in Scripture about MERCY! The Bible has a lot to say about it! It is very important! It’s part of the Lord’s nature. He is a God of MERCY- He’s RICH in MERCY, ABUNDANT in MERCY & He is MERCIFUL!

PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER!

MERCY is an integral part of the gospel message that Jesus came to bring to us. He is a channel of lovingkindness and MERCY to the world!

We would all be doomed to destruction without God’s MERCY & GRACE!

MERCY TRIUMPHS

Story: I recently heard of a man who was in jail for 32 years, unjustly. He was accused for a crime that he had not done. While in prison, he accepted Jesus as his Savior. When he was finally released, his life had been radically changed & he became a pastor! Just think of the reasonable gratitude of heart there should be in all of us who have been released from the imprisonment of sin and given new life!

Story: Last month I saw on the news (Victory Channel) a Christian young man who was pardoned & released from prison. This was after being unjustly accused, sentenced, & imprisoned for a number of years. This happened right before Christmas, December 2020. What a homecoming that was! The joyful reunion of their family was unforgettable, as they gave praise & thanks to the Lord! They were so-o happy! The joy of our rescue from the imprisonment of sin should also always be in our hearts, with grateful praises continually on our lips.

James 2:13 … MERCY TRIUMPHS over judgment.

James 2:13 (whole verse) ……He shall have judgment without mercy, that has shewed no mercy; and MERCY REJOICES AGAINST JUDGMENT…

James 2:12-26 (in context) So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.¹³For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shewed no mercy; and MERCY REJOICES AGAINST JUDGMENT. … What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.¹⁸Yea, a man may say, you have faith, and I have works:shew me your faith without your works, and I will shew you my faith by my works… But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Considering the context of that passage as a whole, we see that mercy is triumphant, as well as the importance of being channels of mercy to help maintain it.

GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS

DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS — James 2:13:

For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown NO MERCY (AMP)

But [to the one who has shown mercy] MERCY triumphs [victoriously] over judgment. (AMPC)

For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be] merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over judgment. (AMPC)

Mercy overrules judgment. (CEB)

You must show mercy to others. If you do not show mercy, then God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. (ERV)

Anyone who shows no loving-kindness will have no loving-kindness shown to him when he is told he is guilty. But if you show loving-kindness, God will show loving-kindness to you when you are told you are guilty.(NLV)

If you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.(NLT)

Remember that judgment is merciless for the one who judges others without mercy. So by showing mercy you take dominion over judgment! (TPT)

You can’t expect to be shown mercy if you refuse to show mercy. But hear this: mercy always wins against judgment! (VOICE)

MERCY TRIUMPHS

James 2:13 … MERCY TRIUMPHS over judgment.

God will have judgment without mercy upon those who have not shown mercy… JUDGMENT & MERCY are both very important.

MERCY TRIUMPHS when it is lovingly demonstrated. If we are not willing to pass along the MERCY that we have received – there will be judgment!

MERCY & JUDGMENT

Note, MERCY & JUDGMENT are intertwined. Both are essential! They are both part of God’s nature, and revelation. Consider Jesus in the temple. In His Sovereign MERCY & JUDGMENT the temple was cleansed!

Psalm 89:14 – Justice and judgment are the habitation of your throne: MERCY and truth shall go before your face.

Isaiah 16:5 – And in MERCY shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking JUDGMENT, and hasting righteousness.

Isaiah 30:18 – And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have MERCY upon you: for the Lord is a GOD OF JUDGMENT:…

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the MERCIFUL for they shall obtain MERCY.

There is MERCY TO THE MERCIFU!

THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT

Matthew 18:23-35– Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. ²⁶The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ ²⁷Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’²⁹So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ ³⁰And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. ³¹So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ ³⁴And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. ³⁵“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

The message is clear. Jesus is saying that all who are forgiven of their sins & yet are not willing to forgive the trespasses of others will be justly judged!

THE UNMERCIFUL

The following passage reminds us that God’s judgment will be poured out upon the unmerciful:

Romans 1:21-32; 2:2 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²²Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,… ⁴Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness..²⁵Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, ²⁶For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind,²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,… haters of God, without natural affection…UNMERCIFUL:…³²Who knowing the JUDGMENT OF GOD, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them… ²But we are sure that the JUDGMENT OF GOD is according to truth against them which commit such things.

MERCY DEFINED

Overlooking an offense; Treating an offender better than what he deserves; Forgiveness of trespasses and injuries; Forbear punishment & reduce consequences of an offense less than what is warranted; An act or exercise of mercy or favor. pardon; pity; compassion manifested towards a person in distress; the act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected; to have no means of self-defense, but to be dependent for safety on the MERCY or compassion of another… – in the power of that which is irresistible…

TRIUMPH DEFINED

Among the ancient Romans, a pompous ceremony performed in honor of a victorious general; State of being victorious; Victory; conquest; Joy or exultation for success; A card that takes all others; now written ‘TRUMP’, •TRI’UMPH – To celebrate victory with pomp; to rejoice for victory; To obtain victory; To be prosperous; to flourish; Triumph over, to succeed in overcoming; to surmount; as, to triumph over all obstacles.

TRIUMPHING THROUGH CHRIST

2 Corinthians 2:14 – Now thanks be to God who always leads us in TRIUMPH in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

Colossians 2:15 – Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, TRIUMPHING over them in it.

Red Sea experience – Exodus 15

Exodus 15:1 – Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, for He has TRIUMPHED gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!

MORE SCRIPTURES ABOUT TRIUMPHING

Psalm 41:11 – By this I know that You are well pleased with me, Because my enemy does not TRIUMPH over me.

Note, when we are living to please the Lord, we can expect to triumph over all of our enemies.

Ps. 92:4 – For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.

Note, we triumph through the works of the Lord in our lives.

Psalm 106:47 – Save us, O Lord our God, And gather us from among the Gentiles, To give thanks to Your holy name, To TRIUMPH in Your praise.

Note, praise is a key ingredient to being triumphant. May our hearts be filled with His praises continually… This helps us to live in victory.

Matt 9:13 – “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I will have MERCY & not sacrifice.. for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matt. 12:7 – But if you had known what this means, ‘I will have (desire) MERCY and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

GOD’S MERCIES

Romans 12:1 – …by the MERCIES OF GOD that you present your bodies a living sacrifice…

I Peter 1:3 – …according to His abundant MERCY He has begotten us again unto a lively hope…

SALVATION

I Pet. 2:10 – … in time past were not – but now are the people of God: which had not obtained MERCY, but now have obtained MERCY.

Titus 3:5 …according to His MERCY He saved us…

I Peter 1:3 – …according to His abundant MERCY He has begotten us again unto a lively hope…

HOW TO GET MERCY

Hebrews 4:16 – …come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain MERCY…

WISDOM IS FULL OF MERCY

James 3:17 – …the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS,…

IN JUDGMENT (ANGER/WRATH) REMEMBER MERCY

Habakkuk 3:2 –(prayer) …in wrath remember mercy.

And as you bring judgment, as you surely must, remember mercy. (MSG)

God is a God of righteous judgment upon wickedness, but He is also a God great mercies & lovingkindness upon the repentant.

If people humbly turn to Him, and repent of their evil ways, He will forgive them. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

When nations repent, and turn to Him – He will forgive them! (Note, story of Ninevah when they repented – Jonah 3:5-10).